A cryptochrome/photolyase class of enzymes with single-stranded DNA-specific photolyase activity

Photolyases and cryptochrome blue-light photoreceptors are evolutionarily related flavoproteins that perform distinct functions. Photolyases repair UV-damaged DNA in many species from bacteria to plants and animals. Cryptochromes regulate growth and development in plants and the circadian clock in animals. Recently, a new branch of the photolyase/cryptochrome family was identified. Members of this branch exhibited no or trace levels of DNA repair activity in vivo and in vitro and, therefore, were considered to be cryptochromes, and they were named cryptochrome-DASH. Here, we show that Cry-DASH proteins from bacterial, plant, and animal sources actually are photolyases with high degree of specificity for cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in ssDNA.

Towards elucidation of the mechanism of UV1C, a deoxyribozyme with photolyase activity

Among the unexpected chemistries that can be catalyzed by nucleic acid enzymes is photochemistry. We have reported the in vitro selection of a small, cofactor-independent deoxyribozyme, UV1C, capable of repairing thymine dimers in a DNA substrate, most optimally with light at a wavelength of >300 nm. We hypothesized that a guanine quadruplex functioned both as a light antenna and an electron source for the repair of the substrate within the enzyme-substrate complex. Here, we report structural and mechanistic investigations of that hypothesis. Contact-crosslinking and guanosine to inosine mutational studies reveal that the thymine dimer and the guanine quadruplex are positioned close to each other in the deoxyribozyme-substrate complex, and permit us to refine the structure and topology of the folded deoxyribozyme. In exploring the substrate utilization capabilities of UV1C, we find it to be able to repair uracil dimers as well as thymine dimers, as long as they are present in an overall deoxyribonucleotide milieu. Some surprising similarities with bacterial CPD photolyase enzymes are noted.

Differential distortion of substrate occurs when it binds to DNA photolyase: a 2-aminopurine study

Cyclobutylpyrimidine dimers (CPDs) are formed between adjacent pyrimidines in DNA when it is exposed to ultraviolet light. CPDs can be directly repaired by DNA photolyase (PL) upon absorption of blue-green light. We have used the fluorescent adenine analogue 2-aminopurine (2Ap) to probe the local double-helical structure of the DNA substrate when it binds to the protein. Duplex melting temperatures and van't Hoff enthalpies were obtained by both UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies to ascertain the effect of the probe and CPD on DNA stability. Steady-state fluorescence measurements of the single- and double-stranded oligos showed that the local region around the 5'-side of the CPD lesion was more disrupted and destacked than the 3'-side in substrate-protein complexes. These results were compared with those of a protein-substrate crystal structure, demonstrating that the crystal structure and solution-state studies are in agreement with regard to the differential distortions of the target DNA at the active site of the protein.

Differential role of basal keratinocytes in UV-induced immunosuppression and skin cancer

Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs) comprise major UV-induced photolesions. If left unrepaired, these lesions can induce mutations and skin cancer, which is facilitated by UV-induced immunosuppression. Yet the contribution of lesion and cell type specificity to the harmful biological effects of UV exposure remains currently unclear. Using a series of photolyase-transgenic mice to ubiquitously remove either CPDs or 6-4PPs from all cells in the mouse skin or selectively from basal keratinocytes, we show that the majority of UV-induced acute effects to require the presence of CPDs in basal keratinocytes in the mouse skin. At the fundamental level of gene expression, CPDs induce the expression of genes associated with repair and recombinational processing of DNA damage, as well as apoptosis and a response to stress. At the organismal level, photolyase-mediated removal of CPDs, but not 6-4PPs, from the genome of only basal keratinocytes substantially diminishes the incidence of skin tumors; however, it does not affect the UVB-mediated immunosuppression. Taken together, these findings reveal a differential role of basal keratinocytes in these processes, providing novel insights into the skin's acute and chronic responses to UV in a lesion- and cell-type-specific manner.

