Studies of gapped DNA substrate binding by mammalian DNA polymerase beta. Dependence on 5'-phosphate group

Purified mammalian DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) fills short gaps of up to 6 nucleotides by a processive mechanism, and this gap-filling activity requires a PO4 group on the 5'-side of the gap (Singhal, R. K., and Wilson, S. H. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 15906-15911). To assess details of bimolecular binding between beta-pol and a 5-nucleotide (nt) gapped radiolabeled heteropolymeric DNA substrate, beta-pol.DNA complexes were formed, photochemically cross-linked using UV light, and analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. A 39-nt template was annealed with two 17-mer oligonucleotides, generating a 5-nt gap. The results indicate that beta-pol binds to both the template and primer strands, and binding is strongly enhanced by a 5'-PO4 on the downstream oligonucleotide, even though little cross-linking is observed to this oligonucleotide. The results suggest that beta-pol recognizes the 5'-side of a long single-stranded gap in DNA, provided it contains a 5'-PO4. Additional beta-pol.DNA binding measurements were performed using a competition assay to assess the ability of heteropolymeric DNA to inhibit synthesis on a homopolymeric template-primer system. The results indicate that in addition to the 5'-PO4, the length of the single-stranded template nucleic acid adjacent to the 5'-PO4 is also important for tight binding. Proteolysis of the cross-linked beta-pol.DNA complex with trypsin resulted in a single radiolabeled tryptic product corresponding to nucleic acid cross-linked to the 8-kDa domain. The results demonstrate that the role of the 8-kDa domain is to direct beta-pol binding to the phosphorylated 5'-position in gapped DNA substrates.

Crystal structure of rat DNA polymerase beta: evidence for a common polymerase mechanism

Structures of the 31-kilodalton catalytic domain of rat DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) and the whole 39-kilodalton enzyme were determined at 2.3 and 3.6 angstrom resolution, respectively. The 31-kilodalton domain is composed of fingers, palm, and thumb subdomains arranged to form a DNA binding channel reminiscent of the polymerase domains of the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, and bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. The amino-terminal 8-kilodalton domain is attached to the fingers subdomain by a flexible hinge. The two invariant aspartates found in all polymerase sequences and implicated in catalytic activity have the same geometric arrangement within structurally similar but topologically distinct palms, indicating that the polymerases have maintained, or possibly re-evolved, a common nucleotidyl transfer mechanism. The location of Mn2+ and deoxyadenosine triphosphate in pol beta confirms the role of the invariant aspartates in metal ion and deoxynucleoside triphosphate binding.

Structures of ternary complexes of rat DNA polymerase beta, a DNA template-primer, and ddCTP

Two ternary complexes of rat DNA polymerase beta (pol beta), a DNA template-primer, and dideoxycytidine triphosphate (ddCTP) have been determined at 2.9 A and 3.6 A resolution, respectively. ddCTP is the triphosphate of dideoxycytidine (ddC), a nucleoside analog that targets the reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is at present used to treat AIDS. Although crystals of the two complexes belong to different space groups, the structures are similar, suggesting that the polymerase-DNA-ddCTP interactions are not affected by crystal packing forces. In the pol beta active site, the attacking 3'-OH of the elongating primer, the ddCTP phosphates, and two Mg2+ ions are all clustered around Asp190, Asp192, and Asp256. Two of these residues, Asp190 and Asp256, are present in the amino acid sequences of all polymerases so far studied and are also spatially similar in the four polymerases--the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, T7 RNA polymerase, and rat DNA pol beta--whose crystal structures are now known. A two-metal ion mechanism is described for the nucleotidyl transfer reaction and may apply to all polymerases. In the ternary complex structures analyzed, pol beta binds to the DNA template-primer in a different manner from that recently proposed for other polymerase-DNA models.

RNA polymerase II transcription. Rate of promoter clearance is enhanced by a purified activating transcription factor/cAMP response element-binding protein

The core promoter of the human DNA beta-polymerase (beta-pol) gene is regulated by proteins binding at 3 GC boxes and the single activating transcription factor/cAMP response element (ATF/CRE) centered at -45; the central 8 residues of this ATF/CRE match the ATF/CRE consensus sequence, TGACGTCA. Previously, we purified a beta-pol promoter ATF/CRE-binding protein (named palindrome-binding protein or PBP) from bovine testes and found that this protein is a beta-pol promoter transcriptional activator in vitro using a HeLa nuclear extract transcription system (Widen, S. G., and Wilson, S. H. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 6296-6305). In this study, we determined the mechanism of in vitro transcriptional activation by this purified PBP. We used a PBP-depleted HeLa nuclear extract transcription system with an artificial promoter containing a solitary activator element corresponding to the entire 22-nucleotide beta-pol promoter ATF/CRE-binding site. Kinetic analyses of the 180-nucleotide run-off product formation indicated that stimulation of transcriptional activity by PBP was due entirely to an increase in the rate constant for promoter clearance. Thus, under our conditions, the purified PBP had no effect on the rate of closed preinitiation complex formation or for the closed complex to open complex transition. Instead, the rate of productive initiation leading to the 180-nucleotide transcript was stimulated by PBP. We found that the rate of closed preinitiation complex formation was not in rapid equilibrium with promoter and RNA polymerase II, in contrast to the model with prokaryotic RNA polymerase transcription. The results also indicated that PBP binding to the ATF/CRE is required for the stimulation of promoter clearance. These studies define the kinetic mechanism of a purified ATF/CRE-binding protein in stimulation of the in vitro transcription of a designed mammalian promoter.

Studies on primer binding of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase using a fluorescent probe

The fluorescent nucleotide analog, 2',3'-trinitrophenyladenosine-5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP), was utilized to quantify the affinities of human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) for its substrates. Interaction of this probe with the enzyme brings about a twofold increase in the magnitude of fluorescence emission from the probe, and a blue-shift in wavelength maximum, from 561 to 553 nm. TNP-ATP binds HIV-1 RT with a dissociation constant of 21 microM. The presence of millimolar levels of deoxynucleoside triphosphates or micromolar levels of an oligonucleotide primer analogue, p(dT)12-18, suppressed this enhancement of fluorescence. The fact that inhibition was achieved with much lower levels of primer than of dNTPs suggests that TNP-ATP is a probe for the binding site of primer on the enzyme, rather than that of deoxynucleoside triphosphate. In support of this, the effect of TNP-ATP on the kinetics of DNA synthesis catalyzed by the enzyme indicated that the probe is a competitive inhibitor with respect to template-primer. The ability of primers and primer analogs to reverse the fluorescence enhancement was determined, and the corresponding affinities of these compounds for reverse transcriptase were calculated. The affinity increased with primer length, increasing more than 50-fold from a span of 5 to 15 nucleotide residues. The interaction of polydeoxynucleotides was consistent with a model in which the enzyme bound at adjacent internal sites of about 15 residues in length. Several mammalian and bacterial transfer RNA primers were tested, including the natural primer, tRNA(3Lys). The affinities were found to be between 0.55 and 1.2 microM, with no obvious selectivity for the natural primer, which had a Kd of 0.79 microM. These results are discussed within the context of data for HIV-1 RT obtained by other methodologies.

