Functional analysis of the amino-terminal 8-kDa domain of DNA polymerase beta as revealed by site-directed mutagenesis. DNA binding and 5'-deoxyribose phosphate lyase activities

The amino-terminal 8-kDa domain of DNA polymerase beta functions in binding single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), recognition of a 5'-phosphate in gapped DNA structures, and as a 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (dRP) lyase. NMR and x-ray crystal structures of this domain have suggested several residues that may interact with ssDNA or play a role in the dRP lyase reaction. Nine of these residues were altered by site-directed mutagenesis. Each mutant was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein was purified to near homogeneity. CD spectra of these mutant proteins indicated that the alteration did not adversely affect the global protein structure. Single-stranded DNA binding was probed by photochemical cross-linking to oligo(dT)16. Several mutants (F25W, K35A, K60A, and K68A) were impaired in ssDNA binding activity, whereas other mutants (H34G, E71Q, K72A, E75A, and K84A) retained near wild-type binding activity. The 5'-phosphate recognition activity of these mutants was examined by UV cross-linking to a 5-nucleotide gap DNA where the 5' terminus in the gap was either phosphorylated or unphosphorylated. The results indicate that Lys35 is involved in 5'-phosphate recognition of DNA polymerase beta. Finally, the dRP lyase activity of these mutants was evaluated using a preincised apurinic/apyrimidinic DNA. Alanine mutants of Lys35 and Lys60 are significantly reduced in dRP lyase activity, consistent with the lower ssDNA binding activity. More importantly, alanine substitution for Lys72 resulted in a greater than 90% loss of dRP lyase activity, without affecting DNA binding. Alanine mutants of Lys68 and Lys84 had wild-type dRP lyase activity. The triple alanine mutant, K35A/K68A/K72A, was devoid of dRP lyase activity, suggesting that the effects of the alanine substitution at Lys72 and Lys35 were additive. The results suggest that Lys72 is directly involved in formation of a covalent imino intermediate and are consistent with Lys72 as the predominant Schiff base nucleophile in the dRP lyase beta-elimination catalytic reaction.

Up-regulation of base excision repair correlates with enhanced protection against a DNA damaging agent in mouse cell lines

DNA polymerase beta is required in mammalian cells for the predominant pathway of base excision repair involving single nucleotide gap filling DNA synthesis. Here we examine the relationship between oxidative stress, cellular levels of DNA polymerase beta and base excision repair capacity in vitro , using mouse monocytes and either wild-type mouse fibroblasts or those deleted of the DNA polymerase beta gene. Treatment with an oxidative stress-inducing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, 3-morpholinosydnonimine, xanthine/xanthine oxidase or lipopolysaccharide was found to increase the level of DNA polymerase beta in both monocytes and fibroblasts. Base excision repair capacity in vitro , as measured in crude cell extracts, was also increased by lipopolysaccharide treatment in both cell types. In monocytes lipopolysaccharide-mediated up-regulation of the base excision repair system correlated with increased resistance to the monofunctional DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate. By making use of a quantitative PCR assay to detect lesions in genomic DNA we show that lipopolysaccharide treatment of fibroblast cells reduces the incidence of spontaneous DNA lesions. This effect may be due to the enhanced DNA polymerase beta-dependent base excision repair capacity of the cells, because a similar decrease in DNA lesions was not observed in cells deficient in base excision repair by virtue of DNA polymerase beta gene deletion. Similarly, fibroblasts treated with lipopolysaccharide were more resistant to methyl methanesulfonate than untreated cells. This effect was not observed in cells deleted of the DNA polymerase beta gene. These results suggest that the DNA polymerase beta-dependent base excision repair pathway can be up-regulated by oxidative stress-inducing agents in mouse cell lines.

Different DNA polymerases are involved in the short- and long-patch base excision repair in mammalian cells

Mammalian cells possess two distinct pathways for completion of base excision repair (BER): the DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta)-dependent short-patch pathway (replacement of one nucleotide), which is the main route, and the long-patch pathway (resynthesis of 2-6 nucleotides), which is PCNA-dependent. To address the issue of how these two pathways share their role in BER the ability of Pol beta-defective mammalian cell extracts to repair a single abasic site constructed in a circular duplex plasmid molecule was tested in a standard in vitro repair reaction. Pol beta-deficient extracts were able to perform both BER pathways. However, in the case of the short-patch BER, the repair kinetics was significantly slower than with Pol beta-proficient extracts, while the efficiency of the long-patch synthesis was unaffected by the loss of Pol beta. The repair synthesis was fully dependent on PCNA for the replacement of long patches. These data give the first evidence that in cell extracts DNA polymerases other than Pol beta are specifically involved in the long-patch BER. These DNA polymerases are also able to perform short-patch BER in the absence of PCNA, although less efficiently than Pol beta. These findings lead to a novel model whereby the two BER pathways are characterized by different protein requirements, and a functional redundancy at the level of DNA polymerases provides cells with backup systems.

Interactions between DNA polymerase beta and the major covalent adduct of the carcinogen (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide with DNA at a primer-template junction

A molecular dynamics simulation has been carried out with DNA polymerase beta (beta pol) complexed with a DNA primer-template. The templating guanine at the polymerase active site was covalently modified by the carcinogenic metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene, (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide, to form the major (+)-trans-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide covalent adduct. Thus, the benzo[a]pyrenyl moiety (BP) is situated in the single-stranded template at the junction between double- and single-stranded DNA. The starting structure was based on the X-ray crystal structure of the rat beta pol primer-template and ddCTP complex [Pelletier, H., Sawaya, M. R., Kumar, A., Wilson, S. H., and Kraut, J. (1994) Science 264, 1891-1903]. During the simulation, the BP and its attached templating guanine rearrange to form a structure in which the BP is closer to parallel with the adjacent base pair. In addition, the templating attached guanine is displaced toward the major groove side and access to its Watson-Crick edge is partly obstructed. This structure is stabilized, in part, by new hydrogen bonds between the BP and beta pol Asn279 and Arg283. These residues are within hydrogen bonding distance to the incoming ddCTP and templating guanine, respectively, in the crystal structure of the beta pol ternary complex. Site-directed mutagenesis has confirmed their role in dNTP binding, discrimination, and catalytic efficiency [Beard, W. A., Osheroff, W. P., Prasad, R., Sawaya, M. R., Jaju, M., Wood, T. G., Kraut, J., Kunkel, T. A., and Wilson, S. H. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 12141-12144]. The predominant biological effect of the BP is DNA polymerase blockage. Consistent with this biological effect, the computed structure suggests the possibility that the BP's main deleterious impact on DNA synthesis might result at least in part from its specific interactions with key polymerase side chains. Moreover, relatively modest movement of BP and its attached guanine, with some concomitant enzyme motion, is necessary to relieve the obstruction and permit the observed rare incorporation of a dATP opposite the guanine lesion.

Subunits of human replication protein A are crosslinked by photoreactive primers synthesized by DNA polymerases

Human replication protein A (huRPA) is a multisubunit protein which is involved in DNA replication, repair and recombination processes. It exists as a stable heterotrimer consisting of p70, p32 and p14 subunits. To understand the contribution of huRPA subunits to DNA binding we applied the photoaffinity labeling technique. The photoreactive oligonucleotide was synthesized in situ by DNA polymerases. 5-[N-(2-nitro-5-azidobenzoyl)-trans -3-aminopropenyl-1]deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate (NABdUTP) was used as substrate for elongation of a radiolabeled primer logical ortemplate either by human DNA polymerase alpha primase (polalpha), human DNA polymerase beta (polbeta) or Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (KF). The polymerase was incubated with NABdUTP and radiolabeled primer-template in the presence or absence of huRPA. The reaction mixtures were then irradiated with monochromatic UV light (315 nm) and the crosslinked products were separated by SDS-PAGE. The results clearly demonstrate crosslinking of the huRPA p70 and p32 subunits with DNA. The p70 subunit appears to bind to the single-stranded part of the DNA duplex, the p32 subunit locates near the 3'-end of the primer, while the p14 subunit locates relatively far from the 3'-end of the primer. This approach opens new possibilities for analysis of huRPA loading on DNA in the course of DNA replication and DNA repair.

