Bypass Polymerases Research Articles

Abstract 2029: Interactions between a selenophene compound and DNA polymerase eta.

Abstract D-501036 [2,5-bis(5-hydroxymethyl-2-selenienyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-N-methylpyrrole] is a selenophene compound that has potent toxicity to various types of cancer cells but not for normal cells. More importantly, in vivo xenograft animal studies have also shown that D-501036 is a promising anticancer compound. Mechanistic studies indicated that D-501036 induces DNA double strand breaks in a dose dependent manner and blocks cell cycle progression at S-phase. D-501036 forms DNA adducts and the amount of DNA adducts increased with the concentration of D-501036. Therefore, we examined several DNA replication/repair mechanisms for their potential relationship with D-501036. Interestingly, we observed that D-501036 suppressed the expression of DNA lesion bypass polymerase η (pol η) more than 70% in both time and dose dependent manners in the ovarian Ovcar-4 cancer cells. Pol η is the key enzyme to replicate across UV induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in DNA. Genetic defects in the pol η encoding gene result in a disease called Xeroderma Pigmentosum variant (XP-V). In addition to its biological function, biochemical studies have shown that pol η can also efficiently bypass cisplatin intrastrand crosslinked guanosines (Pt-GG). In consistence with the biochemical studies, cellular studies have shown that the expression of pol η reduces the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in Ovcar-4 cells. These results suggested that pol η plays an important role in modulating the cellular sensitivity to cisplatin. Although cisplatin is an important therapeutic agent for the treatment of ovarian cancer but the development of resistance against cisplatin has been a major drawback. Given that D-501036 suppresses the expression of pol η, we performed a cytotoxicity study using the combination of D-501036 and cisplatin. Our results indicated that D-501036 can potentiate the sensitivity of Ovcar-4 cells to cisplatin more than 1,000- fold. Together, our results suggested that D-501036 is a promising compound that can be used to enhance the activity of cisplatin for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Further studies are undergoing to determine the mechanisms of action of D-501036, the information obtained will facilitate the development of new compounds to improve the treatment for ovarian cancer. Citation Format: Anne Rietz, Yih-wen Chen, Kai-Ming Chou. Interactions between a selenophene compound and DNA polymerase eta. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2029. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2029

Translesion Synthesis across 1,N6-(2-Hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA) Adducts by Human and Archebacterial DNA Polymerases

The 1,N(6)-(2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine (1,N(6)-γ-HMHP-dA) adducts are formed upon bifunctional alkylation of adenine nucleobases in DNA by 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane, the putative ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of 1,3-butadiene. The presence of a substituted 1,N(6)-propano group on 1,N(6)-γ-HMHP-dA is expected to block the Watson-Crick base pairing of the adducted adenine with thymine, potentially contributing to mutagenesis. In this study, the enzymology of replication past site-specific 1,N(6)-γ-HMHP-dA lesions in the presence of human DNA polymerases (hpols) β, η, κ, and ι and archebacterial polymerase Dpo4 was investigated. Run-on gel analysis with all four dNTPs revealed that hpol η, κ, and Dpo4 were able to copy the modified template. In contrast, hpol ι inserted a single base opposite 1,N(6)-γ-HMHP-dA but was unable to extend beyond the damaged site, and a complete replication block was observed with hpol β. Single nucleotide incorporation experiments indicated that although hpol η, κ, and Dpo4 incorporated the correct nucleotide (dTMP) opposite the lesion, dGMP and dAMP were inserted with a comparable frequency. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of primer extension products confirmed the ability of bypass polymerases to insert dTMP, dAMP, or dGMP opposite 1,N(6)-γ-HMHP-dA and detected large amounts of -1 and -2 deletion products. Taken together, these results indicate that hpol η and κ enzymes bypass 1,N(6)-γ-HMHP-dA lesions in an error-prone fashion, potentially contributing to A→T and A→C transversions and frameshift mutations observed in cells following treatment with 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane.

