Vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy and the effects of metal ions on DNA structure

Vibrational circular dichroism beyond solutions

Since the first vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) experiments conducted in the early 1970s, VCD spectroscopy has significantly advanced and firmly established itself in various fields of modern science and technology. For example, it became one of the preferred methods for absolute configuration determination in the pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, VCD development and applications have mostly focused on samples in solution, whereas applications to solid-state samples remain relatively rare. Although the first solid-state experiments were performed around the time of VCD discovery, they did not become the mainstream due to considerably more demanding methodological and theoretical challenges. In this review, we take the reader on a journey through some of the applications of VCD spectroscopy to solid-state samples. We look at the field of solid-state VCD from both a historical perspective and a methodological point of view, highlighting the diverse directions explored with this technique. We attempt to categorize all the variety of solid-state VCD experiments undertaken to date. Additionally, we briefly outline the main challenges faced by the field, and provide an overview of the theoretical methodology accompanying the experimental developments. Finally, we conclude our solid-state VCD journey with an outlook on the future prospects of the field.

Insight into vibrational circular dichroism of proteins by density functional modeling

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy is an excellent method to determine the secondary structure of proteins in solution. Comparison of experimental spectra with quantum-chemical simulations represents a convenient and objective way to extract information on the structure. This has been difficult for such large molecules where approximate theoretical models have to be used. In the present study we applied the Cartesian-coordinate based tensor transfer (CCT) making it possible to extend the density functional theory (DFT) and model spectral intensities of large globular proteins nearly at quantum-chemical precision. Indeed, comparison with experiment provided a better understanding of the dependence of VCD spectral shapes on the geometry, their sensitivity to fine structural details and interactions with the environment. On a model set of globular proteins the simulated spectra correlated well with experimental data and revealed which structural information can (and cannot) be obtained from this kind of spectroscopy. Although the VCD technique has been regarded as being rather insensitive to side-chain variations, we found that the spectra of human and hen lysozyme differing by a few amino acids only are quite distinct. This has been explained by long-distance coupling of the amide vibrations. Likewise, the modeling reproduced some spectral changes caused by protein deuteration even when the protein structure was conserved.

DNA interaction with zinc(II) ions

We focused on interactions of Zn(II) with DNA in this study. These interactions were monitored using UV/vis spectrophotometry and gel electrophoresis. Firstly, we isolated and amplified 498 bp fragment of DNA. Samples were obtained by incubation of DNA fragment with Zn(II) for 60 min at 25 °C. After incubation, the samples were dialyzed and analyzed immediately. In this way, DNA was converted into a metal bound DNA (Zn-DNA). Interaction of Zn(II) with DNA caused change in the absorption spectrum (190-350 nm) and decrease in the melting temperature (Tm) of Zn-DNA. Spectrophotometric (UV/vis) analysis showed that increasing concentrations of zinc(II) ions led to the increase in the absorbance at 200 nm and decrease in absorbance at 251 nm. Application of zinc(II) ions at 5.5 μM concentration caused decrease in Tm for app. 7.5 °C in average in comparison with control (75.5 ± 3 °C). The lowest melting temperature (60.5 ± 2.5 °C) was observed after application of zinc(II) ions at 33 μM concentration. Gel electrophoresis proved significance of Zn(II) in the renaturation of DNA. Samples of Zn-DNA (15 μM DNA+5.5-55 μM Zn(II)) caused significant changes in the renaturation of DNA in comparison with the control, untreated DNA (15 μM DNA).

Stacked and continuous helical self-assemblies of guanosine monophosphates detected by vibrational circular dichroism

The aim of this study was to characterize self-assembled structures of guanosine derivatives in aqueous solutions by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Three guanosine derivatives were studied [5'-guanosine monophosphate (GMP), diphosphate (GDP), and triphosphate (GTP)] using a broad range of concentrations and various metal/guanosine ratios. VCD was used for the first time in this field and showed itself to be a powerful method for obtaining specific structural information in solution. It can also help to determine the impact that the cations have, when added to the solution, on the versatile structures of guanine derivatives in terms of their association and disassociation. Based on the markedly different intensities and signs of the VCD signals observed for different concentrations of guanosine derivatives, we propose various structures based on guanine quartets for high guanosine concentrations and high K(+)/guanosine ratios (i.e., columnar helical organization of the quartets, which are rearranged into a continuous helix). We performed a degenerate coupled oscillator (DCO) calculation to interpret the VCD spectra obtained and how they vary during the assembly of guanosine derivatives. The calculations correctly predicted the VCD spectra and enabled us to identify the structures of the metal cation/guanosine monophosphate aggregates. ECD in the ultraviolet region was used as a diagnostic tool to characterize the studied systems and as a contact point between the previously defined structures of the guanine derivative assemblies and the molecular systems studied here. These studies revealed that the VCD technique is a powerful new method for determining the structures of optically active guanosine motifs.

