Secondary structure determination of conserved SARS-CoV-2 RNA elements by NMR spectroscopy.

The current pandemic situation caused by the Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (SCoV2) highlights the need for coordinated research to combat COVID-19. A particularly important aspect is the development of medication. In addition to viral proteins, structured RNA elements represent a potent alternative as drug targets. The search for drugs that target RNA requires their high-resolution structural characterization. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a worldwide consortium of NMR researchers aims to characterize potential RNA drug targets of SCoV2. Here, we report the characterization of 15 conserved RNA elements located at the 5' end, the ribosomal frameshift segment and the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the SCoV2 genome, their large-scale production and NMR-based secondary structure determination. The NMR data are corroborated with secondary structure probing by DMS footprinting experiments. The close agreement of NMR secondary structure determination of isolated RNA elements with DMS footprinting and NMR performed on larger RNA regions shows that the secondary structure elements fold independently. The NMR data reported here provide the basis for NMR investigations of RNA function, RNA interactions with viral and host proteins and screening campaigns to identify potential RNA binders for pharmaceutical intervention.

Disentangling the coil: modulation of conformational and dynamic properties by site-directed mutation in the non-native state of hen egg white lysozyme.

The conformational analysis of non-native states of proteins remains one of the most difficult problems in structural biology, because such states are represented by a superimposition of several states that are rapidly interconverting. Hence, model building of the conformational ensemble remains challenging, although many different biophysical observables can be determined in non-native states of proteins. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of non-native states of wild-type and mutant forms of the model protein lysozyme by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Relaxation rates, chemical shifts, backbone and side chain coupling constants, residual dipolar couplings, diffusion rate constants, and small-angle scattering data merged with computational approaches, such as flexible meccano and ASTEROIDS, allow the description of the non-native state of hen egg white lysozyme in unprecedented detail.

The HN(COCA)HAHB NMR experiment for the stereospecific assignment of Hbeta-protons in non-native states of proteins.

(3)J(H(alpha),H(beta))-coupling constants deliver precious information on the population of the three favored chi(1)-rotamers in unfolded states of proteins. Here, a novel pulse sequence, tailored toward the NMR analysis of non-native states of proteins, the HN(COCA)HAHB experiment, is developed to measure (3)J(H(alpha),H(beta)). In four subsequent INEPT steps, magnetization is transferred from H(N) to H(alpha). In a COSY-like magnetization transfer step, dephasing of magnetization on H(alpha) is quantified to determine the (3)J(H(alpha),H(beta))-coupling constants. Analysis of the measured homonuclear coupling constants, together with measurement of heteronuclear (3)J(N,C(gamma))- and (3)J(C',C(gamma))-coupling constants, allows stereospecific assignment of the two diastereotopic H(beta)-protons even in unfolded states of proteins, and the derivation of populations according to a Pachler-type analysis.

Double-lanthanide-binding tags: design, photophysical properties, and NMR applications.

Lanthanide-binding tags (LBTs) are peptide sequences of up to 20 encoded amino acids that tightly and selectively complex lanthanide ions and can sensitize terbium (Tb3+) luminescence. On the basis of these properties, it was predicted that increasing the number of bound lanthanides would improve the capabilities of these tags. Therefore, using a structurally well-characterized single-LBT sequence as a starting point, a "double-LBT" (dLBT), which concatenates two lanthanide-binding motifs, was designed. Herein we report the generation of dLBT peptides and luminescence and NMR studies on a dLBT-tagged ubiquitin fusion protein. These lanthanide-bound constructs are shown to be improved luminescent tags with avid lanthanide binding and up to 3-fold greater luminescence intensity. NMR experiments were conducted on the ubiquitin construct, wherein bound paramagnetic lanthanides were used as alignment-inducing agents to gain residual dipolar couplings, which are valuable restraints for macromolecular structure determination. Together, these results indicate that dLBTs will be valuable chemical tools for biophysical applications leading to new approaches for studying the structure, function, and dynamics of proteins.