Characterization of an Active Spore Photoproduct Lyase, a DNA Repair Enzyme in the Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Superfamily

The major photoproduct in UV-irradiated Bacillus spore DNA is a unique thymine dimer called spore photoproduct (SP, 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine). The enzyme spore photoproduct lyase (SP lyase) has been found to catalyze the repair of SP dimers to thymine monomers in a reaction that requires S-adenosylmethionine. We present here the first detailed characterization of catalytically active SP lyase, which has been anaerobically purified from overexpressing Escherichia coli. Anaerobically purified SP lyase is monomeric and is red-brown in color. The purified enzyme contains approximately 3.1 iron and 3.0 acid-labile S(2-) per protein and has a UV-visible spectrum characteristic of iron-sulfur proteins (410 nm (11.9 mM(-1) cm(-1)) and 450 nm (10.5 mM(-1) cm(-1))). The X-band EPR spectrum of the purified enzyme shows a nearly isotropic signal (g = 2.02) characteristic of a [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster; reduction of SP lyase with dithionite results in the appearance of a new EPR signal (g = 2.03, 1.93, and 1.89) with temperature dependence and g values consistent with its assignment to a [4Fe-4S]1+ cluster. The reduced purified enzyme is active in SP repair, with a specific activity of 0.33 micromol/min/mg. Only a catalytic amount of S-adenosylmethionine is required for DNA repair, and no irreversible cleavage of S-adenosylmethionine into methionine and 5'-deoxyadenosine is observed during the reaction. Label transfer from [5'-3H]S-adenosylmethionine to repaired thymine is observed, providing evidence to support a mechanism in which a 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical intermediate directly abstracts a hydrogen from SP C-6 to generate a substrate radical, and subsequent to radical-mediated beta-scission, a product thymine radical abstracts a hydrogen from 5'-deoxyadenosine to regenerate the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical. Together, our results support a mechanism in which S-adenosylmethionine acts as a catalytic cofactor, not a substrate, in the DNA repair reaction.

Chemical synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing the Dewar valence isomer of the (6-4) photoproduct and their use in (6-4) photolyase studies

The pyrimidine(6–4)pyrimidone photoproduct, a major UV lesion formed between adjacent pyrimidine bases, is transformed to its Dewar valence isomer upon exposure to UVA/UVB light. We have synthesized a phosphoramidite building block of the Dewar photoproduct formed at the thymidylyl(3′–5′)thymidine site and incorporated it into oligodeoxyribonucleotides. The diastereoisomers of the partially protected dinucleoside monophosphate bearing the (6–4) photoproduct, which were caused by the chirality of the phosphorus atom, were separated by reversed-phase chromatography, and the (6–4) photoproduct was converted to the Dewar photoproduct by irradiation of each isomer with Pyrex-filtered light from a high-pressure mercury lamp. The Dewar photoproduct was stable under both acidic and alkaline conditions at room temperature. After characterization of the isomerized base moiety by NMR spectroscopy, a phosphoramidite building block was synthesized in three steps. Although the ordinary method could be used for the oligonucleotide synthesis, benzimidazolium triflate as an alternative activator yielded better results. The oligonucleotides were used for the analysis of the reaction and the binding of Xenopus (6–4) photolyase. Although the affinity of this enzyme for the Dewar photoproduct-containing duplex was reportedly similar to that for the (6–4) photoproduct-containing substrate, the results suggested a difference in the binding mode.

Reversible resolution of flavin and pterin cofactors of His-tagged Escherichia coli DNA photolyase

Escherichia coli photolyase catalyzes the repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in DNA under near UV/blue-light irradiation. The enzyme contains flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and methenyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF) as noncovalently bound light sensing cofactors. To study the apoprotein-chromophore interactions we developed a new procedure to prepare apo-photolyase. MTHF-free photolyase was obtained by binding the C-terminal His-tagged holoenzyme to a metal-affinity column at neutral pH and washing the column with deionized water. Under these conditions the flavin remains bound and the defolated enzyme can be released from the column with 0.5 M imidazole pH 7.2. The MTHF-free protein was still capable of DNA repair, showing 70% activity of native enzyme. Fluorescence polarization experiments confirmed that MTHF binding is weakened at low ionic strength. Apo-photolyase was obtained by treating the His-tagged holoenzyme with 0.5 M imidazole pH 10.0. The apo-photolyase thus obtained was highly reconstitutable and bound nearly stoichiometric amounts of FAD(ox). Photolyase reconstituted with FAD(ox) had about 34% activity of native enzyme, which increased to 83% when FAD(ox) was reduced to FADH(-). Reconstitution kinetics performed at 20 degrees C showed that apo-photolyase associates with FADH(-) much faster (k(obs) approximately 3,000 M(-1) s(-1)) than with FAD(ox) (k(obs)=16 [corrected] M(-1) s(-1)). The dissociation constant of the photolyase-FAD(ox) complex is about 2.3 microM and that of E-FADH(-) is not higher than 20 nM (pH 7.2).

Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic characterization of cryptochrome 3 from Arabidopsis thaliana

The blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome 3 (cry3) from Arabidopsis thaliana was characterized at room temperature in vitro in aqueous solution by optical absorption and emission spectroscopic studies. The protein non-covalently binds the chromophores flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and N5,N10-methenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (MTHF). In the dark-adapted state of cry3, the bound FAD is present in the oxidized form (FAD(ox), ca. 38.5%), in the semiquinone form (FADH., ca. 5%), and in the fully reduced neutral form (FAD(red)H2) or fully reduced anionic form (FAD(red)H-, ca. 55%). Some amount of FAD (ca. 1.5%) in the oxidized state remains unbound probably caused by chromophore release and/or denaturation. Förster-type energy transfer from MTHF to FAD(ox) is observed. Photo-excitation reversibly modifies the protein conformation causing a slight rise of the MTHF absorption strength and an increase of the MTHF fluorescence efficiency (efficient protein conformation photo-cycle). Additionally there occurs reversible reduction of bound FAD(ox) to FAD(red)H2 (or FAD(red)H-, FAD(ox) photo-cycle of moderate efficiency), reversible reduction of FADH. to FAD(red)H2 (or FAD(red)H-, FADH. photo-cycle of high efficiency), and modification of re-oxidable FAD(red)H2 (or FAD(red)H-) to permanent FAD(red)H2 (or FAD(red)H-) with low quantum efficiency. Photo-excitation of MTHF causes the reversible formation of a MTHF species (MTHF', MTHF photo-cycle, moderate quantum efficiency) with slow recovery to the initial dark state, and also the formation of an irreversible photoproduct (MTHF'').

Blue-light-induced changes in Arabidopsis cryptochrome 1 probed by FTIR difference spectroscopy

Cryptochromes are blue-light photoreceptors that regulate a variety of responses in animals and plants, including circadian entrainment in Drosophila and photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis. They comprise a photolyase homology region (PHR) of about 500 amino acids and a C-terminal extension of varying length. In the PHR domain, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is noncovalently bound. The presence of a second chromophore, such as methenyltetrahydrofolate, in animal and plant cryptochromes is still under debate. Arabidopsis cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) has been intensively studied with regard to function and interaction of the protein in vivo and in vitro. However, little is known about the pathway from light absorption to signal transduction on the molecular level. We investigated the full-length CRY1 protein by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV/vis difference spectroscopy. Starting from the fully oxidized state of the chromophore FAD, a neutral flavoprotein radical is formed upon illumination in the absence of any exogenous electron donor. A preliminary assignment of the chromophore bands is presented. The FTIR difference spectrum reveals only moderate changes in secondary structure of the apoprotein in response to the photoreduction of the chromophore. Deprotonation of an aspartic or glutamic acid, probably D396, accompanies radical formation, as is deduced from the negative band at 1734 cm(-)(1) in D(2)O. The main positive band at 1524 cm(-)(1) in the FTIR spectrum shows a strong shift to lower frequencies as compared to other flavoproteins. Together with the unusual blue-shift of the absorption in the visible range to 595 nm, this clearly distinguishes the radical form of CRY1 from those of structurally highly homologous DNA photolyases. As a consequence, the direct comparison of cryptochrome to photolyase in terms of photoreactivity and mechanism has to be made with caution.

Functional evolution of the photolyase/cryptochrome protein family: importance of the C terminus of mammalian CRY1 for circadian core oscillator performance

Cryptochromes (CRYs) are composed of a core domain with structural similarity to photolyase and a distinguishing C-terminal extension. While plant and fly CRYs act as circadian photoreceptors, using the C terminus for light signaling, mammalian CRY1 and CRY2 are integral components of the circadian oscillator. However, the function of their C terminus remains to be resolved. Here, we show that the C-terminal extension of mCRY1 harbors a nuclear localization signal and a putative coiled-coil domain that drive nuclear localization via two independent mechanisms and shift the equilibrium of shuttling mammalian CRY1 (mCRY1)/mammalian PER2 (mPER2) complexes towards the nucleus. Importantly, deletion of the complete C terminus prevents mCRY1 from repressing CLOCK/BMAL1-mediated transcription, whereas a plant photolyase gains this key clock function upon fusion to the last 100 amino acids of the mCRY1 core and its C terminus. Thus, the acquirement of different (species-specific) C termini during evolution not only functionally separated cryptochromes from photolyase but also caused diversity within the cryptochrome family.

