We describe a very accurate addition (called structure X here) to the B-DNA dodecamer family of X-ray structures. Our results confirm the observation of Drew and Dickerson [(1981) J. Mol. Biol. 151, 535-556] that the spine of hydration in AT tract DNA is two layers deep. However, our results suggest that the primary spine is partially occupied by sodium ions. We suggest that many sequence-dependent features of DNA conformation are mediated by site specific binding of cations. For example, preferential localization of cations, as described here within the minor groove of structure X, is probably the structural origin of AT tract bending and groove narrowing. The secondary spine, which does not interact directly with the DNA, is as geometrically regular as the primary spine, providing a model for transmission of sequence information into solvent regions. A fully hydrated magnesium ion located in the major groove of structure X appears to pull cytosine bases partially out from the helical stack, exposing pi-systems to partial positive charges of the magnesium ion and its outer sphere. A partially ordered spermine molecule is located within the major groove of structure X. Dodecamer structures are derived from crystals of [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)]2 in space group P212121 (a = 25 A, b = 40 A, and c = 66 A). On average, those crystals diffracted to around 2.5 A resolution with 2500 unique reflections. Structure X, with the same space group, DNA sequence, and crystal form as the "Dickerson dodecamer", is refined against a complete, low-temperature, 1.4 A resolution data set, with over 11000 reflections. Structure X appears to be conformationally more ordered than previous structures, suggesting that at least a portion of the conformational heterogeneity previously attributed to DNA sequence in fact arises from experimental error.

The potassium form of d(CGCGAATTCGCG) solved by X-ray diffraction to 1.75 A resolution indicates that monovalent cations penetrate the primary and secondary layers of the "spine of hydration". Both the sodium [Shui, X., McFail-Isom, L., Hu, G. G., and Williams, L. D. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 8341-8355] and the potassium forms of the dodecamer at high resolution indicate that the original description of the spine, only two layers deep and with full occupancy by water molecules, requires substantive revision. The spine is merely the bottom two layers of a four layer solvent structure. The four layers combine to form a repeating motif of fused hexagons. The top two solvent layers were not apparent from previous medium-resolution diffraction data. We propose that the narrow minor groove and axial curvature of A-tract DNA arise from localization of cations within the minor groove. In general, the results described here support a model in which most or all forces that drive DNA away from canonical B-conformation are extrinsic and arise from interaction of DNA with its environment. Intrinsic forces, originating from direct base-base interactions such as stacking, hydrogen bonding, and steric repulsion among exocyclic groups appear to be insignificant. The time-averaged positions of the ubiquitous inorganic cations that surround DNA are influenced by DNA bases. The distribution of cations depends on sequence. Regions of high and low cation density are generated spontaneously in the solvent region by heterogeneous sequence or even within the grooves of homopolymers. The regions of high and low cation density deform DNA by electrostatic collapse. Thus, the effects of small inorganic cations on DNA structure are similar to the effects of proteins.

No abstract

We demonstrate that DNA conformation is sensitive to cationic environment. We describe a high resolution (1.2 Å) potassium form of CGCGAATTCGCG, determined from crystals grown in the presence of spermine and magnesium, along with potassium. The structure was refined with anisotropic displacementfactors by SHELX-97 to an R-factor of 13.9%. A comparison of this structure with others, reveals that the conformation of CGCGAATTCGCG varies in direct response to cation type and position. The DNA conformation in the presence of excess magnesium differs from the conformation in the presence of excess spermine. Divalent cations near the minor groove sequester into the lip, which is the region between opposing phosphate groups. Minor groove width is sensitive to, and can be predicted by, cation positions. It appears that minor groove narrowing is facilitated by interactions of cations with opposing phosphate groups.

The structure and dynamics of the grooves of DNA are of immense importance for recognition of DNA by proteins and small molecules as well as for the packaging of DNA into nucleosomes and viral particles. Although there is general agreement that the minor groove of DNA varies in a sequence-dependent manner and is narrow in AT regions, alternative models have been presented to explain the molecular basis for the groove narrowing. In one model the groove narrowing results from direct, short-range interactions among DNA bases. In this model the minor groove width of a given sequence is fixed, and any localization of monovalent cations in the groove does not affect the groove structure. In an alternative model the narrow minor groove of A-tracts is proposed to originate from sequence-dependent localization of water and cations. Ion dynamics and exchange make experimental tests of these models difficult, but they can be directly tested by determining how DNA minor-groove structure responds to cation positions in the course of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. To carry out such a test, we have conducted a long MD simulation on the sequence d(CGCGAATTCGCG) 2 in the presence of ions and water. We have analyzed the major structures that exist and the correlation between ion population and minor groove width. The results clearly show a time-dependent influence of ion positions on minor groove structure. When no ions interact with the groove, the groove is wide. Ion-water interactions narrow the groove through two distinct interactions: (i) ions interact directly with the DNA bases in the minor groove, such as cross-strand thymine oxygens (O2) in the sequence above, to give an internal ion-spine of hydration, or (ii) ions interact with phosphate groups in the AT sequence while water molecules in the minor groove interact directly with the bases. Some variations on these limiting models are possible in a dynamic DNA-water-ion structure, but it is clear that ion and water interactions at AT base pair sequence sites are required to yield the observed narrow minor groove in AT sequences.