Characterization of base-pair geometry

This post is a recap of the recently introduced ‘simple’ base-pair (bp) parameters (Fig. 1) useful for describing non-Waton-Crick pairs, and the highly effective cartoon-block representations of nucleic acid structures. Both features are readily available from 3DNA/DSSR, as detailed here using four examples of representative DNA/RNA structures (Fig. 2). Links to related blog posts are provided at the end.

Note added on Feb. 2, 2016: in fact, this post had been intended to supplement a short communication titled Characterization of base-pair geometry that Dr. Wilma Olson and I recently contributed to the January 2016 issue of Computational Crystallography Newsletter (CCN). That’s why the URL of this post is ‘http://x3dna.org/highlights/CCN-on-base-pair-geometry’ instead of what one would expect from the title. The data files, scripts, images, and linked herein should enable interested users a thorough understanding of the ‘simple’ base-pair parameters. If you have problems in reproducing our reported results, please do not hesitate to let me know (publicly). You are welcome to either leave comments to this post or ask any related questions on the 3DNA Forum.

Six rigid-body parameters

Schematic diagram of six rigid-body base-pair parameters

Fig. 1: Schematic diagrams of the six rigid-body parameters commonly used for the characterization of base-pair geometry.

Cartoon-block representations

Cartoon-block representations

Fig. 2: DSSR-introduced cartoon-block representations of DNA and RNA structures that combine PyMOL cartoon schematics with color-coded rectangular base blocks: A, red; C, yellow; G, green; T, blue; and U, cyan. (A) The Dickerson B-DNA dodecamer solved at 1.4-Å resolution [PDB id: 355d (Shui et al., 1998)], with significant negative Propeller. (B) The Z-DNA dodecamer [PDB id: 4ocb (Luo et al., 2014)], with virtually co-planar C–G pairs at the ends, and noticeable Buckle in the middle. © The GUAA tetraloop mutant of the sarcin/ricin domain from E. coli 23 S rRNA [PDB id: 1msy (Correll et al., 2003)], with large Buckle in the A+C pair, and base-stacking interactions of UAA in the GUAA tetraloop (upper-right corner). (D) The parallel double-stranded poly(A) RNA helix [PDB id: 4jrd (Safaee et al., 2013)], with up to +14° Propeller. The simple, informative cartoon-block representations facilitate understanding of the base interactions in small to mid-sized nucleic acid structures like these. The base identity, pairing geometry, and stacking interactions are obvious.

Scripts and data files (Lu-CCN-examples.tar.gz)

find_pair 355d.pdb | analyze   # 355d.out
x3dna-dssr -i=355d.pdb -more -o=355d-dssr.out
x3dna-dssr -i=355d.pdb --cartoon-block -o=355d.pml

find_pair 4jrd.pdb | analyze   # 4jrd.out
x3dna-dssr -i=4jrd.pdb -more -o=4jrd-dssr.out
x3dna-dssr -i=4jrd.pdb --cartoon-block -o=4jrd.pml

find_pair 1msy.pdb | analyze   # 1msy.out
x3dna-dssr -i=1msy.pdb -more -o=355d-dssr.out
x3dna-dssr -i=1msy.pdb --cartoon-block -o=1msy.pml

find_pair --symm 4ocb.pdb1 | analyze --symm  # 4ocb.out
x3dna-dssr -i=4ocb.pdb1 --symm -more -o=4ocb-dssr.out
x3dna-dssr -i=4ocb.pdb1 --symm --cartoon-block -o=4ocb.pml

Please note the following points:

  • The above examples are based on 3DNA v2.3-2016jan20 and DSSR v1.4.8-2016jan16.
  • All data files (including PyMOL ray-traced PNG images used in Fig. 2) are packed into a tarball named Lu-CCN-examples.tar.gz for download.
  • For PDB entry 4ocb, the biological unit (with suffix .pdb1) is used to get a complete duplex structure. The symm option must be specified.
  • PDB files are used in the above illustration. In fact, the corresponding mmCIF files (.cif) also work just fine.
  • The DSSR-derived .pml files can be fed into PyMOL for rendering. In addition to the directly generated *.pml files (e.g., 355d.pml), the PyMOL transformed version (i.e., orient; turn z, -90) are also included, with names *-orient.pml (e.g., 355d-orient.pml). The PNG images (as shown in Fig. 2) are ray-traced using these reoriented pml files for the most extended vertical view.
  • The ‘simple’ base-pair parameters for 4jrd is shown below.
This structure contains 10 non-Watson-Crick (with leading *) base pair(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simple base-pair parameters based on RC8--YC6 vectors
      bp        Shear    Stretch   Stagger    Buckle  Propeller  Opening  angle
*    1 A+A      -7.96      0.41     -0.03    -13.64     -4.06   -179.47   14.2
*    2 A+A      -7.86      0.38     -0.33    -10.20     -3.53   -179.34   10.8
*    3 A+A      -7.96      0.43      0.02    -10.15      5.23    179.91   11.4
*    4 A+A      -7.95      0.50      0.10     -9.24      8.04    179.15   12.2
*    5 A+A      -7.95      0.46      0.08     -7.36     10.12   -179.98   12.5
*    6 A+A      -7.97      0.60      0.06     -5.15     12.87   -176.75   13.9
*    7 A+A      -7.88      0.66     -0.02     -7.82     11.89   -179.55   14.2
*    8 A+A      -7.91      0.56     -0.05     -7.03     13.68    179.22   15.4
*    9 A+A      -7.94      0.47     -0.03     -3.78     13.76   -179.24   14.3
*   10 A+A      -7.92      0.42      0.10     -3.03      4.34   -178.91    5.3

Related posts

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Comment

hello

I have a query regarding trans Watson-Crick base pairs. Here since the glycosidic bonds are trans how can we study the base pair parameters for these systems where the bases pairs have their glycosidic bonds trans.

Any suggestions on this topic will be very helpful.

Thanks

Esther

— Esther · 2016-08-08 06:25 · #

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Hi Esther,

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. The base-pair (bp) parameters are characterized by the corresponding reference frame of each base in a pair. As long the base reference frame is defined, the six bp parameters are calculated as described in to 3DNA 2003 NAR paper. See also the doc ‘tech-details.pdf’ for more info.

If you have a specific example, I could help you work out the details to make the point clear. In this regard, the 3DNA Forum would be a better venue for discussion.

Best regards,

Xiang-Jun

— Xiangjun · 2016-08-08 10:19 · #

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Thank you for printing this article from http://x3dna.org/. Please do not forget to visit back for more 3DNA-related information. — Xiang-Jun Lu