The document discusses the crystal structure and catalytic mechanism of an RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme known as 8-17. It details the methods used in crystallographic studies, findings related to substrate recognition, and the role of metal ions in the catalytic process. Key results indicate that the deoxyribozyme adopts a V-shape fold with a central catalytic core and operates through an in-line attack mechanism facilitated by Pb2+ ions.

1. Deoxyribozyme
Nat Commun. 2017 Dec 8;8(1):2006. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02203-x.Crystal structure of an RNA-cleaving DNAzyme.
Liu H1,2, Yu X1,2, Chen Y1, Zhang J1, Wu B2, Zheng L2, Haruehanroengra P3, Wang R3, Li S1, Lin J2, Li J1, Sheng J3, Huang Z4,5, Ma J6, Gan J7.

2. Overview
1.What are Deoxyribozymes??
2. Historical perspective
3.Structure of 8-17 RNA Cleaving DNA
enzyme.
a) Purpose of the Research
b) What they did ??
c) What did they Find ??
d) Interpretations
4. Summary
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Ronald Breaker Gerald Joyce

3. What are
Deoxyribozyme
s ??
Natural duplex of
DNA is unlikely to
be Catalytic
It obeys
Michaelis-Menten
kinetics.
Existence of DNA
World is debateable,
but seems mostly
unlikely.
1 2 3
• A DNA sequence with catalytic
activity is called Deoxyribozyme.
• They are single SS DNA, identified
by in vitro selection, so are called
synthetic catalyst.
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Catalytic DNA: Scope, Applications, and Biochemistry of Deoxyribozymes, Scott K.
Silverman, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, July 2016, Vol. 41, No. 7

4. Historical
perspective
• They used an in-vitro selection
strategy to isolate RNA cleaving
Deoxyribozyme.
• It Binds to its substrate using
Watson-crick base pairing.
• RNA cleaving Deoxyribozyme
has activity similar to RNAse.
• It requires metal ions (Pb2+,Mg2+ ).
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5. Crystal
structure of
8-17 RNA
Cleaving
DNA
Enzyme
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Image Source: Protein Data Bank

6. 1. To find the Structure of 8-17 RNA cleaving
DNAzyme.
2. To study the Mechanism of substrate
recognition and the catalysis of this DNAzyme.
3. To elucidate the structural and catalytic role
of Pb2+ in this DNA enzyme.
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What was the purpose
this research ???

7. What they
did ?
The Experiment
• They carried out crystallographic studies of 8–17 DNAzyme.
• They used these 3 substrate enzyme combinations
• To confirm the functional importance of some conserved
residues of DNAzymes, they performed activity studies using
the native and modified DNAzymes. 7
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Short hand
Notation
Substrate/Dz36
Complex Type
Length of
substrate
Presence or
Absence of
Pb2+
D1 Native DNA/ Dz36 23nt Absent
D2 Native DNA/Dz36 23nt Present
D3 2′-OMe-G modified
DNA/Dz36
23nt Absent

8. What did
they Find !
The Results
• Dz36 paired with the native
DNA substrate (D1 and D2)
in two structures and it paired
with the 2′-OMe-G (D3)
modified DNA in the third
structure.
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Sequence of 8-17 DNAzyme

9. Pb2+/DNAzyme (D2) complex in
high resolution at 2.55 Å
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• The D1 complex adopts the same space group as D2
complex (C2221), indicated by the very low rmsd value
(0.307 Å).
• While the D3 structure when compared to D2 show
different space group (P43212). But the central catalytic
regions where found to be identical. (As shown in Fig.)
Super position of D2(White) and D3 (Magenta) Complex,
Black box show identical central catalytic region

10. • The Dz36/substrate(All) complexes assemble into a “V”
shape with two arms (P1 and P2) orientated ~70° with
respect to each other.
• P1 and P2 are connected through the catalytic core (15 nt) and
substrate binds to DNAzyme by forming a dinucleotide kink
at the junction (G-1 and G+1).
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Dinucleotide kink
DZ36/substrate complex showing P1,P2
arm and catalytic core
Fig. showing Dinucleotide kink

11. • The catalytic core coincides with pseudoknot consisting of
two short duplexes (P3 and P4) perpendicular to each other.
(which shows Conserved regions)
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Pseudoknot
DZ36/substrate-complex showing
Conserved Regions

12. • Conformations of D2 Catalytic core remain same as D1 Even
after Pb2+ is used with D2.
• In D2 structure, Pb2+ ion was captured in the catalytic core.
• Compared with the native Dz36, Methylation at the N1
position (for Dz36-1mG13) caused reduction on the DNA
enzyme’s activity.
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Effect of methylation at N1 position
for Dz36-1mG13 on DNAzyme activity
Surface representation showing the preformed cation binding cage. The
Pb2+ is shown as a black sphere.

13. .
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• The Pb2+ ion coordinates with the O6 atom of G6, which
forms G6:C12 pair identified structurally and also with a
water molecule interacting with the O5′ atom of G+1.
• Structure factors and coordinates have been deposited in the
Protein Data Bank under accession codes 5XM8, 5XM9,
and 5XMA for the DNAzyme-Pb2+ complex, DNAzyme,
and DNAzyme-(2′-OMe-G) structures respectively.
Coordination of Pb2+ and the
catalytic water observed in the DNAzyme-
Pb2+ structure.
URL rcsb.org: The Protein Data Bank H.M. Berman, J. Westbrook, Z. Feng, G.
Gilliland, T.N. Bhat, H. Weissig, I.N. Shindyalov, P.E. Bourne (2000) Nucleic
Acids Research, 28: 235-242. doi:10.1093/nar/28.1.235

14. 14
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• 8–17 DNAzyme may follow an In-line attack mechanism.
• Conserved G13 residue may play the key role in the
catalysis, functioning as the base to deprotonate the 2′-OH
of G-1 for attacking the 3′-phosphate of G-1.
• Observations suggest that the N1 atom of G13 plays critical
role in the catalytic process of the DNAzyme.
• 8–17 DNAzyme may catalysis indirectly via Pb2+, as it
activates the coordinated H2O Molecule, which serve as
Acid for Acid-Base Catalysis, by provide a proton for
displacing O5′ atom of G+1.
• Low pKa of hydrated Pb2+ may contribute to the catalytic
efficiency of 8–17 DNAzyme.
In-line attack mechanism,
Red box shows part of substrate
Interpretation
s
Phosphodiester bond which will
be broken

15. Summary
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 The 8–17 DNAzyme adopts a V-shape fold consisting of
two substrate-recognizing arms (P1&P2) and one twisted
DNA pseudoknot having a Central catalytic core(15nt).
 Substrate form a GG Kink at Recognition junction.
 Catalysis is performed by In-Line Acid-base Reaction.
 The Pb2+ is bound at the pre organized pocket and
activates the coordinated H2O Molecule, which serve as
Acid for Acid-Base Catalysis.

16. Thankyou
Presented by:
Ayush Jain
Int-PhD
IISER, Mohali
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