Yeast open reading frame YCR14C encodes a DNA beta-polymerase-like enzyme

We have shown by activity gel that overexpression in E. coli of a yeast chromosome 3 open reading frame (ORF) designated YCR14C and bearing homology to mammalian DNA polymerases beta results in a new DNA polymerase in the host cells. The molecular mass of this enzyme corresponded to the YCR14C-predicted 67 kDa protein, and NH2-terminal amino acid sequencing confirmed that the expressed protein was encoded by the yeast ORF. This new yeast DNA polymerase was purified to homogeneity from E.coli. In a fashion similar to that of mammalian beta-polymerases, the purified yeast enzyme exhibited distributive DNA synthesis on DNA substrate with a single-stranded template and processive gap-filling synthesis on a short-gapped DNA substrate. Activity of this yeast beta-polymerase-like enzyme was sensitive to the beta-polymerase inhibitor ddNTP and resistant to both 1 mM NEM and neutralizing antibody to E. coli DNA polymerase I. These results, therefore, indicate that YCR14C encodes a DNA beta-polymerase-like enzyme in yeast, and we name it DNA polymerase IV. Yeast strains harboring a deletion mutation of the pol IV gene are viable, they exhibit no increase in sensitivity to ultraviolet light, ionizing radiation or alkylating agents, and sporulation and spore viability are not affected in the mutant.

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: inhibition by 2',5'-oligoadenylates

2',5'-Oligoadenylates (2-5A) and derivatives are noncompetitive inhibitors of primer/HIV-1 reverse transcriptase complex formation. The mechanism and specificity of this inhibitory action of 2-5A and 2-5A derivatives have been evaluated with 2-5A molecules modified in ribosyl moiety, chain length, extent of 5'-phosphorylation, and 2',5'-phosphodiester linkage. UV covalent cross-linking of preformed complexes of p66/p66 homodimer or p66/p51 heterodimer recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and the primer analog pd(T)16 allowed analysis of the initial step in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-catalyzed DNA synthesis. Utilizing this primer binding assay, it is demonstrated that 2-5A and 2-5A derivatives inhibit the binding of pd(T)16 to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. This inhibition is specific for the 2',5'-internucleotide linkage in that the corresponding 3',5'-adenylate derivatives do not exhibit inhibitory activity. Enhanced inhibitory properties were observed following modifications of the 2-5A molecule which result in an increase in hydrophobicity. Replacement of the D-ribosyl moiety of 2-5A with the 3'-deoxyribosyl moiety increased the inhibition of primer/HIV-1 reverse transcriptase complex formation 15-20%. 2',5'-Phosphorothioate substitution yielded the most effective inhibitors, with Ki's of 7-13 microM. In all cases, inhibition of primer/HIV-1 reverse transcriptase complex formation showed a preference for the 5'-triphosphate moiety. Nonphosphorylated derivatives were not inhibitory; 5'-monophosphate derivatives exhibited little or no inhibition. The inhibition of primer binding to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase correlated well with the inhibition of DNA-directed DNA synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Identification of residues in the single-stranded DNA-binding site of the 8-kDa domain of rat DNA polymerase beta by UV cross-linking

Rat DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) is a 39-kDa monomeric protein, organized in two structurally and functionally distinct domains. The 8-kDa NH2-terminal domain binds single-stranded (ss) DNA, whereas the 31-kDa COOH-terminal domain does not. To facilitate studies on ssDNA binding structure-function relationships of beta-pol, we overexpressed the 8-kDa domain in Escherichia coli, and purified the recombinant protein to homogeneity. Single-stranded nucleic acid binding of the recombinant 8-kDa domain was found to be similar to that previously reported for the 8-kDa fragment prepared by proteolysis of intact beta-pol (Kumar, A., Widen, S. G., Williams, K. R., Kedar, P. Karpel, R. L., and Wilson, S. H. (1990b) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 2124-2131; Casas-Finet, J. R., Kumar, A., Morris, G., Wilson, S. H., and Karpel, R. L. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 19618-19625). Residues in or near the DNA-binding pocket of the recombinant 8-kDa domain were examined by photochemical cross-linking to [32P] p(dT)16. Cross-linking was localized to a tryptic fragment spanning residues 28 through 35 and a V8 protease fragment spanning residues 27 through 58. Sequence analysis of the various [32P]p(dT)16-labeled proteins indicated that Ser30 and His34 were modified by cross-linking to p(dT)16. Therefore, these residues of the ssDNA-binding domain of beta-pol appear to be in close contact with this nucleic acid probe.

Kinetic analysis of template.primer interactions with recombinant forms of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

The reverse transcriptase (RT) from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exists predominantly as a heterodimer (p66/p51), but can also form a homodimer of p66 subunits (p66/p66). RT binds to template-primer (T/P) tightly to form the first complex in the reaction sequence poised to conduct DNA synthesis upon the addition of dNTP and Mg2+. We have made use of this property to kinetically analyze poly(rA)-(dT)n interactions with recombinant homo- and heterodimeric HIV-1 RT derived from HXB2R proviral DNA. A T/P challenge assay was used to quantitatively follow RT-T/P complex formation. The homo- and heterodimeric forms of RT bound to poly(rA)-(dT)16 in a kinetically similar fashion. There was no more than a 2-fold difference in kcat or for any T/P parameter examined: Km, Kd, kon, koff determined from a binary complex or from a complex incorporating dTMP, processivity, and stoichiometry of binding. In contrast, it was found that the T/P Km with heterodimeric RT derived from the NY5 strain was significantly greater than that determined for HXB2R enzyme, indicating that a kinetic diversity exists between RT derived from different viral strains. Since HXB2R RT binds to poly(rA)-(dT)16 tightly, Kd < 1 nM, active-site titrations are facilitated. At saturation, one T/P binds per two polypeptides, suggesting that RT binds substrate productively as a dimer and that if monomers are present they must rapidly form dimers in the presence of T/P.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Expression and purification of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase using the baculovirus expression vector system

We have successfully expressed and purified the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) using the baculovirus expression vector system. This expression system provides a eukaryotic environment in which post-translational modifications of foreign gene products can occur. After infection with recombinant virus, Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of an immunoreactive polypeptide of approximately 66 kDa from insect Sf9 cell lysates. RT was then purified from crude extracts of baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells; SDS-PAGE analysis of fractions obtain from partial purification showed that in contrast to the Escherichia coli-expressed RT, the baculovirus-expressed RT corresponded to a doublet of peptides at approximately 66 kDa. Further purification of the protein resulted in a p66 protein, judged to be more than 90% pure by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie blue stain. Following purification, the baculovirus derived RT had specific activity for DNA polymerase similar to that of the E. coli-derived RT. Therefore, RT purified from Sf9 cells appears to be suitable for structure-function studies of this enzyme.