Rap phosphatase of virulence plasmid pXO1 inhibits Bacillus anthracis sporulation

This study shows that the Bacillus anthracis pXO1 virulence plasmid carries a Rap-Phr system, BXA0205, which regulates sporulation initiation in this organism. The BXA0205Rap protein was shown to dephosphorylate the Spo0F response regulator intermediate of the phosphorelay signal transduction system that regulates the initiation of the developmental pathway in response to environmental, metabolic, and cell cycle signals. The activity of the Rap protein was shown to be inhibited by the carboxy-terminal pentapeptide generated through an export-import processing pathway from the associated BXA0205Phr protein. Deregulation of the Rap activity by either overexpression or lack of the Phr pentapeptide resulted in severe inhibition of sporulation. Five additional Rap-Phr encoding systems were identified on the chromosome of B. anthracis, one of which, BA3790-3791, also affected sporulation initiation. The results suggest that the plasmid-borne Rap-Phr system may provide a selective advantage to the virulence of B. anthracis.

Purification, cDNA cloning, and expression profiles of the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photolyase of Xenopus laevis

Photolyase is a light-dependent enzyme that repairs pyrimidine dimers in DNA. Two types of photolyases have been found in frog Xenopus laevis, one for repairing cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD photolyase) and the other for pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6-4)photoproduct [(6-4)photolyase]. However, little is known about the former type of the Xenopus photolyases. To characterize this enzyme and its expression profiles, we isolated the entire coding region of a putative CPD photolyase cDNA by extending an EST (expressed sequence tag) sequence obtained from the Xenopus database. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed a protein of 557 amino acids with close similarity to CPD photolyase of rat kangaroo. The identity of this cDNA was further established by the molecular mass (65 kDa) and the partial amino acid sequences of the major CPD photolyase that we purified from Xenopus ovaries. The gene of this enzyme is expressed in various tissues of Xenopus. Even internal organs like heart express relatively high levels of mRNA. A much smaller amount was found in skin, although UV damage is thought to occur most frequently in this tissue. Such expression profiles suggest that CPD photolyase may have roles in addition to the photorepair function.

Purification and Characterization of DNA Photolyases

Members of the photolyase/cryptochrome family of blue-light photoreceptors are monomeric proteins of 50-70 kDa that contain two noncovalently bound chromophores/cofactors: either folate or deazaflavin, which act as a photoantenna, and a two electron-reduced FAD, which acts as a catalytic cofactor. DNA photolyases bind their substrates with high affinity and specificity and subsequently use blue light as a cosubstrate for the in situ conversion of ultraviolet-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts to canonical bases, thereby restoring the integrity of DNA. The determinants for binding, as well as the mechanism of the photolysis reaction, have been studied extensively using highly purified enzyme. In contrast, neither the substrate nor the reaction catalyzed by the closely related cryptochromes has been identified. This chapter describes methods used to purify DNA photolyases from a variety of organisms using an Escherichia coli overexpression system, as well as the properties of the purified enzymes and some of the assays commonly used to study DNA binding and repair by these enzymes in vitro.

Plant responses to UV radiation and links to pathogen resistance

Increased incident ultraviolet (UV) radiation due to ozone depletion has heightened interest in plant responses to UV because solar UV wavelengths can reduce plant genome stability, growth, and productivity. These detrimental effects result from damage to cell components including nucleic acids, proteins, and membrane lipids. As obligate phototrophs, plants must counter the onslaught of cellular damage due to prolonged exposure to sunlight. They do so by attenuating the UV dose received through accumulation of UV-absorbing secondary metabolites, neutralizing reactive oxygen species produced by UV, monomerizing UV-induced pyrimidine dimers by photoreactivation, extracting UV photoproducts from DNA via nucleotide excision repair, and perhaps transiently tolerating the presence of DNA lesions via replicative bypass of the damage. The signaling mechanisms controlling these responses suggest that UV exposure also may be beneficial to plants by increasing cellular immunity to pathogens. Indeed, pathogen resistance can be enhanced by UV treatment, and recent experiments suggest DNA damage and its processing may have a role.

