title: Spermine Condenses DNA, but Not RNA Duplexes.
abstract: Interactions between the polyamine spermine and nucleic acids drive important cellular processes. Spermine condenses DNA and some RNAs, such as poly(rA):poly(rU). A large fraction of the spermine present in cells is bound to RNA but apparently does not condense it. Here, we study the effect of spermine binding to short duplex RNA and DNA, and compare our findings with predictions of molecular-dynamics simulations. When small numbers of spermine are introduced, RNA with a designed sequence containing a mixture of 14 GC pairs and 11 AU pairs resists condensation relative to DNA of an equivalent sequence or to 25 bp poly(rA):poly(rU) RNA. A comparison of wide-angle x-ray scattering profiles with simulation results suggests that spermine is sequestered deep within the major groove of mixed-sequence RNA. This prevents condensation by limiting opportunities to bridge to other molecules and stabilizes the RNA by locking it into a particular conformation. In contrast, for DNA, simulations suggest that spermine binds externally to the duplex, offering opportunities for intermolecular interaction. The goal of this study is to explain how RNA can remain soluble and available for interaction with other molecules in the cell despite the presence of spermine at concentrations high enough to precipitate DNA.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Igor S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Tolokh
authors.affiliation: School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors.forename: Suzette A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pabit
authors.affiliation: Advanced Computing, Mathematics, and Data Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia; Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
authors.forename: Alexey V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Onufriev
authors.affiliation: School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Electronic address: lp26@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Lois
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pollack
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D013096:Spermine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013096:Spermine; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA