Inhibitory effects on the DNA binding of AP-1 transcription factor to an AP-1 binding site modified by benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide diastereomers.

Abstract

Benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide is an established carcinogen, known to covalently bind to DNA, in particular to the exocyclic aminogroup of dG, and thereby cause conformational changes to the double helix. AP-1 is a well-studied transcription factor that specifically binds to the DNA sequence 5'-d(TGAGTCA). The effects of more or less randomly distributed BPDE adducts on DNA have been studied in different contexts, as well as the effects of different stimuli on transcription factor binding affinity and expression, but so far no investigation has been made concerning the effect of specific modification of a transcription factor binding site. In this study we have specifically modified the binding site of the transcription factor AP-1 with the (+)-anti- or (-)-syn-enantiomers of BPDE, and have studied how this affects the binding of the Fos-Jun proteins. Both (-)-syn- and (+)-anti-BPDE, giving rise to a cis- and a trans-adduct, respectively, have been used and, in both cases, the binding of AP-1 like proteins from HeLa cell nuclear extracts to the modified binding site decreased by approximately 50% as compared to controls. There was no apparent difference in response between the different diastereomers, so it seems that the binding geometry of the adduct (either intercalated or pointing towards the 5'-end in the minor groove, respectively) is of less importance. An interesting feature was the apparent yield of three differently shifted bands using the modified binding site. This can be due to conformational changes of the complex and/or the presence of less specific complexes as an effect of the adduct. Recombinant, truncated Fos-Jun proteins completely failed to bind to modified binding sites when performing the same experiments as detailed above and their binding to unmodified oligonucleotide was 50% less than for native proteins from the nuclear extract. Supershift assays, using antibodies specific for c-Fos and c-Jun proteins, and competition experiments with various unlabelled oligonucleotides, were performed in order to check the specificity of binding in the observed bands. The results using the oligonucleotide containing the unmodified binding sequence and HeLa cell nuclear extract were fully consistent with binding of c-Fos and c-Jun, whereas the binding to oligonucleotides containing BPDE-modified binding sequences was not. This implies involvement of other proteins in this event.