The rate-limiting step of DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase occurs in the fingers-closed conformation
Journal of Molecular Biology Elsevier 434:2 (2021) 167410
Abstract:
DNA polymerases maintain genomic integrity by copying DNA with high fidelity, part of which relies on the polymerase fingers opening-closing transition, a series of conformational changes during the DNA synthesis reaction cycle. Fingers opening and closing has been challenging to study, mainly due to the need to synchronise molecular ensembles. We previously studied fingers opening-closing on single polymerase-DNA complexes using single-molecule FRET; however, our work was limited to pre-chemistry reaction steps. Here, we advance our analysis to extensible substrates, and observe DNA polymerase (Pol) conformational changes across the entire DNA polymerisation reaction in real-time, gaining direct access to an elusive post-chemistry step rate-limiting for DNA synthesis. Our results showed that Pol adopts the fingers-closed conformation during polymerisation, and that the post-chemistry rate-limiting step occurs in the fingers-closed conformation. We found that fingers-opening in the Pol-DNA binary complex in the absence of polymerisation is slow (∼5.3 s−1), and comparable to the rate of fingers-opening after polymerisation (3.4 s−1); this indicates that the fingers-opening step itself could be largely responsible for the slow post-chemistry step, with the residual rate potentially accounted for by pyrophosphase release. We also observed that DNA chain-termination of the 3′ end of the primer increases substantially the rate of fingers-opening in the Pol-DNA binary complex (5.3 → 29 s−1), demonstrating that the 3′-OH residue is important for the kinetics of fingers conformational changes. Our observations offer mechanistic insight and tools to offer mechanistic insight for all nucleic acid polymerases.Transcription initiation at a consensus bacterial promoter proceeds via a 'bind-unwind-load-and-lock' mechanism
eLife eLife Sciences Publications 10 (2021) e70090
Abstract:
Transcription initiation starts with unwinding of promoter DNA by RNA polymerase (RNAP) to form a catalytically competent RNAP-promoter complex (RP<sub>O</sub>). Despite extensive study, the mechanism of promoter unwinding has remained unclear, in part due to the transient nature of intermediates on path to RPo. Here, using single-molecule unwinding-induced fluorescence enhancement to monitor promoter unwinding, and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer to monitor RNAP clamp conformation, we analyze RPo formation at a consensus bacterial core promoter. We find that the RNAP clamp is closed during promoter binding, remains closed during promoter unwinding, and then closes further, locking the unwound DNA in the RNAP active-centre cleft. Our work defines a new, 'bind-unwind-load-and-lock' model for the series of conformational changes occurring during promoter unwinding at a consensus bacterial promoter and provides the tools needed to examine the process in other organisms and at other promoters.Viral detection and identification in 20 min by rapid single-particle fluorescence in-situ hybridization of viral RNA
Scientific Reports Springer Nature 11:1 (2021) 19579
Abstract:
The increasing risk from viral outbreaks such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the need for rapid, affordable and sensitive methods for virus detection, identification and quantification; however, existing methods for detecting virus particles in biological samples usually depend on multistep protocols that take considerable time to yield a result. Here, we introduce a rapid fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol capable of detecting influenza virus, avian infectious bronchitis virus and SARS-CoV-2 specifically and quantitatively in approximately 20 min, in virus cultures, combined nasal and throat swabs with added virus and likely patient samples without previous purification. This fast and facile workflow can be adapted both as a lab technique and a future diagnostic tool in enveloped viruses with an accessible genome.Transient non-specific DNA binding dominates the target search of bacterial DNA-binding proteins.
Molecular cell 81:7 (2021) 1499-1514.e6
Abstract:
Despite their diverse biochemical characteristics and functions, all DNA-binding proteins share the ability to accurately locate their target sites among the vast excess of non-target DNA. Toward identifying universal mechanisms of the target search, we used single-molecule tracking of 11 diverse DNA-binding proteins in living Escherichia coli. The mobility of these proteins during the target search was dictated by DNA interactions rather than by their molecular weights. By generating cells devoid of all chromosomal DNA, we discovered that the nucleoid is not a physical barrier for protein diffusion but significantly slows the motion of DNA-binding proteins through frequent short-lived DNA interactions. The representative DNA-binding proteins (irrespective of their size, concentration, or function) spend the majority (58%-99%) of their search time bound to DNA and occupy as much as ∼30% of the chromosomal DNA at any time. Chromosome crowding likely has important implications for the function of all DNA-binding proteins.FRET-based dynamic structural biology: Challenges, perspectives and an appeal for open-science practices.
eLife 10 (2021) e60416