Tetrahelical structural family adopted by AGCGA-rich regulatory DNA regions

Nat Commun. 2017 May 17:8:15355. doi: 10.1038/ncomms15355.

Abstract

Here we describe AGCGA-quadruplexes, an unexpected addition to the well-known tetrahelical families, G-quadruplexes and i-motifs, that have been a focus of intense research due to their potential biological impact in G- and C-rich DNA regions, respectively. High-resolution structures determined by solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy demonstrate that AGCGA-quadruplexes comprise four 5'-AGCGA-3' tracts and are stabilized by G-A and G-C base pairs forming GAGA- and GCGC-quartets, respectively. Residues in the core of the structure are connected with edge-type loops. Sequences of alternating 5'-AGCGA-3' and 5'-GGG-3' repeats could be expected to form G-quadruplexes, but are shown herein to form AGCGA-quadruplexes instead. Unique structural features of AGCGA-quadruplexes together with lower sensitivity to cation and pH variation imply their potential biological relevance in regulatory regions of genes responsible for basic cellular processes that are related to neurological disorders, cancer and abnormalities in bone and cartilage development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Development / genetics
  • Bone and Bones / abnormalities
  • Cartilage / abnormalities
  • Cartilage / growth & development
  • Cations / chemistry
  • Computational Biology
  • Congenital Abnormalities / genetics
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / physiology
  • Genome, Human / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Nervous System Diseases / genetics
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / physiology*
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

  • Cations
  • DNA