Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand Binding
The interactions of ligands with nucleic acids are central to numerous reactions in the biological cell. How such reactions are affected by harsh environmental conditions such as low temperatures, high pressures, and high concentrations of destructive ions is still largely unknown. To elucidate the...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/19/10861 |
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| author | Nisrine Jahmidi-Azizi Stewart Gault Charles S. Cockell Rosario Oliva Roland Winter |
| author_facet | Nisrine Jahmidi-Azizi Stewart Gault Charles S. Cockell Rosario Oliva Roland Winter |
| author_sort | Nisrine Jahmidi-Azizi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The interactions of ligands with nucleic acids are central to numerous reactions in the biological cell. How such reactions are affected by harsh environmental conditions such as low temperatures, high pressures, and high concentrations of destructive ions is still largely unknown. To elucidate the ions’ role in shaping habitability in extraterrestrial environments and the deep subsurface of Earth with respect to fundamental biochemical processes, we investigated the effect of selected salts (MgCl<sub>2</sub>, MgSO<sub>4</sub>, and Mg(ClO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>) and high hydrostatic pressure (relevant for the subsurface of that planet) on the complex formation between tRNA and the ligand ThT. The results show that Mg<sup>2+</sup> salts reduce the binding tendency of ThT to tRNA. This effect is largely due to the interaction of ThT with the salt anions, which leads to a strong decrease in the activity of the ligand. However, at mM concentrations, binding is still favored. The ions alter the thermodynamics of binding, rendering complex formation that is more entropy driven. Remarkably, the pressure favors ligand binding regardless of the type of salt. Although the binding constant is reduced, the harsh conditions in the subsurface of Earth, Mars, and icy moons do not necessarily preclude nucleic acid–ligand interactions of the type studied here. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:59:03Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:59:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-93cbf6afb83b4e64a9b1c066f80e03282023-11-22T16:16:34ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-10-0122191086110.3390/ijms221910861Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand BindingNisrine Jahmidi-Azizi0Stewart Gault1Charles S. Cockell2Rosario Oliva3Roland Winter4Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, GermanyUK Centre for Astrobiology, SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UKUK Centre for Astrobiology, SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UKPhysical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, GermanyPhysical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, GermanyThe interactions of ligands with nucleic acids are central to numerous reactions in the biological cell. How such reactions are affected by harsh environmental conditions such as low temperatures, high pressures, and high concentrations of destructive ions is still largely unknown. To elucidate the ions’ role in shaping habitability in extraterrestrial environments and the deep subsurface of Earth with respect to fundamental biochemical processes, we investigated the effect of selected salts (MgCl<sub>2</sub>, MgSO<sub>4</sub>, and Mg(ClO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>) and high hydrostatic pressure (relevant for the subsurface of that planet) on the complex formation between tRNA and the ligand ThT. The results show that Mg<sup>2+</sup> salts reduce the binding tendency of ThT to tRNA. This effect is largely due to the interaction of ThT with the salt anions, which leads to a strong decrease in the activity of the ligand. However, at mM concentrations, binding is still favored. The ions alter the thermodynamics of binding, rendering complex formation that is more entropy driven. Remarkably, the pressure favors ligand binding regardless of the type of salt. Although the binding constant is reduced, the harsh conditions in the subsurface of Earth, Mars, and icy moons do not necessarily preclude nucleic acid–ligand interactions of the type studied here.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/19/10861Martian saltshigh pressurenucleic acid-ligand bindingtRNAThTperchlorate |
| spellingShingle | Nisrine Jahmidi-Azizi Stewart Gault Charles S. Cockell Rosario Oliva Roland Winter Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand Binding International Journal of Molecular Sciences Martian salts high pressure nucleic acid-ligand binding tRNA ThT perchlorate |
| title | Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand Binding |
| title_full | Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand Binding |
| title_fullStr | Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand Binding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand Binding |
| title_short | Ions in the Deep Subsurface of Earth, Mars, and Icy Moons: Their Effects in Combination with Temperature and Pressure on tRNA–Ligand Binding |
| title_sort | ions in the deep subsurface of earth mars and icy moons their effects in combination with temperature and pressure on trna ligand binding |
| topic | Martian salts high pressure nucleic acid-ligand binding tRNA ThT perchlorate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/19/10861 |
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