3.1 Papers
3.1.6 Chronological list
3.1.6.71 Jin, E., Katritch, V., Olson, W.K., Kharatisvili, M., Abagyan, R., Pilch, D.S. (2000). Aminoglycoside binding in the major groove of duplex RNA: the thermodynamic and electrostatic forces that govern recognition. J. Mol. Biol. Apr 21 298 (1), 95-110
We use a combination of spectroscopic, calorimetric, viscometric and computer modeling techniques to characterize the binding of the
aminoglycoside antibiotic, tobramycin, to the polymeric RNA duplex, poly(rI).poly(rC), which exhibits the characteristic A-type
conformation that is conserved among natural and synthetic double-helical RNA sequences. Our results reveal the following significant
features: (i) CD-detected binding of tobramycin to poly(rI).poly(rC) reveals an apparent site size of four base-pairs per bound drug
molecule; (ii) tobramycin binding enhances the thermal stability of the host poly(rI).poly(rC) duplex, the extent of which decreases upon
increasing in Na(+) concentration and/or pH conditions; (iii) the enthalpy of tobramycin- poly(rI).poly(rC) complexation increases with
increasing pH conditions, an observation consistent with binding-induced protonation of one or more drug amino groups; (iv) the affinity
of tobramycin for poly(rI).poly(rC) is sensitive to both pH and Na(+) concentration, with increases in pH and/or Na(+) concentration
resulting in a concomitant reduction in binding affinity. The salt dependence of the tobramycin binding affinity reveals that the drug binds
to the host RNA duplex as trication. (v) The thermodynamic driving force for tobramycin- poly(rI).poly(rC) complexation depends on pH
conditions. Specifically, at pH< or =6.0, tobramycin binding is entropy driven, but is enthalpy driven at pH>6.0. (vi) Viscometric data
reveal non-intercalative binding properties when tobramycin complexes with poly(rI).poly(rC), consistent with a major groove-directed
mode of binding. These data also are consistent with a binding-induced reduction in the apparent molecular length of the host RNA
duplex. (vii) Computer modeling studies reveal a tobramycin-poly(rI). poly(rC) complex in which the drug fits snugly at the base of the
RNA major groove and is stabilized, at least in part, by an array of hydrogen bonding interactions with both base and backbone atoms of
the host RNA. These studies also demonstrate an inability of tobramycin to form a stable low-energy complex with the minor groove of
the poly(rI).poly(rC) duplex. In the aggregate, our results suggest that tobramycin-RNA recognition is dictated and controlled by a broad
range of factors that include electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding interactions, drug protonation reactions, and binding-induced
alterations in the structure of the host RNA. These modulatory effects on tobramycin-RNA complexation are discussed in terms of their
potential importance for the selective recognition of specific RNA structural motifs, such as asymmetric internal loops or hairpin
loop-stem junctions, by aminoglycoside antibiotics and their derivatives. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.