Understanding how supercoiled DNA releases intramolecular stress is essential for its functional realization.However,the molecular mechanism underlying the relaxation process remains insufficiently explored.Here we em...Understanding how supercoiled DNA releases intramolecular stress is essential for its functional realization.However,the molecular mechanism underlying the relaxation process remains insufficiently explored.Here we employed MD simulations based on the oxDNA2 model to investigate the relaxation process of a 336-base pair supercoiled minicircular DNA under double-strand breaks with two fixed endpoints.Our simulations show that the conformational changes in the DNA occur continuously,with intramolecular stress release happening abruptly only when the DNA chain traverses the breakage site.The relaxation process is influenced not only by the separation distance between the fixed ends but also their angle.Importantly,we observe an inhibitory effect on the relaxation characterized by small angles,where short terminal loops impede DNA conformational adjustments,preserving the supercoiled structure.These findings elucidate the intricate interplay between DNA conformational change,DNA motion and intramolecular stress release,shedding light on the mechanisms governing the relaxation of supercoiled DNA at the molecular level.展开更多
A large number of Chinese herbal drugs (CHDs) exhibit antibacterial activities both in vivo and in vitro, but until now little is known regarding their inhibitory mechanisms. Bacterial DNA gyrase is a proven target fo...A large number of Chinese herbal drugs (CHDs) exhibit antibacterial activities both in vivo and in vitro, but until now little is known regarding their inhibitory mechanisms. Bacterial DNA gyrase is a proven target for antibacterial agents. Aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro inhibitory effect of methanol extracts of CHDs against supercoiling activity of bacterial DNA gyrase. Fifteen CHDs were selected and extracted with methanol, respectively. Inhibitory effect of the extracts on DNA gyrase was tested using gel-based DNA supercoiling assay. Among fifteen CHDs tested, methanol extracts of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (S2), Taraxaci Herba (S7), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (S8) demonstrated an obvious inhibitory effect against supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase, and the others were either less active or could not be determined with the present method. Moreover, it was likely that S7 and S8 inhibit gyrase in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, DNA supercoiling assay is a promising method to study the inhibitory activity of CHDs on bacterial DNA gyrase. Some CHDs do have gyrase-inhibitory activity as proposed. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the inhibition mechanism of these CHDs on supercoiling activity of gyrase.展开更多
Plant RNA N-glycosidase specifically hydrolyzes the N-C glycosidic bond of a conserved adenosine in the sarcin/ricin domain of the largest RNA in ribosome,releasing an adenine base and thus inhibiting protein synthesi...Plant RNA N-glycosidase specifically hydrolyzes the N-C glycosidic bond of a conserved adenosine in the sarcin/ricin domain of the largest RNA in ribosome,releasing an adenine base and thus inhibiting protein synthesis.This substrate specificity was challenged later by discovery that various RNA derivatives and DNAs,especially the double-stranded supercoiled DNA could be used as substrate by RNA N-glycosidase.Thus,it was argued whether the DNA-cleaving activity was an intrinsic feature of RNA N-glycosidase or it was contaminated by DNase.In this article,several lines of evidence are presented to show that RNA N-glycosidase can really release the adenine base from the double-stranded supercoi/ed DNA.It was proposed that the cleavage mechanism of supercoiled DNA was the phosphodiester bonds in enzymatically deadenylated regions of the supercoiled DNA would become fragile and liable to produce nicked or linear form owing to the existence of tension in the supercoiled DNA molecule,not direct result of enzymatic action on the phosphodiester bond.展开更多
Dynamic adaptability is a key feature in biological macromolecules,enabling selective binding and catalysis[1].From DNA supercoiling to enzyme conformational changes,biological systems have evolved intricate ways to d...Dynamic adaptability is a key feature in biological macromolecules,enabling selective binding and catalysis[1].From DNA supercoiling to enzyme conformational changes,biological systems have evolved intricate ways to dynamically adjust their structures to accommodate functional needs.Mimicking this adaptability in synthetic systems is an ongoing challenge in supramolecular chemistry.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12274212,12347102 and 12174184).
文摘Understanding how supercoiled DNA releases intramolecular stress is essential for its functional realization.However,the molecular mechanism underlying the relaxation process remains insufficiently explored.Here we employed MD simulations based on the oxDNA2 model to investigate the relaxation process of a 336-base pair supercoiled minicircular DNA under double-strand breaks with two fixed endpoints.Our simulations show that the conformational changes in the DNA occur continuously,with intramolecular stress release happening abruptly only when the DNA chain traverses the breakage site.The relaxation process is influenced not only by the separation distance between the fixed ends but also their angle.Importantly,we observe an inhibitory effect on the relaxation characterized by small angles,where short terminal loops impede DNA conformational adjustments,preserving the supercoiled structure.These findings elucidate the intricate interplay between DNA conformational change,DNA motion and intramolecular stress release,shedding light on the mechanisms governing the relaxation of supercoiled DNA at the molecular level.
文摘A large number of Chinese herbal drugs (CHDs) exhibit antibacterial activities both in vivo and in vitro, but until now little is known regarding their inhibitory mechanisms. Bacterial DNA gyrase is a proven target for antibacterial agents. Aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro inhibitory effect of methanol extracts of CHDs against supercoiling activity of bacterial DNA gyrase. Fifteen CHDs were selected and extracted with methanol, respectively. Inhibitory effect of the extracts on DNA gyrase was tested using gel-based DNA supercoiling assay. Among fifteen CHDs tested, methanol extracts of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (S2), Taraxaci Herba (S7), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (S8) demonstrated an obvious inhibitory effect against supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase, and the others were either less active or could not be determined with the present method. Moreover, it was likely that S7 and S8 inhibit gyrase in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, DNA supercoiling assay is a promising method to study the inhibitory activity of CHDs on bacterial DNA gyrase. Some CHDs do have gyrase-inhibitory activity as proposed. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the inhibition mechanism of these CHDs on supercoiling activity of gyrase.
文摘Plant RNA N-glycosidase specifically hydrolyzes the N-C glycosidic bond of a conserved adenosine in the sarcin/ricin domain of the largest RNA in ribosome,releasing an adenine base and thus inhibiting protein synthesis.This substrate specificity was challenged later by discovery that various RNA derivatives and DNAs,especially the double-stranded supercoiled DNA could be used as substrate by RNA N-glycosidase.Thus,it was argued whether the DNA-cleaving activity was an intrinsic feature of RNA N-glycosidase or it was contaminated by DNase.In this article,several lines of evidence are presented to show that RNA N-glycosidase can really release the adenine base from the double-stranded supercoi/ed DNA.It was proposed that the cleavage mechanism of supercoiled DNA was the phosphodiester bonds in enzymatically deadenylated regions of the supercoiled DNA would become fragile and liable to produce nicked or linear form owing to the existence of tension in the supercoiled DNA molecule,not direct result of enzymatic action on the phosphodiester bond.
基金the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22301131)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Nos.BK20220781,BK20240679)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2024YFB3815700)are greatly acknowledged.
文摘Dynamic adaptability is a key feature in biological macromolecules,enabling selective binding and catalysis[1].From DNA supercoiling to enzyme conformational changes,biological systems have evolved intricate ways to dynamically adjust their structures to accommodate functional needs.Mimicking this adaptability in synthetic systems is an ongoing challenge in supramolecular chemistry.