Mapping of nucleic acid binding in proteolytic domains of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) and its domain fragments were used to map nucleic acid binding sites within the enzyme. Discrete domain fragments were produced after the digestion of three forms of RT (p66, p66/p51 heterodimer, and p51) with V8 protease or trypsin, and the primary structure of each domain fragment was mapped by both immunoblotting and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. These domain fragments represent N-terminal, middle, or C-terminal regions of RT. Using Northwestern or Southwestern blotting assays, the domain fragments were evaluated for nucleic acid binding. In this technique, RT proteins are electroblotted onto the membrane and renatured after SDS-PAGE; the proteins are then probed with the primer analogues 32P-labeled d(T)16 or 32P-labeled tRNA(Lys,3). A V8 protease domain fragment spanning residues 195 to approximately 300 (p12), which was found earlier to be UV cross-linked to the primer in intact RT [Sobol et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 10623-10631], showed binding to both nucleic acid probes. We first localized nucleic acid binding in p66 to an N-terminal domain fragment of residues 1 approximately equal to 300. By contrast, a C-terminal domain fragment termed p30(303 approximately equal to 560) did not show nucleic acid binding. To investigate the role of the region just N-terminal to residue 303, an expression vector named pRC-35 encoding residues 273-560 was constructed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Short gap-filling synthesis by DNA polymerase beta is processive

Mammalian DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) is considered to be part of the DNA repair machinery. However, there have been conceptual problems with this idea because beta-pol does not completely fill some gapped substrates, and unlike other DNA polymerases, beta-pol adds just one dNMP for each cycle of binding to the DNA substrate, incorporation, and product release (distributive synthesis). To examine the questions of complete gap filling and gap recognition by beta-pol, we designed template-primer substrates with a range of gap sizes from 1 to 53 template residues between the 3'-OH primer and a downstream polynucleotide. M13mp18(+) single-stranded DNA was used as template, and synthetic deoxyoligonucleotides were used as primers and downstream polynucleotides. We find that beta-pol can completely fill gaps and that the gap-filling activity on substrates with gaps of up to 6 nucleotides is highly processive rather than distributive; processive synthesis to fill a gap strictly required 5'-phosphate on the 5'-moiety of the gap. Similar specificity for filling short gaps was not observed with other DNA polymerases. These results on substrate specificity and the mechanism of beta-pol suggest distinct requirements for the role of beta-pol in vivo.

Identification of a nuclear protein binding element within the rat brain protein kinase C gamma promoter that is related to the developmental control of this gene

Protein kinase C gamma (PKC gamma) is a brain-specific isozyme expressed at a high level in the adult but not in the fetal or newborn rat. At least seventeen nuclear protein binding sites within the 5'-flanking region extending from -1612 to +243 had been identified by DNase I footprinting analysis and gel mobility shift assays. Among them, one site, GAATTAATAGG, at -669 to -679 is protected from DNase I digestion by nuclear protein from newborn but not from the adult rat brain. The levels of this binding protein, as determined by gel mobility shift assay, were found inversely related to the levels of PKC gamma in rat brain at different stages of development. These results suggest that this particular binding site may participate in the developmental regulation of PKC gamma gene.

Expression of polypeptides of human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase in Escherichia coli

We have prepared a plasmid, pRC-RT, for expression of HXB2 HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) in Escherichia coli (Becerra et al., Biochemistry 30, 11707-11719, 1991). Here we describe the optimization of RT overexpression and its purification. In pRC-RT, the precise RT coding region of HXB2 proviral DNA is flanked by start and stop codons, and expression is driven by the phage lambda pL promoter in a temperature-inducible system. The 64,484-Da RT polypeptide (termed p66) is expressed as approximately 10% of total cell protein after 2 h of induction, and the RT is readily solubilized and purified free of DNA Pol I and to near homogeneity as a homodimer of p66 or as a heterodimer of p66 and p51, resembling the natural enzyme. After achieving appropriate expression of the full-length p66 RT, we next created vectors to express multiple individual segments of the p66 polypeptide. These segments are: a 51,000-Da peptide, representing C-terminal truncation of p66, and several peptides representing consecutive N-terminal, central, and C-terminal segments of p66. The latter peptide, corresponding to the RNase H domain of RT, has been purified in large quantities and is currently under study for solution of its structure by NMR. This peptide is devoid of enzyme activity and of substrate-binding capacity, but exists in solution as a folded globular protein with structure resembling that of E. coli ribonuclease H and that of a similar HIV-1 RT RNase H domain peptide examined by X-ray crystallography (Becerra et al., FEBS Lett. 270, 67-80, 1990). Various other RT peptides described here should prove to be similarly useful for structural studies, as well as other approaches.

Mechanism of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Termination of processive synthesis on a natural DNA template is influenced by the sequence of the template-primer stem

During processive DNA synthesis in vitro, the human immunoefficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase encounters template nucleotide positions at which continued synthesis is difficult. At these positions, the enzyme has a relatively high probability of dissociating from the template, and product molecules of corresponding length accumulate as the incubation proceeds. These positions, which are known as termination sites, could be associated with template secondary structures in some cases, but many termination sites appear to be template sequence-related rather than secondary structure-related. Mechanisms producing these blocks in processive DNA synthesis are not well understood. In this study, to examine further the effects of template sequence on termination, we engineered selected single-base changes in the M13mp2 template, and we found that such changes can influence termination. Several general trends emerged from the study. First, strong termination sites rarely correspond to dATP as the "incoming" substrate opposite template T. Second, the sequence of the template-primer stem is more important for termination than the sequence of the single-stranded template ahead of the primer. Thus, we note the phenomenon of action at a distance: changing sequence at one nucleotide position in the template-primer stem alters termination at other positions, a few nucleotides distant at the primer 3' end. A and C as template bases in the template-primer stem have opposite effects. A is the strongest terminator residue, and C is the weakest terminator residue, followed by G. Since termination sites are produced by reverse transcriptase dissociation from the template-primer, the results suggest that the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase has properties reminiscent of a sequence-specific double-stranded DNA-binding protein in that its binding mechanism can distinguish both base residues and positions in the double-stranded DNA template-primer stem.

Error-prone polymerization by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Contribution of template-primer misalignment, miscoding, and termination probability to mutational hot spots

We have observed previously that DNA template-directed polymerization by the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase is error-prone for single-nucleotide substitution, addition and deletion errors at homopolymeric sequences. We have also noted strong termination of processive synthesis at these positions (Bebenek, K., Abbotts, J., Roberts, J. D., Wilson, S. H., and Kunkel, T. A. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 16948-16956). Here we have tested three models to explain errors at these hot spots: template-primer misalignment for deletion errors, and dislocation and direct miscoding for substitution errors. The approach involves introducing single-nucleotide changes within or flanking the homopolymeric hot spots and examining the effects that these changes have on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase error rate, error specificity, and termination probability. The results obtained suggest that single-nucleotide deletion errors in homopolymeric runs result from template-primer misalignment and that both direct miscoding and template-primer dislocation contribute to the base substitution hot spots. The data also suggest that base substitution errors at one position can be templated by the preceding nucleotide or either of the next two nucleotides. Frameshift error rates at homopolymeric sites were affected by changes in the sequences flanking the runs, including single-nucleotide differences in the single-stranded template strand and in the double-stranded primer region as many as six nucleotides distant from the hot spot. Both increases and decreases in frameshift fidelity were observed, and most of these correlated with concomitant increases or decreases in the probability that HIV-1 reverse transcriptase terminated processive synthesis within the run. These data provide further support for a relationship between the frameshift fidelity and the processivity of DNA-dependent DNA synthesis by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Unemployment and health: a review

Unemployment has an adverse effect on health. This effect is still demonstrable when social class, poverty, age and pre-existing morbidity are adjusted for. Unemployed men and their families have increased mortality experience, particularly from suicide and lung cancer. Unemployed men also have a reduction in psychological well-being with a greater incidence of parasuicide, depression and anxiety. Unemployed men are more likely to use general practitioner and hospital services and receive more prescribed medicines. Smoking and alcohol consumption are often increased after the onset of unemployment. Women are less affected by enforced unemployment, but families are put at greater risk of physical illness, psychological stress and family breakdown. Maintaining financial security, providing proactive health care and retraining for re-employment can all reduce the impact of unemployment on health.

