scholarly journals Alternate-strand DNA triple-helix formation using short acridine-linked oligonucleotides

1994 ◽  
Vol 301 (2) ◽  
pp. 569-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Washbrook ◽  
K R Fox
Keyword(s):  
Metal Ion ◽  
Dimethyl Sulphate ◽  
Dnase I ◽  
Target Sequence ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Helix Formation ◽  
Dnase I Footprinting ◽  
Triple Helix Formation ◽  
Triple Helices ◽  
Dna Triple Helix

We have used DNAse I footprinting to examine the formation of intermolecular DNA triple helices at sequences containing adjacent blocks of purines and pyrimidines. The target sites G6T6.A6C6 and T6G6.C6A6 were cloned into longer DNA fragments and used as substrates for DNAse I footprinting, which examined the binding of the acridine (Acr)-linked oligonucleotides Acr-T5G5 and Acr-G5T5 respectively. These third strands were designed to incorporate both G.GC triplets, with antiparallel Gn strands held together by reverse Hoogsteen base pairs, and T.AT triplets, with the two T-containing strands arranged antiparallel to each other. We find that Acr-T5G5 binds to the target sequence G6T6.-A6C6, in the presence of magnesium at pH 7.0, generating clear DNAse I footprints. In this structure the central guanine is not recognized by the third strand and is accessible to modification by dimethyl sulphate. Under these conditions no footprint was observed with Acr-G5T5 and T6G6.C6A6, though this triplex was evident in the presence of manganese chloride. Manganese also facilitated the binding of Acr-T5G5 to a second site in the fragment containing the sequence T6G6.C6A6. This represents interaction with the sequence G4ATCT6, located at the boundary between the synthetic insert and the remainder of the fragment, and suggests that this bivalent metal ion may stabilize triplexes that contain one or two mismatches. Manganese did not affect the interaction of either oligonucleotide with G6T6.A6C6.

scholarly journals Effect of a triplex-binding ligand on triple helix formation at a site within a natural DNA fragment

1996 ◽  
Vol 314 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M. BROWN ◽  
Amelia DRABBLE ◽  
Keith R. FOX
Keyword(s):  
Target Site ◽  
Target Sequence ◽  
Similar Concentration ◽  
Helix Formation ◽  
Dnase I Footprinting ◽  
Triple Helix Formation ◽  
Triple Helices ◽  
Dna Fragment ◽  
A Site ◽  
Formation Of Complexes

We have used DNase I footprinting to examine the effect of a triplex-binding ligand on the formation of parallel intermolecular DNA triple helices at a mixed sequence target site contained within a natural DNA fragment (tyrT). In the presence of 10 μM ligand (N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-2-(2-naphthyl)quinolin-4-ylamine), the binding of CTCTTTTTGCTT (12G) to the sequence GAGAAAAATGAA (generating a complex containing 8×T·AT, 1×G·TA and 3×C+·GC triplets) was enhanced 3-fold at pH 5.5. When the oligonucleotide CTCTTTTTTCTT (12T) was substituted for 12G (replacing G·TA with T·TA) there was a large reduction in affinity for the target sequence. However, this was stabilized by about 300-fold in the presence of the ligand, requiring a similar concentration to produce a footprint as 12G in the absence of the ligand. When the sequence of the target site was altered to GAGAAAAAAGAA, generating an uninterrupted run of purines [tyrT(46A)], the binding of 12T (generating a complex containing 9×T·AT, and 3×C+·GC triplets) was enhanced 3-fold by 10 μM of the triplex-binding ligand. However, although the binding of 12G to this sequence, generating a complex containing a G·AT triplet, was much weaker, this too was stabilized by about 30-fold by the ligand, requiring a similar concentration as the perfect matched oligonucleotide (12T) in the absence of the ligand. A secondary, less stable footprint was also observed in these fragments when using either 12T or 12G, which was evident only in the presence of the triplex-binding ligand. This site, which contained a number of triplet mismatches, appears to be related to the formation of four or five central T·AT triplets. This reduction in the stringency of oligonucleotide binding by the triplex-binding ligand promotes the formation of complexes at non-targeted regions but may also have the potential for enabling recognition at sites that contain regions where there are no specific triplet matches.

scholarly journals Stability of an RNA•DNA–DNA triple helix depends on base triplet composition and length of the RNA third strand

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (14) ◽  
pp. 7213-7222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte N Kunkler ◽  
Jacob P Hulewicz ◽  
Sarah C Hickman ◽  
Matthew C Wang ◽  
Phillip J McCown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Stability ◽  
Triple Helix ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Dna And Rna ◽  
Helix Formation ◽  
Canonical Base ◽  
Triple Helix Formation ◽  
Triple Helices ◽  
Dna Triple Helix ◽  
The Stability