Impairment of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-dependent apurinic/apyrimidinic site repair on linear DNA

Repair of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites by mammalian cell extracts was compared using circular and linear DNA substrates. Extracts prepared from DNA polymerase beta (polbeta)-proficient mouse fibroblasts repaired AP sites on both circular and linear DNA. However, extracts from the isogenic polbeta-knockout cells repaired AP sites on circular DNA but not efficiently on linear DNA. The circularity-dependent repair by the polbeta-knockout cell extract was completely inhibited by anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody but fully restored by addition of purified PCNA. Pretreatment of the linear DNA with AP endonuclease did not improve repair, indicating that impairment of AP site repair on linear DNA by polbeta-knockout cell extracts is not due to inefficiency of damage incision but rather to deficiency at the subsequent steps. These results indicate that AP sites can be repaired on circular DNA by the PCNA-dependent pathway in addition to the polbeta-dependent pathway and that the PCNA-dependent repair mechanism is poorly functional on linear DNA in vitro.

Structural insights into DNA polymerase beta fidelity: hold tight if you want it right

DNA polymerases must select and incorporate the correct deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphate from a pool of structurally similar molecules. The structural and kinetic characterization of DNA polymerase beta indicates that this polymerase must stabilize the templating base to achieve efficient polymerization with high fidelity.

Crystal structures of human DNA polymerase beta complexed with gapped and nicked DNA: evidence for an induced fit mechanism

DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) fills single nucleotide (nt) gaps in DNA produced by the base excision repair pathway of mammalian cells. Crystal structures have been determined representing intermediates in the 1 nt gap-filling reaction of pol beta: the binary complex with a gapped DNA substrate (2.4 A resolution), the ternary complex including ddCTP (2.2 A), and the binary product complex containing only nicked DNA (2.6 A). Upon binding ddCTP to the binary gap complex, the thumb subdomain rotates into the closed conformation to contact the otherwise solvent-exposed ddCTP-template base pair. Thumb movement triggers further conformational changes which poise catalytic residue Asp192, dNTP, and template for nucleotidyl transfer, effectively assembling the active site. In the product nicked DNA complex, the thumb returns to the open conformation as in the gapped binary DNA complex, facilitating dissociation of the product. These findings suggest that pol beta may enhance fidelity by an induced fit mechanism in which correct base pairing between template and incoming dNTP induces alignment of catalytic groups for catalysis (via thumb closure), but incorrect base pairing will not. The structures also reveal that pol beta binds both gapped and nicked DNA with a 90 degrees kink occurring precisely at the 5'-phosphodiester linkage of the templating residue. If the DNA were not kinked in this way, contact between the thumb and dNTP-template base pair, presumably important for the checking mechanism, would be impossible, especially when the gap is but a single nucleotide. Such a 90 degrees kink may be a mechanistic feature employed by any polymerase involved in filling gaps to completion.

Identification of N(G)-methylarginine residues in human heterogeneous RNP protein A1: Phe/Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg-Gly-Gly-Gly/Phe is a preferred recognition motif

Three sites of N(G),N(G)-arginine methylation have been located at residues 205, 217, and 224 in the glycine-rich, COOH-terminal one-third of the HeLa A1 heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein. Together with the previously determined dimethylated arginine at position 193 [Williams et al., (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 5666-5670], it is evident that all four sites fall within a span of sequence between residues 190 and 233 that contains multiple Arg-Gly-(Gly) sequences interspersed with phenylalanine residues. These RGG boxes have been postulated to represent an RNA binding motif [Kiledjian and Dreyfuss (1992) EMBO J. 11, 2655-2664]. Dimethylation of HeLa A1 appears to be quantitative at each of the four positions. Arginines 205 and 224 have been methylated in vitro by a nuclear protein arginine methyltransferase using recombinant (unmethylated) A1 as substrate. This suggests A1 may be an in vivo substrate for this enzyme. Examination of sequences surrounding the sites of methylation in A1 along with a compilation from the literature of sites that have been identified in other nuclear RNA binding proteins suggests a methylase-preferred recognition sequence of Phe/Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg-Gly-Gly-Gly/Phe, with the COOH-terminal flanking glycine being obligatory. Taken together with data in the literature, identification of the sites of A1 arginine methylation strongly suggests a role for this modification in modulating the interaction of A1 with nucleic acids.

Probing structure/function relationships of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase with styrene oxide N2-guanine adducts

Details of the interactions between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase and substrate DNA were probed both by introducing site-specific and stereospecific modifications into DNA and by altering the structure of potential critical residues in the polymerase. Unadducted 11-mer DNAs and 11-mer DNAs containing R and S enantiomers of styrene oxide at N2-guanine were ligated with two additional oligonucleotides to create 63-mers that served as templates for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase replication. Oligonucleotides that primed synthesis 5 bases 3' to the adducts could be extended up to 1 base 3' and opposite the lesion. However, when the positions of the 3'-OH of the priming oligonucleotides were placed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 bases downstream of the styrene oxide guanine adducts, replication was initiated, only to be blocked after incorporating 4, 5, 6, and 7 bases beyond the lesion. The sites of this adduct-induced termination corresponded to the position of the DNA where alpha-helix H makes contact with the DNA minor groove, 3-5 bases upstream of the growing 3' end. In addition, mutants of the polymerase in alpha-helix H (W266A and G262A) alter the termination probabilities caused by these DNA adducts, suggesting that alpha-helix H is a sensitive monitor of modifications in the minor groove of newly synthesized template-primer DNA several bases distal to the 3'-OH.

Disruption of transcription in vitro and gene expression in vivo by DNA adducts derived from a benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide located in heterologous sequences

Previous studies indicated a high affinity of the transcription factor Sp1 for DNA adducts derived from benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) in sequences that are not normal binding sites for Sp1. We tested for functional effects of this phenomenon in three systems in which transcription is Sp1-dependent. In an in vitro, Sp1-dependent transcription system addition of heterologous plasmid DNA containing BPDE adducts abolished production of a specific run-off transcript. This inhibition was not seen with unmodified plasmid DNA, and could be overcome by addition of purified Sp1 protein. In SL2 insect cells, high-level expression of an Sp1-dependent reporter gene, which was dependent on co-transfection of an Sp1 expression vector, was inhibited >95% by co-transfection of heterologous DNA containing BPDE adducts. This inhibition could be partially overcome by increasing the amount of the Sp1 expression vector in the transfections. In human C33A cells, expression of a transfected reporter gene driven by a GC box containing fragment of the human E2F1 promoter was enhanced by co-transfection of an Sp1 expression plasmid. Expression was inhibited 3-6-fold by co-transfection of heterologous DNA containing BPDE-DNA adducts. A similar inhibition was seen in human SAOS-2 cells, which lack functional p53 protein. These data are consistent with functionally significant sequestration of the Sp1 transcription factor by BPDE-DNA adducts in all three systems. Altered availability of transcription factors such as Sp1 in carcinogen-treated cells may disrupt patterns of gene expression.

Abasic translesion synthesis by DNA polymerase beta violates the "A-rule". Novel types of nucleotide incorporation by human DNA polymerase beta at an abasic lesion in different sequence contexts

The "A-rule" reflects the preferred incorporation of dAMP opposite abasic lesions in Escherichia coli in vivo. DNA polymerases (pol) from procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms incorporate nucleotides opposite abasic lesions in accordance with the A-rule. However, recent in vivo data demonstrate that A is not preferentially incorporated opposite abasic lesions in eucaryotes. Purified human DNA polymerases beta and alpha are used to measure the specificity of nucleotide incorporation at a site-directed tetrahydrofuran abasic lesion, in 8-sequence contexts, varying upstream and downstream bases adjacent to the lesion. Extension past the lesion is measured in 4 sequence contexts, varying the downstream template base. Pol alpha strongly favors incorporation of dAMP directly opposite the lesion. In marked contrast, pol beta violates the A-rule for incorporation directly opposite the lesion. In addition to incorporation taking place directly opposite the lesion, we also analyze misalignment incorporation directed by a template base downstream from the lesion. Lesion bypass by pol beta occurs predominantly by "skipping over" the lesion, by insertion of a nucleotide complementary to an adjacent downstream template site. Misalignment incorporation for pol beta occurs by a novel "dNTP-stabilized" mechanism resulting in both deletion and base substitution errors. In contrast, pol alpha shows no propensity for this type of synthesis. The misaligned DNA structures generated during dNTP-stabilized lesion bypass do not conform to misaligned structures reported previously.

