Biology subjects

Lennon, S. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Lennon, S. R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Structural basis for ring-opening fluorescence by the RhoBAST RNA aptamer.

Tagging RNAs with fluorogenic aptamers has enabled imaging of transcripts in living cells, thereby revealing novel aspects of RNA metabolism and dynamics. While a diverse set of fluorogenic aptamers has been developed, a new generation of aptamers are beginning to exploit the ring-opening of spirocyclic rhodamine dyes to achieve robust performance in live mammalian cells. These fluorophores have two chemical states: a colorless, cell-permeable spirocyclic state and a fluorescent zwitterionic state. Recently, the developed dye SpyRho555 almost exclusively adopts the closed state in solution and becomes fluorescent in complex with the RhoBAST aptamer. To understand the basis for RhoBAST-SpyRho555 fluorogenicity, we have determined crystal structures of RhoBAST in complex with 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine and a SpyRho555 analogue, MaP555. RhoBAST is organized by a perfect four-way junction that positions two loops to form the dye-binding pocket. The core of the ligand resides between a tri-adenine floor and a single guanine base, largely driven by {pi}-stacking interactions. Importantly, the unpaired guanine interacts with the 3-position group of MaP555 to stabilize the open conformation, supported by mutagenesis data, and may play an active role in promoting the open conformation of the dye. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=76 SRC="FIGDIR/small/630784v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (23K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1daaee9org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@11773corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ab41b9org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@167fae0_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2024

Unveiling the Promise of Peptide Nucleic Acids as Functional Linkers for Riboglow RNA Imaging Platform

Linkers in chemical biology provide more than just connectivity between molecules; their intrinsic properties can be harnessed to enhance the stability and functionality of chemical probes. In this study, we explored the incorporation of a peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based linker into RNA-targeting probes to improve their affinity and specificity. By integrating a PNA linker into a small molecule probe of Riboglow platform, we enabled dual binding events: cobalamin (Cbl)-RNA structure-based recognition and sequence-specific PNA-RNA interaction. We show that incorporating a six-nucleotide PNA sequence complementary to the region of wild type RNA aptamer (env8) results in a 30-fold improvement in binding affinity compared to the probe with nonfunctional PEG linker. Even greater improvements are observed when the PNA probe was tested against truncated versions of the RNA aptamer, with affinity increasing by up to 280-fold. Additionally, the PNA linker is able to rescue Cbl-RNA interaction even when the cobalamin binding pocket is compromised. We demonstrated that PNA probes effectively bind RNA both in vitro and in live cells, enhancing visualization of RNA in stress granules and U-bodies at low concentrations. The modular nature of the Riboglow platform allows for flexible modifications of the PNA linker, fluorophore and RNA tag, while maintaining high specificity and affinity. This work establishes a new approach for enhancing RNA imaging platforms through the use of PNA linkers, highlighting the potential of combining short oligonucleotides with small molecules to improve the affinity and specificity of RNA-targeting probes. Furthermore, this dual-binding approach presents a promising strategy for driving advancements in RNA-targeted drug development. Table of Contents graphic O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=104 SRC="FIGDIR/small/616516v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (33K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@da5652org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@5923fborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@494140org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@15afaf4_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

Targeting riboswitches with beta-axial substituted cobalamins

RNA-targeting small molecule therapeutics an emerging field hindered by an incomplete understanding of the basic principles governing RNA-ligand interactions. One way to advance our knowledge in this area is to study model systems where these interactions are better understood, such as riboswitches. Riboswitches bind a wide array of small molecules with high affinity and selectivity, providing a wealth of information on how RNA recognizes ligands through diverse structures. The cobalamin-sensing riboswitch is a particularly useful model system as similar sequences show highly specialized binding preferences for different biological forms of cobalamin. This riboswitch is also widely dispersed across bacteria and therefore holds strong potential as an antibiotic target. Many synthetic cobalamin forms have been developed for various purposes including therapeutics, but their interaction with cobalamin riboswitches is yet to be explored. In this study, we characterize the interactions of eleven cobalamin derivatives with three representative cobalamin riboswitches using in vitro binding experiments (both chemical footprinting and a fluorescence-based assay) and a cell-based reporter assay. The derivatives show productive interactions with two of the three riboswitches, demonstrating simultaneously plasticity and selectivity within these RNAs. The observed plasticity is partially achieved through a novel structural rearrangement within the ligand binding pocket, providing insight into how similar RNA structures can be targeted in the future. As the derivatives also show in vivo functionality, they serve as several potential lead compounds for further drug development.

biochemistry↗