ISSN:
1573-5001
Keywords:
AIDS
;
DYANA
;
HIV-1
;
NMR structure
;
ribonuclease H
;
RNA-DNA hybrid
;
torsion angle dynamics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract A high-quality NMR solution structure of the chimeric hybrid duplex r(gcaguggc)⋅r(gcca)d(CTGC) was determined using the program DYANA with its recently implemented new module FOUND, which performs exhaustive conformational grid searches for dinucleotides. To ensure conservative data interpretation, the use of 1H-1H lower distance limit constraints was avoided. The duplex comprises the tRNA–DNA junction formed during the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription. It forms an A-type double helix that exhibits distinct structural deviations from a standard A-conformation. In particular, the minor groove is remarkably narrow, and its width decreases from about 7.5 Å in the RNA/RNA stem to about 4.5 Å in the RNA/DNA segment. This is unexpected, since minor groove widths for A-RNA and RNA/DNA hybrid duplexes of ∼11 Å and ∼8.5 Å, respectively, were previously reported. The present, new structure supports that reverse transcriptase-associated RNaseH specificity is related primarily to conformational adaptability of the nucleic acid in 'induced-fit'-type interactions, rather than the minor groove width of a predominantly static nucleic acid duplex.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008350604637
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