Differential Temperature-Dependent Multimeric Assemblies of Replication and Repair Polymerases on DNA Increase Processivity

Differentiation of binding accurate DNA replication polymerases over error prone DNA lesion bypass polymerases is essential for the proper maintenance of the genome. The hyperthermophilic archaeal organism Sulfolobus solfataricus (Sso) contains both a B-family replication (Dpo1) and a Y-family repair (Dpo4) polymerase and serves as a model system for understanding molecular mechanisms and assemblies for DNA replication and repair protein complexes. Protein cross-linking, isothermal titration calorimetry, and analytical ultracentrifugation have confirmed a previously unrecognized dimeric Dpo4 complex bound to DNA. Binding discrimination between these polymerases on model DNA templates is complicated by the fact that multiple oligomeric species are influenced by concentration and temperature. Temperature-dependent fluorescence anisotropy equilibrium binding experiments were used to separate discrete binding events for the formation of trimeric Dpo1 and dimeric Dpo4 complexes on DNA. The associated equilibria are found to be temperature-dependent, generally leading to improved binding at higher temperatures for both polymerases. At high temperatures, DNA binding of Dpo1 monomer is favored over binding of Dpo4 monomer, but binding of Dpo1 trimer is even more strongly favored over binding of Dpo4 dimer, thus providing thermodynamic selection. Greater processivities of nucleotide incorporation for trimeric Dpo1 and dimeric Dpo4 are also observed at higher temperatures, providing biochemical validation for the influence of tightly bound oligomeric polymerases. These results separate, quantify, and confirm individual and sequential processes leading to the formation of oligomeric Dpo1 and Dpo4 assemblies on DNA and provide for a concentration- and temperature-dependent discrimination of binding undamaged DNA templates at physiological temperatures.

Identification of an Unfolding Intermediate for a DNA Lesion Bypass Polymerase

Sulfolobus solfataricus DNA Polymerase IV (Dpo4), a prototype Y-family DNA polymerase, has been well characterized biochemically and biophysically at 37 °C or lower temperatures. However, the physiological temperature of the hyperthermophile S. solfataricus is approximately 80 °C. With such a large discrepancy in temperature, the in vivo relevance of these in vitro studies of Dpo4 has been questioned. Here, we employed circular dichroism spectroscopy and fluorescence-based thermal scanning to investigate the secondary structural changes of Dpo4 over a temperature range from 26 to 119 °C. Dpo4 was shown to display a high melting temperature characteristic of hyperthermophiles. Unexpectedly, the Little Finger domain of Dpo4, which is only found in the Y-family DNA polymerases, was shown to be more thermostable than the polymerase core. More interestingly, Dpo4 exhibited a three-state cooperative unfolding profile with an unfolding intermediate. The linker region between the Little Finger and Thumb domains of Dpo4 was found to be a source of structural instability. Through site-directed mutagenesis, the interactions between the residues in the linker region and the Palm domain were identified to play a critical role in the formation of the unfolding intermediate. Notably, the secondary structure of Dpo4 was not altered when the temperature was increased from 26 to 87.5 °C. Thus, in addition to providing structural insights into the thermal stability and an unfolding intermediate of Dpo4, our work also validated the relevance of the in vitro studies of Dpo4 performed at temperatures significantly lower than 80 °C.

Preparation of Site-specific T=mCG cis-syn Cyclobutane Dimer-containing Template and Its Error-free Bypass by Yeast and Human Polymerase η

C-to-T mutations are a hallmark of UV light and, in humans, occur preferentially at methylated Py(m)CG sites, which are also sites of preferential cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) formation. In response, cells have evolved DNA damage bypass polymerases, of which polymerase η (pol η) appears to be specifically adapted to synthesize past cis-syn CPDs. Although T=T CPDs are stable, CPDs containing C or 5-methylcytosine ((m)C) are not and spontaneously deaminate to U or T at pH 7 and 37 °C over a period of hours or days, making their preparation and study difficult. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that, depending on solvent polarity, a C or an (m)C in a CPD can adopt three tautomeric forms, one of which could code as T. Although many in vitro studies have established that synthesis past T or U in a CPD by pol η occurs in a highly error-free manner, the only in vitro evidence that synthesis past C or (m)C in a CPD also occurs in an error-free manner is for an (m)C in the 5'-position of an (m)C=T CPD. Herein, we describe the preparation and characterization of an oligodeoxynucleotide containing a CPD of a T(m)CG site, one of the major sites of C methylation and C-to-T mutations found in the p53 gene of basal and squamous cell cancers. We also demonstrate that both yeast and human pol η synthesize past the 3'-(m)C CPD in a >99% error-free manner, consistent with the highly water-exposed nature of the active site.

γH2Ax: Biomarker of Damage or Functional Participant in DNA Repair “All that Glitters Is not Gold!”