Substrate binding by human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease indicates a Briggs-Haldane mechanism

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (AP endo) makes a single nick 5' to a DNA abasic site. We have characterized this reaction by steady-state and transient-state kinetics with purified human AP endo, which had been expressed in Escherichia coli. The substrate was a 49-base pair oligonucleotide with an abasic site at position 21. This substrate was generated by treating a 49-mer duplex oligonucleotide with a single G/U located at position 21 with uracil-DNA glycosylase. The enzymatic products of the AP endo nicking reaction were a 20-mer with a hydroxyl group at the 3'-terminus and a 28-mer with a phosphodeoxyribose at the 5'-terminus. To obtain maximal enzymatic activity, it was necessary to stabilize the abasic site during treatment with uracil-DNA glycosylase with a reducing agent. Otherwise, a 20-mer with phosphoribose at the 3'-terminus resulted from beta-elimination. In agreement with others, Km and kcat were 100 nM and 10 s(-1), respectively. Heat treatment of the abasic site-containing 49-mer without enzyme also resulted in conversion to the beta-elimination product. The resultant heat degradation product was an efficient inhibitor of AP endo with a Ki of 30 nM. The enzyme required divalent cation (Mg2+) for activity, but bound substrate DNA in the absence of Mg2+. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that AP endo bound tightly to DNA containing an abasic site and formed a 1:1 complex at low enzyme concentrations. The association and dissociation rate constants for substrate binding to AP endo were determined by using a challenge assay to follow AP endo-substrate complex formation. Heat degradation product together with heparin served as an effective trap for free enzyme. The results are consistent with a Briggs-Haldane mechanism where k(on) and k(off) are 5 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and 0.04 s(-1), respectively (Kd = 0.8 nM), kcat is 10 s(-1), and product release is very rapid (i.e. k(off,product) >> 10 s(-1)). This scheme is in excellent agreement with the measured steady-state kinetic parameters.

A structural basis for metal ion mutagenicity and nucleotide selectivity in human DNA polymerase beta

When crystals of human DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) complexed with DNA [Pelletier, H., Sawaya, M. R., Wolfle, W., Wilson, S. H., & Kraut, J. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 12742-12761] are soaked in the presence of dATP and Mn2+, X-ray structural analysis shows that nucleotidyl transfer to the primer 3'-OH takes place directly in the crystals, even though the DNA is blunt-ended at the active site. Under similar crystal-soaking conditions, there is no evidence for a reaction when Mn2+ is replaced by Mg2+, which is thought to be the divalent metal ion utilized by most polymerases in vivo. These results suggest that one way Mn2+ may manifest its mutagenic effect on polymerases is by promoting greater reactivity than Mg2+ at the catalytic site, thereby allowing the nucleotidyl transfer reaction to take place with little or no regard to instructions from a template. Non-template-directed nucleotidyl transfer is also observed when pol beta-DNA cocrystals are soaked in the presence of dATP and Zn2+, but the reaction products differ in that the sugar moiety of the incorporated nucleotide appears distorted or otherwise cleaved, in agreement with reports that Zn2+ may act as a polymerase inhibitor rather than as a mutagen [Sirover, M. A., & Loeb, L. A. (1976) Science 194, 1434-1436]. Although no reaction is observed when crystals are soaked in the presence of dATP and other metal ions such as Ca2+, Co2+, Cr3+, or Ni2+, X-ray structural analyses show that these metal ions coordinate the triphosphate moiety of the nucleotide in a manner that differs from that observed with Mg2+. In addition, all metal ions tested, with the exception of Mg2+, promote a change in the side-chain position of aspartic acid 192, which is one of three highly conserved active-site carboxylate residues. Soaking experiments with nucleotides other than dATP (namely, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP, ATP, ddATP, ddCTP, AZT-TP, and dATP alpha S) reveal a non-base-specific binding site on pol beta for the triphosphate and sugar moieties of a nucleotide, suggesting a possible mechanism for nucleotide selectivity whereby triphosphate-sugar binding precedes a check for correct base pairing with the template.

Crystal structures of human DNA polymerase beta complexed with DNA: implications for catalytic mechanism, processivity, and fidelity

Mammalian DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) is a small (39 kDa) DNA gap-filling enzyme that comprises an amino-terminal 8-kDa domain and a carboxy-terminal 31-kDa domain. In the work reported here, crystal structures of human pol beta complexed with blunt-ended segments of DNA show that, although the crystals belong to a different space group, the DNA is nevertheless bound in the pol beta binding channel in the same way as the DNA in previously reported structures of rat pol beta complexed with a template-primer and ddCTP [Pelletier, H., Sawaya, M. R., Kumar, A., Wilson, S. H., & Kraut, J. (1994) Science 264, 1891-1903]. The 8-kDa domain is in one of three previously observed positions relative to the 31-kDa domain, suggesting that the 8-kDa domain may assume only a small number of stable conformations. The thumb subdomain is in a more open position in the human pol beta-DNA binary complex than it is in the rat pol beta-DNA-ddCTP ternary complex, and a closing thumb upon nucleotide binding could represent the rate-limiting conformational change that has been observed in pre-steady-state kinetic studies. Intermolecular contacts between the DNA and the 8-kDa domain of a symmetry-related pol beta molecule reveal a plausible binding site on the 8-kDa domain for the downstream oligonucleotide of a gapped-DNA substrate; in addition to a lysine-rich binding pocket that accommodates a 5'-PO4 end group, the 8-kDa domain also contains a newly discovered helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) motif that binds to DNA in the same way as does a structurally and sequentially homologous HhH motif in the 31-kDa domain. DNA binding by both HhH motifs is facilitated by a metal ion. In that HhH motifs have been identified in other DNA repair enzymes and DNA polymerases, the HhH-DNA interactions observed in pol beta may be applicable to a broad range of DNA binding proteins. The sequence similarity between the HhH motif of endonuclease III from Escherichia coli and the HhH motif of the 8-kDa domain of pol beta is particularly striking in that all of the conserved residues are clustered in one short sequence segment, LPGVGXK, where LPGV corresponds to a type II beta-turn (the hairpin turn), and GXK corresponds to a part of the HhH motif that is proposed to be critical for DNA binding and catalysis for both enzymes. These results suggest that endonuclease III and the 8-kDa domain of pol beta may employ a similar mode of DNA binding and may have similar catalytic mechanisms for their respective DNA lyase activities. A model for productive binding of pol beta to a gapped-DNA substrate requires a 90 degrees bend in the single-stranded template, which could enhance nucleotide selectivity during DNA repair or replication.

dNTP binding to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and mammalian DNA polymerase beta as revealed by affinity labeling with a photoreactive dNTP analog

The dNTP binding pocket of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) were labeled using a photoreactive analog of dCTP, exo-N-[beta-(p-azidotetrafluorobenzamido)-ethyl]-deoxycytidine-5'- triphosphate (FABdCTP). Two approaches of photolabeling were utilized. In one approach, photoreactive FABdCTP and radiolabeled primer-template were UV-irradiated in the presence of each enzyme and resulted in polymerase radiolabeling. In an alternate approach, FABdCTP was first UV-cross-linked to enzyme; subsequently, radiolabeled primer-template was added, and the enzyme-linked dCTP analog was incorporated onto the 3'-end of the radiolabeled primer. The results showed strong labeling of the p66 subunit of RT, with only minor labeling of p51. No difference in the intensity of cross-linking was observed with either approach. FABdCTP cross-linking was increased in the presence of a dideoxyterminated primer-template with RT, but not with beta-pol, suggesting a significant influence of prior primer-template binding on dNTP binding for RT. Mutagenesis of beta-pol residues observed to interact with the incoming dNTP in the crystal structure of the ternary complex resulted in labeling consistent with kinetic characterization of these mutants and indicated specific labeling of the dNTP binding pocket.

