New Insights into the Functions of Nucleic Acids Controlled by Cellular Microenvironments
New Insights into the Functions of Nucleic Acids Controlled by Cellular Microenvironments
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DOI：
10.1007/s41061-021-00329-7
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发表时间：
2021-03
影响因子：
8.6
通讯作者：
Saki Matsumoto;N. Sugimoto
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Saki Matsumoto;N. Sugimoto
自1953年由James沃森和弗朗西斯克里克首次提出以来，右手双螺旋B型结构（B型双链体）已被广泛认为是核酸的典型结构。这种B型双链体模型具有单时性和静态结构，并在序列内编码遗传信息。有趣的是，DNA和RNA可以形成各种非规范结构，如发夹环，左手螺旋，三链体，G-四链体和i-基序的四链体，以及分支连接，除了规范结构。非正则结构的形成不仅取决于序列，还取决于周围环境。重要的是，这些非典型结构可以通过改变它们的结构和稳定性来响应周围环境而表现出各种各样的生物学作用，这些环境在细胞中的特定位置和特定时间发生巨大变化。在这里，我们回顾了最近的进展有关的有趣的行为和功能的核酸分子拥挤的细胞条件。从最近的研究中获得的新见解表明，核酸不仅在序列中编码遗传信息，而且通过细胞环境中的剧烈结构变化，在其结构和稳定性方面具有未知的功能。
The right-handed double-helical B-form structure (B-form duplex) has been widely recognized as the canonical structure of nucleic acids since it was first proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. This B-form duplex model has a monochronic and static structure and codes genetic information within a sequence. Interestingly, DNA and RNA can form various non-canonical structures, such as hairpin loops, left-handed helices, triplexes, tetraplexes of G-quadruplex and i-motif, and branched junctions, in addition to the canonical structure. The formation of non-canonical structures depends not only on sequence but also on the surrounding environment. Importantly, these non-canonical structures may exhibit a wide variety of biological roles by changing their structures and stabilities in response to the surrounding environments, which undergo vast changes at specific locations and at specific times in cells. Here, we review recent progress regarding the interesting behaviors and functions of nucleic acids controlled by molecularly crowded cellular conditions. New insights gained from recent studies suggest that nucleic acids not only code genetic information in sequences but also have unknown functions regarding their structures and stabilities through drastic structural changes in cellular environments.