Relationship of DNA structure to internal dynamics: Correlation of helical parameters from NOE-based NMR solution structures of d(GCGTACGC)2 and d(CGCTAGCG)2 with 13C order parameters implies conformational coupling in dinucleotide units

Richard J. Isaacs, H. Peter Spielmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The coupling between the conformational properties of double-stranded DNA and its internal dynamics has been examined. The solution structures of the isomeric DNA oligomers d(GCGTACGC)2 (UM) and d(CGCTAGCG)2 (CTSYM) were determined with 1H NMR spectroscopy by utilizing distance restraints from total relaxation matrix analysis of NOESY cross-peak intensities in restrained molecular dynamics calculations. The root-mean-square deviation of the coordinates for the ensemble of structures was 0.13 Å for UM and 0.49 Å for CTSYM, with crystallographic equivalent Rc = 0.41 and 0.39 and sixth-root residual Rx = 0.11 and 0.10 for UM and CTSYM, respectively. Both UM and CTSYM are B-form with straight helical axes and show sequence-dependent variations in conformation. The internal dynamics of UM and CTSYM were previously determined by analysis of 13C relaxation parameters in the context of the Lipari & Szabo model-free formalism. Helical parameters for the two DNA oligomers were examined for linear correlations with the order parameters (S2) of groups of 13C spins in base-pairs and dinucleotide units of UM and CTSYM. Correlations were found for six interstrand base-pair parameters tip, y-displacement, inclination, buckle and stretch with various combinations of S2 for atoms in Watson-Crick base-pairs and for two inter-base-pair parameters, rise and roll with various combinations of S2 for atoms in dinucleotides. The correlations for the interstrand base-pair helical parameters indicate that the conformations of the deoxyribose residues of each strand are dynamically coupled. Also, the inter-base-pair separation has a profound effect on the local internal motions available to the DNA, supporting the idea that rise is a principal degree of freedom for DNA conformational variability. The correlations indicate collective atomic motions of spins that may represent specific motional modes in DNA, and that base sequence has a predictable effect on the relative order of groups of spins both in the bases and in the deoxyribose ring of the DNA backbone. These observations suggest that an important functional outcome of DNA base sequence is the modulation of both the conformation and dynamic behavior of the DNA backbone.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)525-540
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Molecular Biology
Volume307
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 23 2001

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported, in part, by NSF grant MCB-9808633 and the Kentucky-NSF EPSCoR Program (EPS-9452895).

Keywords

  • Helical parameter
  • NMR spectroscopy
  • Order parameter
  • Sequence-dependent structure
  • Spin relaxation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology

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