Metal ion-promoted conformational changes of oligonucleotides

The review will discuss the influence of metal ions on conformational changes of oligonucleotides. First, a short definition of the torsion angles is given, followed by a concise yet critical overview of the commonly applied experimental techniques. Finally, the possible role of metals upon the following conformational changes of oligonucleotides is discussed: (i) the denaturation of double-strands, (ii) the transition from B- to A-DNA, (iii) the transition from right- to left-handed DNA and RNA, (iv) the condensation, (v) and other conformational changes. We conclude with a summary and outlook.

Spectroscopic detection of DNA quadruplexes by vibrational circular dichroism

The four-stranded G-quadruplex motif is a conformation frequently adopted by guanine-rich nucleic acids that plays an important role in biology, medicine, and nanotechnology. Although vibrational spectroscopy has been widely used to investigate nucleic acid structure, association of particular spectral features with the quadruplex structure has to date been ambiguous. In this work, experimental IR absorption and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of the model quadruplex systems d(G)(8) and deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-dGMP) were analyzed using molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum-chemical modeling. The experimental spectra were unambiguously assigned to the quadruplex DNA arrangement, and several IR and VCD bands related to this structural motif were determined. Involvement of MD in the modeling was essential for realistic simulation of the spectra. The VCD signal was found to be more sensitive to dynamical structural variations than the IR signal. The combination of the spectroscopic techniques with multiscale simulations provides extended information about nucleic acid conformations and their dynamics.

Applications of the Cartesian coordinate tensor transfer technique in the simulations of vibrational circular dichroism spectra of oligonucleotides

The application of the Cartesian coordinate tensor transfer (CCT) technique for simulations of the IR absorption and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of relatively large nucleic acid fragments is demonstrated on several case studies. The approach is based on direct ab initio calculations of atomic tensors, determining molecular properties, for relatively small fragments, and subsequent transfer of these tensors to the larger systems in Cartesian coordinates. This procedure enables precise computations of vibrational spectra for large biomolecular systems, currently with up to several thousands of atoms. The versatile ability of the CCT methods is emphasized on the examples of VCD and IR absorption spectra calculations for B- and Z-forms of DNA, single-, double-, and triple-stranded RNA helices and DNA structures with different base content and sequences. The development and recent improvements of the methodology are followed, including utilization of the constrained normal mode optimization (NMO) strategy and combined quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations. Advantages, drawbacks, and recommendations for future improvements of the CCT method as applied to nucleic acid spectra calculations are discussed.

Bioinspired interactions studied by vibrational circular dichroism

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra are reliable indicators of the spatial structure of chiral molecules. The specific and characteristic feature of vibrational spectroscopy, and therefore also of VCD, where the energy of some vibrational modes is predominantly focused to a specific part of the molecule, enables monitoring both the structure of the molecule dissolved in different solvents and under different physicochemical conditions and molecular interactions. This minireview deals with recent contributions covering structural information on the bioinspired interactions obtained by means of VCD, especially in the following areas: interaction of DNA with biomolecules and biogenic metals, guanine tetramers and quadruplexes, biointeractions of bile pigments, and polypeptide and protein interactions with other biomolecules.

Infrared absorption detection of metal ion-deoxyguanosine monophosphate binding: experimental and theoretical study

Metal ion interactions with nucleic acids attract attention because of the environmental and biological consequences. The formation of the complex is often monitored by the vibrational spectroscopy. To identify characteristic binding patterns and marker bands on a model DNA component, infrared absorption spectra of the deoxyguanosine monophosphate complexes with Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Cd(2+) cations were recorded and interpreted on the basis of density-functional computations. The aqueous environment was simulated by continuum and combined continuum-explicit solvent models. For the binding to the N7 position of the guanine base, the computation predicted a characteristic frequency upshift and splitting of the 1578 cm(-1) band, which is in accord with available experimental data. Contrary to the expectation, the modeling suggests that the binding to the carbonyl group might not be detectable, as the metal causes smaller spectral changes if compared to the hydrogen-bound water molecules. The binding to the phosphate group causes significant spectral changes in the sugar-phosphate vibrating region ( approximately 800-1200 cm(-1)), but also notable frequency shifts of the carbonyl vibrations. The Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) ions induced the largest alterations in observed vibrational absorption, which corresponds to the calculated strong interaction energies in the N7-complexes and to previous experimental experience. Additional changes in the vibrational spectra of the copper complexes were observed under high metal concentration, corresponding to the simultaneous binding to the phosphate residue. The two-step Cu(2+) binding process was also confirmed by the microcalorimetry titration curve. The computations and combination of more techniques thus help us to assign and localize spectral changes caused by the metal ion binding to nucleic acids.