Mammalian heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A1 and its constituent domains. Nucleic acid interaction, structural stability and self-association

With a view toward further understanding the structure-function relationships of the eukaryotic heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1, and in particular its multiplicity of nucleic acid-interactive domains, we have studied the nucleic acid binding properties of the globular N-domain (UP1) and sequence-repetitive, flexible C-domain, the thermal denaturation of UP1 and the concomitant effects of binding polynucleotide, and the self-associative properties of the full-length protein. Utilizing protein tryptophan fluorescence as a probe, polynucleotide binding was shown to stabilize UP1 against thermal unfolding. The denaturation profile of UP1-poly(thymidylic acid) complexes was biphasic, suggesting that unfolding of the two subdomains of UP1 can occur independently. This is in agreement with a previously proposed structure in which only one of the two UP1 subdomains binds the nucleic acid. The subdomains of UP1 can be prepared by controlled proteolysis of A1, further indicating that these two globular segments within A1 are connected by an exposed, flexible linkage. Circular dichroism measurements on UP1 confirm previous data that this portion of A1 binds single-stranded nucleic acids non-co-operatively. UP1 clearly shows a preference for single-stranded nucleic acids with a 2'-OH, since its affinity for poly(U) is three times higher than for poly(dU), and five times higher than its affinity for poly(2'-OCH3U). The nucleic acid-interactive properties of the C-domain were further examined by preparing a synthetic peptide polymer (M(r) approximately 12,000) containing about seven repeats of a 16-residue sequence, GNFGGGRGGNYGGSRG, which in turn comprises two copies of the C-terminal consensus, GN(F/Y)GG(G/S)RG. The polymer of this sequence exhibited significant affinity for the fluorescent polyribonucleotide, poly(ethenoadenylic acid), binding stoichiometrically at < or = 0.2 M-Na+. Complex formation was accompanied by an increase in aggregate formation, as indicated by the appearance of scattering. For purposes of comparison, the data were analyzed via the linear co-operative model of McGhee and von Hippel, though this model may not be fully descriptive of the protein-nucleic acid complex(es) formed in this case. In contrast to the non-co-operative binding mode of the UP1 domain, the C-polymer exhibited moderate co-operativity, comparable to that seen with full-length A1. Although addition of sufficient NaCl reversed the interaction, a sigmoidal binding isotherm could still be observed (with sufficient added polymer) at 0.8 M-NaCl. This suggests that non-electrostatic interactions contribute significantly to the free energy of binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

DNA damage response of cloned DNA beta-polymerase promoter is blocked in mutant cell lines deficient in protein kinase A

DNA beta-polymerase (beta-pol), one of the recognized DNA polymerizing enzymes in vertebrates, has a role in 'very short patch' gap-filling synthesis during nucleotide excision DNA repair. In human and mouse, the enzyme is encoded by a single-copy gene located on the short arm of chromosome 8 near the centromere. In a series of studies, we have found that the cloned human beta-pol promoter is regulated by signals acting through the single ATF/CRE palindrome in the core promoter. These signals include transactivation by: adenovirus E1a/E1b proteins; activated p21ras; and in CHO cells, treatment with the DNA damaging agent MNNG. Hence, several types of stimulatory signals are mediated through the single ATF/CRE site, including DNA damage induction. To understand the mechanism of beta-pol promoter activation by MNNG in CHO cells, we asked whether induction of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway can increase transcription of the cloned promoter in this system. Agents that increase cellular cAMP levels (8-BrcAMP; forskolin and IBMx) activated the beta-pol promoter fusion gene in transient expression experiments, and a mutation in the ATF/CRE palindrome blocked this response. Thus, the ATF/CRE site appears to be cAMP responsive in the CHO cell system. We found that the activation of the cloned beta-pol promoter by MNNG does not occur with two mutant CHO cell lines that are deficient in protein kinase A activity. Further, simultaneous treatment of wild-type CHO cells, with MNNG and to elevate cAMP, failed to result in an additive effect for activation of the beta-pol promoter. Thus, these effectors may act through a common pathway. These results suggest that the activation of the cloned beta-pol promoter in CHO cells following MNNG treatment is mediated through the cAMP/protein kinase A signal transduction pathway.

Mammalian DNA polymerase beta: characterization of a 16-kDa transdomain fragment containing the nucleic acid-binding activities of the native enzyme

The 39-kDa DNA polymerase beta (beta-Pol) molecule can be readily converted into two constituent domains by mild proteolysis; these domains are represented in an 8-kDa N-terminal fragment and a 31-kDa C-terminal fragment [Kumar et al. (1990a) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 2124-2131]. Intact beta-Pol is a sequence-nonspecific nucleic acid-interactive protein that binds both double-stranded (ds) and single-stranded (ss) polynucleotides. These two activities appear to be contributed by separate portions of the enzyme, since the 31-kDa domain binds ds DNA but not ss DNA, and conversely, the 8-kDa domain binds ss DNA but not ds DNA [Casas-Finet et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 19618-19625]. Truncation of the 31-kDa domain at the N-terminus with chymotrypsin, to produce a 27-kDa fragment (residues 140-334), eliminated all DNA-binding activity. This suggested that the ds DNA-binding capacity of the 31-kDa domain may be carried in the N-terminal segment of the 31-kDa domain. We used CNBr to prepare a 16-kDa fragment (residues 18-154) that spans the ss DNA-binding region of the 8-kDa domain along with the N-terminal portion of the 31-kDa domain. The purified 16-kDa fragment was found to have both ss and ds polynucleotide-binding capacity. Thermodynamic binding properties for these activities are similar to those of the intact enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

DNA polymerase beta and DNA synthesis in Xenopus oocytes and in a nuclear extract

The identities of the DNA polymerases required for conversion of single-strand (ss) M13 DNA to double-strand (ds) M13 DNA were examined both in injected Xenopus laevis oocytes and in an oocyte nuclear extract. Inhibitors and antibodies specific to DNA polymerases alpha and beta were used. In nuclear extracts, inhibition by the antibody to polymerase beta could be reversed by purified polymerase beta. The polymerase beta inhibitors, dideoxythymidine triphosphate (ddTTP) and dideoxycytidine triphosphate (ddCTP), also blocked DNA synthesis and indicated that polymerase beta is involved in the conversion of ssDNA to dsDNA. These results also may have particular significance for emerging evidence of an ssDNA replication mode in eukaryotic cells.

