Fluorescence intensity decays of 2-aminopurine solutions: Lifetime distribution approach

The fluorescent adenine analogue 2-aminopurine (2AP) has been used extensively to monitor conformational changes and macromolecular binding events involving nucleic acids because its fluorescence properties are highly sensitive to changes in chemical environment. Furthermore, site-specific incorporation of 2AP permits local DNA and RNA conformational events to be discriminated from the global structural changes monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy and circular dichroism. However, while the steady-state fluorescence properties of 2AP have been well defined in diverse settings, interpretation of 2AP fluorescence lifetime parameters has been hampered by the heterogeneous nature of multi-exponential 2AP intensity decays observed across populations of microenvironments. To resolve this problem, we have tested the utility of multi-exponential versus continuous Lorentzian lifetime distribution models to describe fluorescence intensity decays from 2AP in diverse chemical backgrounds and within the context of RNA. Heterogeneity was introduced into 2AP intensity decays by mixing solvents of differing polarities, or by adding quenchers under high viscosity to evaluate the transient effect. Heterogeneity of 2AP fluorescence within the context of a synthetic RNA hairpin was introduced by structural remodeling using a magnesium salt. In each case, except folded RNA which required a bimodal distribution, 2AP lifetime properties were well described by single Lorentzian distribution functions, abrogating the need to introduce additional discrete lifetime subpopulations. Rather, heterogeneity in fluorescence decay processes was accommodated by the breadth of each distribution. This approach also permitted solvent relaxation effects on 2AP emission to be assessed by comparing lifetime distributions at multiple wavelengths. Together, these studies provide a new perspective for the interpretation of 2AP fluorescence lifetime properties, which will further the utility of this fluorophore in analyses of the complex and heterogeneous structural microenvironments associated with nucleic acids.