Molecular models of DNA

About: Molecular models of DNA is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 300 publications have been published within this topic receiving 16805 citations.

Origins of the differences between the circular dichroism of DNA and RNA: Theoretical calculations

Abstract: Theoretical calculations of the circular dichroism of double-helical DNA and RNA by the method of Johnson and Tinoco were performed in order to investigate the origins of the optical activity spectral differences between these polynucleotides. Calculations were performed using transition moment directions arising from molecular orbital calculations as well as a transition moment directions in agreement with experimental directions. The results of these calculations indicate that the conservative circular dichroism spectrum of B-form DNA and the nonconservative spectrum of RNA (and A-form DNA) arise as a consequence of the distance between the paired bases and the helix axis. The negative nonconservative spectrum of C-form DNA was calculated and shown also to result from the distance of the paired bases from the helix axis. Several other conspicuous geometric parameters of DNA and RNA were investigated and were found to be less significant in their effects upon the spectral differences. Theoretical calculations on a four-stranded DNA model which has paired bases similarly related to the helix axis as RNA and A-form DNA was found to yield a low intensity, nonconservative circular dichroism spectrum.

Single-Molecule DNA Analysis

Abstract: The ability to detect single molecules of DNA or RNA has led to an extremely rich area of exploration of the single most important biomolecule in nature. In cases in which the nucleic acid molecules are tethered to a solid support, confined to a channel, or simply allowed to diffuse into a detection volume, novel techniques have been developed to manipulate the DNA and to examine properties such as structural dynamics and protein-DNA interactions. Beyond the analysis of the properties of nucleic acids themselves, single-molecule detection has enabled dramatic improvements in the throughput of DNA sequencing and holds promise for continuing progress. Both optical and nonoptical detection methods that use surfaces, nanopores, and zero-mode waveguides have been attempted, and one optically based instrument is already commercially available. The breadth of literature related to single-molecule DNA analysis is vast; this review focuses on a survey of efforts in molecular dynamics and nucleic acid sequencing.

The Solution Structure of the Sac7d/DNA Complex: A Small-Angle X-ray Scattering Study†

Abstract: Small-angle X-ray scattering has been used to study the structure of the multimeric complexes that form between double-stranded DNA and the archaeal chromatin protein Sac7d from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Scattering data from complexes of Sac7d with a defined 32-mer oligonucleotide, with poly[d(GC)], and with E. coli DNA indicate that the protein binds along the surface of an extended DNA structure. Molecular models of fully saturated Sac7d/DNA complexes were constructed using constraints from crystal structure and solution binding data. Conformational space was searched systematically by varying the parameters of the models within the constrained set to find the best fits between the X-ray scattering data and simulated scattering curves. The best fits were obtained for models composed of repeating segments of B-DNA with sharp kinks at contiguous protein binding sites. The results are consistent with extrapolation of the X-ray crystal structure of a 1:1 Sac7d/octanucleotide complex [Robinson, H., et al. (1998) Nature 392, 202-205] to polymeric DNA. The DNA conformation in our multimeric Sac7d/DNA model has the base pairs tilted by about 35 degrees and displaced 3 A from the helix axis. There is a large roll between two base pairs at the protein-induced kink site, resulting in an overall bending angle of about 70 degrees for Sac7d binding. Regularly repeating bends in the fully saturated complex result in a zigzag structure with negligible compaction of DNA. The Sac7d molecules in the model form a unique structure with two left-handed helical ribbons winding around the outside of the right-handed duplex DNA.

Role of sugar re-puckering in the transition of A and B forms of DNA in solution. A molecular dynamics study.

Abstract: State of the art molecular dynamic simulations show that simple modification of the sugar puckering of 2′deoxyriboses leads to a reversible change between two stable forms of DNA which resemble very closely the canonical A and B duplex forms. Analysis of the A-type and B-type structures reveals interesting, and previously unknown features of these two families of conformations of the DNA.

Dynamics of supercoiled DNA with complex knots: large-scale rearrangements and persistent multi-strand interlocking.

Abstract: Knots and supercoiling are both introduced in bacterial plasmids by catalytic processes involving DNA strand passages. While the effects on plasmid organization has been extensively studied for knotting and supercoiling taken separately, much less is known about their concurrent action. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations and oxDNA, an accurate mesoscopic DNA model, to study the kinetic and metric changes introduced by complex (five-crossing) knots and supercoiling in 2 kbp-long DNA rings. We find several unexpected results. First, the conformational ensemble is dominated by two distinct states, differing in branchedness and knot size. Secondly, fluctuations between these states are as fast as the metric relaxation of unknotted rings. In spite of this, certain boundaries of knotted and plectonemically-wound regions can persist over much longer timescales. These pinned regions involve multiple strands that are interlocked by the cooperative action of topological and supercoiling constraints. Their long-lived character may be relevant for the simplifying action of topoisomerases.