Base-stacking and base-pairing contributions into thermal stability of the DNA double helix
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Abstract:
Two factors are mainly responsible for the stability of the DNA double helix: base pairing between complementary strands and stacking between adjacent bases. By studying DNA molecules with solitary nicks and gaps we measure temperature and salt dependence of the stacking free energy of the DNA double helix. For the first time, DNA stacking parameters are obtained directly (without extrapolation) for temperatures from below room temperature to close to melting temperature. We also obtain DNA stacking parameters for different salt concentrations ranging from 15 to 100 mM Na + . From stacking parameters of individual contacts, we calculate base-stacking contribution to the stability of A•T- and G•C-containing DNA polymers. We find that temperature and salt dependences of the stacking term fully determine the temperature and the salt dependence of DNA stability parameters. For all temperatures and salt concentrations employed in present study, base-stacking is the main stabilizing factor in the DNA double helix. A•T pairing is always destabilizing and G•C pairing contributes almost no stabilization. Base-stacking interaction dominates not only in the duplex overall stability but also significantly contributes into the dependence of the duplex stability on its sequence.Keywords:
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At present, there have been suggested two types of physical mechanism that may facilitate preferential pairing between DNA molecules, with identical or similar base pair texts, without separation of base pairs. One solely relies on base pair specific patterns of helix distortion being the same on the two molecules, discussed extensively in the past. The other mechanism proposes that there are preferential interactions between base pairs of the same composition. We introduce a model, built on this second mechanism, where both thermal stretching and twisting fluctuations are included, as well as the base pair specific helix distortions. Firstly, we consider an approximation for weak pairing interactions, or short molecules. This yields a dependence of the energy on the square root of the molecular length, which could explain recent experimental data. However, analysis suggests that this approximation is no-longer valid at large DNA lengths. In a second approximation, for long molecules, we define two adaptation lengths for twisting and stretching, over which the pairing interaction can limit the accumulation of helix disorder. When the pairing interaction is sufficiently strong, both adaptation lengths are finite; however, as we reduce pairing strength, the stretching adaptation length remains finite but the torsional one becomes infinite. This second state persists to arbitrarily weak values of the pairing strength; suggesting that, if the molecules are long enough, the pairing energy scales as length. To probe differences between the two pairing mechanisms, we also construct a model of similar form. However, now, pairing between identical sequences solely relies on the intrinsic helix distortion patterns. Between the two models, we see interesting qualitative differences. We discuss our findings, and suggest new work to distinguish between the two mechanisms.
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The thermal stabilities and structures of B−Z junction forming DNA duplexes possessing A/C or G/T base pair mismatches were compared to those of corresponding duplexes possessing perfect matched base pairs. The upper strands of the duplexes have a generalized sequence 5'-(5meCG)-LMN-GACTG-3', where L stands for A or G while M and N are permutations of pyrimidines. The lower strands were either complementary or were such as to create an A/C or G/T mismatch at the position corresponding to L, M, or N. Optical melting and circular dichroism studies were used to investigate the thermal stabilities and structures of both the mismatched base pair and the perfect matched base pair duplexes. Incorporating mismatched A/C or G/T base pairs did not noticeably affect the conformations of the duplexes in 115 mM Na+ but resulted in perturbed B−Z conformations at 4.5 M Na+. For any mismatched base pair duplex, the B-DNA domain of the hybrid B−Z structure formed at 4.5 M Na+ is significantly perturbed while the Z-DNA domain is less perturbed by the presence of the mismatched base pairs. The presence of a mismatch destabilizes a duplex relative to the perfect matched base pair duplex by 1.7−10.0 kcal/mol depending upon position of the mismatch, type of mismatch base pair involved, and Na+ concentration. The thermodynamic destabilization of a mismatched base pair duplex relative to the perfect matched base pair duplex arises from perturbations in nearest neighbor interactions and hydrogen bonding. In general, we observed that the incorporation of an A/C or G/T base pair mismatch in place of a perfect matched base pair at or near a B−Z junction results in a relatively large change in enthalpy and entropy to produce a significant change in the free energy of the duplex to single strand transition. At 4.5 M Na+, where the duplexes possess perturbed B−Z junctions, the farther away from the junction that the mismatch is, the greater the extent of the destabilization.