Selective photochemical modification by trichloroethanol of tryptophan residues in proteins with a high tyrosine-to-tryptophan ratio

We present an improved procedure for the selective modification of tryptophan residues in proteins. A simple, low-cost set-up allows rapid tryptophan photoreaction upon ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of 2,2,2-trichloroethanol. This photochemical reaction is carried out under native conditions, occurs only in the excited state of tryptophan, and yields a single, as yet unidentified, photoproduct. Except for tyrosine, no reaction with other amino acid side chains are known. Stringent photoselection of tryptophan, ensuring that tyrosine residues are not affected, is achieved in situ without the need for an elaborate system of optical filters or lenses. Illumination with a medium-wave uv lamp of samples placed in disposable, dual pathlength, polystyrene fluorescence cuvettes allows treatment of small sample volumes (greater than or equal to 100 microliters) of various optical density. Chromophore accessibility in oligomeric assemblies or protein-nucleic acid complexes can be assessed by this reaction since the integrity of these structures is preserved. Moreover, this technique can be used to evaluate the involvement of tryptophan residues in catalytic or ligand binding processes.

An audit of cervical cancer deaths in Nottingham

Death certificates were reviewed and 57 women were identified whose primary cause of death was cervical cancer. Their cervical smear records were reviewed from laboratory files. Only nine had participated in the cervical cancer screening programme before the diagnosis of cervical cancer was made. One woman had an abnormal smear as a result of cervical screening but failed to attend for follow-up. The problem of false negative smears is also addressed and the value of review of negative smears for the purposes of cytology audit is emphasized.

Teenage conception and contraception in the English regions

Nationally available data on teenage fertility, family planning care and mortality were analysed to determine the relationship between teenage conception, availability of abortion and family planning care, and an indicator of socioeconomic disadvantage--the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR). In the 14 regions of England the strongest correlate of teenage conception and of the proportion of teenage conceptions aborted was female all-causes SMR. High levels of provision of NHS abortion services and uptake of family planning clinic care did not significantly reduce teenage fertility. Provision of traditional family planning services obviously plays an important role in preventing teenage pregnancy, but innovation in this service coupled with a concerted effort to reduce social disadvantage might have a greater impact on teenage fertility in England.

Inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and fidelity of in vitro DNA replication

Mechanisms of the effects of the dTTP analogues 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate (AZTTP) and 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate (NH2 TTP) upon the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) are discussed. These compounds block the RT in vitro and do so by different kinetic mechanisms. Infidelity of replication is a hallmark of the HIV-1 RT, and replication errors by the enzyme on RNA and DNA templates are discussed. The enzyme's infidelity has ramifications for inhibition: On the one hand, the propensity to produce mutations enhances the ability of the virus to escape inhibitors whereas on the other hand, the infidelity of the reverse transcriptase may allow the development of imaginative inhibitor strategies.

The cloned promoter of the human DNA beta-polymerase gene contains a cAMP response element functional in HeLa cells

The mammalian DNA beta-polymerase (beta-pol) gene is constitutively expressed in cultured cells as a function of growth stage and DNA replication, but is expressed in rodents in a tissue-specific fashion. As revealed by transient expression experiments with wild-type and mutated beta-pol promoter fusion genes, the cloned human beta-pol promoter is transcriptionally regulated by signals acting through the single palindromic sequence (GT-GACGTCAC) known as an ATF/CRE-binding site centered at position -45 in the core promoter. Although the mere presence of the ATF/CRE palindromic sequence in a promoter does not always confer cAMP responsiveness or protein binding over and around the ATF/CRE sequence, we find that agents that increase cAMP levels (forskolin and IBMX) in HeLa cells activate the beta-pol promoter; activation also can be observed by coexpression of the protein kinase A catalytic subunit. Experiments with mutagenized beta-pol promoters indicate that the ATF/CRE-binding site mediates these effects. Thus, the ATF/CRE-binding site in the context of this TATA-less constitutive promoter is able to respond to the kinase A signal transduction pathway.

Protein-protein interactions of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: implication of central and C-terminal regions in subunit binding

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) purified from virions is composed of a approximately 51,000 Mr polypeptide and a approximately 66,000 Mr polypeptide that are thought to be in heterodimer structure (Chandra et al., 1986; Hansen et al., 1988; Starnes & Cheng, 1989) and are identical except for a 15,000 Mr C-terminal truncation in the smaller species (Di Marzo-Veronese et al., 1986). We prepared individual bacterial-recombinant RTs as the approximately 66,000 Mr polypeptide (p66) or as the approximately 51,000 Mr polypeptide (p51) and then conducted various in vitro protein-protein binding experiments. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies in 0.25 M NaCl at pH 6.5 revealed that p66 was in monomer-dimer equilibrium with KA of 5.1 x 10(4) M-1. p51 failed to dimerize and behaved as a monomer under these conditions. Mixing of the p66 and p51 polypeptides resulted in a 1:1 heterodimer with KA of 4.9 x 10(5) M-1. These results on formation of the p66/p66 homodimer and p66/p51 heterodimer were confirmed by gel filtration analysis using FPLC Superose-12 columns. Binding between p66 and individual p66 segment polypeptides also was observed using an immunoprecipitation assay. Binding between p51 and p66 in this assay was resistant to the presence of approximately 1 M NaCl, suggesting that the binding free energy has a large hydrophobic component. C-Terminal truncation of p66 to yield a 29-kDa polypeptide eliminated binding to p66, and N-terminal truncation of p66 to yield a 15-kDa peptide also eliminated binding to p66. The results indicate that purified individual RT peptides p51 and p66 are capable of binding to form a 1:1 heterodimer and suggest that the central region of p66 is required for this subunit binding; the C-terminal region (15,000 Mr) of p66 appears to be required also, as p51 alone did not dimerize.

Localization of a polynucleotide binding region in the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: implications for primer binding

Properties of primer recognition by purified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) p66 homodimer have been investigated. Earlier studies had shown that RNA-directed DNA synthesis catalyzed by HIV-1 RT proceeds by an ordered mechanism in which template-primer combines with the free enzyme to form the first complex in the reaction scheme, and it was also shown that primer alone is a competitive inhibitor of template-primer. In this study, enzyme-primer binding has been further characterized utilizing pd(T)8 and pd(T)16 as model primers and UV cross-linking to covalently trap the enzyme-primer complexes. Competition experiments with several authentic primers, including tRNA(3Lys), indicate that pd(T)n binds to the kinetically significant primer binding site of RT. Salt reversal experiments suggested that the free energy of pd(T)n binding to RT has a large nonelectrostatic component. Binding of pd(T)n to p66-RT is not affected by dNTPs and does not require the presence of template. The site of UV cross-linking of pd(T)16 was localized to the NH2-terminal half of p66 by use of V8 protease hydrolysis and microsequencing. Our results indicate that a polynucleotide binding site is in close proximity to residues in the peptide comprising amino acids 195 approximately 300. This region could be either a single-stranded template or single-stranded primer binding site; however, we have documented the specificity of binding with oligonucleotides that act as primer in the in vitro DNA synthesis reaction. Therefore, this d(T)16 binding site may be part of a primer-binding groove within the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Spectroscopic studies of the structural domains of mammalian DNA beta-polymerase

