The Origins and the Biological Consequences of the Pur/Pyr DNA·RNA Asymmetry

TitleThe Origins and the Biological Consequences of the Pur/Pyr DNA·RNA Asymmetry
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsTerrazas, Montserrat, Genna Vito, Portella Guillem, Villegas Núria, Sanchez Dani, Arnan Carme, Pulido-Quetglas Carlos, Johnson Rory, Guigó Roderic, Brun-Heath Isabelle, Aviñó Anna, Eritja Ramon, and Orozco Modesto
JournalChem
Date Published04/2019
ISBN Number2451-9294
Keywordschemical and biological consequences, CRISPR-Cas9, DNA·RNA hybrids, molecular dynamics, physical origin, physicochemical study, Pu/Py DNA·RNA asymmetry, RNase H, SDG3: Good health and well-being
Abstract

SummaryWe analyze the physical origin and the chemical and biological consequences of the asymmetry that occurs in DNA·RNA hybrids when the purine/pyrimidine (Pu/Py) ratio is different in the DNA and RNA strands. When the DNA strand of the hybrid is Py rich, the duplex is much more stable, rigid, and A-like than when the DNA strand is Pu rich. The origins of this dramatic asymmetry are double: first, the apparently innocuous substitution dT → rU produces a significant decrease in stacking, and second, backbone distortions are larger for DNA(Pu)·RNA(Py) hybrids than for the mirror RNA(Pu)·DNA(Py) ones. The functional impact of the structural and dynamic asymmetry in the biological activities of hybrids is dramatic and can be used to improve the efficiency of antisense-type strategies on the basis of the degradation of hybrids by RNase H or gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

URLhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451929419301603
Short TitleChem
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