Philippe Dumas

Crystallographic refinement of yeast aspartic acid transfer RNA

The structure of yeast transfer RNA aspartic acid has been refined in one crystal form to 3 A resolution using the restrained least-squares method of Hendrickson and Konnert and real-space fitting using the FRODO program of Jones. The final crystallographic discrepancy index R is 23.5% for 4585 reflections with magnitudes twice their standard deviations between 10 and 3 A. With lower occupancies for some residues of the D-loop, the phosphate U1, and the base U33, the R-factor is 22.3%. The adaptation of the restrained least-squares program for nucleic acids and the progress of the refinement are described. The conformations are analysed with respect to stereochemistry and folding of the backbone. The contacts and hydrogen bonds of the secondary structure are compared with those of yeast tRNAPhe. The presence of only four bases in the variable loop, instead of five as in yeast tRNAPhe, leads to a rotation of residue 48 and a lateral movement of residue 46. These two rearrangements induce different environments for [U8 . . . A14] . . . A21 as well as for A9 and G45. Otherwise, all tertiary contacts observed in yeast tRNAPhe are present in yeast tRNAAsp, except for the absence of hydrogen-bonding between G18 of the D-loop and C56 of the T-loop. The presence of anticodon triplet pairing leads to a distribution of temperature factors different from that observed in yeast tRNAPhe with a stabilization of the AC stem-and-loop and a destabilization of the T and D-loops. We are inclined to suggest that the labilization of the interactions between the T and D-loops is a consequence of the interaction of the anticodon triplets of symmetry-related molecules through hydrogen bonding, which mimics the interaction between the anticodon and its cognate codon on the messenger RNA.

kinITC: A New Method for Obtaining Joint Thermodynamic and Kinetic Data by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is the method of choice for obtaining thermodynamic data on a great variety of systems. Here we show that modern ITC apparatus and new processing methods allow researchers to obtain a complete kinetic description of systems more diverse than previously thought, ranging from simple ligand binding to complex RNA folding. We illustrate these new features with a simple case (HIV-1 reverse transcriptase/inhibitor interaction) and with the more complex case of the folding of a riboswitch triggered by the binding of its ligand. The originality of the new kinITC method lies in its ability to dissect, both thermodynamically and kinetically, the two components: primary ligand binding and subsequent RNA folding. We are not aware of another single method that can yield, in a simple way, such deep insight into a composite process. Our study also rationalizes common observations from daily ITC use.

Multiscale roughness in optical multilayers: atomic force microscopy and light scattering

We have previously shown that macroscopic roughness spectra measured with light scattering at visible wavelengths were perfectly extrapolated at high spatial frequencies by microscopic roughness spectra measured with atomic force microscopy [Europhys. Lett. 22, 717 (1993); Proc. SPIE 2253, 614 (1994)]. These results have been confirmed by numerous experiments [Proc. SPIE 2253, 614 (1994)] and allow us today to characterize thin films microstructure from a macroscopic to a microscopic scale. In the first step the comparison of light scattering and atomic force microscopy is completed by optical measurements at UV wavelengths that allow us to superimpose (and no longer extrapolate) the spectra measured by the two techniques. In the second step we extract multiscale parameters that describe the action of thin-film coatings on substrate roughness in all bandwidths. The results obviously depend on materials and substrates and deposition techniques. Electron-beam evaporation, ion-assisted deposition, and ion plating are compared, and the conclusions are discussed in regard to the deposition parameters. Finally, special attention is given to the limits and performances of the two characterization techniques (light scattering and atomic force microscopy) that may be sensitive to different phenomena.

Crystal structure of the S15-rRNA complex.

