Solution Structures of a G-Quadruplex Bound to Linear- and Cyclic-Dinucleotides

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Nov 13;141(45):18038-18047. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b05642. Epub 2019 Oct 29.

Abstract

Cyclic dinucleotides have emerged as important secondary messengers and cell signaling molecules that regulate several cell responses. A guanine-deficit G-quadruplex structure formation by a sequence containing (4n - 1) guanines, n denoting the number of G-tetrad layers, was previously reported. Here, a (4n - 1) G-quadruplex structure is shown to be capable of binding guanine-containing dinucleotides in micromolar affinity. The guanine base of the dinucleotides interacts with a vacant G-triad, forming four additional Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds to complete a G-tetrad. Solution structures of two complexes, both comprised of a (4n - 1) G-quadruplex structure, one bound to a linear dinucleotide (d(AG)) and the other to a cyclic dinucleotide (cGAMP), are solved using NMR spectroscopy. The latter suggests sufficiently strong interaction between the guanine base of the dinucleotide and the vacant G-triad, which acts as an anchor point of binding. The binding interfaces from the two solution structures provide useful information for specific ligand design. The results also infer that other guanine-containing metabolites of a similar size have the capability of binding G-quadruplexes, potentially affecting the expression of the metabolites and functionality of the bound G-quadruplexes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dinucleoside Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Dinucleoside Phosphates / genetics
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Guanine / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Bonding

Substances

  • Dinucleoside Phosphates
  • Guanine