Sergey M. Dibrov

Conformational inhibition of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site RNA

The internal ribosome entry site (IRES), a highly conserved structured element of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic RNA, is an attractive target for antiviral drugs. Here we show that benzimidazole inhibitors of the HCV replicon act by conformational induction of a widened interhelical angle in the IRES subdomain IIa, which facilitates the undocking of subdomain IIb from the ribosome and ultimately leads to inhibition of IRES-driven translation in HCV-infected cells.The internal ribosome entry site (IRES), a highly conserved structured element of the hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, is an attractive target for antiviral drugs. Here we show that benzimidazole inhibitors of the HCV replicon act by conformational induction of a widened interhelical angle in the IRES subdomain IIa which facilitates the undocking of subdomain IIb from the ribosome and ultimately leads to inhibition of IRES-driven translation in HCV-infected cells.

Self-assembling RNA square

The three-dimensional structures of noncoding RNA molecules reveal recurring architectural motifs that have been exploited for the design of artificial RNA nanomaterials. Programmed assembly of RNA nanoobjects from autonomously folding tetraloop–receptor complexes as well as junction motifs has been achieved previously through sequence-directed hybridization of complex sets of long oligonucleotides. Due to size and complexity, structural characterization of artificial RNA nanoobjects has been limited to low-resolution microscopy studies. Here we present the design, construction, and crystal structure determination at 2.2 Å of the smallest yet square-shaped nanoobject made entirely of double-stranded RNA. The RNA square is comprised of 100 residues and self-assembles from four copies each of two oligonucleotides of 10 and 15 bases length. Despite the high symmetry on the level of secondary structure, the three-dimensional architecture of the square is asymmetric, with all four corners adopting distinct folding patterns. We demonstrate the programmed self-assembly of RNA squares from complex mixtures of corner units and establish a concept to exploit the RNA square as a combinatorial nanoscale platform.

Structure of a hepatitis C virus RNA domain in complex with a translation inhibitor reveals a binding mode reminiscent of riboswitches

The internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome is essential for the initiation of viral protein synthesis. IRES domains adopt well-defined folds that are potential targets for antiviral translation inhibitors. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of the IRES subdomain IIa in complex with a benzimidazole translation inhibitor at 2.2 Å resolution. Comparison to the structure of the unbound RNA in conjunction with studies of inhibitor binding to the target in solution demonstrate that the RNA undergoes a dramatic ligand-induced conformational adaptation to form a deep pocket that resembles the substrate binding sites in riboswitches. The presence of a well-defined ligand-binding pocket within the highly conserved IRES subdomain IIa holds promise for the development of unique anti-HCV drugs with a high barrier to resistance.

Functional conservation despite structural divergence in ligand-responsive RNA switches.

Significance RNA viruses, including the human pathogenic hepatitis C virus (HCV), use a structured untranslated region of their genome to hijack host cell ribosomes for the synthesis of viral proteins. These genome regions are termed internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements and are encoded by distinct sequences in different viruses but share common functional RNA motifs. This study shows that viral IRES elements contain conformationally flexible RNA switches, whose state can be captured by the binding of a common ligand. Conformational switching plays a role in the function of the IRES elements. These new RNA switches are smaller than previously discovered “riboswitches” and may be the simplest form of ligand-responsive mechanical modules in nucleic acids. An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) initiates protein synthesis in RNA viruses, including the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We have discovered ligand-responsive conformational switches in viral IRES elements. Modular RNA motifs of greatly distinct sequence and local secondary structure have been found to serve as functionally conserved switches involved in viral IRES-driven translation and may be captured by identical cognate ligands. The RNA motifs described here constitute a new paradigm for ligand-captured switches that differ from metabolite-sensing riboswitches with regard to their small size, as well as the intrinsic stability and structural definition of the constitutive conformational states. These viral RNA modules represent the simplest form of ligand-responsive mechanical switches in nucleic acids.

Crystal-Structure-Guided Design of Self-Assembling RNA Nanotriangles.

RNA nanotechnology uses RNA structural motifs to build nanosized architectures that assemble through selective base-pair interactions. Herein, we report the crystal-structure-guided design of highly stable RNA nanotriangles that self-assemble cooperatively from short oligonucleotides. The crystal structure of an 81 nucleotide nanotriangle determined at 2.6 Å resolution reveals the so-far smallest circularly closed nanoobject made entirely of double-stranded RNA. The assembly of the nanotriangle architecture involved RNA corner motifs that were derived from ligand-responsive RNA switches, which offer the opportunity to control self-assembly and dissociation.

2-Aminobenzoxazole ligands of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site

2-Aminobenzoxazoles have been synthesized as ligands for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA. The compounds were designed to explore the less basic benzoxazole system as a replacement for the core scaffold in previously discovered benzimidazole viral translation inhibitors. Structure-activity relationships in the target binding of substituted benzoxazole ligands were investigated.

Aryl-substituted aminobenzimidazoles targeting the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site.

We describe the exploration of N1-aryl-substituted benzimidazoles as ligands for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA. The design of the compounds was guided by the co-crystal structure of a benzimidazole viral translation inhibitor in complex with the RNA target. Structure-binding activity relationships of aryl-substituted benzimidazole ligands were established that were consistent with the crystal structure of the translation inhibitor complex.

A model for the study of ligand binding to the ribosomal RNA helix h44

Oligonucleotide models of ribosomal RNA domains are powerful tools to study the binding and molecular recognition of antibiotics that interfere with bacterial translation. Techniques such as selective chemical modification, fluorescence labeling and mutations are cumbersome for the whole ribosome but readily applicable to model RNAs, which are readily crystallized and often give rise to higher resolution crystal structures suitable for detailed analysis of ligand–RNA interactions. Here, we have investigated the HX RNA construct which contains two adjacent ligand binding regions of helix h44 in 16S ribosomal RNA. High-resolution crystal structure analysis confirmed that the HX RNA is a faithful structural model of the ribosomal target. Solution studies showed that HX RNA carrying a fluorescent 2-aminopurine modification provides a model system that can be used to monitor ligand binding to both the ribosomal decoding site and, through an indirect effect, the hygromycin B interaction region.

1,3-Diazepanes of Natural Product-Like Complexity from Cyanamide-Induced Rearrangement of Epoxy-δ-lactams

A synthetic procedure toward 1,3-diazepane scaffolds of natural product-like complexity was developed for the construction of RNA-directed ligand libraries. A molecular building block was designed that combines the characteristics of RNA-binding natural products, including a high density of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors around a rigid, nonplanar scaffold with straightforward total-synthetic accessibility that permits extensive control over the chemical space. The synthesis of the 1,3-diazepane scaffold was achieved via an unprecedented cyanamide-induced rearrangement of epoxy-delta-lactams.

Analysis of mRNA recognition by human thymidylate synthase

Expression of hTS (human thymidylate synthase), a key enzyme in thymidine biosynthesis, is regulated on the translational level through a feedback mechanism that is rarely found in eukaryotes. At low substrate concentrations, the ligand-free enzyme binds to its own mRNA and stabilizes a hairpin structure that sequesters the start codon. When in complex with dUMP (2′-deoxyuridine-5′-monophosphate) and a THF (tetrahydrofolate) cofactor, the enzyme adopts a conformation that is unable to bind and repress expression of mRNA. Here, we have used a combination of X-ray crystallography, RNA mutagenesis and site-specific cross-linking studies to investigate the molecular recognition of TS mRNA by the hTS enzyme. The interacting mRNA region was narrowed to the start codon and immediately flanking sequences. In the hTS enzyme, a helix–loop–helix domain on the protein surface was identified as the putative RNA-binding site.