Detection of mutations in the DNA polymerase delta gene of human sporadic colorectal cancers and colon cancer cell lines

Polar alteration of short tandem repeats (STRs) in mammalian cells

Instability of short tandem repeats (STRs) in DNA during replication is observed in all organisms examined, and is causatively involved in various human diseases. We explore the mechanisms involved in instability by examining length changes occurring during the replication of [(CA)(20)TA](n) and [(CAG)(20)TAG](n), in human cells. We show that the majority of alterations consist of an insertion or deletion of one repeat unit, and base substitutions or length changes involving many repeat units are rare. We also show that length changes of two-tract STRs are biased toward the 3'-end of the repeat tract, in reference to lagging strand synthesis. There are some differences between our observations and previous observations in microbes, e.g. the orientation effect was not observed in this study. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the molecular mechanisms leading to alterations in repeat tracts.

Increased rates of genomic deletions generated by mutations in the yeast gene encoding DNA polymerase delta or by decreases in the cellular levels of DNA polymerase delta

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, POL3 encodes the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase delta. While yeast POL3 mutant strains that lack the proofreading exonuclease activity of the polymerase have a strong mutator phenotype, little is known regarding the role of other Pol3p domains in mutation avoidance. We identified a number of pol3 mutations in regions outside of the exonuclease domain that have a mutator phenotype, substantially elevating the frequency of deletions. These deletions appear to reflect an increased frequency of DNA polymerase slippage. In addition, we demonstrate that reduction in the level of wild-type DNA polymerase results in a similar mutator phenotype. Lowered levels of DNA polymerase also result in increased sensitivity to the DNA-damaging agent methyl methane sulfonate. We conclude that both the quantity and the quality of DNA polymerase delta is important in ensuring genome stability.

Nucleotide excision repair DNA synthesis by excess DNA polymerase beta: a potential source of genetic instability in cancer cells

The nucleotide excision repair pathway contributes to genetic stability by removing a wide range of DNA damage through an error-free reaction. When the lesion is located, the altered strand is incised on both sides of the lesion and a damaged oligonucleotide excised. A repair patch is then synthesized and the repaired strand is ligated. It is assumed that only DNA polymerases delta and/or epsilon participate to the repair DNA synthesis step. Using UV and cisplatin-modified DNA templates, we measured in vitro that extracts from cells overexpressing the error-prone DNA polymerase beta exhibited a five- to sixfold increase of the ultimate DNA synthesis activity compared with control extracts and demonstrated the specific involvement of Pol beta in this step. By using a 28 nt gapped, double-stranded DNA substrate mimicking the product of the incision step, we showed that Pol beta is able to catalyze strand displacement downstream of the gap. We discuss these data within the scope of a hypothesis previously presented proposing that excess error-prone Pol beta in cancer cells could perturb the well-defined specific functions of DNA polymerases during error-free DNA transactions.

Spectral karyotyping of the human colon cancer cell lines SW480 and SW620

The cell lines SW480 and SW620, derived from different stages of colon carcinoma in the same patient, have been used for a number of biochemical, immunological, and genetic studies on colon cancer. A comparative analysis of their karyotypes may identify chromosomal aberrations that might represent markers for metastatic spread. In the present study spectral karyotyping (SKY) was applied to these two colon cancer cell lines. Compared to previously reported G-banded karyotypes, 9 (SW480) and 7 (SW620) markers were identical, 3 (SW480) and 3 (SW620) markers could be redefined, 5 (SW480) and 8 (SW620) markers were newly identified, and 4 (SW480) and 5 (SW620) of the previous described markers could not be confirmed. The redefined aberrations include very complex rearrangements, such as a der(16) t(3;16;1;16;8;16; 1;16;10) and a der(18)t(18;15;17)(q12; p11p13;??) in SW620 and a der(19)t(19;8;19;5) in SW480, that have not been identified by conventional banding techniques. The resulting chromosome gains (5q11-->5q15, 7pter-->q22, 11, 13q14-->qter, 20pter-->p12, X) and losses (8pter-->p2, 18q12-->qter, Y) found in both SW480 and SW620 were in good agreement with those frequently described in colorectal tumors as primary changes in the stem cell. Abnormalities found exclusively in SW620 cells only (gains of 5pter-->5q11, 12q12-->q23, 15p13-->p11, and 16q21-->q24 and losses of 2pter-->2p24, 4q28-->qter, and 6q25-->qter) can be viewed as changes that occurred in a putative metastatic founder cell.

Mutation analysis of replicative genes encoding the large subunits of DNA polymerase alpha and replication factors A and C in human sporadic colorectal cancers

We examined cDNAs of the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase alpha (185 kDa), the 70 kDa subunit of replication protein A (single-stranded DNA-binding protein) and the 140 kDa subunit of replication factor C for mutations. Surgical specimens from 12 patients with sporadic colon cancer and normal mucosae from the same patients were investigated. In addition, we analyzed 3 human colon cancer cell lines that exhibited defects in mismatch repair (DLD-1, HCT116, SW48) and 3 colon cancer cell lines without such a defect (HT29, SW480 and SW620). For detection of mutations, we used reverse transcription of mRNA, amplification of cDNAs by PCR, analysis of single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing. Eleven colon cancers and 6 colon cancer cell lines were analyzed for DNA polymerase alpha. Only 2 silent point mutations were detected, in 1 colon carcinoma and in cell line HCT116. Two sequence alterations of the 70 kDa subunit of replication factor A were identified in 15 specimens (9 colon carcinomas and 6 cell lines). Colon carcinomas from 2 patients (CC5MA and CC25HN) exhibited an ACA-->GCA transition in codon 351, which caused a Thr-->Ala exchange. In carcinomas CC5MA and CC8MA, a TCC-->TCT (Ser-->Ser) transition in codon 352 was observed. The deviations in codons 351 and 352 occurred in both cancer tissues and normal mucosae, suggesting a genetic polymorphism. No mutation was found in the 140 kDa subunit of replication factor C from 16 specimens (10 tumors and 6 cell lines). Point mutations were identified in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene in 4 of the 6 colon cancer cell lines and 3 of the 8 carcinoma specimens. We did not find tumor-associated DNA sequence alterations that resulted in amino acid changes in the DNA replication genes analyzed. We infer that the scarcity of mutations found is due to stringent selection, eliminating functionally impaired replication proteins.

The N-terminal region of DNA polymerase delta catalytic subunit is necessary for holoenzyme function

Genetic and biochemical studies have shown that DNA polymerase delta (Poldelta) is the major replicative Pol in the eukaryotic cell. Its functional form is the holoenzyme composed of Poldelta, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and replication factor C (RF-C). In this paper, we describe an N-terminal truncated form of DNA polymerase delta (DeltaN Poldelta) from calf thymus. The DeltaN Poldelta was stimulated as the full-length Poldelta by PCNA in a RF-C-independent Poldelta assay. However, when tested for holoenzyme function in a RF-C-dependent Poldelta assay in the presence of RF-C, ATP and replication protein A (RP-A), the DeltaN Poldelta behaved differently. First, the DeltaN Poldelta lacked holoenzyme functions to a great extent. Second, product size analysis and kinetic experiments showed that the holoenzyme containing DeltaN Poldelta was much less efficient and synthesized DNA at a much slower rate than the holoenzyme containing full-length Poldelta. The present study provides the first evidence that the N-terminal part of the large subunit of Poldelta is involved in holo-enzyme function.