Analysis of noncovalent complexes between human telomeric DNA and polyamides containing N-methylpyrrole and N-methylimidazole by using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to investigate noncovalent complexes formed between four novel polyamides containing N-methylpyrrole (Py) and N-methylimidazole (Im), and human telomeric DNA. Of the four polyamides investigated, PyPyPygammaImImImbetaDp (3) had the highest binding affinity towards the duplex d(TTAGGGTTAGGG/CCCTAACCCTAA) (D1). Results of competition analysis showed that the polyamides had binding affinities with D1 in the order PyPyPygammaImImImbetaDp (3)>PyPyPyPygammaPyImImPybetaDp (4)>PyPyPybetaImImImbetaDp (2)>ImImImbetaDp (1). MS/MS spectra confirmed that binding between D1 and the hairpin polyamides is more stable than that with the three-ring polyamides. By contrast, in the case of single-stranded d(TTAGGGTTAGGG)(D2), the binding order changes to ImImImbetaDp (1)>PyPyPygammaImImImbetaDp (3)>PyPyPybetaImImImbetaDp (2).     

Design and DNA binding of an extended triple-stranded metallo-supramolecular cylinder

A new tetracationic triple-stranded supramolecular cylinder is prepared from a bis(pyridylimine) ligand containing a diphenylmethane and two ketimine groups in the spacer. The cylinder is longer and slightly wider than the corresponding cylinder containing just diphenylmethane spacers. Inter-strand CH...pi interactions are not observed and this affects the relay of the chiral information within the cylinder; a mixture of rac and meso isomers results, with the meso isomer being the dominant solution species and characterised in the solid state by crystallography. This new cylinder does bind to DNA as confirmed by induced circular dichroism signals in both the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and in-ligand bands of the cylinder. Flow linear dichroism demonstrates that the cylinder binds to DNA in a specific orientation(s) and is consistent with (major) groove-binding as seen for the shorter cylinder. Some DNA bending/coiling is observed but the effect is much less dramatic than observed for the cylinder with diphenylmethane spacers confirming that coiling is not solely a consequence of the tetracationic charge, but rather is related to the precise size and shape of the cylinder.     

Sequence-specific trapping of topoisomerase I by DNA binding polyamide-camptothecin conjugates

Hairpin pyrrole-imidazole polyamides are synthetic ligands that bind in the minor groove of DNA with affinities and specificities comparable to those of DNA binding proteins. Three polyamide-camptothecin conjugates 1-3 with linkers varying in length between 7, 13, and 18 atoms were synthesized to trap the enzyme Topoisomerase I and induce cleavage at predetermined DNA sites. One of these, polyamide-camptothecin conjugate 3 at nanomolar concentration (50 nM) in the presence of Topo I (37 degrees C), induces DNA cleavage between three and four base pairs from the polyamide binding site in high yield (77%).     

Sequence and Chiral Selectivity of Drug–DNA Interactions Revealed by Force Spectroscopy

Differential binding force has been used to precisely characterize the mechanical effect of a drug molecule binding to a DNA duplex. The high‐resolution binding forces measured by the force‐induced remnant magnetization spectroscopy (FIRMS) enable the binding behavior of drug molecules with different chirality and DNA of various sequences to be distinguished. The sequence specificity of Hg²⁺ and daunomycin was revealed by force spectroscopy for the first time, and the results are consistent with those obtained by other techniques. Furthermore, the two isomers of d,l ‐tetrahydropalmatine showed selectivity for two different DNA sequences. One particular useful feature of this approach is that the small molecules under study do not require any labels.     

MALDI‐MS detection of noncovalent interactions of single stranded DNA with Escherichia coli single‐stranded DNA‐binding protein

The Escherichia coli single‐stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) selectively binds single‐stranded (ss) DNA and participates in the process of DNA replication, recombination and repair. Different binding modes have previously been observed in SSB?ssDNA complexes, due to the four potential binding sites of SSB. Here, chemical cross‐linking, combined with high‐mass matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS), is used to determine the stoichiometry of the SSB?ssDNA complex. SSB forms a stable homotetramer in solution, but only the monomeric species (m/z 19 100) can be detected with standard MALDI‐MS. With chemical cross‐linking, the quaternary structure of SSB is conserved, and the tetramer (m/z 79 500) was observed. We found that ssDNA also functions as a stabilizer to conserve the quaternary structure of SSB, as evidenced by the detection of a SSB?ssDNA complex at m/z 94 200 even in the absence of chemical cross‐linking. The stability of the SSB?ssDNA complex with MALDI strongly depends on the length and strand of oligonucleotides and the stoichiometry of the SSB?ssDNA complex, which could be attributed to electrostatic interactions that are enhanced in the gas phase. The key factor affecting the stoichiometry of the SSB?ssDNA complex is how ssDNA binds to SSB, rather than the protein‐to‐DNA ratio. This further suggests that detection of the complex by MALDI is a result of specific binding, and not due to non‐specific aggregation in the MALDI plume. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pyrenylmethyldeoxyadenosine: A 3′‐Cap for Universal DNA Hybridization Probes

Effect of a PAH on base pairing : A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) covalently linked to the N6‐position of a dangling deoxyadenosine residue (see scheme) of an oligonucleotide increases target affinity, but decreases base‐pairing selectivity. Melting point increases of up to 28 °C (14 °C per residue) were observed, and 20 out of 24 mismatch‐containing duplexes are stabilized more strongly by the PAH substituent than their perfectly matched counterpart.