The 8- and 31-kDa fragments of beta-polymerase, prepared by controlled proteolysis as described (Kumar, A., Widen, S. G., Williams, K. R., Kedar, P., Karpel, R. L., and Wilson, S. H. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 2124-2131), constitute domains that are structurally and functionally dissimilar. There is little disruption of secondary structure upon proteolysis of the intact enzyme, as suggested from CD spectra of the fragments. beta-Polymerase is capable of binding both single- and double-stranded nucleic acids: the 8-kDa fragment binds specifically to single-stranded lattices, whereas the 31-kDa domain displays affinity exclusively for double-stranded polynucleotides. These domains are connected by a highly flexible protease-hypersensitive segment that may allow the coordinate functioning of the two binding activities in the intact protein. beta-Polymerase binds to poly(ethenoadenylic acid) with higher affinity, similar cooperativity, but lesser salt dependence than the 8-kDa fragment. Under physiological conditions, the intact enzyme displays greater binding free energy for single-stranded polynucleotides than the 8-kDa fragment, suggesting that the latter may carry a truncated binding site. Binding of double-stranded calf thymus DNA brings about a moderate quenching of the Tyr and Trp fluorescence emission of both the 31-kDa fragment and beta-polymerase and induces a 6-nm blue shift in the Trp emission maximum of the intact enzyme, but not in the fragment. This latter result is likely due to a change in the relative orientation of the 8- and 31-kDa domains in the intact protein upon interaction with double-stranded DNA; alternatively, the binding mode of intact protein may differ from that of the fragment. Simultaneous interaction of both domains with polynucleotides most likely does not occur since double-stranded DNA binding to the 31-kDa domain of intact beta-polymerase induces the displacement of single-stranded polynucleotides from the 8-kDa domain. These results are evaluated in light of the role of beta-polymerase in DNA repair.

Physical studies of tyrosine and tryptophan residues in mammalian A1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein. Support for a segmented structure

The mammalian heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 and its constituent N-terminal domain, termed UP1, have been studied by steady-state and dynamic fluorimetry, as well as phosphorescence and optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. The results of these diverse techniques coincide in assigning the site of the single tryptophan residue of A1, located in the UP1 domain, to a partially solvent-exposed site distal to the protein's nucleic acid binding surface. In contrast, tyrosine fluorescence is significantly perturbed when either protein associates with single-stranded polynucleotides. Tyr to Trp energy transfer at the singlet level is found for both UP1 and A1 proteins. Single-stranded polynucleotide binding induces a quenching of their intrinsic fluorescence emission, which can be attributed to a significant reduction (greater than 50%) of the Tyr contribution, while Trp emission is only quenched by approximately 15%. Tyrosine quenching effects of similar magnitude are seen upon polynucleotide binding by either UP1 (1 Trp, 4 Tyr) or A1 (1 Trp, 12 Tyr), strongly suggesting that Tyr residues in both the N-terminal and C-terminal domain of A1 are involved in the binding process. Tyr phosphorescence emission was strongly quenched in the complexes of UP1 with various polynucleotides, and was attributed to triplet state energy transfer to nucleic acid bases located in the close vicinity of the fluorophore. These results are consistent with stacking of the tyrosine residues with the nucleic acid bases. While the UP1 Tyr phosphorescence lifetime is drastically shortened in the polynucleotide complex, no change of phosphorescence emission maximum, phosphorescence decay lifetime or ODMR transition frequencies were observed for the single Trp residue. The results of dynamic anisotropy measurements of the Trp fluorescence have been interpreted as indicative of significant internal flexibility in both UP1 and A1, suggesting a flexible linkage connecting the two sub-domains in UP1. Theoretical calculations based on amino acid sequence for chain flexibility and other secondary structural parameters are consistent with this observation, and suggest that flexible linkages between sub-domains may exist in other RNA binding proteins. While the dynamic anisotropy data are consistent with simultaneous binding of both the C-terminal and the N-terminal domains to the nucleic acid lattice, no evidence for simultaneous binding of both UP1 sub-domains was found.

Mammalian beta-polymerase promoter: large-scale purification and properties of ATF/CREB palindrome binding protein from bovine testes

The mammalian DNA repair enzyme beta-polymerase is encoded by a single-copy gene that is expressed in all tissues and cell lines studied to date. A protein fraction with high binding affinity for an ATF/CREB-like binding element, GTGACGTCAC, at -49 to -40 in the core beta-polymerase promoter has been purified to near-homogeneity from a nuclear extract of bovine testes. The major binding activity, as monitored by gel mobility shift assay, is recovered in 20% yield by a procedure involving oligonucleotide affinity chromatography. The purified protein yields DNase I footprinting and gel shift binding patterns indistinguishable from the activity in crude extracts. The final fraction activates transcription in an in vitro transcription reaction. The native molecular weight of the purified binding activity is about 100-120K as measured by gel filtration. SDS-PAGE of the purified fraction revealed that it contains several polypeptides in the molecular weight range of 30-52K, yet two of these peptides (Mr 49K and 52K) are predominant. Specific binding to the palindrome is salt-sensitive and is consistent with the formation of nine ion pairs (from log KA vs log KCl plots) and has a KA at 200 mM KCl of 5.8 X 10(11) M-1. Kinetic studies with synthetic oligonucleotides as binding ligands indicate that the purified protein can bind tighter to or discriminate between the beta-polymerase ATF/CREB element and similar elements derived from somatostatin and chorionic gonadotropin genes.

Mammalian beta-polymerase promoter: phosphorylation of ATF/CRE-binding protein and regulation of DNA binding

The gene for the mammalian DNA repair enzyme DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) is constitutively expressed in most cells, but is regulated in a tissue-specific fashion and can be induced in response to some types of DNA damaging agents. The promoter for the human beta-pol gene has been characterized and found to be TATA-less, but it does have multiple GC boxes and one ATF/CRE-binding site located within 50 residues 5' of the major mRNA start site. The ATF/CRE-binding site has been found to be essential for activity of the cloned promoter. We report that a bovine testes DNA-binding protein with specificity for the beta-pol promoter ATF/CRE-binding site is phosphorylated in vivo and contains several phosphorylation sites. Sequence specific DNA-binding by the purified protein is reduced when the natural protein is dephosphorylated or when it is hyperphosphorylated by protein kinase A (cKA) in vitro. These results suggest the possibility that phosphorylation systems may change binding of this ATF/CRE-binding protein to the beta-pol promoter and in turn modulate the promoter. Possible correlation of the results with transient expression activity of the cloned beta-pol promoter fusion gene was obtained in 293 cells. Cotransfection with a cKA expression plasmid to elevate phosphorylation was found to strongly reduce promoter activity.

