Summary information

PDB id
7zko
Class
hydrolase
Method
X-ray (2.5 Å)
Summary
X-ray structure of the complex between human alpha thrombin and a pseudo-cyclic thrombin binding aptamer (tba-nnp-ddp) - crystal form delta
Reference
Troisi R, Riccardi C, Perez de Carvasal K, Smietana M, Morvan F, Del Vecchio P, Montesarchio D, Sica F (2022): "A terminal functionalization strategy reveals unusual binding abilities of anti-thrombin anticoagulant aptamers." Mol Ther Nucleic Acids, 30, 585-594. doi: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.11.007.
Abstract
Despite their unquestionable properties, oligonucleotide aptamers display some drawbacks that continue to hinder their applications. Several strategies have been undertaken to overcome these weaknesses, using thrombin binding aptamers as proof-of-concept. In particular, the functionalization of a thrombin exosite I binding aptamer (TBA) with aromatic moieties, e.g., naphthalene dimides (N) and dialkoxynaphthalenes (D), attached at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively, proved to be highly promising. To obtain a molecular view of the effects of these modifications on aptamers, we performed a crystallographic analysis of one of these engineered oligonucleotides (TBA-NNp/DDp) in complex with thrombin. Surprisingly, three of the four examined crystallographic structures are ternary complexes in which thrombin binds a TBA-NNp/DDp molecule at exosite II as well as at exosite I, highlighting the ability of this aptamer, differently from unmodified TBA, to also recognize a localized region of exosite II. This novel ability is strictly related to the solvophobic behavior of the terminal modifications. Studies were also performed in solution to examine the properties of TBA-NNp/DDp in a crystal-free environment. The present results throw new light on the importance of appendages inducing a pseudo-cyclic charge-transfer structure in nucleic acid-based ligands to improve the interactions with proteins, thus considerably widening their potentialities.
G4 notes
3 G-tetrads, 1 G4 helix, 1 G4 stem, 2(+Ln+Ln), (2+2), UDUD

Base-block schematics in six views

PyMOL session file PDB file View in 3Dmol.js

List of 3 G-tetrads

 1 glyco-bond=s-s- sugar=---3 groove=wnwn planarity=0.482 type=saddle nts=4 GGGG A.DG1,A.DG15,A.DG10,A.DG6
 2 glyco-bond=-s-s sugar=---- groove=wnwn planarity=0.474 type=bowl-2 nts=4 GGGG A.DG2,A.DG14,A.DG11,A.DG5
 3 glyco-bond=-s-s sugar=-.-- groove=wnwn planarity=0.347 type=bowl   nts=4 GGGG B.DG2,B.DG14,B.DG11,B.DG5

List of 1 G4-helix

In DSSR, a G4-helix is defined by stacking interactions of G-tetrads, regardless of backbone connectivity, and may contain more than one G4-stem.

Helix#1, 2 G-tetrad layers, INTRA-molecular, with 1 stem

 1  glyco-bond=s-s- sugar=---3 groove=wnwn Major-->WC nts=4 GGGG A.DG1,A.DG15,A.DG10,A.DG6
 2  glyco-bond=-s-s sugar=---- groove=wnwn WC-->Major nts=4 GGGG A.DG2,A.DG14,A.DG11,A.DG5
  step#1  mm(<>,outward)  area=19.62 rise=3.53 twist=14.8
  strand#1 DNA glyco-bond=s- sugar=-- nts=2 GG A.DG1,A.DG2
  strand#2 DNA glyco-bond=-s sugar=-- nts=2 GG A.DG15,A.DG14
  strand#3 DNA glyco-bond=s- sugar=-- nts=2 GG A.DG10,A.DG11
  strand#4 DNA glyco-bond=-s sugar=3- nts=2 GG A.DG6,A.DG5

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1 stacking diagram 
 1  glyco-bond=s-s- sugar=---3 groove=wnwn Major-->WC nts=4 GGGG A.DG1,A.DG15,A.DG10,A.DG6
 2  glyco-bond=-s-s sugar=---- groove=wnwn WC-->Major nts=4 GGGG A.DG2,A.DG14,A.DG11,A.DG5
  step#1  mm(<>,outward)  area=19.62 rise=3.53 twist=14.8

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List of 1 G4-stem

In DSSR, a G4-stem is defined as a G4-helix with backbone connectivity. Bulges are also allowed along each of the four strands.

Stem#1, 2 G-tetrad layers, 2 loops, INTRA-molecular, UDUD, anti-parallel, 2(+Ln+Ln), (2+2)

 1  glyco-bond=s-s- sugar=---3 groove=wnwn Major-->WC nts=4 GGGG A.DG1,A.DG15,A.DG10,A.DG6
 2  glyco-bond=-s-s sugar=---- groove=wnwn WC-->Major nts=4 GGGG A.DG2,A.DG14,A.DG11,A.DG5
  step#1  mm(<>,outward)  area=19.62 rise=3.53 twist=14.8
  strand#1  U DNA glyco-bond=s- sugar=-- nts=2 GG A.DG1,A.DG2
  strand#2  D DNA glyco-bond=-s sugar=-- nts=2 GG A.DG15,A.DG14
  strand#3  U DNA glyco-bond=s- sugar=-- nts=2 GG A.DG10,A.DG11
  strand#4  D DNA glyco-bond=-s sugar=3- nts=2 GG A.DG6,A.DG5
  loop#1 type=lateral   strands=[#1,#4] nts=2 TT A.DT3,A.DT4
  loop#2 type=lateral   strands=[#3,#2] nts=2 TT A.DT12,A.DT13

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List of 2 non-stem G4-loops (including the two closing Gs)

 1 type=lateral   helix=#-1 nts=4 GTTG B.DG2,B.DT3,B.DT4,B.DG5
 2 type=lateral   helix=#-1 nts=4 GTTG B.DG11,B.DT12,B.DT13,B.DG14