Biomedical subjects

T Garestier

Publications and source records attributed to T Garestier.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Stability of triple helices containing RNA and DNA strands: experimental and molecular modeling studies.

UV-absorption spectrophotometry and molecular modeling have been used to study the influence of the chemical nature of sugars (ribose or deoxyribose) on triple helix stability. For the Pyrimidine.purine* Pyrimidine motif, all eight combinations were tested with each of the three strands composed of either DNA or RNA. The chemical nature of sugars has a dramatic influence on triple helix stability. For each double helix composition, a more stable triple helix was formed when the third strand was RNA rather than DNA. No stable triple helix was detected when the polypurine sequence was made of RNA with a third strand made of DNA. Energy minimization studies using the JUMNA program suggested that interactions between the 2'-hydroxyl group of the third strand and the phosphates of the polypurine strand play an important role in determining the relative stabilities of triple-helical structures in which the polypyrimidine third strand is oriented parallel to the polypurine sequence. These interactions are not allowed when the third strand adopts an antiparallel orientation with respect to the target polypurine sequence, as observed when the third strand contains G and A or G and T/U. We show by footprinting and gel retardation experiments that an oligoribonucleotide containing G and A or G and U fails to bind double helical DNA, while the corresponding DNA oligomers form stable triple-helical complexes.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Characterization of a triple helix-specific ligand. BePI (3-methoxy-7H-8-methyl-11- [(3'-amino)propylamino]-benzo[e]pyrido[4,3-b]indole) intercalates into both double-helical and triple-helical DNA.

A benzo[e]pyridoindole derivative, 3-methoxy-7H-8-methyl-11-[(3'-amino)propylamino] -benzo[e]pyrido[4,3-b]indole (BePI), and its interactions with double and triple-helical DNA have been investigated by a variety of fluorescence, spectrophotometric, hydrodynamic and molecular modeling techniques. Binding to DNA stabilizes the doubly charged (+2) form of BePI, increasing the apparent pKa of the 10-NH proton by approximately 1 pH unit. Binding to DNA also quenches the fluorescence of BePI, with a greater extent of quenching upon binding triplex relative to duplex DNA. BePI preferentially binds (and stabilizes) triple-helical relative to double-helical DNA. This preferential binding is not restricted to triplexes containing solely T x A.T base triplets. In addition, BePI preferentially stabilizes the poly(dA).poly(dT) relative to the poly[d(A-T)].poly[d(A-T)] duplex. Viscosity studies demonstrate that, upon binding, BePI induces the unwinding of negative supercoils in the pBR322 plasmid, and increases the relative contour lengths of double and triple-helical polydeoxynucleotides. Fluorescence studies reveal that energy transfer occurs from polynucleotide bases to bound BePI molecules in both BePI/duplex and BePI/triplex complexes. In a BePI/triplex complex, an average of 4.8 bases appear to transfer excitation energy totally to a bound BePI molecule, while in various BePI/duplex complexes an average of only 2.5 bases appear to do so, indicating that energy transfer is more efficient in the former complex. Measurements of fluorescence quenching indicate that BePI is protected from quenching by acrylamide when bound to either double or triple-helical polynucleotides. The viscosity and fluorescence behavior of BePI are fully consistent with the conclusion that BePI intercalates into both double and triple-helical DNA. Molecular modeling studies suggest that stronger stacking interactions between intercalated BePI and adjacent bases in BePI/triplex relative to BePI/duplex complexes may account for the enhanced thermal stability of the former complex.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Kinetics and thermodynamics of triple-helix formation: effects of ionic strength and mismatches.

Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for the triplex-forming reactions between a homopurine-homopyrimidine 22-base-pair duplex (sequence of the purine strand: 5'd[AAAGGAGGAGAAGAAGAAAAAA]3') and the four 22-dN third strands (22 dN: 5'd[TTTCCTCCTCTNCTTCTTTTTT]3', where N = A, C, T, or G) were determined from thermal denaturation and renaturation UV absorbance profiles. Cooling and heating curves were not superimposable and thus allowed us to determine the rate constants of association (k(on)) and dissociation (k(off)) as a function of temperature, assuming a two-state model analogous to that developed for duplex-forming reactions. Experiments were performed in 10 mM cacodylate buffer (pH 6.8) in the presence of NaCl concentrations ranging from 20 to 300 mM. Within experimental accuracy, the main results are the following: (i) The rate constants k(on) and k(off) result in linear Arrhenius plots, consistent with the prediction of two-state association and dissociation (ii) k(on) is independent of the nature of the base N located in the center of the third strand. (iii) k(on) strongly decreases when the NaCl concentration is decreased. (iv) The activation energy, E(on), is always negative and becomes more negative when the NaCl concentration is decreased. (v) k(off) is independent of NaCl concentration but depends on the base N, with its magnitude following the order C greater than G greater than A much greater than T. (vi) The activation energy, E(off), is independent of the base N. All these results are discussed in the light of a nucleation-zipping model similar to that developed for the duplex-coil transitions [Craig, M. E., Crothers, D. M., & Doty, P. (1971) J. Mol. Biol. 62, 383-401; Pörschke, D., Eigen, M. (1971) J. Mol. Biol. 62, 361-381].

Base Composition↗

PubMed1992

Triple-helix formation by oligonucleotides containing the three bases thymine, cytosine, and guanine.

A homopurine-homopyrimidine sequence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proviral DNA was chosen as a target for triple-helix-forming oligonucleotides. An oligonucleotide containing three bases (thymine, cytosine, and guanine) was shown to bind to its target sequence under physiological conditions. This oligonucleotide is bound in a parallel orientation with respect to the homopurine sequence. Thymines recognize A.T base pairs to form T.A.T base triplets and guanines recognize a run of G.C base pairs to form G.G.C base triplets. A single 5-methylcytosine was shown to stabilize the triple helix when incorporated in a stretch of thymines; it recognizes a single G.C base pair in a run of A.T base pairs. These results provide some of the rules required for choosing the more appropriate oligonucleotide sequence to form a triple helix at a homopurine-homopyrimidine sequence of duplex DNA. A psoralen derivative attached to the oligonucleotide containing thymine, 5-methylcytosine, and guanine was shown to photoinduce cross-linking of the two DNA strands at the target sequence in a plasmid containing part of the HIV proviral DNA sequence. Triplex formation and cross-linking were monitored by inhibition of Dra I restriction enzyme cleavage. The present results provide a rational basis for the development of triplex-forming oligonucleotides targeted to specific sequences of the HIV provirus integrated in its host genome.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

A computational and experimental study of the bending induced at a double-triple helix junction.

We have studied the conformation of a 17 base-pair homopyrimidine.homopurine triple helix formed on a fragment of duplex DNA derived from Simian Virus SV40. Gel retardation assays indicate that an 80 base-pair fragment has an altered conformation when the triple helix is formed, which is most likely to result from an induced bend in the DNA. Investigation of the detailed conformation of the double helix-triple helix junctions has been performed by means of molecular modelling. Bending on the 5' and 3' sides of the third strand oligonucleotide are not located at equivalent positions with respect to the junctions, which is explained in terms of base stacking. The junction effects on DNA structure, induced by the requirement for cytosine protonation in the Hoogsteen-bonded strand to form CGC+ base triplets, are also discussed.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Stable triple helices are formed upon binding of RNA oligonucleotides and their 2'-O-methyl derivatives to double-helical DNA.

Pyrimidine oligoribonucleotides bind to the major groove of double-helical DNA at homopurine.homopyrimidine sequences. They recognize Watson-Crick base pairs by forming T.A x U and C.G x C base triplets via Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding. The stability of these triple helices is much higher than that of triple helices formed by oligodeoxyribonucleotides as shown by an increase of the temperature at which half-dissociation of the third strand occurs. When the 2'-hydroxyl group of ribose moieties is replaced by 2'-O-methyl substituent, triple helix stability is further increased.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Triple helix-forming oligonucleotides conjugated to indolocarbazole poisons direct topoisomerase I-mediated DNA cleavage to a specific site.

