Atomic-Scale Characterization of Conformational Changes in the PreQ1 Riboswitch Aptamer upon Ligand Binding
Petrone, Paula, Whitehead, Lewis, Dewhurst, Janetta, Tommasi, Ruben and Pomerantz, Andrea (2011) Atomic-Scale Characterization of Conformational Changes in the PreQ1 Riboswitch Aptamer upon Ligand Binding. Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modeling. ISSN 1093-3296
Abstract
Riboswitches are mRNA structural elements that act as intracellular sensors of small-molecule metabolites. By undergoing conformational changes capable of modulating translation or terminating transcription, riboswitches are able to play a role in regulating the concentration of essential metabolites in the cell. Computer-guided fluorescence experiments were carried out to interrogate molecular dynamics and conformational changes in the minimal riboswitch aptamer that binds 7-aminomethyl-7-deazaguanine (preQ1). Our combined experimental results and computational analysis suggest that the preQ1 riboswitch apo form is structured but shows no evidence of a ligand-binding pocket. Simulations of the apo and bound forms indicate a large conformational change is triggered by the breaking of the Watson-Crick base pairing of nucleotides G11 and C31 upon preQ1 removal, followed by collapse of the pocket due to interfering π-stacking. Computational predictions of local aptamer dynamics were validated by fluorescence experiments employing 2-aminopurine substitutions. In-line probing reactions confirmed that fluorophore-labeled riboswitches retain similar higher-order structural features as the unlabeled aptamer upon ligand binding, although their affinity for the ligand is reduced by the introduction of the fluorescent reporter.
Item Type: | Article |
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Date Deposited: | 13 Oct 2015 13:15 |
Last Modified: | 13 Oct 2015 13:15 |
URI: | https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/3564 |