Replication of O6-methylguanine-containing DNA by repair and replicative DNA polymerases

The biological consequences of O6-methylguanine (m6G) in DNA are well recognized. When template m6G is encountered by DNA polymerases, replication is hindered and trans-lesion replication results in the preferential incorporation of dTMP opposite template m6G. Thus, unrepaired m6G in DNA is both cytotoxic and mutagenic. Yet, cell lines tolerant to m6G in DNA have been isolated, which indicates that some cellular DNA polymerases may replicate m6G-containing DNA with reasonable efficiency. Previous reports suggested that mammalian pol beta could not replicate m6G-containing DNA, but we find that pol beta can catalyze trans-lesion replication; however, the lesion must reside in the optimal context for pol beta activity, single- or short nucleotide gapped substrates. Primed single-stranded DNA templates, with or without template m6G, were poor substrates for pol beta as reported in earlier studies. In contrast, trans-lesion replication by bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase was observed for primed single-stranded DNA templates. Replication of m6G-containing DNA by T4 DNA polymerase required the gp45 accessory protein that clamps the polymerase to the DNA template. The rate-limiting step in replicating m6G-containing DNAs by both DNA polymerases tested was incorporation of dTMP across from the lesion.

Activation of the human DNA polymerase beta promoter by a DNA-alkylating agent through induced phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein-1

Treatment of cells with the DNA-alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induces expression of the endogenous mammalian DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) gene and of the cloned promoter in transient expression studies. The lone cAMP response element (CRE) in the core promoter, along with functional protein kinase A, is critical for the MNNG-induced up-regulation. Recently, we described a kinetic mechanism for transcriptional regulation of the beta-pol promoter in vitro and found that CRE-binding protein (CREB) from MNNG-treated cells differentially up-regulates the promoter by stimulating formation of closed preinitiation complex (RPc). Here, using a CRE-dependent chimeric beta-pol promoter, we purified the RPc assembled with nuclear extract from MNNG-treated and control HeLa cells. Comparison of proteins in the purified RPc samples revealed that the MNNG induction is associated with a strong increase in the Ser133-phosphorylated form of recombinant CREB (CREB-1). CREB depletion of the nuclear extracts diminished transcriptional activity, and addition of purified Ser133-phosphorylated CREB-1 restored activity, whereas unphosphorylated CREB-1 did not. Addition of phosphorylated CREB-1 to the control cell extract mimicked the MNNG-induced up-regulation of transcriptional activity. These results indicate that phosphorylation of CREB-1 is the probable mechanism of activation of the beta-pol promoter after treatment of cells with the DNA-alkylating agent MNNG.

Identification of novel mRNA isoforms for human DNA polymerase beta

Recently, we reported the organization of the thirteen exons of the human DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) gene and the sequences of the exon-intron junctions. Splice variants of human beta-pol mRNA have been postulated to be related to cancer development. Here, we report the characterization of isoforms of human beta-pol mRNA in different cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). DNA sequence analysis of RT-PCR products revealed eight alternative splicing mRNA isoforms in the brain cancer cell line, SK-N-MC. These various isoforms were consistent with alternative splicing of four exons (II, IV, V, and VI) and with a 105-nucleotide insertion (exon alpha) between exons VI and VII. We also found an isoform with a 19-nucleotide sequence inserted into the exon IV and V junction, which resulted from usage of a different 3' splice site. Seven of the isoforms resulted in truncated open reading frame (ORF); five corresponded to deduced peptide of amino acids 1-20 of beta-pol and two corresponded to amino acids 1-60 of beta-pol. Only one of the right mRNA isoforms, that with the exon alpha insertion, was in-frame with the entire wild-type ORF resulting in a deduced protein of 370 residues, compared with the wild-type protein of 335 residues and 39 kD. This longer ORF was shown to be capable of encoding a beta-pol protein, larger than wild-type beta-pol, that cross-reacted with beta-pol antibody and exhibited beta-pol enzymatic activity. The mRNA isoform with the exon alpha insertion was not tumor specific because it as detected in low abundance in all cells tested, except the colon cell line CCD18 Co where the isoform was absent. The genomic location of exon alpha is in intron VI, 990 bp upstream of exon VII and flanked by consensus splice sites. Thus, this 105-bp genomic sequence is a beta-pol exon present in a low-abundance beta-pol mRNA isoform capable of encoding an approximately 42-kD beta-pol.

Evidence for an imino intermediate in the DNA polymerase beta deoxyribose phosphate excision reaction

A recent study demonstrated that rat DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) releases 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (dRP) termini from preincised apurinic/apyrimidinic DNA, a substrate generated during certain types of base excision repair. This catalytic activity resides within the amino-terminal, 8-kDa domain of beta-pol and occurs via beta-elimination as opposed to hydrolysis (Matsumoto, Y., and Kim, K. (1995) Science 269, 699-702). The latter finding suggested that the dRP excision reaction might proceed via an imine intermediate. In order to test this hypothesis, we attempted to trap beta-pol on preincised apurinic/apyrimidinic DNA using NaBH4 as the reducing agent. Both 8-kDa domain-DNA and intact beta-pol-DNA complexes were detected and identified by autoradiography coupled to immunoblotting. Our results indicate that the chemical mechanism of the beta-pol dRpase reaction does proceed through an imine enzyme-DNA intermediate and that the active site residue responsible for dRP release must therefore contain a primary amine.

Specific interaction of DNA polymerase beta and DNA ligase I in a multiprotein base excision repair complex from bovine testis

Base excision repair (BER) is a cellular defense mechanism repairing modified bases in DNA. Recently, a G:U repair reaction has been reconstituted with several purified enzymes from Escherichia coli (Dianov, G., and Lindahl, T.(1994) Curr. Biol. 4, 1069-1076). Using bovine testis crude nuclear extract, we have shown that G:U is repaired efficiently in vitro, and DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) is responsible for the single nucleotide gap-filling synthesis (Singhal, R. K., Prasad, R., and Wilson, S. H.(1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 949-957). To investigate potential interaction of beta-pol with other BER protein(s), we developed affinity chromatography matrices by cross-linking purified rat beta-pol or antibody against beta-pol to solid supports. Crude nuclear extract from bovine testis was applied to these affinity columns, which were then extensively washed. Proteins that bound specifically to the affinity columns were co-eluted in a complex with beta-pol. This complex had a molecular mass of approximately 180 kDa and was able to conduct the complete uracil-initiated BER reaction. The BER complex contained both beta-pol and DNA ligase I. An antibody to beta-pol was able to shift the complex in sucrose gradients to a much larger molecular mass (>300 kDa) that again contained both beta-pol and DNA ligase I. Furthermore, DNA ligase I and beta-pol were co-immunoprecipitated from the testis nuclear extract with anti beta-pol IgG. Thus, we conclude that beta-pol and DNA ligase I are components of a multiprotein complex that performs BER.

DNA polymerases alpha and beta are required for DNA repair in an efficient nuclear extract from Xenopus oocytes

Xenopus oocytes and an oocyte nuclear extract efficiently repair the bulky DNA lesions cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers,(6-4) photoproducts, and N-acetoxy-2-aminofluorene (AAF) adducts by an excision repair mechanism. Nearly all (>95%) of the input damaged DNA was repaired within 5 h in both injected cells and extracts with no significant incorporation of label into control undamaged DNA. Remarkably, more than 10(10) cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers or(6-4) photoproducts are repaired/nuclei. The extracts are free from nuclease activity, and repair is independent of exogenous light. Both the high efficiency and DNA polymerase requirements of this system appear to be different from extracts derived from human cells. We demonstrated a requirement for DNA polymerases alpha and beta in repair of both photoproducts and AAF by inhibiting repair with several independent antibodies specific to either DNA polymerases alpha or beta and then restoring repair by adding the appropriate purified polymerase. Repair is inhibited by aphidicolin at concentrations specific for blocking DNA polymerase alpha and dideoxynucleotide triphosphates at concentrations specific for inhibiting DNA polymerase beta.