Topoisomerase I is an ubiquitous DNA-cleaving enzyme and an important therapeutic target in cancer chemotherapy for camptothecins as well as for indolocarbazole antibiotics such as rebeccamycin. To achieve a sequence-specific cleavage of DNA by topoisomerase I, a triple helix-forming oligonucleotide was covalently linked to indolocarbazole-type topoisomerase I poisons. The three indolocarbazole-oligonucleotide conjugates investigated were able to direct topoisomerase I cleavage at a specific site based upon sequence recognition by triplex formation. The efficacy of topoisomerase I-mediated DNA cleavage depends markedly on the intrinsic potency of the drug. We show that DNA cleavage depends also upon the length of the linker arm between the triplex-forming oligonucleotide and the drug. Based on a known structure of the DNA-topoisomerase I complex, a molecular model of the oligonucleotide conjugates bound to the DNA-topoisomerase I complex was elaborated to facilitate the design of a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor-oligonucleotide conjugate with an optimized linker between the two moieties. The resulting oligonucleotide-indolocarbazole conjugate at 10 nM induced cleavage at the triple helix site 2-fold more efficiently than 5 microM of free indolocarbazole, while the other drug-sensitive sites were not cleaved. The rational design of drug-oligonucleotide conjugates carrying a DNA topoisomerase poison may be exploited to improve the efficacy and selectivity of chemotherapeutic cancer treatments by targeting specific genes and reducing drug toxicity.

Aminoglycosides↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recognition of alternating oligopurine/oligopyrimidine tracts of DNA by oligonucleotides with base-to-base linkages.

A new concept is presented to design and synthesize modified oligonucleotides in order to extend the range of double-helical DNA sequences that can be recognized by oligonucleotides via triple helix formation. The DNA target is composed of adjacent oligopurine.oligopyrimidine domains where the oligopurine sequences alternate on the two DNA strands. Canonical (C,T)-motif triple helices are formed with each oligopurine.oligopyrimidine domain of the target sequence. The two third-strand oligonucleotides were joined together via an appropriate linker between the two terminal bases with either a 3'-3' or a 5'-5' polarity. Molecular modeling was used to predict the optimal length of the linker bridging two terminal bases. The interaction of DNA with such a modified oligonucleotide containing a C3'-3'U linkage was studied by thermal dissociation, footprinting, and gel retardation experiments. They provide experimental evidence that the oligonucleotide does form a switched triple helix on this extended DNA target sequence. The binding of the so-called "switch oligonucleotide" is enhanced as compared to the two unlinked parental oligonucleotides which form triple helices with each oligopurine.oligopyrimidine domain of the target sequence.

Base Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Conjugates of oligonucleotides with triplex-specific intercalating agents. Stabilization of triple-helical DNA in the promoter region of the gene for the alpha-subunit of interleukin 2 (IL-2R alpha).

The stabilization of triple-helical DNA under physiological conditions is an important goal for the control of gene expression using the antigen strategy, an approach whereby an oligonucleotide binds to the major groove of double-helical DNA to fom a triple helix. To this end, triplex-specific intercalators, namely benzopyridoindole (BPI) and benzopyridoquinoxaline (BPQ) derivatives, have been conjugated to the 5' end or to an internucleotide position of a 15-mer oligonucleotide. These conjugates were then tested, using thermal denaturation experiments, for their ability to form and stabilize a triple-helical structure involving a 42-mer duplex target. All of the conjugates were found to do so. The B[h]PQ derivatives stabilized particularly well when attached to the 5' end with a delta Tm of 15 degrees C and -delta delta G degrees 37 of 3.4 kcal mol-1 (pH 6.9, 140 mM KCI, 15 mM sodium cacodylate, 2 mM MgCl2, 0.8 mM spermine). Though most of the derivatives when attached to the internucleotide position were not able to stabilize triple-helical DNA as well as when attached to the 5' end, one B[f]PQ derivative with an internucleotide attachment did so, with a delta Tm of 13 degrees C and -delta delta G degrees 37 of 2.8 kcal mol-1. To a lesser degree, these conjugates were also able to stabilize duplex structures with single-stranded targets. Results were compared to the stabilization obtained with acridine conjugates as well as to a similar study performed with a different sequence.

DNA↗