AbstractRecent studies suggest noncoding RNAs interact with genomic DNA, forming an RNA•DNA–DNA triple helix that regulates gene expression. However, base triplet composition of pyrimidine motif RNA•DNA–DNA triple helices is not well understood beyond the canonical U•A–T and C•G–C base triplets. Using native gel-shift assays, the relative stability of 16 different base triplets at a single position, Z•X–Y (where Z = C, U, A, G and X–Y = A–T, G–C, T–A, C–G), in an RNA•DNA–DNA triple helix was determined. The canonical U•A–T and C•G–C base triplets were the most stable, while three non-canonical base triplets completely disrupted triple-helix formation. We further show that our RNA•DNA–DNA triple helix can tolerate up to two consecutive non-canonical A•G–C base triplets. Additionally, the RNA third strand must be at least 19 nucleotides to form an RNA•DNA–DNA triple helix but increasing the length to 27 nucleotides does not increase stability. The relative stability of 16 different base triplets in DNA•DNA–DNA and RNA•RNA–RNA triple helices was distinctly different from those in RNA•DNA–DNA triple helices, showing that base triplet stability depends on strand composition being DNA and/or RNA. Multiple factors influence the stability of triple helices, emphasizing the importance of experimentally validating formation of computationally predicted triple helices.

scholarly journals Nucleosome core particles inhibit DNA triple helix formation

1996 ◽  
Vol 319 (2) ◽  
pp. 607-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M BROWN ◽  
Keith R FOX
Keyword(s):  
Target Site ◽  
Nucleosome Core ◽  
Dna Triplexes ◽  
Helix Formation ◽  
Nucleosome Core Particles ◽  
Dnase I Footprinting ◽  
Triple Helix Formation ◽  
Triple Helices ◽  
Dna Fragment ◽  
Core Particles

We have used DNase I footprinting to examine the formation of DNA triple helices at target sites on DNA fragments that have been reconstituted with nucleosome core particles. We show that a 12 bp homopurine target site, located 45 bp from the end of the 160 bp tyrT(46A) fragment, cannot be targeted with either parallel (CT-containing) or antiparallel (GT-containing) triplex-forming oligonucleotides when reconstituted on to nucleosome core particles. Binding is not facilitated by the presence of a triplex-binding ligand. However, both parallel and antiparallel triplexes could be formed on a truncated DNA fragment in which the target site was located closer to the end of the DNA fragment. We suggest that intermolecular DNA triplexes can only be formed on those DNA regions that are less tightly associated with the protein core.

Regulatory elements controlling pituitary-specific expression of the human prolactin gene

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 4690-4700
Author(s):  
B Peers ◽  
M L Voz ◽  
P Monget ◽  
M Mathy-Hartert ◽  
M Berwaer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Distal Region ◽  
Dnase I ◽  
Proximal Region ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Positive Region ◽  
Dnase I Footprinting ◽  
Human Prolactin ◽  
Flanking Sequences

We have performed transfection and DNase I footprinting experiments to investigate pituitary-specific expression of the human prolactin (hPRL) gene. When fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene, 5,000 base pairs of the 5'-flanking sequences of the hPRL gene were able to drive high cat gene expression in prolactin-expressing GH3B6 cells specifically. Deletion analysis indicated that this pituitary-specific expression was controlled by three main positive regulatory regions. The first was located just upstream from the TATA box between coordinates -40 and -250 (proximal region). We have previously shown that three motifs of this region bind the pituitary-specific Pit-1 factor. The second positive region was located in the vicinity of coordinates -1300 to -1750 (distal region). DNase I footprinting assays revealed that eight DNA motifs of this distal region bound protein Pit-1 and that two other motifs were recognized by ubiquitous factors, one of which seems to belong to the AP-1 (jun) family. The third positive region was located further upstream, between -3500 and -5000 (superdistal region). This region appears to enhance transcription only in the presence of the distal region.

scholarly journals Dissociation of the AT-specific bifunctional intercalator [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM from TpA sites in DNA

1995 ◽  
Vol 306 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
M C Fletcher ◽  
R K Olsen ◽  
K R Fox
Keyword(s):  
Dissociation Rate ◽  
Dnase I ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Unusual Structure ◽  
Dnase I Footprinting ◽  
Calf Thymus ◽  
Stability Of Complexes ◽  
Dna Fragment ◽  
The Stability

We have examined the dissociation of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM, an AT-selective bifunctional intercalator, from TpA sites in mixed-sequence DNAs by a modification of the footprinting technique. Dissociation of complexes between the ligand and radiolabelled DNA fragments was initiated by adding a vast excess of unlabelled calf thymus DNA. Portions of this mixture were subjected to DNAse I footprinting at various times after adding the competitor DNA. Dissociation of the ligand from each site was seen by the time-dependent disappearance of the footprinting pattern. Within a natural DNA fragment (tyrT) the ligand dissociates from TTAT faster than from ATAT. We found that the stability of complexes with isolated TpA steps decreases in the order ATAT > TTAA > TATA. Dissociation from each of these sites is much faster than from longer regions of (AT)n. These results confirm the requirement for A and T base-pairs surrounding the TpA step and suggest that the interaction is strongest with regions of alternating AT, possibly as a result of its unusual structure. The ligand dissociates more slowly from the centre of (AT)n tracts than from the edges, suggesting that variations in dissociation rate arise from sequence-dependent variations in local DNA structure.

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