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R K Olsen

Publications and source records attributed to R K Olsen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

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

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.

Animals

Sequence-specific binding of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM to TpA.

The sequence selective binding of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM to DNA has been studied by footprinting experiments on DNA fragments containing the self-complementary sequences CGCGATATCGCG, CGCGTATACGCG, CGCGTTAACGCG and CGCGAATTCGCG. DNAase I and micrococcal nuclease reveal drug-induced footprints with the central sequences ATAT, TATA and TTAA, but not AATT, suggesting that the ligand binds to the dinucleotide TpA. The ligand renders certain adenines hyper-reactive to diethyl pyrocarbonate. These are observed with ATAT, TATA and TTAA, but not AATT, and are located both within, and distal to, the TpA-binding sites.

Base Sequence

Bifunctional intercalator [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM binds to the dinucleotide TpA.

The binding of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM has been examined by DNase I footprinting and diethyl pyrocarbonate modification of several synthetic DNA fragments containing AT-rich regions. DNase I footprinting reveals that at low concentrations the ligand binds preferentially to the center of (AT)n regions. A fragment containing the tetranucleotide AATT was unaffected by the ligand. Diethyl pyrocarbonate modification of several fragments containing blocks of (AT)n revealed a pattern in which alternate adenines were rendered more reactive in the presence of the ligand. These reactive adenines were staggered across the two DNA strands in the 3'-direction, consistent with ligand binding to the dinucleotide TpA. In sequences of the type (TAA)n.(TTA)n, binding of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM resulted in strong modification of the second adenine in the sequence TAA, i.e., the base on the 3'-side of the ligand binding site. Data for binding to (AT)n are best explained by suggesting that the adenines sandwiched between the quinoxaline chromophores are rendered most reactive to diethyl pyrocarbonate.

Base Sequence

Proton NMR studies of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM binding to DNA oligonucleotides: sequence-specific binding at the TpA site.

[N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM, an undermethylated analogue of Triostin A, contains two N-methyl groups on the cysteine residues only. Footprinting results showed that [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM binds strongly to DNA rich in A.T residues [Low, C. M. L., Fox, K. R., Olsen, R. K., & Waring, M. J. (1986) Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 2015-2033]. However, it was not known whether specific binding of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM requires a TpA step or an ApT step. In 1:1 saturated complexes with the octamers [d(GGATATCC)]2 and [d(GGTTAACC)]2, [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM binds to each octamer as a bis-intercalator bracketing the TpA step. The octadepsipeptide ring binds in the minor groove of the DNA. Analysis of sugar coupling constants from the phase-sensitive COSY data indicates that the sugar of the thymine in the TpA binding site adopts predominantly an N-type sugar conformation, while the remaining sugars on the DNA adopt an S-type conformation, as has been observed in other Triostin A and echinomycin complexes. The drug does not bind to the octamer [d(GGAATTCC)]2 as a bis-intercalator. Only weak nonintercalative binding is observed to this DNA octamer. These results show unambiguously that [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM binds sequence specifically at TpA sites in DNA. The factors underlying the sequence specificity of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM binding to DNA are discussed.

Adenine Nucleotides

Two-dimensional 1H and 31P NMR spectra of a decamer oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplex and a quinoxaline ((MeCys3, MeCys7)(TANDEM) drug duplex complex.

Assignment of the 1H and 31P NMR spectra of a decamer oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplex, d(CCCGATCGGG), and its quinoxaline ((MeCys3, MeCys7]TANDEM) drug duplex complex has been made by two-dimensional 1H-1H and heteronuclear 31P-1H correlated spectroscopy. The 31P chemical shifts of this 10 base pair oligonucleotide follow the general observation that the more internal the phosphate is located within the oligonucleotide sequence, the more upfield the 31P resonance occurs. While the 31P chemical shifts show sequence-specific variations, they also do not generally follow the Calladine "rules" previously demonstrated. 31P NMR also provides a convenient monitor of the phosphate ester backbone conformational changes upon binding of the drug to the duplex. Although the quinoxaline drug, [MeCys3, MeCys7]TANDEM, is generally expected to bind to duplex DNA by bis-intercalation, only small 31P chemical shift changes are observed upon binding the drug to duplex d(CCCGATCGGG). Additionally, only small perturbations in the 1H NMR and UV spectra are observed upon binding the drug to the decamer, although association of the drug stabilizes the duplex form relative to the other states. These results are consistent with a non-intercalative mode of association of the drug. Modeling and molecular mechanics energy minimization demonstrate that a novel structure in which the two quinoxaline rings of the drug binds in the minor groove of the duplex is possible.