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The thermodynamics governing the denaturation of RNA duplexes containing 8 bp and a central tandem mismatch or 10 bp were evaluated using UV absorbance melting curves. Each of the eight tandem mismatches that were examined had one U-U pair adjacent to another noncanonical base pair. They were examined in two different RNA duplex environments, one with the tandem mismatch closed by G·C base pairs and the other with G·C and A·U closing base pairs. The free energy increments ( ) of the 2 × 2 loops were positive, and showed relatively small differences between the two closing base pair environments. Assuming temperature-independent enthalpy changes for the transitions, for the 2 × 2 loops varied from 0.9 to 1.9 kcal/mol in 1 M Na+ at 37 °C. Most values were within 0.8 kcal/mol of previously estimated values; however, a few sequences differed by 1.2−2.0 kcal/mol. Single strands employed to form the RNA duplexes exhibited small noncooperative absorbance increases with temperature or transitions indicative of partial self-complementary duplexes. One strand formed a partial self-complementary duplex that was more stable than the tandem mismatch duplexes it formed. Transitions of the RNA duplexes were analyzed using equations that included the coupled equilibrium of self-complementary duplex and non-self-complementary duplex denaturation. The average heat capacity change (ΔCp) associated with the transitions of two RNA duplexes was estimated by plotting ΔH° and ΔS° evaluated at different strand concentrations as a function of Tm and ln Tm, respectively. The average ΔCp was 70 ± 5 cal K-1 (mol of base pairs)-1. Consideration of this heat capacity change reduced the free energy of formation at 37 °C of the 10 bp control RNA duplexes by 0.3−0.6 kcal/mol, which may increase values by similar amounts.
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Stable and selective DNA base pairing by metal coordination was recently demonstrated with nucleotides containing complementary pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (Dipic) and pyridine (Py) bases (Meggers, E.; Holland, P. L.; Tolman; W. B.; Romesberg, F. E.; Schultz, P. G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 10714−10715). To understand the structural consequences of introducing this novel base pair into DNA we have solved the crystal structure of a duplex containing the metallo-base pair. The structure shows that the bases pair as designed, but in a Z-DNA conformation. The structure also provides a structural explanation for the B- to Z-DNA transition in this duplex. Further solution studies demonstrate that the metallo-base pair is compatible with Z- or B-DNA conformations, depending on the duplex sequence.
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The Watson-Crick type of base pairing is considered to be mandatory for the formation of duplex DNA. However, conformational calculations carried out in our laboratory, have shown that some combinations of backbone torsion angles and sugar pucker lead to duplexes with Hoogsteen type of base pairing also. Here we present the results of energy calculations performed on A-T containing doublet sequences in the D-form with both Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick type of base pairing and the 3 viable models for the A-T containing polynucleotide duplex poly[d(A-T)].
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We investigated molecular crowding effects on the thermodynamic stability of Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick base pairs in an intramolecular duplex and triplex. The melting temperature (Tm) of Hoogsteen base pair formations in the triplex and the duplex increased 3.7 degrees C and 3.2 degrees C, respectively, by adding 20 wt% PEG 200. On the other hand, the Tm of Watson-Crick base pair formations in the triplex and the duplex decreased 5.7 degrees C and 5.2 degrees C, respectively. These results suggested that molecular crowding conditions generally stabilized and destabilized Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick base pairs, respectively, even in the different DNA structures.
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Recently, we reported the first artificial nucleoside for alternative DNA base pairing through metal complexation (J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 5002−5003). In this regard, we report here the synthesis of a hydroxypyridone-bearing nucleoside and the incorporation of a neutral Cu2+-mediated base pair of hydroxypyridone nucleobases (H−Cu−H) in a DNA duplex. When the hydroxypyridone bases are incorporated into the middle of a 15 nucleotide duplex, the duplex displays high thermal stabilization in the presence of equimolar Cu2+ ions in comparison with a duplex containing an A−T pair in place of the H−H pair. Monitoring temperature dependence of UV-absorption changes verified that a Cu2+-mediated base pair is stoichiometrically formed inside the duplex and dissociates upon thermal denaturation at elevated temperature. In addition, EPR and CD studies suggested that the radical site of a Cu2+ center is formed within the right-handed double-strand structure of the oligonucleotide. The present strategy could be developed for controlled and periodic spacing of neutral metallobase pairs along the helix axis of DNA.
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At present, there have been suggested two types of physical mechanism that may facilitate preferential pairing between DNA molecules, with identical or similar base pair texts, without separation of base pairs. One mechanism solely relies on base pair specific patterns of helix distortion being the same on the two molecules, discussed extensively in the past. The other mechanism proposes that there are preferential interactions between base pairs of the same composition. We introduce a model, built on this second mechanism, where both thermal stretching and twisting fluctuations are included, as well as the base pair specific helix distortions. Firstly, we consider an approximation for weak pairing interactions, or short molecules. This yields a dependence of the energy on the square root of the molecular length, which could explain recent experimental data. However, analysis suggests that this approximation is no longer valid at large DNA lengths. In a second approximation, for long molecules, we define two adaptation lengths for twisting and stretching, over which the pairing interaction can limit the accumulation of helix disorder. When the pairing interaction is sufficiently strong, both adaptation lengths are finite; however, as we reduce pairing strength, the stretching adaptation length remains finite but the torsional one becomes infinite. This second state persists to arbitrarily weak values of the pairing strength; suggesting that, if the molecules are long enough, the pairing energy scales as length. To probe differences between the two pairing mechanisms, we also construct a model of similar form. However, now, pairing between identical sequences solely relies on the intrinsic helix distortion patterns. Between the two models, we see interesting qualitative differences. We discuss our findings, and suggest new work to distinguish between the two mechanisms.
Base (topology)
Helix (gastropod)
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