     

Simulations of DNA coiling around a synthetic supramolecular cylinder that binds in the DNA major groove

In this work we present the results of a molecular simulation study of the interaction between a tetracationic bis iron(II) supramolecular cylinder, [Fe2(C25H20N4)3]4+, and DNA. This supramolecular cylinder has been shown to bind in the major groove of DNA and to induce dramatic coiling of the DNA. The simulations have been designed to elucidate the interactions that lead the cylinder to target the major groove and that drive the subsequent DNA conformational changes. Three sets of multi-nanosecond simulations have been performed: one of the uncomplexed d(CCCCCTTTTTCC) d(GGAAAAAGGGGG) dodecamer; one of this DNA complexed with the cylinder molecule; and one of this DNA complexed with a neutralised version of the cylinder. Coiling of the DNA was observed in the DNA-cylinder simulations, giving insight into the molecular level nature of the supramolecular coiling observed experimentally. The cylinder charge was found not to be essential for the DNA coiling, which implies that the DNA response is moderated by the short range interactions that define the molecular shape. Cylinder charge did, however, affect the integrity of the DNA duplex, to the extent that, under some circumstances, the tetracationic cylinder induced defects in the DNA base pairing at locations adjacent to the cylinder binding site.     

Sequence-specific fluorescence detection of DNA by polyamide-thiazole orange conjugates

Fluorescent methods to detect specific double-stranded DNA sequences without the need for denaturation may be useful in the field of genetics. Three hairpin pyrrole-imidazole polyamides 2-4 that target their respective sequences 5'-WGGGWW-3', 5'-WGGCCW-3', and 5'-WGWWCW-3' (W = A or T) were conjugated to thiazole orange dye at the C-termini to examine their fluorescence properties in the presence and absence of match duplex DNA. The conjugates fluoresce weakly in the absence of DNA but showed significant enhancement (>1000-fold) upon the addition of 1 equiv of match DNA and only slight enhancement with the addition of mismatch DNA. The polyamide-dye conjugates bound specific DNA sequences with high affinity (Ka > 10(8) M(-1)) and unwound the DNA duplex through intercalation (unwinding angle, phi, approximately 8 degrees). This new class of polyamides provides a method to specifically detect DNA sequences without denaturation.     

Synthesis of Distamycin Analogs and Their Interactions with Calf Thymus DNA

Two distamycin analogs (PyPyPy‐γ‐Dp and PyPyPyPy‐γ‐Dp) were synthesized by a haloform reaction and the DCC/HOBT coupling reaction in a ample and fast way without amino protection. By using calf thymus DNA, the interaction between the analogs and DNA duplex was studied by CD, and ITC.     

Stability analysis for double-stranded DNA oligomers and their noncovalent complexes with drugs by laser spray

Laser spray, which is a newly developed ionization technique, can characterize the stability of noncovalent complexes in the solution phase. By using this advantage, laser spray has been applied to probe the intrinsic stability of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sequences and their binding affinities with various drugs in the solution phase. Systematic experiments were carried out using six 16-mer and three 22-mer dsDNA oligomers, together with the complexes of the 16-mer dsDNA with minor groove binders: berenil, Hoechst 33342, DAPI, and netropsin. Dissociation curves for each dsDNA or each complex were plotted as a function of laser power. The laser power (E50%), where 50% of each dsDNA or each complex was dissociated, was compared with its melting temperature (Tm) determined by UV spectroscopy. Linear correlations between E50% and Tm were obtained not only for the dsDNA oligomers (correlation factor r = 0.9835) but also for the 16-mer dsDNA complexes with minor groove binders (r = 0.9966). In addition, laser spray has successfully clarified the binding affinities of a 16-mer dsDNA with two intercalators: daunomycin and nogalamycin. In the case of the dsDNA-daunomycin complex, by changing the molar ratio of dsDNA : drug from 1 : 1 to 1 : 5, the concentration-dependent stability of the complex was confirmed by laser spray. The present results demonstrate that laser spray mass spectrometry can be a powerful and convenient method to investigate the relative binding affinities of dsDNA-ligand complexes in the solution phase, which could be applied to the early stage of high-throughput screening of drugs targeting for dsDNA.