The ATF/CREB transcription factor-binding site in the polymerase beta promoter mediates the positive effect of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine on transcription

DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) is a constitutively expressed DNA repair enzyme in vertebrate cells. Yet, it had been shown previously that the pol beta mRNA level increases in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells within 4 h after treatment with several monofunctional DNA damaging agents, notably, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Herein we report that a transfected pol beta promoter fusion gene is activated by MNNG treatment of CHO cells; mRNA from the transfected gene is approximately 10-fold higher in treated cells than in untreated cells 16 h after treatment. This activation is mediated through the decanucleotide palindromic element GTGACGTCAC at positions -49 to -40 in the "TATA-less" core promoter. This element, which is similar to the ATF/CREB transcription factor-binding site in a number of mammalian genes, forms the center of a strong protein-binding site for CHO cell nuclear extract proteins. Mutated pol beta promoter fusion genes lacking the element fail to bind protein at this site and fail to respond to MNNG treatment of cells.

Interactions of the A1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein and its proteolytic derivative, UP1, with RNA and DNA: evidence for multiple RNA binding domains and salt-dependent binding mode transitions

The 319-residue A1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein is the best studied of the group of major or core mammalian hnRNP proteins that bind pre-mRNA immediately following transcription. Circular dichroism studies suggest that binding of A1 and its proteolytic fragment, UP1 (residues 1-195), to nucleic acids results in an unstacking of the bases of poly(A). On the basis of poly[d(A-T)] and poly[r(A-U)] melting studies, both A1 and UP1 are helix-destabilizing proteins. Titrations of A1 and UP1 with poly(A), poly(U), and poly[d(T)] suggest that these two proteins do not bind with significant base specificity. A previous study indicated that A1, which contains a glycine-rich COOH terminus (residues 196-319) not present in UP1, binds cooperatively to polynucleotides while UP1 does not [Cobianchi et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 1063-1071]. Here we confirm this latter finding and demonstrate that the cooperativity parameter for A1 binding, which has a value of about 35 for binding to both single-stranded RNA and DNA, is insensitive to the NaCl concentration at least up to 0.4 M. In contrast to the cooperativity parameter, the occluded site size for A1 binding to RNA is salt dependent and increases from about 14 to 28 upon increasing the NaCl concentration from 25 to 250 mM. This variation in site size is best explained by assuming that A1 can interact with nucleic acids via at least two different binding modes. Both A1 and UP1 have higher affinity for single-stranded as opposed to double-stranded nucleic acids and bind preferentially to single-stranded RNA as compared to DNA. Comparative studies on the binding of A1 versus UP1 to poly[r(epsilon A)] demonstrate that in addition to cooperative protein/protein interactions, the glycine-rich COOH-terminal domain of A1 is also directly involved in protein/nucleic acid interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thermodynamics of A:G mismatch poly(dG) synthesis by human immunodeficiency virus 1 reverse transcriptase

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase has been found to conduct error-prone synthesis on DNA and RNA templates. We find here that tolerance of an A:G mispair with poly(rA) as template is particularly strong, such that extensive poly(dG) synthesis is conducted. This type of extensive misincorporation is not observed with several reference DNA polymerases. Surprisingly, HIV reverse transcriptase processivity and kcat for dGMP misincorporation and normal dTMP incorporation are about the same. However, the Km value for dGTP in poly(dG) synthesis is approximately 1000-fold higher than the Km for dTTP in poly(dT) synthesis. Comparison of thermodynamic parameters for dGMP misincorporation and normal dNMP incorporation indicates a lower energy of activation for dGMP misincorporation than for normal dNMP incorporation. Entropy of activation (delta S*) for normal dTMP incorporation is positive (approximately 10 cal/kmol), whereas delta S* for dGMP misincorporation is negative (-36 cal/kmol). Since differences in delta S* are usually considered to reflect differences in solvation for the transition state complex, these results are consistent with the interpretation that the active site of HIV reverse transcriptase is flexible enough to misincorporate dGMP without the usual dispersion of water molecules.

Studies of the strand-annealing activity of mammalian hnRNP complex protein A1

A1 is a major core protein of the mammalian hnRNP complex, and as a purified protein of approximately 34 kDa, A1 is a strong single-stranded nucleic acid binding protein. Several lines of evidence suggest that the protein is organized in discrete domains consisting of an N-terminal segment of approximately 22 kDa and a C-terminal segment of approximately 12 kDa. Each of these domains as a purified fragment is capable of binding to both ssDNA and RNA. We report here that A1 and its C-terminal domain fragment are capable of potent strand-annealing activity for base-pair complementary single-stranded polynucleotides of both RNA and DNA. This effect is not stimulated by ATP. Compared with A1 and the C-terminal fragment, the N-terminal domain fragment has negligible annealing activity. These results indicate that A1 has biochemical activity consistent with a strand-annealing role in relevant reactions, such as pre-mRNA splicing.

Characterization of the 5'-flanking region of the rat protein kinase C gamma gene

The 5'-flanking region of protein kinase C (PKC) gamma gene was identified from a rat liver genomic library in a bacteriophage lambda Charon 4A. A 3.6-kilobase (kb) genomic fragment containing the 5'-flanking region, first exon, and first intron was isolated and sequenced. The transcriptional initiation site, identified by S1 mapping and primer extension, was located 243 base pairs upstream from the translational initiation site. Promoter activity of a DNA segment spanning the 5'-flanking region was demonstrated by both in vitro transcription using HeLa cell nuclear extracts and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay by transfection of 293 cells with a PKC gamma-CAT fusion construct. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay revealed that a fragment of about 0.16 kb from the transcriptional initiation site was sufficient for promoter activity in these cells, and the construct containing up to 1.6 kb from the cap site was expressed at a similar level. This promoter-active fragment contains several regions similar to defined transcriptional elements in other mammalian promoters, such as those for stimulatory protein 1 (Sp1), activator proteins 1 and 2 (AP1, AP2), c-myc, cAMP regulatory element-binding protein (CREB), and enhancer core (EnhC). Investigation of the genomic structure of PKC gamma gene may lead to the identification of cis-elements controlling tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression of PKC gamma.

The social and demographic characteristics of women dying from cervical cancer in Nottingham

Cervical cancer accounted for 57 deaths to women in Nottingham District in 1986 and 1987. 28% were women aged under 50 years of age. Using age specific death rates, the greatest risk was among women aged 60-69 years. However, when expressed as a proportion of all deaths, cervical cancer represents 8.5% of deaths in women aged 25-45, but only 0.6% of deaths to women over 46. There was no significant difference in relative risk between the five social classes, even when social class V was compared to aggregated data for social classes I-IV. This supports other evidence that the social class gradient in cervical cancer mortality is lessening. There was no excess risk shown to women resident in the inner city or in areas of social deprivation. This finding is in contrast to the work of others who have shown an increased incidence in areas of social deprivation. The evidence from this study would support those who suggested over 20 years ago that it is not social deprivation or occupation that constitute an increased risk to women, but sexual behaviour and other habits such as smoking.