Animals

DNA sequence recognition by under-methylated analogues of triostin A.

Two new analogues of TANDEM (des-N-tetramethyl triostin A) have been synthesised in an effort to elucidate the molecular basis of DNA nucleotide sequence recognition in this series of compounds. Their binding preferences have been investigated by DNAase I footprinting and differential inhibition of restriction nuclease attack. The presence of a single N-methyl group on only one valine residue (in [N-MeVal4] TANDEM) abolishes the ability to recognise DNA, presumably because this antibiotic analogue has suffered an unfavourable conformational change in the depsipeptide ring. A bis-methylated analogue, [N-MeCys3, N-MeCys7]TANDEM, was found to interact quite strongly with DNA and afforded binding sites, rich in AT residues, identical to those of TANDEM. Footprinting with various DNA fragments of known sequence showed that this analogue recognises sequences containing the dinucleotide TpA, although we cannot exclude the possibility that it binds to ApT as well. [N-MeCys3, N-MeCys7]TANDEM inhibits cutting by RsaI, a restriction enzyme that recognises GTAC but not by Sau3AI which recognises GATC. This provides further supportive evidence that the ligand (and, by extension, TANDEM itself) prefers binding to sequences containing the dinucleotide step TpA.

Amino Acid Sequence

Sequence preferences in the binding to DNA of triostin A and TANDEM as reported by DNase I footprinting.

Six or seven triostin-binding sites have been identified in a 160-base-pair DNA restriction fragment containing the tyr T promoter sequence. Each is centred round a CpG step, and the minimum binding site-size appears to be six base pairs. The sites are practically the same as those reported for echinomycin by DNase I digestion. Only two sites are protected by binding of TANDEM, the des-N-tetramethyl analogue of triostin A; they are centred around the sequences ATA or TAT.

Binding Sites

Retrohydroxamate ferrichrome, a biomimetic analogue of ferrichrome.

A new synthetic analogue of ferrichrome, retrohydroxamate ferrichrome, has been examined for biological activity. Although spectroscopic evidence indicates that the analogue is a weaker Fe(III) chelator than ferrichrome, retrohydroxamate ferrichrome is indistinguishable from ferrichrome in its growth factor activity for Arthrobacter flavescens, and in its potency in antagonizing the antibiotic activity of albomyhcin against Bacillus subtilis. It is as active as ferrichrome as a siderophore for the fungus, Ustaligo sphaerogena. In contrast, desmethylretrohydroxamate ferrichrome shows no significant biological activity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on the binding of des-N-tetramethyltriostin A to DNA.

The interaction between TANDEM (a des-methyl analogue of triostin A) and poly(dA-dT) results in extension of the helix by 6.8 A for each ligand molecule bound, exactly as predicted for a bis-intercalation reaction. Cooperativity is evident in Scatchard plots for the interaction at ionic strengths of 0.2 and 1.0, where the binding constant is diminished compared to that which pertains at low salt concentrations. Binding to a natural DNA (calf thymus), already considerably weaker than binding to poly(dA-dT), is also sensitive to increased ionic strength. With a self-complementary octanucleotide d(G-G-T-A-T-A-C-C) the binding curve indicates the presence of a single des-N-tetramethyltriostin A binding site per helical fragment with a non-cooperative association constant about 6 . 10(6) M-1. Detergent-induced dissociation of des-N-tetramethyltriostin A-poly(dA-dT) complexes results in a simple exponential decay at all levels of binding, but the time constant of decay is dependent upon the initial binding ratio. This behavior cannot directly explain the cooperativity of equilibrium binding isotherms but suggests the occurrence of relatively long-lived perturbations of the helical structure by binding of the ligand. [Ala3, Ala7]des-N-tetramethyltriostin A, which has a more flexible octapeptide ring lacking the disulphide cross-bridge, dissociates from poly(dA-dT) much faster than des-N-tetramethyltriostin A. Dissociation of des-N-tetramethyltriostin A from calf thymus DNA is more rapid than dissociation of triostin A or other quinoxaline antibiotics, which may account for its low antimicrobial activity.