In bacterial ribosomes, the small (30S) ribosomal subunit is composed of 16S rRNA and 21 distinct proteins. Ribosomal protein S15 is of particular interest because it binds primarily to 16S rRNA and is required for assembly of the small subunit and for intersubunit association, thus representing a key element in the assembly of a whole ribosome. Here we report the 2.8 Å resolution crystal structure of the highly conserved S15–rRNA complex. Protein S15 interacts in the minor groove with a G-U/G-C motif and a three-way junction. The latter is constrained by a conserved base triple and stacking interactions, and locked into place by magnesium ions and protein side chains, mainly through interactions with the unique three-dimensional geometry of the backbone. The present structure gives insights into the dual role of S15 in ribosome assembly and translational regulation.

The crystal structure of HIV reverse-transcription primer tRNA(Lys,3) shows a canonical anticodon loop.

We have solved to 3.3 A resolution the crystal structure of the HIV reverse-transcription primer tRNA(Lys,3). The overall structure is exactly comparable to the well-known L-shape structure first revealed by yeast tRNA(Phe). In particular, it unambiguously shows a canonical anticodon loop. This contradicts previous results in short RNA fragment studies and leads us to conclude that neither frameshifting specificities of tRNA(Lys) nor tRNA(Lys,3) primer selection by HIV are due to a specific three-dimensional anticodon structure. Comparison of our structure with the results of an NMR study on a hairpin representing a nonmodified anticodon stem-loop makes plausible the conclusion that chemical modifications of the wobble base U34 to 5-methoxycarbonyl-methyl-2-thiouridine and of A37 to 2-methylthio-N-6-threonylcarbamoyl-adenosine would be responsible for a canonical 7-nt anticodon-loop structure, whereas the unmodified form would result in a noncanonical UUU short triloop. The hexagonal crystal packing is remarkable and shows tight dimers of tRNAs forming a right-handed double superhelix. Within the dimers, the tRNAs are associated head-to-tail such that the CCA end of one tRNA interacts with the anticodon of the symmetry-related tRNA. This provides us with a partial view of a codon-anticodon interaction and gives insights into the positioning of residue 37, and of its posttranscriptional modifications, relative to the first base of the codon.

Quantitative Microroughness Analysis Down To The Nanometer-Scale

Cross characterizations of surface roughness of glassy materials have been performed using Atomic-Force Microscopy (AFM) and optical scattering techniques. The AFM measurements provide images of the surface height contours from the micrometer down to the nanometer scale. From a two-dimensional (2D) Fourier analysis of the images, the roughness power spectrum is measured for a range of spatial frequencies from 0.04 μm−1 up to 400 μm−1. An excellent agreement is obtained with parallel light scattering measurements of the surface roughness over the spatial frequencies ranging from 0.05 μm−1 to 1.54 μm−1, corresponding to the overlap bandwidth reached by the two techniques. From the power law dependence of the roughness spectrum vs. spatial frequency found on the whole range of AFM analysis, fractal properties of this self-affine surface are discussed.

SILICON ROUGHNESS INDUCED BY PLASMA ETCHING

A parametric study of single‐crystal silicon roughness induced by an SF6 plasma has been carried out by means of atomic force microscopy. An helicon source (also called resonant inductive plasma etcher) has been used to study the relation between plasma parameters and subsequent surface damage. The surface damage has been examined in terms of height roughness analysis and in terms of spatial (lateral) extent of the surface roughness. The central result is that roughness scales with the ratio of the ion flux over the reactive neutral flux (J+/JF), showing the combined role of both ionic and neutral species. At low ion flux, the neutrals smooth the surface, while at higher ion flux, they propagate the ion‐induced defects, allowing the roughness to be enhanced. Influences of other parameters such as exposure duration, ion energy, or substrate temperature have also been quantified. It is shown that the roughness growth is well described by an empirical law: rms∝(1/√E)(J+/JF)ηtβ, with η≊0.45 and β≊1 (rms is th...

Targeting the dimerization initiation site of HIV-1 RNA with aminoglycosides: from crystal to cell.