The phosphorylation of H2Ax on its S139 site, γH2Ax, is important for the assembly of repair complexes at DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). The formation and functional role of γH2Ax after other kinds of DNA damage, especially UV light, where DSBs are rare, is less clear. Following UV light in the UVB and UVC ranges, complex distributions of γH2Ax can be identified, quite unlike the discrete enumerable foci seen after ionizing radiation. Several distinct distributions of γH2Ax occur: a low level nuclear-wide distribution of γH2Ax occurs during nucleotide excision repair; irregular focal distributions occur at arrested replication forks; high intensity nuclear-wide γH2Ax occurs in association with S-phase apoptosis. The intensity and distributions of γH2Ax vary according to the activity of excision repair, bypass polymerase and apoptotic caspases. The frequency of DSBs at arrested replication forks is low but highly variable in different cell types, and probably caused by enzymatic action. Despite the prominence of S139 phosphorylation following UV damage, mutation of this site has no influence on the UV damage response indicating that γH2Ax is a biomarker but not a participant in the UV-DNA damage response.

Implications for Damage Recognition during Dpo4-Mediated Mutagenic Bypass of m1G and m3C Lesions

DNA is susceptible to alkylation damage by a number of environmental agents that modify the Watson-Crick edge of the bases. Such lesions, if not repaired, may be bypassed by Y-family DNA polymerases. The bypass polymerase Dpo4 is strongly inhibited by 1-methylguanine (m1G) and 3-methylcytosine (m3C), with nucleotide incorporation opposite these lesions being predominantly mutagenic. Further, extension after insertion of both correct and incorrect bases, introduces additional base substitution and deletion errors. Crystal structures of the Dpo4 ternary extension complexes with correct and mismatched 3'-terminal primer bases opposite the lesions reveal that both m1G and m3C remain positioned within the DNA template/primer helix. However, both correct and incorrect pairing partners exhibit pronounced primer terminal nucleotide distortion, being primarily evicted from the DNA helix when opposite m1G or misaligned when pairing with m3C. Our studies provide insights into mechanisms related to hindered and mutagenic bypass of methylated lesions and models associated with damage recognition by repair demethylases.

Abstract 1328: Replication inhibition and mutagenicity of 8,5’-cyclopurine-2’-deoxynucleosides in Escherichia coli

Abstract 8,5’-Cyclopurine-2’-deoxynucleosides are unique tandem DNA lesions formed by oxidation or ionizing radiation, which are repaired only by nucleotide excision repair. They have been suspected to be responsible for neurodegeneration and other diseases. But their replication properties are little studied. In the current work, we have evaluated replication of a pMS2 plasmid containing a single (5's)-8,5’-cyclo-2’-deoxyadenosine (5's-cdA) or (5's)-8,5’-cyclo-2’-deoxyguanosine (5's-cdG) at a preselected site in Escherichia coli. In the wild type E. coli cells, viability of 5's-cdA and 5's-cdG plasmids dropped to approximately 1% and 0.5%, respectively, relative to control. The viability of each was further reduced in pol II-deficient strain, but it was most pronounced in a pol V-deficient strain, where it dropped ten-fold. By contrast, viability increased 4-7-fold in a pol IV-deficient strain. Upon induction of SOS functions, viability increased ten-fold in the wild type strain. Though less pronounced, viability increased in the other strains as well. We conclude that pol V is necessary for translesion synthesis of the cyclopurines and that it may work cooperatively with pol II, which is also needed for bypass. In addition, it appears that although pol IV competes with the other bypass polymerases, it is inefficient in bypassing these lesions. In the absence of SOS, 5's-cdA-to-G mutations occurred at a low frequency, whereas 5's-cdG-to-A events were detected at a much higher frequency. With SOS, 5's-cdA-to-T and 5's-cdG-to-T were also detected. [Supported by NIEHS grant ES-013324] Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1328. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1328

Probing the role of active site loops in E. coli Y family DNA damage bypass polymerase V

Probing the role of active site loops in <i>E. coli</i> Y family DNA damage bypass polymerase V

DNA Polymerase Eta and Chemotherapeutic Agents

The discovery of human DNA polymerase eta (pol η) has a major impact on the fields of DNA replication/repair fields. Since the discovery of human pol η, a number of new DNA polymerases with the ability to bypass various DNA lesions have been discovered. Among these polymerases, pol η is the most extensively studied lesion bypass polymerase with a defined major biological function, that is, to replicate across the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers introduced by UV irradiation. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer is a major DNA lesion that causes distortion of DNA structure and block the replicative DNA polymerases during DNA replication process. Genetic defects in the pol η gene, Rad30, results in a disease called xeroderma pigmentosum variant. This review focuses on the overall properties of pol η and the mechanism that involved in regulating its activity in cells. In addition, the role of pol η in the action of DNA-targeting anticancer compounds is also discussed.

