scholarly journals Locking up the AS1411 Aptamer with a Flanking Duplex: Towards an Improved Nucleolin-Targeting

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
André Miranda ◽  
Tiago Santos ◽  
Eric Largy ◽  
Carla Cruz

We have designed AS1411-N6, a derivative of the nucleolin (NCL)-binding aptamer AS1411, by adding six nucleotides to the 5′-end that are complementary to nucleotides at the 3′-end forcing it into a stem-loop structure. We evaluated by several biophysical techniques if AS1411-N6 can adopt one or more conformations, one of which allows NCL binding. We found a decrease of polymorphism of G-quadruplex (G4)-forming sequences comparing to AS1411 and the G4 formation in presence of K+ promotes the duplex folding. We also studied the binding properties of ligands TMPyP4, PhenDC3, PDS, 360A, and BRACO-19 in terms of stability, binding, topology maintenance of AS1411-N6, and NCL recognition. The melting experiments revealed promising stabilizer effects of PhenDC3, 360A, and TMPyP4, and the affinity calculations showed that 360A is the most prominent affinity ligand for AS1411-N6 and AS1411. The affinity determined between AS1411-N6 and NCL denoting a strong interaction and complex formation was assessed by PAGE in which the electrophoretic profile of AS1411-N6 showed bands of the dimeric form in the presence of the ligands and NCL.

2004 ◽  
Vol 171 (4S) ◽  
pp. 256-257
Author(s):  
Kazunori Haga ◽  
Ataru Sazawa ◽  
Toru Harabayashi ◽  
Nobuo Shinohara ◽  
Minoru Nomoto ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-346
Author(s):  
Hong-Gang WANG ◽  
Huan MA ◽  
Zhu LI ◽  
Bin ZHANG ◽  
Xiang-Yang JING ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Loh ◽  
Aung Soe Lin ◽  
Amber C. Beckett ◽  
Mark S. McClain ◽  
Timothy L. Cover

ABSTRACTHelicobacter pyloriCagA is a secreted effector protein that contributes to gastric carcinogenesis. Previous studies showed that there is variation amongH. pyloristrains in the steady-state levels of CagA and that a strain-specific motif downstream of thecagAtranscriptional start site (the +59 motif) is associated with both high levels of CagA and premalignant gastric histology. ThecagA5′ untranslated region contains a predicted stem-loop-forming structure adjacent to the +59 motif. In the current study, we investigated the effect of the +59 motif and the adjacent stem-loop oncagAtranscript levels andcagAmRNA stability. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we found that mutations predicted to disrupt the stem-loop structure resulted in decreased steady-state levels of both thecagAtranscript and the CagA protein. Additionally, these mutations resulted in a decreasedcagAmRNA half-life. Mutagenesis of the +59 motif without altering the stem-loop structure resulted in reduced steady-statecagAtranscript and CagA protein levels but did not affectcagAtranscript stability.cagAtranscript stability was not affected by increased sodium chloride concentrations, an environmental factor known to augmentcagAtranscript levels and CagA protein levels. These results indicate that both a predicted stem-loop structure and a strain-specific +59 motif in thecagA5′ untranslated region influence the levels ofcagAexpression.


2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (17) ◽  
pp. 7762-7771 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Rodney Brister ◽  
Nicholas Muzyczka

ABSTRACT The single-stranded adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV) genome is flanked by terminal repeats (TRs) that fold back on themselves to form hairpinned structures. During AAV DNA replication, the TRs are nicked by the virus-encoded Rep proteins at the terminal resolution site (trs). This origin function apparently requires three sequence elements, the Rep binding element (RBE), a small palindrome that comprises a single tip of an internal hairpin within the TR (RBE′), and the trs. Previously, we determined the sequences at the trs required for Rep-mediated cleavage and demonstrated that the trs endonuclease reaction occurs in two discrete steps. In the first step, the Rep DNA helicase activity unwinds the TR, thereby extruding a stem-loop structure at thetrs. In the second step, Rep transesterification activity cleaves the trs. Here we investigate the contribution of the RBE and RBE′ during this process. Our data indicate that Rep is tethered to the RBE in a specific orientation duringtrs nicking. This orientation appears to align Rep on the AAV TR, allowing specific nucleotide contacts with the RBE′ and directing nicking to the trs. Accordingly, alterations in the polarity or position of the RBE relative to the trsgreatly inhibit Rep nicking. Substitutions within the RBE′ also reduce Rep specific activity, but to a lesser extent. Interestingly, Rep interactions with the RBE and RBE′ during nicking seem to be functionally distinct. Rep contacts with the RBE appear necessary for both the DNA helicase and trs cleavage steps of the endonuclease reaction. On the other hand, RBE′ contacts seem to be required primarily for TR unwinding and formation of thetrs stem-loop structure, not cleavage. Together, these results suggest a model of Rep interaction with the AAV TR during origin nicking through a tripartite cleavage signal comprised of the RBE, the RBE′, and the trs.


2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (23) ◽  
pp. 12008-12022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon L. Walter ◽  
Todd B. Parsley ◽  
Ellie Ehrenfeld ◽  
Bert L. Semler

ABSTRACT The limited coding capacity of picornavirus genomic RNAs necessitates utilization of host cell factors in the completion of an infectious cycle. One host protein that plays a role in both translation initiation and viral RNA synthesis is poly(rC) binding protein 2 (PCBP2). For picornavirus RNAs containing type I internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements, PCBP2 binds the major stem-loop structure (stem-loop IV) in the IRES and is essential for translation initiation. Additionally, the binding of PCBP2 to the 5′-terminal stem-loop structure (stem-loop I or cloverleaf) in concert with viral protein 3CD is required for initiation of RNA synthesis directed by poliovirus replication complexes. PCBP1, a highly homologous isoform of PCBP2, binds to poliovirus stem-loop I with an affinity similar to that of PCBP2; however, PCBP1 has reduced affinity for stem-loop IV. Using a dicistronic poliovirus RNA, we were able to functionally uncouple translation and RNA replication in PCBP-depleted extracts. Our results demonstrate that PCBP1 rescues RNA replication but is not able to rescue translation initiation. We have also generated mutated versions of PCBP2 containing site-directed lesions in each of the three RNA-binding domains. Specific defects in RNA binding to either stem-loop I and/or stem-loop IV suggest that these domains may have differential functions in translation and RNA replication. These predictions were confirmed in functional assays that allow separation of RNA replication activities from translation. Our data have implications for differential picornavirus template utilization during viral translation and RNA replication and suggest that specific PCBP2 domains may have distinct roles in these activities.


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