DNA oligonucleotide-cis-platin binding: Ab initio interpretation of the vibrational spectra

The cis-platin binding to the d(CCTGGTCC)*d(GGACCAGG) model DNA octamer was monitored with infrared absorption (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopies. The spectra were modeled with the aid of density functional computations and a Cartesian coordinate-based transfer of molecular property tensors from smaller DNA fragments. Because of the fragmentation, the tensors could be calculated with a higher precision. Environmental effects, such as the presence of the solvent or the cis-platin ligand, could be included in the modeling. The solvent was modeled by an explicit inclusion of hydrogen-bound water molecules, positions of which were estimated from a molecular dynamics simulation, or by the polarized continuum COSMO model. The B3LYP and BPW91 functionals used for the calculations of the spectral parameters were combined with the relativistic LANL2DZ platinum pseudo-potentials. The simulations reproduced the main IR and VCD DNA spectral features and explained most of the changes observed experimentally upon metal binding. The results confirmed that the influence of the ligand on DNA vibrational properties is quite complex; it originates in the geometry deformation and normal mode coupling pattern changes of the platinated octamer, as well as in local perturbations of the electronic structure and force field of the GC base pairs to which the platinum is bound. Many of the local effects could be accounted for by a point charge used in place of the metal in the GC complex.

Intercalation of daunomycin into d(CG)4 oligomer duplex containing G x T mismatches by vibrational circular dichroism and infrared absorption spectroscopy

The vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and infrared absorption (IR) spectra of the mismatched octamer oligonucleotides d(CGTGCGCG)(2) (CGT) and d(CGCGTGCG)(2) (CGC) and their complexes with the antitumor drug daunomycin were measured in D(2)O, interpreted, and compared to the octamer d(CGCGCGCG)(2) (CG). The IR spectra of the mismatched octamers in the carbonyl-stretching region are similar to those of the parent CG, whereas the VCD spectra differ in several respects between each other. The main VCD feature due to carbonyl stretching is informative for the mismatches and CG. Vibrational modes in the sugar-phosphate region remain essentially unchanged especially for PO(2) (-) symmetric stretching. Differences between the free and complexed mismatch octamers occurred mainly in the carbonyl-stretching region (1,700-1,600 cm(-1)). The absorption intensity of the C==O peak of G is more prominent for CGC than CGT and resembles CG in this respect. The detailed composition of this doublet is clearly visible, indicating the geometric rearrangement of the base pairs in the presence of the mismatch and upon forming the daunomycin complex.

The effect of manganese(II) on the structure of DNA/HMGB1/H1 complexes: Electronic and vibrational circular dichroism studies

The interactions were studied of DNA with the nonhistone chromatin protein HMGB1 and histone H1 in the presence of manganese(II) ions at different protein to DNA and manganese to DNA phosphate ratios by using absorption and optical activity spectroscopy in the electronic [ultraviolet (UV) and electronic circular dichroism ECD)] and vibrational [infrared (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD)] regions. In the presence of Mn2+, the protein-DNA interactions differ from those without the ions and cause prominent DNA compaction and formation of large intermolecular complexes. At the same time, the presence of HMGB1 and H1 also changed the mode of interaction of Mn2+ with DNA, which now takes place mostly in the major groove of DNA involving N7(G), whereas interactions between Mn2+ and DNA phosphate groups are weakened by histone molecules. Considerable interactions were also detected of Mn2+ ions with aspartic and glutamic amino acid residues of the proteins.

Vibrational circular dichroism signature of hemiprotonated intercalated four-stranded i-DNA

The four-stranded intercalated DNA structure exemplified by the oligonucleotide 5'-d(CCCCCCCCCCCC) (d(C)12) was studied at acidic pH by infrared absorption (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy and compared with spectra of the same oligonucleotide at neutral pH to establish distinct VCD markers for the intercalation motif. The most striking feature is a new absorption at 1694 cm(-1) and its corresponding VCD couplet with reversed sign. These are unique for the intercalated structure and have not been observed for other parallel stranded duplexes. Significant characteristic features resulting from the spatial arrangement of the sugar-phosphate backbone are also clearly present for d(C)12 at acidic pH. An extensive network of CH...O bonds twists the backbone such that multiple through-space vibrational coupling occurs among neighbouring sugar-phosphate residues resulting in unusual VCD signals.

Fourier transform infrared/vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy as an informative tool for the investigation of large supramolecular complexes of biological macromolecules

A combination of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was applied to investigate the structure and formation of large supramolecular DNA-protein complexes. This combination of techniques was used to overcome limitations of UV-CD (electronic, or ECD) spectroscopy due to considerable light scattering in such solutions. Based on the analysis of FTIR and UV-CD spectra, the interaction of DNA with nonhistone chromatin protein HMGB1 and linker histone H1 was studied. The data obtained showed that under the conditions of the experiment (15 mM NaCl, protein/DNA ratio r < 1 w/w) the proteins did not reveal any AT or GC specificity in binding to DNA. In the presence of both proteins, mainly interactions in the DNA minor groove were observed, which were attributed to HMGB1 binding. Histone H1 facilitated binding of HMGB1 to DNA by interacting with the negatively charged groups of the sugar-phosphate backbone and binding of aspartic and glutamic amino acid residues of HMGB1. Acting together, HMGB1 and H1 stimulated the assemblage of supramolecular DNA-protein structures. The structural organization of the ternary complexes depended not only on the properties of the protein-DNA interactions but also on the interactions between HMGB1 and H1 molecules.