Kinetic Basis of Sugar Selection by a Y-Family DNA Polymerase from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2

DNA polymerases use either a bulky active site residue or a backbone segment to select against ribonucleotides in order to faithfully replicate cellular genomes. Here, we demonstrated that an active site mutation (Y12A) within Sulfolobus solfataricus DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4) caused an average increase of 220-fold in matched ribonucleotide incorporation efficiency and an average decrease of 9-fold in correct deoxyribonucleotide incorporation efficiency, leading to an average reduction of 2000-fold in sugar selectivity. Thus, the bulky side chain of Tyr12 is important for both ribonucleotide discrimination and efficient deoxyribonucleotide incorporation. Other than synthesizing DNA as the wild-type Dpo4, the Y12A Dpo4 mutant incorporated more than 20 consecutive ribonucleotides into primer/template (DNA/DNA) duplexes, suggesting that this mutant protein possesses both a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity and a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Moreover, the binary and ternary crystal structures of Dpo4 have revealed that this DNA lesion bypass polymerase can bind up to eight base pairs of double-stranded DNA which is entirely in B-type. Thus, the DNA binding cleft of Dpo4 is flexible and can accommodate both A- and B-type oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes as well as damaged DNA.

Mutagenic repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks

Formation of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) in chromosomal DNA imposes acute obstruction of all essential DNA functions. For over 70 years bifunctional alkylators, also known as DNA crosslinkers, have been an important class of cancer chemotherapeutic regimens. The mechanisms of ICL repair remains largely elusive. Here, we review a eukaryotic mutagenic ICL repair pathway discovered by work from several laboratories. This repair pathway, alternatively termed recombination-independent ICL repair, involves the incision activities of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) mechanism and lesion bypass polymerase(s). Repair of the ICL is initiated by dual incisions flanking the ICL on one strand of the double helix; the resulting gap is filled in by lesion bypass polymerases. The remaining lesion is subsequently removed by a second round of NER reaction. The mutagenic repair of ICL likely interacts with other cellular mechanisms such as the Fanconi anemia pathway and recombinational repair of ICLs. These aspects will also be discussed.

Abstract 1966: In vivo detection of nucleotide lesions preceding mutation fixation

Abstract Background and Purpose: Unrepaired DNA damage likely originates a large fraction of human cancer. However, a direct correlation between DNA damage and specific mutations is lacking. To identify in vivo nucleotide lesions that can act as the precursors of neoplastic mutations, we investigated the origin of specific tumor signature mutations previously reported on codon 122 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene (Trp53) in UVB radiation induced mouse skin tumors. Methods: The dorsal skin of wild-type (WT) and repair defective (Xpc−/− Trp53+/−) mice was shaved and exposed to a single dose of 4.8 kJ/m2 UVB radiation. Skin from unirradiated and irradiated animals was excised surgically at specific time points (0, 24 and 48 h after irradiation) and used for DNA extraction. A novel primer-anchored PCR based damage-detection methodology developed in our laboratory was used to identify and map DNA damage on the transcribed (TS) and non-transcribed strand (NTS) of the Trp53 gene. Results: Twenty-four and 48 h after UVB-radiation, significant levels of unrepaired nucleotide lesions persisted in genomic DNA of Xpc−/− Trp53+/− compared with WT mice. We observed that most of the damage blocked the primer-extension, yielding early stops. Additionally, most of the damage affecting Trp53 codon 122 in Xpc−/− Trp53+/− mice occurred in the NTS and strictly localized to 2 nucleotides. Importantly, a small percentage of the damage observed at these nucleotides allowed DNA polymerase bypass with misincorporation. Significantly, these lesions were detected precisely in the two nucleotides of Trp53 codon 122 that were found mutated in 64% of all tumors arising in this genotype. These results support the model that the tumor mutations at this site arise from error-prone bypass of long-lasting, unrepaired DNA lesions. Conclusions: We demonstrate a significant correlation between the persistence of precisely localized nucleotide lesions and the later establishment of tumor mutations at those specific nucleotides. Using a novel primer-anchored DNA damage methodology, we identified and mapped for the first time in vivo polymerase by-passable nucleotide lesions. Given the mutagenic potential of these lesions, the wide application of this novel technique for the identification of those lesions and the quantification of in vivo DNA damage might have major implications for early detection of cancer precursor lesions and evaluation of prevention strategies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1966.