Mammalian heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1. Nucleic acid binding properties of the COOH-terminal domain

A1 is a core protein of the eukaryotic heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex and is under study here as a prototype single-stranded nucleic acid-binding protein. A1 is a two-domain protein, NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal, with highly conserved primary structure among vertebrate homologues sequenced to date. It is well documented that the NH2-terminal domain has single-stranded DNA and RNA binding activity. We prepared a proteolytic fragment of rat A1 representing the COOH-terminal one-third of the intact protein, the region previously termed COOH-terminal domain. This purified fragment of 133 amino acids binds to DNA and also binds tightly to the fluorescent reporter poly(ethenoadenylate), which is used to access binding parameters. In solution with 0.41 M NaCl, the equilibrium constant is similar to that observed with A1 itself, and binding is cooperative. The purified COOH-terminal fragment can be photochemically cross-linked to bound nucleic acid, confirming that COOH-terminal fragment residues are in close contact with the polynucleotide lattice. These binding results with isolated COOH-terminal fragment indicate that the COOH-terminal domain in intact A1 can contribute directly to binding properties. Contact between both COOH-terminal domain and NH2-terminal domain residues in an intact A1:poly(8-azidoadenylate) complex was confirmed by photochemical cross-linking.

Purification and characterization of the RNase H domain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli

The ribonuclease H (RNase H) domain of human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase has been produced with the aim of providing sufficient amounts of protein for biophysical studies. A plasmid vector is described which directs high level expression of the RNase H domain under the control of the lambda PL promoter. The domain corresponds to residues 427-560 of the 66 kDa reverse transcriptase. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and was purified using ion-exchange and size exclusion chromatography. The purified protein appears to be in a native-like homogeneous conformational state as determined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism measurements. HIV-protease treatment of the RNase H domain resulted in cleavage between Phe-440 and Tyr-441.

Identification and properties of the catalytic domain of mammalian DNA polymerase beta

Rat DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) is a 39-kDa protein organized in two tightly folded domains, 8-kDa N-terminal and 31-kDa C-terminal domains, connected by a short protease-sensitive region. The 8-kDa domain contributes template binding to the intact protein, and we now report that the 31-kDa C-terminal domain contributes catalytic activity. Our results show that this domain as a purified proteolytic fragment conducts DNA synthesis under appropriate conditions but the kcat is lower and primer extension properties are different from those of the intact enzyme. A proteolytic truncation of the 31-kDa catalytic domain fragment, to remove a 60-residue segment from the NH2-terminal end, results in nearly complete loss of activity, suggesting the importance of this segment. Overall, these results indicate that the domains of beta-pol have distinct functional roles, template binding and nucleotidyltransferase, respectively; yet, the intact protein is more active for each function than the isolated individual domain fragment.

Deregulation of DNA polymerase beta by sense and antisense RNA expression in mouse 3T3 cells alters cell growth

DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) and its mRNA are maintained at constitutive levels during the cell cycle and during stages of cell growth in culture. To study biological consequences of variations in the level of this DNA repair enzyme and/or its mRNA, we prepared expression vectors in which cDNA for human beta-pol is inserted under the control of a metallothionein promoter (pMT) in the sense and antisense orientation, respectively, and these vectors then were used for stable transformation of mouse 3T3 cells. Vectors also contained the mouse DHFR gene, such that culture of transformants in medium with increasing concentrations of methotrexate resulted in amplification of inserted DNA. The levels of sense and antisense transcripts are strongly increased by culture of transformants in medium with 65 microM Zn2+, although some expression is detected even without Zn2+ induction. After five days of induction, the beta-pol level was about threefold higher in sense cells and about 10-fold lower in antisense cells than in parallel cultures without induction. The antisense line has a threefold increased cell doubling time in the presence of 65 microM Zn2+ compared with the absence of Zn2+. Zn2+ (65 microM) induction for the sense line results in normal growth for the first three days and, thereafter, a complete cessation of growth. Yet, these blocked cells remain fully viable. The results indicate that sudden deregulation of beta-pol expression alters cell growth in mouse 3T3 cells.

Transfected human beta-polymerase promoter contains a ras-responsive element

beta-Polymerase is a vertebrate cellular DNA polymerase involved in gap-filling synthesis during some types of genomic DNA repair. We report that a cloned human beta-polymerase promoter in a transient expression assay is activated by p21v-rasH expression in NIH 3T3 cells. A decanucleotide palindromic element, GTGACGTCAC, at positions -49 to -40 in the promoter is required for this ras-mediated stimulation.

Mechanism of HIV reverse transcriptase: enzyme-primer interaction as revealed through studies of a dNTP analogue, 3'-azido-dTTP

Primer and dNTP recognition by purified HIV reverse transcriptase have been investigated. Earlier kinetic studies suggested that the reaction pathway for DNA synthesis is ordered, with template-primer and free enzyme combining to form the first complex in the reaction sequence [Majumdar et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 15657-15665], and through use of a particularly high affinity template-primer analogue [r(I)n.Sd(C)28], rate values for formation of the first complex were calculated [Majumdar et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 1340-1346]. We now report rate values for first complex formation in the usual model replication system with poly[r(A)].oligo [d(T)] as template-primer. We find that 3'-azido-dTTP (AZTTP) is a linear competitive inhibitor of DNA synthesis against the substrate dNTP (dTTP) in the poly[r(A)].oligo[d(T)] replication system. This suggests that 3'-azido-dTTP and dTTP combine with the same form of the enzyme in the reaction scheme, i.e., the enzyme-primer complex. This is not trivial, since a second analogue, 3'-amino-dTTP, also is an inhibitor against dTTP, but the mechanism in this case is linear noncompetitive. Because the inhibition by 3'-azido-dTTP is linear competitive, the KD for physical binding to the enzyme is assumed to be the same as the Ki for inhibition (20 nM). Substrate kinetic studies of DNA synthesis using 3'-azido-dTTP as substrate revealed that the Michaelis constant is 3 microM. Therefore, the Km for this substrate analogue is 100-fold higher than the KD for binding of the analogue to the enzyme-primer complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A single-stranded nucleic acid binding sequence common to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoparticle protein A1 and murine recombinant virus gp70

We have used an antisynthetic peptide antiserum to a murine recombinant virus gp70 to probe normal mouse tissues for immunologically related proteins. In addition to cognate gp70s, this antiserum reacts with the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoparticle protein A1 by virtue of a 5-amino acid epitope, PRNQG. Further structural similarity is evident both 5' and 3' of this epitope. Since the function of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles in the cell is to aid in the stabilization and processing of newly synthesized RNA, we have investigated whether this retroviral sequence exhibits any nucleic acid-binding properties by the same criteria established for the identification of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles. Analysis of the peptide in a poly(eA) binding assay shows this retroviral sequence to bind with high affinity to single-stranded nucleic acid. This binding occurs in a salt-sensitive manner characteristic of single-stranded nucleic acid-binding proteins. Flanking peptides not containing this sequence generated from either the A1 or gp70 show no ability to bind single-stranded nucleic acids by this assay.

HTLV-I trans-activator protein, tax, is a trans-repressor of the human beta-polymerase gene

Human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is the etiological agent for adult T cell leukemia (ATL). The HTLV-I trans-activator protein Tax can activate the expression of its own long terminal repeat (LTR) and many cellular and viral genes. Tax down-regulated the expression of human beta-polymerase (hu beta-pol), a cellular enzyme involved in host cell DNA repair. This finding suggests a possible correlation between HTLV-I infection and host chromosomal damage, which is often seen in ATL cells.