Evaluation of parameters critical for observing nucleic acids inside living Xenopus laevis oocytes by in-cell NMR spectroscopy.
In-cell NMR spectroscopy of proteins in different cellular environments is a well-established technique that, however, has not been applied to nucleic acids so far. Here, we show that isotopically labeled DNA and RNA can be observed inside the eukaryotic environment of Xenopus laevis oocytes by in-cell NMR spectroscopy. One limiting factor for the observation of nucleic acids in Xenopus oocytes is their reduced stability. We demonstrate that chemical modification of DNA and RNA can protect them from degradation and can significantly enhance their lifetime. Finally, we show that the imino region of the NMR spectrum is devoid of any oocyte background signals enabling the detection even of isotopically nonlabeled molecules.
Hänsel
Robert
R
Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Foldynová-Trantírková
Silvie
S
Löhr
Frank
F
Buck
Janina
J
Bongartz
Eva
E
Bamberg
Ernst
E
Schwalbe
Harald
H
Dötsch
Volker
V
Trantírek
Lukás
L
D000818:Animals; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular / Q000379:methods*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D009696:Nucleic Acids; D009841:Oligonucleotides