Role of the "helix clamp" in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase catalytic cycling as revealed by alanine-scanning mutagenesis

Residues 259-284 of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase exhibit sequence homology with other nucleic acid polymerases and have been termed the "helix clamp" (Hermann, T., Meier, T., Gotte, M., and Heumann, H. (1994) Nucleic Acids Res. 22, 4625-4633), since crystallographic evidence indicates these residues are part of two alpha-helices (alpha H and alpha I) that interact with DNA. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis has previously demonstrated that several residues in alpha H make important interactions with nucleic acid and influence frameshift fidelity. To define the role of alpha I (residues 278-286) during catalytic cycling, we performed systematic site-directed mutagenesis from position 277 through position 287 by changing each residue, one by one, to alanine. Each mutant protein was expressed and, except for L283A and T286A, was soluble. The soluble mutant enzymes were purified and characterized. In contrast to alanine mutants of alpha H, alanine substitution in alpha I did not have a significant effect on template.primer (T.P) binding as revealed by a lack of an effect on Km, T.P, Ki for 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, koff, T.P and processivity. Consistent with these observations, the fidelity of the mutant enzymes was not influenced. However, alanine mutagenesis of alpha I lowered the apparent activity of every mutant relative to wild-type enzyme. Titration of two mutants exhibiting the lowest activity with T.P (L282A and R284A) demonstrated that these mutant enzymes could bind T.P stoichiometrically and tightly. In contrast, active site concentrations determined from "burst" experiments suggest that the lower activity is due to a smaller populations of enzyme bound productively to T.P. The putative electrostatic interactions between the basic side chains of the helix clamp and the DNA backbone are either very weak or kinetically silent. In contrast, interactions between several residues of alpha H and the DNA minor groove, 3-5 nucleotides from the 3'-primer terminus, are suggested to be critical for DNA binding and fidelity.

Enzyme-DNA interactions required for efficient nucleotide incorporation and discrimination in human DNA polymerase beta

In the crystal structure of a substrate complex, the side chains of residues Asn279, Tyr271, and Arg283 of DNA polymerase beta are within hydrogen bonding distance to the bases of the incoming deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphate (dNTP), the terminal primer nucleotide, and the templating nucleotide, respectively (Pelletier, H., Sawaya, M. R., Kumar, A., Wilson, S. H., and Kraut, J. (1994) Science 264, 1891-1903). We have altered these side chains through individual site-directed mutagenesis. Each mutant protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and was soluble. The mutant enzymes were purified and characterized to probe their role in nucleotide discrimination and catalysis. A reversion assay was developed on a short (5 nucleotide) gapped DNA substrate containing an opal codon to assess the effect of the amino acid substitutions on fidelity. Substitution of the tyrosine at position 271 with phenylalanine or histidine did not influence catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) or fidelity. The hydrogen bonding potential between the side chain of Asn279 and the incoming nucleotide was removed by replacing this residue with alanine or leucine. Although catalytic efficiency was reduced as much as 17-fold for these mutants, fidelity was not. In contrast, both catalytic efficiency and fidelity decreased dramatically for all mutants of Arg283 (Ala > Leu > Lys). The fidelity and catalytic efficiency of the alanine mutant of Arg283 decreased 160- and 5000-fold, respectively, relative to wild-type enzyme. Sequence analyses of the mutant DNA resulting from short gap-filling synthesis indicated that the types of base substitution errors produced by the wild-type and R283A mutant were similar and indicated misincorporations resulting in frequent T.dGTP and A.dGTP mispairing. With R283A, a dGMP was incorporated opposite a template thymidine as often as the correct nucleotide. The x-ray crystallographic structure of the alanine mutant of Arg283 verified the loss of the mutated side chain. Our results indicate that specific interactions between DNA polymerase beta and the template base, but not hydrogen bonding to the incoming dNTP or terminal primer nucleotide, are required for both high catalytic efficiency and nucleotide discrimination.

Three-dimensional solution structure of the N-terminal domain of DNA polymerase beta and mapping of the ssDNA interaction interface

DNA polymerase beta (beta-Pol) consists of an N-terminal ssDNA binding domain with deoxyribose phosphodiesterase activity and a C-terminal domain with nucleotidyltransferase activity. The solution structure of the cloned N-terminal domain of beta-Pol has been determined by multidimensional heteronuclear NMR using experimental restraints that included 1030 distances based on analysis of NOE connectivities, 68 phi, chi 1, and chi 2 torsion angles based on analysis of couplings, and 22 hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds were assessed only within helices by the absence of saturation transfer from water at pH 6.7, by NOEs and JNH alpha couplings indicative of well-structured helices, and by 13C alpha chemical shifts characteristic of helices. The root mean square deviation for heavy backbone atoms within the helices was 0.64 A in 55 structures. The solution structure of the N-terminal domain is formed from four helices packed as two antiparallel pairs crossing at 50 degrees in a V-like shape. The domain binds p(dT)8, a template analogue, as a 1:1 complex in 100 mM NaCl (KD = 10 microM). Analysis of the binding equilibria at increasing NaCl concentrations indicated that ionic contacts contribute to the complex. The binding interaction was mapped to one face of the domain by characterizing backbone 1H and 15N chemical shift changes. Assigned intermolecular NOEs from 2D NOESY support the assessment of the binding interface. The structure that forms the interaction surface includes an antiparallel helix-3-turn-helix-4 motif and residues adjacent to an omega-type loop connecting helix-1 and helix-2. Sites appropriate for nucleotide contact on the structure are described. The mapped interaction interface for a ssDNA template is the first described for a DNA polymerase.

A comparison of gross pathology, histopathology, and mycobacterial culture for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in elk (Cervus elaphus)

Using the isolation of Mycobacterium bovis as the reference standard, this study evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and kappa statistic of gross pathology (abattoir postmortem inspection), histopathology, and parallel or series combinations of the two for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in 430 elk and red deer. Two histopathology interpretations were evaluated: histopathology I, where the presence of lesions compatible with tuberculosis was considered positive, and histopathology II, where lesions compatible with tuberculosis or a select group of additional possible diagnoses were considered positive. In the 73 animals from which M. bovis was isolated, gross lesions of tuberculosis were most often in the lung (48), the retropharyngeal lymph nodes (36), the mesenteric lymph node (35), and the mediastinal lymph nodes (16). Other mycobacterial isolates included: 11 M. paratuberculosis, 11 M. avium, and 28 rapidly growing species or M. terrae complex. The sensitivity estimates of gross pathology and histopathology I were 93% (95% confidence limits [CL] 84.97%) and 88% [CL 77.94%], respectively, and the specificity of both was 89% [CL 85.92%]). The sensitivity and specificity of histopathology II were 89% (CL 79.95%) and 77% (CL 72.81%), respectively. The highest sensitivity estimates (93-95% [CL 84.98%]) were obtained by interpreting gross pathology and histopathology in parallel (where an animal had to be positive on at least one of the two, to be classified as combination positive). The highest specificity estimates (94-95% [CL 91-97%] were generated when the two tests were interpreted in series (an animal had to be positive on both tests to be classified as combination positive). The presence of gross or microscopic lesions showed moderate to good agreement with the isolation of M. bovis (Kappa = 65-69%). The results showed that post-mortem inspection, histopathology and culture do not necessarily recognize the same infected animals and that the spectra of animals identified by the tests overlaps.

dNTP binding site in rat DNA polymerase beta revealed by controlled proteolysis and azido photoprobe cross-linking

Mild proteolysis of rat DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) generates an N-terminal 8 kDa domain and a C-terminal 31 kDa domain; the 31 kDa domain is degraded to 6 and 27 kDa fragments by further proteolysis [Kumar, A., Widen, S.G., Williams, K.R., Kedar, P., Karpel, R.L., & Wilson S.H. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 2124-2131]. In the present study, we found that more vigorous trypsin digestion of the 27 kDa fragment of beta-pol produces 10 and 12 kDa subdomains. Thus, rat beta-pol has four distinct proteolytic fragments of 8, 6, 10, and 12 kDa, extending from the N-terminus to the C-terminus, respectively. To map the location of the dNTP binding site(s), intact beta-pol was photoaffinity labeled with 8-azido-ATP or 5-azido-dUTP in presence or absence of competitor dNTP (dATP). The labeled enzyme was subjected to controlled proteolysis, and the resulting labeled peptides were separated and sequenced. Competition with dATP showed that three regions of beta-pol in solution combine to form the dNTP binding pocket as follows: residues 4-40 of the 8 kDa domain; residues 142-206 of the 10 kDa subdomain; and residues 263-280 of the 12 kDa subdomain (alpha-helices M and N). These results are discussed in light of the recent crystal structure of dATP bound to rat beta-pol.