qUVR-10, a major quantitative trait locus for ultraviolet-B resistance in rice, encodes cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photolyase

Rice qUVR-10, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for ultraviolet-B (UVB) resistance on chromosome 10, was cloned by map-based strategy. It was detected in backcross inbred lines (BILs) derived from a cross between the japonica variety Nipponbare (UV resistant) and the indica variety Kasalath (UV sensitive). Plants homozygous for the Nipponbare allele at the qUVR-10 locus were more resistant to UVB compared with the Kasalath allele. High-resolution mapping using 1850 F(2) plants enabled us to delimit qUVR-10 to a <27-kb genomic region. We identified a gene encoding the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) photolyase in this region. Activity of CPD photorepair in Nipponbare was higher than that of Kasalath and nearly isogenic with qUVR-10 [NIL(qUVR-10)], suggesting that the CPD photolyase of Kasalath was defective. We introduced a genomic fragment containing the CPD photolyase gene of Nipponbare to NIL(qUVR-10). Transgenic plants showed the same level of resistance as Nipponbare did, indicating that the qUVR-10 encoded the CPD photolyase. Comparison of the qUVR-10 sequence in the Nipponbare and Kasalath alleles revealed one probable candidate for the functional nucleotide polymorphism. It was indicated that single-base substitution in the CPD photolyase gene caused the alteration of activity of CPD photorepair and UVB resistance. Furthermore, we were able to develop a UV-hyperresistant plant by overexpression of the photolyase gene.

Transcriptome analysis reveals cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers as a major source of UV-induced DNA breaks

Photolyase transgenic mice have opened new avenues to improve our understanding of the cytotoxic effects of ultraviolet (UV) light on skin by providing a means to selectively remove either cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) or pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts. Here, we have taken a genomics approach to delineate pathways through which CPDs might contribute to the harmful effects of UV exposure. We show that CPDs, rather than other DNA lesions or damaged macromolecules, comprise the principal mediator of the cellular transcriptional response to UV. The most prominent pathway induced by CPDs is that associated with DNA double-strand break (DSB) signalling and repair. Moreover, we show that CPDs provoke accumulation of gamma-H2AX, P53bp1 and Rad51 foci as well as an increase in the amount of DSBs, which coincides with accumulation of cells in S phase. Thus, conversion of unrepaired CPD lesions into DNA breaks during DNA replication may comprise one of the principal instigators of UV-mediated cytotoxicity.

Identification of cryptochrome DASH from vertebrates

A new type of cryptochrome, CRY-DASH, has been recently identified. The CRY-DASH proteins constitute the fifth subfamily of the photolyase/cryptochrome family. CRY-DASHs have been identified from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, Vibrio cholerae, and Arabidopsis thaliana. The Synechocystis CRY-DASH was the first cryptochrome identified from bacteria, and its biochemical features and tertiary structure have been extensively investigated. To determine how broadly the subfamily is distributed within living organisms, we searched for new CRY-DASH candidates within several databases. We found five sequences as new CRY-DASH candidates, which are derived from four marine bacteria and Neurospora crassa. We also found many CRY-DASH candidates from the EST databases, which included sequences from fish and amphibians. We cloned and sequenced the cDNAs of the zebrafish and Xenopus laevis candidates, based on the EST sequences. The proteins encoded by the two genes were purified and characterized. Both proteins contained folate and flavin cofactors, and have a weak DNA photolyase activity. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the seven candidates actually belong to the new type of cryptochrome subfamily. This is the first report of the CRY-DASH members from vertebrates and fungi.

Differential biologic effects of CPD and 6-4PP UV-induced DNA damage on the induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest

Background

UV-induced damage can induce apoptosis or trigger DNA repair mechanisms. Minor DNA damage is thought to halt the cell cycle to allow effective repair, while more severe damage can induce an apoptotic program. Of the two major types of UV-induced DNA lesions, it has been reported that repair of CPD, but not 6-4PP, abrogates mutation. To address whether the two major forms of UV-induced DNA damage, can induce differential biological effects, NER-deficient cells containing either CPD photolyase or 6-4 PP photolyase were exposed to UV and examined for alterations in cell cycle and apoptosis. In addition, pTpT, a molecular mimic of CPD was tested in vitro and in vivo for the ability to induce cell death and cell cycle alterations.

Methods

NER-deficient XPA cells were stably transfected with CPD-photolyase or 6-4PP photolyase to specifically repair only CPD or only 6-4PP. After 300 J/m² UVB exposure photoreactivation light (PR, UVA 60 kJ/m²) was provided for photolyase activation and DNA repair. Apoptosis was monitored 24 hours later by flow cytometric analysis of DNA content, using sub-G1 staining to indicate apoptotic cells. To confirm the effects observed with CPD lesions, the molecular mimic of CPD, pTpT, was also tested in vitro and in vivo for its effect on cell cycle and apoptosis.

Results

The specific repair of 6-4PP lesions after UVB exposure resulted in a dramatic reduction in apoptosis. These findings suggested that 6-4PP lesions may be the primary inducer of UVB-induced apoptosis. Repair of CPD lesions (despite their relative abundance in the UV-damaged cell) had little effect on the induction of apoptosis. Supporting these findings, the molecular mimic of CPD, (dinucleotide pTpT) could mimic the effects of UVB on cell cycle arrest, but were ineffective to induce apoptosis.

Conclusion

The primary response of the cell to UV-induced 6-4PP lesions is to trigger an apoptotic program whereas the response of the cell to CPD lesions appears to principally involve cell cycle arrest. These findings suggest that CPD and 6-4 PP may induce differential biological effects in the UV-damaged cell.

Activity assay of His-tagged E. coli DNA photolyase by RP-HPLC and SE-HPLC

Escherichia coli DNA photolyase was expressed as C-terminal 6x histidine-fused protein. Purification of His-tagged E. coli DNA photolyase was developed using immobilized metal affinity chromatography with Chelating Sepharose Fast Flow. By one-step affinity chromatography, approximate 4.6 mg DNA photolyase was obtained from 400 ml E. coli culture. The purified His-tagged enzyme was combined with two chromophors, FADH and MTHF. Using the oligonucleotide containing cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer as substrate, both reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography were developed to measure the enzyme activity. The enzyme was found to be able to repair the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer with the turnover rate of 2.4 dimers/photolyase molecule/min.

Substrate binding modulates the reduction potential of DNA photolyase

The reduction potential of the (FADH-/FADH*) couple in DNA photolyase was measured, and the value was found to be significantly higher than the values estimated in the literature. In the absence of substrate, the enzyme has a reduction potential of 16 +/- 6 mV vs NHE. In the presence of excess substrate the reduction potential increases to 81 +/- 8 mV vs NHE. The increase in reduction potential has physiological relevance since it gives the catalytic state greater resistance to oxidation. This is the first measurement of a reduction potential for this class of DNA-repair enzymes and the larger family of blue-light photoreceptors.

Direct observation of thymine dimer repair in DNA by photolyase

Photolyase uses light energy to split UV-induced cyclobutane dimers in damaged DNA, but its molecular mechanism has never been directly revealed. Here, we report the direct mapping of catalytic processes through femtosecond synchronization of the enzymatic dynamics with the repair function. We observed direct electron transfer from the excited flavin cofactor to the dimer in 170 ps and back electron transfer from the repaired thymines in 560 ps. Both reactions are strongly modulated by active-site solvation to achieve maximum repair efficiency. These results show that the photocycle of DNA repair by photolyase is through a radical mechanism and completed on subnanosecond time scale at the dynamic active site, with no net change in the redox state of the flavin cofactor.

Bioluminescence-mediated stimulation of photoreactivation in bacteria

Although biochemistry and genetics of light emission by cells have been investigated in detail, a biological role for bacterial luminescence has remained obscure for a long time. It was proposed recently that luminescence may stimulate DNA repair, but the specific mechanism of this phenomenon was not investigated. Moreover, experiments showing decreased survival of UV-irradiated lux mutants relative to luminescent cells were performed previously using only one bacterial species, Vibrio harveyi. Here, we demonstrate that dark mutants of various strains of naturally luminescent bacteria (Photobacterium leiognathi, Photobacterium phosphoreum and Vibrio fischeri) are more sensitive to UV irradiation than wild-type cells. Thus, this phenomenon occurs not only in V. harveyi but also in other bacterial species. Using an artificial system of luminescent Escherichia coli in combination with phr mutants (defective in photolyase functions), we found that bacterial luminescence may stimulate photoreactivation, perhaps by providing photons that are necessary for photolyase activity.