A minority of foci or pan-nuclear apoptotic staining of γH2AX in the S phase after UV damage contain DNA double-strand breaks

UV irradiation induces histone variant H2AX phosphorylated on serine 139 (gammaH2AX) foci and high levels of pan-nuclear gammaH2AX staining without foci, but the significance of this finding is still uncertain. We examined the formation of gammaH2AX and 53BP1 that coincide at sites of double-strand breaks (DSBs) after ionizing radiation. We compared UV irradiation and treatment with etoposide, an agent that causes DSBs during DNA replication. We found that during DNA replication, UV irradiation induced at least three classes of gammaH2AX response: a minority of gammaH2AX foci colocalizing with 53BP1 foci that represent DSBs at replication sites, a majority of gammaH2AX foci that did not colocalize with 53BP1 foci, and cells with high levels of pan-nuclear gammaH2AX without foci of either gammaH2AX or 53BP1. Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase and JNK mediated the UV-induced pan-nuclear gammaH2Ax, which preceded and paralleled UV-induced S phase apoptosis. These high levels of pan-nuclear gammaH2AX were further increased by loss of the bypass polymerase Pol eta and inhibition of ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related, but the levels required the presence of the damage-binding proteins of excision repair xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A and C proteins. DSBs, therefore, represent a small variable fraction of UV-induced gammaH2AX foci dependent on repair capacity, and they are not detected within high levels of pan-nuclear gammaH2AX, a preapoptotic signal associated with ATM- and JNK-dependent apoptosis during replication. The formation of gammaH2AX foci after treatment with DNA-damaging agents cannot, therefore, be used as a direct measure of DSBs without independent corroborating evidence.

Multiscale Modeling of PCNA - Ubiquitin Interactions

Covalent attachment of ubiquitin (Ub) to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) plays a crucial role in translesion synthesis (TLS). However, structural knowledge of the complex between Ub and PCNA is currently lacking. The problem is important from a biological perspective since ubiquitinated PCNA is involved in the recruitment of specialized lesion bypass polymerases. A loss of regulation of TLS and other damage-avoidance pathways can lead to a variety of cell fates including apoptosis and uncontrolled cell growth. We have modeled the Ub-PCNA complex using a combination of tethered Brownian dynamics (TBD), protein-protein docking with RosettaDock, flexible loop modeling with ModLoop, and molecular dynamics(MD). The TBD simulations were used to generate a large ensemble of electrostatically and geometrically favorable configurations, subsequently used as a starting point for local docking searches. The final models were refined with all-atom explicit solvent MD simulations. Ubiquitin was found to bind in a groove on the PCNA surface directly above the PCNA subunit interface. A mutation originally identified in genetics screens (pol30-113) and known to interfere with TLS, is positioned directly beneath the bound ubiquitin in our models. Thus, the results provide unexpected insight into previously unexplained biological observations.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide

Effect of N3‐Methyladenine and an Isosteric Stable Analogue on DNA Polymerization

N3-methyladenine (3-mA) is a cytotoxic lesion formed by the reaction of DNA with many methylating agents, including antineoplastic drugs, environmental agents and endogenously generated compounds. The toxicity of 3-mA has been attributed to its ability to block DNA polymerization. Using Me-lex, a compound that selectively and efficiently reacts with DNA to afford 3-mA, we have observed in yeast a mutational hotspot at the 5′-terminus of an A4 tract. In order to explore the potential role of sequence-dependent DNA polymerase bypass of 3-mA, we developed an in vitro system to prepare 3-mA modified substrates using Me-lex. We detail the effects of 3-mA, its stable isostere analogue, 3-methyl-3-deazaadenine, 3-deazaadenine and an THF abasic site on DNA polymerization within an A4 sequence. The methyl group on 3-mA and 3-methyl-3-deazaadenine has a pronounced inhibitory effect on DNA polymerization. There was no sequence selectivity for the bypass of any of the lesions, except for the abasic site, which was most efficiently by-passed when it was on the 5′-terminus of the A4 tract. The results indicate that the weak mutational pattern induced by Me-lex may result form the depurination of 3-mA to an abasic site that is bypassed in a sequence dependent context.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad6 Postreplication Repair and Siz1/Srs2 Homologous Recombination-Inhibiting Pathways Process DNA Damage That Arises in asf1 Mutants

