A dimeric DNA interface stabilized by stacked A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexads and coordinated monovalent cations Journal Article


Authors: Kettani, A.; Gorin, A.; Majumdar, A.; Hermann, T.; Skripkin, E.; Zhao, H.; Jones, R.; Patel, D. J.
Article Title: A dimeric DNA interface stabilized by stacked A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexads and coordinated monovalent cations
Abstract: We report on the identification of an A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexad pairing alignment which involves recognition of the exposed minor groove of opposing guanines within a G·G·G·G tetrad through sheared G·A mismatch formation. This unexpected hexad pairing alignment was identified for the d(G-G-A-G-G-A-G) sequence in 150 mM Na+ (or K+) cation solution where four symmetry-related strands align into a novel dimeric motif. Each symmetric half of the dimeric 'hexad' motif is composed of two strands and contains a stacked array of an A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexad, a G·G·G·G tetrad, and an A·A mismatch. Each strand in the hexad motif contains two successive turns, that together define an S-shaped double chain reversal fold, which connects the two G-G steps aligned parallel to each other along adjacent edges of the quadruplex. Our studies also establish a novel structural transition for the d(G-G-A-G-G-A-N) sequence, N = T and G, from an 'arrowhead' motif stabilized through cross-strand stacking and mismatch formation in 10 mM Na+ solution (reported previously), to a dimeric hexad motif stabilized by extensive inter-subunit stacking of symmetry-related A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexads in 150 mM Na+ solution. Potential monovalent cation binding sites within the arrowhead and hexad motifs have been probed by a combination of Brownian dynamics and unconstrained molecular dynamics calculations. We could not identify stable monovalent cation-binding sites in the low salt arrowhead motif. By contrast, five electronegative pockets were identified in the moderate salt dimeric hexad motif. Three of these are involved in cation binding sites sandwiched between G·G·G·G tetrad planes and two others, are involved in water-mediated cation binding sites spanning the unoccupied grooves associated with the adjacent stacked A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexads. Our demonstration of A·(G·G·G·G)·A hexad formation opens opportunities for the design of adenine-rich G-quadruplex-interacting oligomers that could potentially target base edges of stacked G·G·G·G tetrads. Such an approach could complement current efforts to design groove-binding and intercalating ligands that target G-quadruplexes in attempts designed to block the activity of the enzyme telomerase. (C) 2000 Academic Press.
Keywords: controlled study; nonhuman; telomerase; dna; double stranded dna; molecular sequence data; guanine; molecular recognition; ligands; base sequence; base pairing; dna sequence; dna structure; computer simulation; hydrogen bonding; models, molecular; protons; thermodynamics; dimerization; binding sites; water; sodium; oligodeoxynucleotide; stoichiometry; adenine; nuclear magnetic resonance, biomolecular; base mispairing; molecular stability; potassium ion; base pair mismatch; dna strand; sodium ion; electrostatics; alismataceae; metal binding; osmolar concentration; priority journal; article; cations, monovalent; a·(g·g·g·g)·a hexad formation; g·(a-g) triads; g-quadruplex recognition; sheared g·a mismatch formation; uniform 13c, 15n-labeled dna
Journal Title: Journal of Molecular Biology
Volume: 297
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0022-2836
Publisher: Academic Press Inc., Elsevier Science  
Date Published: 2000-03-31
Start Page: 627
End Page: 644
Language: English
DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.2000.3524
PUBMED: 10731417
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 18 November 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Andrey A Gorin
    25 Gorin
  2. Dinshaw J Patel
    477 Patel