The DNA repair enzyme, CPD-photolyase restores the infectivity of UV-damaged fowlpox virus isolated from infected scabs of chickens

Fowlpox virus (FWPV), an important pathogen of poultry, replicates very efficiently in the featherless areas of skin, and persists in dried and desiccated scabs for prolonged periods. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the stability of the virus are not completely known, we recently identified the presence of a virus-encoded novel DNA repair enzyme, CPD-photolyase, in FWPV. This enzyme repairs the ultraviolet (UV)-induced pyrimidine dimers, converting them to monomers using photons from white light as a renewable source of energy. In this study, we examined the role of photolyase in the pathogenesis of fowlpox. A comparison of pathogenesis of fowlpox in chickens infected with parental FWPV with that in chickens infected with photolyase-deficient FWPV (Phr(-) FWPV) found no significant differences in terms of replication of virus or formation of secondary lesions. When the virions isolated from infected scabs were exposed to UV light, UV-damaged parental FWPV, unlike Phr(-) FWPV, were rescued through the CPD-photolyase-mediated photoreactivation pathway by at least 48%. However, the mutant virus triggered host's immune response and conferred complete protection against subsequent challenge with virus similar to that conferred by the parental virus. Since the mutant virus is less stable than the parental virus in the infected scabs but is as immunogenic, Phr(-) FWPV might be less persistent in the environment. Furthermore, this particular genetic locus can also be used to insert foreign genes for the development of FWPV recombinant vaccines.

Electrically monitoring DNA repair by photolyase

Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers are the major DNA photoproducts produced upon exposure to UV radiation. If left unrepaired, these lesions can lead to replication errors, mutation, and cell death. Photolyase is a light-activated flavoenzyme that binds to pyrimidine dimers in DNA and repairs them in a reaction triggered by electron transfer from the photoexcited flavin cofactor to the dimer. Using gold electrodes modified with DNA duplexes containing a cyclobutane thymine dimer (T<>T), here we probe the electrochemistry of the flavin cofactor in Escherichia coli photolyase. Cyclic and square-wave voltammograms of photolyase deposited on these electrodes show a redox signal at 40 mV versus normal hydrogen electrode, consistent with electron transfer to and from the flavin in the DNA-bound protein. This signal is dramatically attenuated on surfaces where the pi-stacking of the DNA bases is perturbed by the presence of an abasic site below the T<>T, an indication that the redox pathway is DNA-mediated. DNA repair can, moreover, be monitored electrically. Exposure of photolyase on T<>T-damaged DNA films to near-UV/blue light leads to changes in the flavin signal consistent with repair, as confirmed by parallel HPLC experiments. These results demonstrate the exquisite sensitivity of DNA electrochemistry to perturbations in base pair stacking and the applicability of this chemistry to probe reactions of proteins with DNA.

Spontaneously occurring mutations in the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photolyase gene cause different sensitivities to ultraviolet-B in rice

Sensitivity to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation (280-320 nm) varies widely among rice cultivars. We previously indicated that UV-resistant rice cultivars are better able to repair cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) through photorepair than are UV-sensitive cultivars. In this paper, we report that UVB sensitivity in rice, in part, is the result of defective CPD photolyase alleles. Surjamkhi (indica) exhibited greater sensitivity to UVB radiation and was more deficient in CPD photorepair ability compared with UV-resistant Sasanishiki (japonica). The deficiency in CPD photorepair in Surjamkhi resulted from changes in two nucleotides at positions 377 and 888 in the photolyase gene, causing alterations of two deduced amino acids at positions 126 and 296 in the photolyase enzyme. A linkage analysis in populations derived from Surjamkhi and Sasanishiki showed that UVB sensitivity is a quantitative inherited trait and that the CPD photolyase locus is tightly linked with a quantitative trait locus that explains a major portion of the genetic variation for this trait. These results suggest that spontaneously occurring mutations in the CPD photolyase gene cause different degrees of sensitivity to UVB in rice, and that the resistance of rice to UVB radiation could be increased by increasing the photolyase function through conventional breeding or bioengineering.