Animals

A method for the specific inhibition of poly[d(A-T)] synthesis using the A-T specific quinoxaline antibiotic TANDEM.

A serious problem in the replication of repeating-sequence DNa polymers using Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I arises from the fact that this polymerase has a very strong preference for the replication of poly[d(A-T)]. Thus reactions primed with DNA containing small amounts of contaminating poly[d(A-T)] will eventually result in complete domination of the synthesis by poly[d(A-T)]. This problem can be overcome by the addition to the reaction mixture of the synthetic quinoxaline antibiotic TANDEM which binds specifically to poly[d(A-T)] completely inhibiting its replication. Using thermal denaturation experiments it can be shown that TANDEM does not bind to most other synthetic DNA polymers (e.g., poly(dA) . poly(dT) and poly[d(A-T-C)] . poly[d(G-A-T)] and therefore their replication is not inhibited. The only exception we have encountered is poly[d(T-A-C)] . poly[d(G-T-A)] which does bind TANDEM and therefore the drug cannot be used during the synthesis of this polymer. The fact that poly[d(T-A-C)] . poly[d(G-T-A)] does bind TANDEM while poly[d(A-T-C)] . poly[d(G-A-T)] does not, suggests that the drug recognizes T-A rather than A-T sequences.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Interaction between synthetic analogues of quinoxaline antibiotics and nucleic acids: role of the disulphide cross-bridge and D-amino acid centres in des-N-tetramethyl-triostin A.

1 [Ala3, Ala7] TANDEM is an analogue of des-N-tetramethyl-triostin A (TANDEM) in which both L-Cys residues of the octapeptide ring are replaced by L-Ala; accordingly it lacks the disulphide cross-bridge which limits the conformational flexibility of TANDEM. 2 In [L-Ser1] TANDEM the configuration of one of the serine residues is inverted, altering the disposition of one of the quinoxaline chromophores with respect to the peptide ring. 3 Both compounds interact weakly but detectably with natural DNAs as judged by spectral shifts and increases in the thermal denaturation ('melting') temperature Tm. They also raise the Tm of poly rA . poly rU. 4 Binding isotherms determined by solvent partition analysis with [Ala3, Ala7] TANDEM yield association constants of about 10(3) M-1 for its interaction with natural DNAs. A Scatchard plot for binding to poly(dA-dT) determined by solvent partition and spectrophotometric methods shows marked evidence of cooperativity with an intrinsic association constant 1.9 x 10(4) M-1, 8.7 nucleotides per binding site, and cooperativity parameter 15. 5 Binding of [Ala3, Ala7] TANDEM to short rod-like fragments of poly(dA-dT) increases their contour length by almost the theoretical amount expected for an ideal process of bifunctional intercalation. 6 No effect of either compound on the winding of the DNA helix could be detected in sedimentation experiments with closed circular duplex PM2 DNA. 7 It is concluded that the cross-bridge of TANDEM greatly stabilizes its binding to DNA, most probably via entropic factors, but is not the only structural feature that influences its AT sequence-selectivity. The consequences of epimerising one of the D-Ser residues appear as disastrous as epimerising both. 8 The experimental details for the synthesis of [Ala3, Ala7] TANDEM and [L-Ser1] TANDEM are given in an appendix to this paper.

Amino Acids