Purification and characterization of a DNA polymerase beta promoter initiator element-binding transcription factor from bovine testis

A low-abundance DNA-binding protein for the DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) promoter initiator element was purified from bovine testis. The transcriptional initiator element (Inr) of the mammalian beta-pol promoters characterized is highly conserved, and the bovine beta-pol promoter Inr has the sequence -11CAGAGGCGGCCATTGTT+6. The purified initiator element-binding protein (Inr-BP) binds with high affinity to an oligonucleotide corresponding to the beta-pol promoter Inr (Kd = 5 pM), and increasing ionic strength decreases stability of the protein-DNA complex. Mutational analysis of the Inr shows that the purified Inr-BP binds with sequence specificity to the sequence CCAT at -2 to +2 of the Inr, but that seven residues on the 5' side and three residues on the 3' side of the CCAT sequence are required also. Using an in vitro transcription assay with HeLa cell nuclear extract, we find that the endogenous Inr-BP is required for transcriptional activity of the beta-pol promoter; addition of purified Inr-BP restores activity to the nuclear extract depleted in Inr-BP by affinity chromatography. These results, based upon the sequence specificity for DNA binding, indicate that Inr-BP is a YY1-like protein and suggest that it is a required transcription factor in beta-pol gene expression.

Requirement of mammalian DNA polymerase-beta in base-excision repair

Synthesis of DNA by DNA polymerase-beta is distributive on single-stranded DNA templates, but short DNA gaps with a 5' PO4 in the gap are filled processively to completion. In vitro studies have suggested a role of beta-polymerase in different types of DNA repair. However, the significance of these studies to the in vivo role of beta-polymerase has remained unclear. Because genetic studies are essential for determining the physiological role of a gene, we established embryonic fibroblast cell lines homozygous for a deletion mutation in the gene encoding DNA polymerase-beta. Extracts from these cell lines were found to be defective in uracil-initiated base-excision repair. The beta-polymerase-deleted cells are normal in viability and growth characteristics, although they exhibit increased sensitivity to monofunctional DNA-alkylating agents, but not to other DNA-damaging agents. Both the deficiency in base-excision repair and hypersensitivity to DNA-alkylating agents are rescued following stable transfection with a wild-type beta-polymerase minitransgene. These studies demonstrate that beta-polymerase functions specifically in base-excision repair in vivo.

The bovine DNA polymerase beta promoter: cloning, characterization and comparison with the human core promoter

The core promoter of the human DNA polymerase beta (beta Pol)-encoding gene (POL beta) is regulated through cis-elements for the ATF/CREB protein(s), and GC box-binding and initiation-site-binding proteins. The mechanism of promoter regulation has been studied using a nuclear extract transcription system from HeLa cells [Narayan et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269 (1994) 12755-12763]. To study the homologous promoter (ppol beta) in a bovine system, we cloned and characterized the 5'-flanking region of the bovine gene (pol beta). A 15.3-kb fragment of bovine genomic DNA containing the first two exons and 11 kb of 5'-flanking region was isolated from a testis library in bacteriophage lambda EMBL3. S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension analysis of the 5'-end of the pol beta mRNA identified the major transcription start point (tsp), which is located 142-bp 5' of the translational start codon. In transient expression assays using a bovine cell line, analysis of various 5'-deletion mutants demonstrated that a fragment of only 91-bp 5' of the tsp had promoter activity similar to that of a 1.37-kb fragment, so that cis-elements for basal transcription are located within this approx. 100-bp core promoter, as in the human promoter (pPOL beta). Comparison of the core promoters from the bovine and human genes revealed striking similarity, including an almost precise match of the tsp, the ATF/CREB-binding and Sp1-binding sites, and the spacing separating them.

Strategic down-regulation of DNA polymerase beta by antisense RNA sensitizes mammalian cells to specific DNA damaging agents

Previously, mouse NIH 3T3 cells were stably transfected with human DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) cDNA in the antisense orientation and under the control of a metallothionein promoter [Zmudzka, B.Z. and Wilson, S.H. (1990) Som. Cell Mol. Gen., 16, 311-320]. To assess the feasibility of enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy by an antisense approach and to confirm a role for beta-pol in cellular DNA repair, we looked for increased sensitivity to DNA damaging agents under conditions where beta-pol is down-regulated in the antisense cell line. Such a sensitization is anticipated only where beta-pol is rate-limiting in a DNA repair pathway. A number of agents were tested: cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II (cisplatin); 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1- nitrosourea (BCNU); ionizing radiation and the radio-mimetic drug bleomycin; the bifunctional alkylating agents nitrogen mustard and L-phenylalanine mustard (melphalan); the monofunctional alkylating agent methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In the cases of cisplatin and UV radiation, a significant enhancement of cytotoxicity was observed. Damage as a result of both of these agents is thought to be repaired by the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. The results suggest that, in this cell line, beta-pol is involved in and is rate-limiting in NER. We propose that down-regulation of beta-pol by antisense approaches might be used to enhance the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin and other DNA damaging chemotherapeutic agents.

Reduced frameshift fidelity and processivity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase mutants containing alanine substitutions in helix H of the thumb subdomain

We have analyzed two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase mutants of helix H in the thumb subdomain suggested by x-ray crystallography to interact with the primer strand of the template-primer. These enzymes, G262A and W266A, were previously shown to have greatly elevated dissociation rate constants for template-primer and to be much less sensitive to inhibition by 3'-azidodeoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate. Here we describe their processivity and error specificity. The results reveal that: (i) both enzymes have reduced processivity and lower fidelity for template-primer slippage errors, (ii) they differ from each other in sequence-dependent termination of processive synthesis and in error specificity, and (iii) the magnitude of the mutator effect relative to wild-type enzyme for deletions in homopolymeric sequences decreases as the length of the run increases. Thus amino acid substitutions in a subdomain thought to interact with the duplex template-primer confer a strand slippage mutator phenotype to a replicative DNA polymerase. This suggests that interactions between specific amino acids and the primer stem at positions well removed from the active site are critical determinants of processivity and fidelity. These effects, obtained in aqueous solution during catalytic cycling, are consistent with and support the existing crystallographic structural model.

Phorbol ester abrogates up-regulation of DNA polymerase beta by DNA-alkylating agents in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Mammalian DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol), a DNA repair polymerase, is known to be constitutively expressed in cultured cells, but treatment of cells with the DNA-alkylating agents MNNG or methyl methanesulfonate has been shown to up-regulate beta-pol mRNA level. To further characterize this response, we prepared a panel of monoclonal antibodies and used one of them to quantify beta-pol in whole cell extracts by immunoblotting. We found that treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with either DNA-alkylating agent up-regulated the beta-pol protein level 5-10-fold. This induction appeared to be secondary to DNA alkylation, as induction was not observed with a genetically altered cell line overexpressing the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-methyltransferase. We also found that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment of wild type Chinese hamster ovary cells increased expression of beta-pol protein (approximately 10-fold). Any interrelationship between this TPA response and the DNA-alkylation response was studied by treatment with combinations of MNNG and TPA. The beta-pol up-regulation observed with MNNG treatment was abrogated by TPA, and conversely the up-regulation observed with TPA treatment was abrogated by MNNG.

