In silico study the interaction of heterocyclic bases with peptide moieties of proteins in the "fragment-to-fragment" approach

The binding affinity of model peptide moieties (Pept) and heterocyclic bases involving 1,3-oxazoles that are condensed with pyridine and pyrimidine as pharmacophores (Pharm) was investigated in silico and analyzed within the «fragment-to-fragment» approach. The anellation of the heterocyclic rings increasing their acceptor properties is accompanied by gaining stability of the [Pharm-Pept] complexes formed by the π,π-stacking interaction. It was found that elongation of the polypeptide chain led to a twofold increase of the stabilization energy of the [Pharm-Pept] complexes. The stability of the hydrogen bonding ([HB]) [Pharm-BioM] complexes formed by means of the interaction between the dicoordinated nitrogen atom of the heterocycle and the functional groups of peptide amino acids (-OH, -NH2, -SH) was evaluated. It was demonstrated that [HB]-complexes that were formed by hydrogen bonds formation with amino acid that contained OH groups had the largest stabilization effect. The anellation with pyridine and pyrimidine rings led to stability increase of the complexes formed by the hydrogen bonding mechanism. The binding energy of [HB]-complexes for compounds 2b and 3 with a «free» peptide bond of the extended part of the protein is lower compared to amino acids with OH-functional groups. On the contrary, the binding energy of compound 4 with peptides was 2 kcal/mol higher. Compound 4 demonstrated the most pronounced biological activity in vitro studies.

Base-intercalated and base-wedged stacking elements in 3D-structure of RNA and RNA–protein complexes

Along with nucleobase pairing, base-base stacking interactions are one of the two main types of strong non-covalent interactions that define the unique secondary and tertiary structure of RNA. In this paper we studied two subfamilies of nucleobase-inserted stacking structures: (i) with any base intercalated between neighboring nucleotide residues (base-intercalated element, BIE, i + 1); (ii) with any base wedged into a hydrophobic cavity formed by heterocyclic bases of two nucleotides which are one nucleotide apart in sequence (base-wedged element, BWE, i + 2). We have exploited the growing database of natively folded RNA structures in Protein Data Bank to analyze the distribution and structural role of these motifs in RNA. We found that these structural elements initially found in yeast tRNAPhe are quite widespread among the tertiary structures of various RNAs. These motifs perform diverse roles in RNA 3D structure formation and its maintenance. They contribute to the folding of RNA bulges and loops and participate in long-range interactions of single-stranded stretches within RNA macromolecules. Furthermore, both base-intercalated and base-wedged motifs participate directly or indirectly in the formation of RNA functional centers, which interact with various ligands, antibiotics and proteins.

Gold Nanoparticles as Colorimetric Sensors for the Detection of DNA Bases and Related Compounds

Results regarding interaction of colloidal gold solutions with nucleobases, including uracil (U), as well as its sulfur derivatives, 2-thiouracil (2TU) and 4-thiouracil (4TU), cytosine (C), adenine (A), and guanine (G), as well as urea and thiourea (TU), are reported. Anionic stabilized citrate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by reducing the tetrachloroaurate (III) trihydrate with trisodium citrate. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band was used in the characterization of synthesized AuNPs, as well as transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging, which was used in the characterization of dispersed and aggregated gold nanoparticles. Interactions of nucleobases with the gold surface was analyzed by following the plasmon absorbance band red shift of the AuNPs. The sulfur-containing compounds adsorbed to the nanoparticle surfaces by chemisorption-type interactions; with TU and 4TU, the process is accompanied by a sudden change in color; in contrast, 2TU forms stable functionalized gold nanoparticles. Urea and U do not adsorb to nanoparticle surfaces, but the other heterocyclic bases containing nitrogen interact effectively with the gold surface, causing the assembly of nanoparticles, even though the interparticle self-aggregation process was slower than that mediated by either TU or 4TU. The method is efficient in the colorimetric detection of nucleobases and derivatives at concentration levels on the order of 1 µM.

Strained Conformations of Nucleosides in Active Sites of Nucleoside Phosphorylases

Nucleoside phosphorylases catalyze the reversible phosphorolysis of nucleosides to heterocyclic bases, giving α-d-ribose-1-phosphate or α-d-2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate. These enzymes are involved in salvage pathways of nucleoside biosynthesis. The level of these enzymes is often elevated in tumors, which can be used as a marker for cancer diagnosis. This review presents the analysis of conformations of nucleosides and their analogues in complexes with nucleoside phosphorylases of the first (NP-1) family, which includes hexameric and trimeric purine nucleoside phosphorylases (EC 2.4.2.1), hexameric and trimeric 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylases (EC 2.4.2.28), and uridine phosphorylases (EC 2.4.2.3). Nucleosides adopt similar conformations in complexes, with these conformations being significantly different from those of free nucleosides. In complexes, pentofuranose rings of all nucleosides are at the W region of the pseudorotation cycle that corresponds to the energy barrier to the N↔S interconversion. In most of the complexes, the orientation of the bases with respect to the ribose is in the high-syn region in the immediate vicinity of the barrier to syn ↔ anti transitions. Such conformations of nucleosides in complexes are unfavorable when compared to free nucleosides and they are stabilized by interactions with the enzyme. The sulfate (or phosphate) ion in the active site of the complexes influences the conformation of the furanose ring. The binding of nucleosides in strained conformations is a characteristic feature of the enzyme–substrate complex formation for this enzyme group.

Luminescent EuIII and TbIII bimetallic complexes of N,N′-heterocyclic bases and tolfenamic acid: structures, photophysical aspects and biological activity

The isostructural bimetallic luminescent EuIII and TbIII dimers containing N,N′-heterocyclic bases and tolfenamic acid as a bridging ligands were evaluated for their structures, cellular imaging capability and photocytotoxicity.

Beginning of Life on Planets

Beginning of life on a planet including earth would occur with the formation of nucleotides from such precursors as linear polyphosphate anion, D-ribose, and heterocyclic bases in presence of metasilicate anion of composition (SiO32-)n, metaborate anion of composition (BO2)nn-, and enstatite (MgSiO3). These complex silicates and borates might have acted as catalysts as well as moulds for the production of the nucleotides of DNA/RNA.

Thermophilic phosphoribosyltransferases Thermus thermophilus HB27 in nucleotide synthesis

Phosphoribosyltransferases are the tools that allow the synthesis of nucleotide analogues using multi-enzymatic cascades. The recombinant adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (TthAPRT) and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (TthHPRT) from Thermus thermophilus HB27 were expressed in E.coli strains and purified by chromatographic methods with yields of 10–13 mg per liter of culture. The activity dependence of TthAPRT and TthHPRT on different factors was investigated along with the substrate specificity towards different heterocyclic bases. The kinetic parameters for TthHPRT with natural substrates were determined. Two nucleotides were synthesized: 9-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2-chloroadenine 5'-monophosphate (2-Сl-AMP) using TthAPRT and 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4-one 5'-monophosphate (Allop-MP) using TthНPRT.