The kissing-loop complex that initiates dimerization of genomic RNA is crucial for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) replication. We showed that owing to its strong similitude with the bacterial ribosomal A site it can be targeted by aminoglycosides. Here, we present its crystal structure in complex with neamine, ribostamycin, neomycin and lividomycin. These structures explain the specificity for 4,5-disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamine (DOS) derivatives and for subtype A and subtype F kissing-loop complexes, and provide a strong basis for rational drug design. As a consequence of the different topologies of the kissing-loop complex and the A site, these aminoglycosides establish more contacts with HIV-1 RNA than with 16S RNA. Together with biochemical experiments, they showed that while rings I, II and III confer binding specificity, rings IV and V are important for affinity. Binding of neomycin, paromomycin and lividomycin strongly stabilized the kissing-loop complex by bridging the two HIV-1 RNA molecules. Furthermore, in situ footprinting showed that the dimerization initiation site (DIS) of HIV-1 genomic RNA could be targeted by these aminoglycosides in infected cells and virions, demonstrating its accessibility.

X-ray-induced debromination of nucleic acids at the Br K absorption edge and implications for MAD phasing

Multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) using brominated derivatives is considered a common and convenient technique for solving chemically synthesized nucleic acid structures. Here, it is shown that a relatively moderate X-ray dose (of the order of 5 x 10(15) photons mm(-2)) can induce sufficient debromination to prevent structure determination. The decrease in bromine occupancy with radiation dose can be accounted for by a simple exponential, with an estimated rate constant at the absorption-peak wavelength, 7.4 (0.8) MGy, that is not significantly different from its value at the absorption-edge wavelength, 9.2 (2.6) MGy (the given e.s.d.s assess the relative closeness of the two values, not their absolute accuracy, which is probably worse). Chemically, these results (and others) are consistent with bromine cleavage resulting from direct photodissociation and/or from the action of free electrons, rather than from the action of hydroxyl radicals originating from water dissociation. The free bromine species (Br(-)) diffuse too quickly, even in amorphous ice around 100 K, to allow the determination of a diffusion coefficient. From a practical point of view, it is suggested that a single data collection with a crystal consisting of iodinated instead of brominated derivatives could provide both anomalous scattering and SIR phase information by the progressive cleavage of iodine.

Comparison of the tertiary structure of yeast tRNAAsp and tRNAPhe in solution: Chemical modification study of the bases☆

A comparative study of the solution structures of yeast tRNA(Asp) and tRNA(Phe) was undertaken with chemical reagents as structural probes. The reactivity of N-7 positions in guanine and adenine residues was assayed with dimethylsulphate and diethyl-pyrocarbonate, respectively, and that of the N-3 position in cytosine residues with dimethylsulphate. Experiments involved statistical modifications of end-labelled tRNAs, followed by splitting at modified positions. The resulting end-labelled oligonucleotides were resolved on polyacrylamide sequencing gels and analysed by autoradiography. Three different experimental conditions were used to follow the progressive denaturation of the two tRNAs. Experiments were done in parallel on tRNA(Asp) and tRNA(Phe) to enable comparison between the two solution structures and to correlate the results with the crystalline conformations of both molecules. Structural differences were detected for G4, G45, G71 and A21: G4 and A21 are reactive in tRNA(Asp) and protected in tRNA(Phe), while G45 and G71 are protected in tRNA(Asp) and reactive in tRNA(Phe). For the N-7 atom of A21, the different reactivity is correlated with the variable variable loop structures in the two tRNAs; in the case of G45 the results are explained by a different stacking of A9 between G45 and residue 46. For G4 and G71, the differential reactivities are linked to a different stacking in both tRNAs. This observation is of general significance for helical stems. If the previous results could be fully explained by the crystal structures, unexpected similarities in solution were found for N-3 alkylation of C56 in the T-loop, which according to crystallography should be reactive in tRNA(Asp). The apparent discrepancy is due to conformational differences between crystalline and solution tRNA(Asp) at the level of the D and T-loop contacts, linked to long-distance effects induced by the quasi-self-complementary anticodon GUC, which favour duplex formation within the crystal, contrarily to solution conditions where the tRNA is essentially in its free state.