Specific inhibition of DNA polymerase beta by its 14 kDa domain: role of single- and double-stranded DNA binding and 5'-phosphate recognition

DNA polymerase beta (beta-polymerase) has been implicated in short-patch DNA synthesis in the DNA repair pathway known as base excision repair. The native 39 kDa enzyme is organized into four structurally and functionally distinct domains. In an effort to examine this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target, we analyzed the effect of various beta-polymerase domains on the activity of the enzyme in vitro. We show that the 14 kDa N-terminal segment of beta-polymerase, which binds to both single- and double-stranded DNA, but lacks DNA polymerase activity, inhibits beta-polymerase activity in vitro. Most importantly, the 8, 27 and 31 kDa domains of beta-polymerase do not inhibit beta-polymerase activity, demonstrating that the inhibition by the 14 kDa domain is specific. The inhibition of beta-polymerase activity in vitro is abolished by increasing the concentrations of both of the substrates (template-primer and deoxynucleoside triphosphate). In contrast, an in vitro base excision repair assay is inhibited in a domain specific manner by the 14 kDa domain even in the presence of saturating substrates. The inhibition of beta-polymerase activity by the 14 kDa domain appears specific to beta-polymerase as this domain does not inhibit either mammalian DNA polymerase alpha or Escherichia coli polymerase I (Klenow fragment). These data suggest that the 14 kDa domain could be used as a potential inhibitor of intracellular beta-polymerase and that it may provide a means for sensitizing cells to therapeutically relevant DNA damaging agents.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. 3'-Azidodeoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate inhibition indicates two-step binding for template-primer

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) catalyzes DNA synthesis by an ordered sequential mechanism. After template-primer (T.P) binds to free enzyme, the deoxynucleoside triphosphate to be incorporated binds to the RT and T.P binary complex (RTT.P). After incorporation of the bound nucleotide, catalytic cycling is limited either by a conformational change (for processive synthesis) or release of the enzyme from the extended T.P (for single-nucleotide incorporation). To explore cycling through these alternate rate-limiting steps, we determined kinetic parameters for single-nucleotide incorporation by HXB2R HIV-1 RT with chain-terminating nucleotide substrates 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine triphosphate (AZTTP) and dideoxythymidine triphosphate on a homopolymeric T.P system, poly(rA)-oligo(dT)16. Inhibition of processive deoxythymidine monophosphate incorporation by these chain-terminating substrates was also examined. Because AZTTP is a substrate, its Km should be equivalent to Ki, and since Km for AZTTP should be influenced by the dissociation rate constant for RTT.P, we examined the effect of altering RTT.P dissociation on AZTTP kinetic parameters. The dissociation rate constant was modulated by making use of different T.P substrates, viral sources of RT, and a mutant RT altered at a residue that perturbs T.P binding. As expected from earlier work, the time course of AZTMP incorporation on poly(rA)-oligo(dT)16 was biphasic, with a burst followed by a slower steady-state phase representing kcat (0.42 min-1) which was similar to the rate constant for RTT.P dissociation. Additionally, Km for AZTTP (110 nM) was lower than its equilibrium dissociation constant (1200 nM). AZTTP inhibition (Ki,AZTTP) of processive dTMP incorporation and incorporation of a single nucleotide were similar. However, a simple correlation between the RTT.P dissociation rate constant and Ki,AZTTP was not observed. These results indicate that a simple ordered model for single-nucleotide incorporation is inadequate and that different forms of RTT.P exist which can limit catalysis. The results are discussed in the context of a two-step binding reaction for T.P where the binary RTT.P complex undergoes an isomerization before binding of the deoxynucleotide substrate.

DNA polymerase beta conducts the gap-filling step in uracil-initiated base excision repair in a bovine testis nuclear extract

The G:U mismatch in genomic DNA mainly arises from deamination of cytosine residues and is repaired by the base excision repair pathway. We found that a bovine testis crude nuclear extract conducts uracil-initiated base excision repair in vitro. A 51-base pair synthetic DNA substrate containing a single G:U mismatch was used, and incorporation of dCMP during repair was exclusively to replace uracil. A neutralizing polyclonal antibody against DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) inhibited the repair reaction. ddCTP also inhibited the repair reaction, whereas aphidicolin had no significant effect, suggesting that activity of beta-pol was required. Next, the base excision repair system was reconstituted using partially purified components. Several of the enzymatic activities required were resolved, such that DNA ligase and the uracil-DNA glycosylase/apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activities were separated from the DNA polymerase requirement. We found that purified beta-pol could restore full DNA repair activity to the DNA polymerase-depleted fraction, whereas purified DNA polymerases alpha, delta, and epsilon could not. These results with purified proteins corroborated results obtained with the crude extract and indicate that beta-pol is responsible for the single-nucleotide gap filling reaction involved in this in vitro base excision repair system.

DNA damage-induced transcriptional activation of a human DNA polymerase beta chimeric promoter: recruitment of preinitiation complex in vitro by ATF/CREB

Treatment of hamster cells in culture with the DNA alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induces DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) gene expression and cellular levels of the enzyme. Transcriptional activity of a cloned beta-pol promoter in transient expression assays is also stimulated. Among the requirements for these responses are methylation damage to genomic DNA, cellular cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and the ATF/CREB site of the cloned beta-pol promoter. In the present study, HeLa cell nuclear extract from MNNG-treated cells was much more active in an in vitro transcription assay than nuclear extract from normal cells. By using an oligonucleotide affinity column to deplete the nuclear extract of ATF/CREB, we showed that the difference was due to ATF/CREB activator. Purified ATF/CREB activator from MNNG-treated cells was approximately 10-fold more active than ATF/CREB purified from normal cells as a transcriptional activator for the depleted nuclear extract. ATF/CREB in the extract from normal cells is known to activate in vitro transcription by increasing the rate of promoter clearance [Narayan, S., Widen, S. G., Beard, W. A., & Wilson, S. H. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 12755-12763]. With ATF/CREB from MNNG-treated cells, the amount of preinitiation complex formed was much greater than with ATF/CREB from normal cells, and the kinetics of both the closed to open preinitiation complex isomerization and promoter clearance were altered. These results indicate that the mechanism of transcriptional activation secondary to DNA alkylation damage is recruitment of more preinitiation complex and alteration of the kinetic scheme of transcription initiation.

Evaluation of lymphocyte stimulation tests for diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in elk (Cervus elaphus)

Lymphocyte stimulation tests (LST), performed using 6 antigen preparations, were compared individually and in pairs. The tests were performed on 433 blood samples collected from elk in Mycobacterium bovis-infected herds. These elk were killed as part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's bovine tuberculosis eradication policy, and mycobacterial culture results were obtained from tissues of each animal. The LST, which had the highest total sum of sensitivity and specificity, was a comparative test that used M bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) and M paratuberculosis (johnin) PPD. This test had a sensitivity of 76%, with confidence limits (CL) of 63 to 85% for this estimate, and specificity of 77% (CL, 72 to 81%). The LST, using only M bovis PPD antigen, had a sensitivity of 70% (CL, 57 to 80%) and specificity of 74% (CL, 69 to 79%); when it was compared with culture results, using the kappa statistic, agreement was only 32%. This indicated that the LST identified different elk than did M bovis isolation tests.