The Asf1 and Rad6 pathways have been implicated in a number of common processes such as suppression of gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs), DNA repair, modification of chromatin, and proper checkpoint functions. We examined the relationship between Asf1 and different gene products implicated in postreplication repair (PRR) pathways in the suppression of GCRs, checkpoint function, sensitivity to hydroxyurea (HU) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), and ubiquitination of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). We found that defects in Rad6 PRR pathway and Siz1/Srs2 homologous recombination suppression (HRS) pathway genes suppressed the increased GCR rates seen in asf1 mutants, which was independent of translesion bypass polymerases but showed an increased dependency on Dun1. Combining an asf1 deletion with different PRR mutations resulted in a synergistic increase in sensitivity to chronic HU and MMS treatment; however, these double mutants were not checkpoint defective, since they were capable of recovering from acute treatment with HU. Interestingly, we found that Asf1 and Rad6 cooperate in ubiquitination of PCNA, indicating that Rad6 and Asf1 function in parallel pathways that ubiquitinate PCNA. Our results show that ASF1 probably contributes to the maintenance of genome stability through multiple mechanisms, some of which involve the PRR and HRS pathways.

Influence of local sequence context on damaged base conformation in human DNA polymerase ι: molecular dynamics studies of nucleotide incorporation opposite a benzo[a]pyrene-derived adenine lesion

Human DNA polymerase ι is a lesion bypass polymerase of the Y family, capable of incorporating nucleotides opposite a variety of lesions in both near error-free and error-prone bypass. With undamaged templating purines polymerase ι normally favors Hoogsteen base pairing. Polymerase ι can incorporate nucleotides opposite a benzo[a]pyrene-derived adenine lesion (dA*); while mainly error-free, the identity of misincorporated bases is influenced by local sequence context. We performed molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the structural basis for lesion bypass. Our results suggest that hydrogen bonds between the benzo[a]pyrenyl moiety and nearby bases limit the movement of the templating base to maintain the anti glycosidic bond conformation in the binary complex in a 5′-CAGA*TT-3′ sequence. This facilitates correct incorporation of dT via a Watson−Crick pair. In a 5′-TTTA*GA-3′ sequence the lesion does not form these hydrogen bonds, permitting dA* to rotate around the glycosidic bond to syn and incorporate dT via a Hoogsteen pair. With syn dA*, there is also an opportunity for increased misincorporation of dGTP. These results expand our understanding of the versatility and flexibility of polymerase ι and its lesion bypass functions in humans.

The Mutagenicity of Thymidine Glycol in Escherichia coli Is Increased When It Is Part of a Tandem Lesion

Tandem lesions are comprised of two contiguously damaged nucleotides. Tandem lesions make up the major family of reaction products generated from a pyrimidine nucleobase radical, which are formed in large amounts by ionizing radiation. One of these tandem lesions contains a thymidine glycol lesion flanked on its 5'-side by 2-deoxyribonolactone (LTg). The replication of this tandem lesion was investigated in Escherichia coli using single-stranded genomes. LTg is a much more potent replication block than thymidine glycol and is bypassed only under SOS-induced conditions. The adjacent thymidine glycol does not significantly affect nucleotide incorporation opposite 2-deoxyribonolactone in wild-type cells. In contrast, the misinsertion frequency opposite thymidine glycol, which is negligible in the absence of 2-deoxyribonolactone, increases to 10% in wild-type cells when LTg is flanked by a 3'-dG. Experiments in which the flanking nucleotides are varied and in cells lacking one of the SOS-induced bypass polymerases indicate that the mutations are due to a mechanism in which the primer misaligns prior to bypassing the lesion, which allows for an additional nucleotide to be incorporated across from the 3'-flanking nucleotide. Subsequent realignment and extension results in the observed mutations. DNA polymerases II and IV are responsible for misalignment induced mutations and compete with DNA polymerase V which reads through the tandem lesion. These experiments reveal that incorporation of the thymidine glycol into a tandem lesion indirectly induces increases in mutations by blocking replication, which enables the misalignment-realignment mechanism to compete with direct bypass by DNA polymerase V.

Flexibility Promotes Fidelity

Y-family lesion bypass polymerases can process 8-oxoguanine, a potentially mutagenic form of oxidative DNA damage, error-free. In this issue of Structure , Rechkoblit et al. reveal that Y-family polymerases overcome 8-oxoguanine:adenine mismatches using a mechanism that screens for conformational heterogeneity.