Characterization of the tryptophan fluorescence and hydrodynamic properties of rat DNA polymerase beta

We have examined the biophysical properties of DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) in solution. Time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence were used to investigate the microenvironment of the lone tryptophanyl residue (Trp324), and a combination of sedimentation equilibrium, sedimentation velocity and fluorescence anisotropy decay measurements were used to study the hydrodynamic properties of the enzyme. Trp324 appears to be exposed to water as judged by the tryptophan emission and steady-state and lifetime quenching experiments. The fluorescence is easily quenched by a neutral quencher acrylamide (kq = 1.59 x 10(9)M-1S-1), and by a negatively charged ionic quencher, I- (kq = 1.60 x 10(9) M-1S-1), but not by a positively charged ionic quencher, Cs+ (kq = 0.2 x 10(9) M-1S-1). The fluorescence lifetime of beta-pol is best described by the sum of two exponentials with a longer lifetime component of 8.4 ns and a shorter lifetime component of 1.3 ns. Decay associated spectra (DAS) show emission maxima at 340 nm and at 345 nm for the shorter lifetime and longer lifetime components, respectively, with corresponding centers of gravity at 347 nm and 348 nm. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments show that the enzyme exists as a monomer at the KCl concentrations (> 0.05 M) studied in the absence of divalent metals. Zn2+ causes higher order aggregation, but no such aggregates are seen with Mg2+ and Mn2+. In the presence of 1 mM manganese, the average lifetime decreased approximately 10%, from 8.14 ns to 7.38 ns, with a concomitant increase of average rotational correlational time (phi) from 24 ns to 28 ns. The accessibility of the positively charged quencher (Cs+) to tryptophan also decreases approximately 50%, indicating alteration of the tryptophan microenvironment. By contrast, Mg2+ causes minor changes in fluorescence properties. The hydrodynamic shape of the intact enzyme and its single-stranded (8 kDa) and double-stranded (31 kDa) DNA binding domains were further investigated by sedimentation velocity measurements. The value of S0(20),W for the intact enzyme is 2.97 S, and the calculated axial ratio is 5.0. In contrast to the 8 kDa domain, which has a less asymmetric shape with an axial ratio of 2.3, the 31 kDa domain shows an elongated structure with an axial ratio of 5.5. These data suggest that the axial ratio of the intact enzyme may be the result of marked bending of the molecule at the flexible hinge region between the two domains.

Structure/function studies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. Alanine scanning mutagenesis of an alpha-helix in the thumb subdomain

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase has subunits of 66 and 51 kDa (p66 and p51, respectively). Structural studies indicate that each subunit consists of common subdomains. The polymerase domain of p66 forms a nucleic acid binding cleft, and, by analogy with a right hand, the subdomains are referred to as fingers, palm, and thumb (Kohlstaedt, L. A., Wang, J., Friedman, J. M., Rice, P. A., and Steitz, T. A. (1992) Science 256, 1783-1790). Residues 257-266 correspond to a highly conserved region of primary structure among retroviral pol genes. Crystallographic evidence indicates that these residues are in the thumb subdomain and form part of an alpha-helix (alpha H), which interacts with DNA (Jacobo-Molina, A., Ding, J., Nanni, R. G., Clark, A. D., Jr., Lu, X., Tantillo, C., Williams, R. L., Kamer, G., Ferris, A. L., Clark, P., Hizi, A., Hughes, S. H., and Arnold, E. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 90, 6320-6324). To define the role of this region during catalytic cycling, we performed systematic site-directed mutagenesis from position 253 through position 271 by changing each residue, one by one, to alanine. Each mutant protein was expressed and purified, and their substrate-specific activities were surveyed. The results are consistent with alpha H (residues 255-268) of p66 interacting with the template and/or primer strand. The core of alpha H appears to play an important role in template-primer binding (residues Gln-258, Gly-262, and Trp-266), and in protein-protein interactions (residues Val-261 and Leu-264). The periodicity of the effects observed suggest that a segment of one face of alpha H interacts with the template-primer. The lower fidelity observed with alanine mutants of Gly-262 and Trp-266 correlated with an over 200-fold increase in the dissociation rate constant for template-primer relative to wild type enzyme and suggests that enzyme-DNA interactions in the template-primer stem are important fidelity determinants.

Regulation of in vitro nucleic acid strand annealing activity of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein protein A1 by reversible phosphorylation

Phosphorylation in vivo of several proteins in the mammalian heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex (hnRNP), including A1, has been observed and proposed as a regulatory step in pre-mRNA splicing [Maryland, S. H., Dwen, P., & Pederson, T. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 7764-7768]. We examined the ability of recombinant hnRNP protein A1 to act as a substrate for a number of purified Ser/Thr protein kinases in vitro. A survey of seven protein kinases showed that A1 was heavily phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) and also was phosphorylated by casein kinase II, protamine kinase, and protein kinase A. In contrast, autophosphorylation-activated protein kinase and two forms of myelin basic protein kinase failed to phosphorylate A1. Proteolysis with trypsin and V8 protease revealed that PKC phosphorylates A1 at three main sites, two in the N-terminal domain (spanning residues 2-196) and one in the C-terminal domain (spanning residues 197-320). Amino acid sequencing revealed that these sites were Ser95, Ser192, and Ser199; phosphorylation at Ser192 was more abundant than at Ser95 and Ser199. Phosphorylation by PKC inhibited the strand annealing activity of A1. Protein phosphatase 2A, but not protein phosphatase 1, dephosphorylated A1 and reversed the inhibitory effect of PKC phosphorylation on the strand annealing activity. A conformational change in the C-terminal domain of A1 was observed upon PKC phosphorylation, and this was associated with a decrease in A1's affinity for single-stranded polynucleotides. The results are consistent with a role of phosphorylation of A1 in regulating its strand annealing activity in vivo.

Assignments of 1H, 15N, and 13C resonances for the backbone and side chains of the N-terminal domain of DNA polymerase beta. Determination of the secondary structure and tertiary contacts

DNA polymerase beta consists of an N-terminal single-stranded DNA binding domain and a C-terminal catalytic domain separable by mild proteolysis [Kumar et al. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 2124-2131]. The N-terminal domain participates in template and gapped DNA recognition and contributes significantly to catalysis. The secondary structure and tertiary contacts within the cloned N-terminal domain (residues 2-87) of mammalian DNA polymerase beta have been determined using multidimensional NMR. Assignments of backbone 1H, 15N, and 13C resonances and side chain 1H and 13C resonances have been obtained from double- and triple-resonance 3D NMR experiments. The 13C-edited TOCSY experiment has allowed nearly complete assignments of 1H and 13C resonances within side chains. The 13C-edited NOESY experiment has been used for determination of medium- and long-range NOEs and a determination of tertiary contacts. The N-terminal domain is found to consist of four helices, helix-1 (15-26), helix-2 (36-47), helix-3 (56-61), and helix-4 (69-78), which on the basis of long-range NOEs are tightly packed of form a hydrophobic core. The remainder of the domain consists of two turns (48-51 and 62-65), an omega-type loop (27-35), and extended structure. The aromatic side chains of Y36, Y39, Y49, and F76 display tertiary contacts indicative of at least partial hydrophobic packing. The S30 and H34 residues which cross-link to single-stranded DNA [Prasad et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 15906-15911] are contained within the K27-K35 loop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Site-directed mutagenesis of HIV reverse transcriptase to probe enzyme processivity and drug binding

Site-directed mutagenesis has demonstrated that changes within the human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase coding sequence alone can account for viral resistance to inhibitors. Inhibitor sensitivity of mutant enzymes in vitro correlates with the sensitivity of the virus to non-nucleoside inhibitors observed in vivo, but this is not the case with nucleoside analogs. Recent structural, kinetic, and site-directed mutagenesis studies demonstrate the importance of enzyme-nucleic acid contacts in determining enzyme sensitivity to inhibitors in vitro, as well as how accurately the reverse transcriptase synthesizes DNA.

The human DNA polymerase beta gene structure. Evidence of alternative splicing in gene expression

DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) is a single-copy gene that is considered to be part of the DNA repair machinery in mammalian cells. Using two human genomic libraries we have cloned the complete human beta-pol gene and determined the organization of the beta-pol coding sequence within the gene. The human beta-pol gene spans 33 kb and contains 14 exons that range from 50 to 233 bp. The 13 introns vary from 96 bp to 6.5 kb. Information derived from this study was used in defining the location of a deletion/insertion type restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) 5' to exon I of the human beta-pol gene. This RFLP was utilized in linkage analysis of DNAs from CEPH families and the results confirm the previous assignment of the human beta-pol gene to chromosome 8 (p12-p11). Analysis of mRNA from six human cell lines using the polymerase chain reaction showed the expression of two beta-pol transcripts. Sequence analysis revealed that the size difference in these transcripts was due to deletion of the 58 bp sequence encoded by exon II, suggesting that the smaller transcript results from an alternative splicing of the exon II sequence during processing of the beta-pol precursor RNA.