Prokaryotic DNA polymerase I: evolution, structure, and "base flipping" mechanism for nucleotide selection

Exploring the molecular aspect and updating evolutionary approaches to the DNA polymerase enzymes for biotechnological needs: A comprehensive review

DNA polymerases are essential enzymes that play a key role in living organisms, as they participate in the synthesis and maintenance of the DNA molecule. The intrinsic properties of these enzymes have been widely observed and studied to understand their functions, activities, and behavior, which has allowed their natural power in DNA synthesis to be exploited in modern biotechnology, to the point of making them true pillars of the field. In this context, the laboratory evolution of these enzymes, either by directed evolution or rational design, has led to the generation of a wide range of new DNA polymerases with novel properties, suitable for a variety of biotechnological needs. In this review, we examine DNA polymerases at the molecular level, their biotechnological use, and their evolutionary methods in relation to the novel properties sought, providing a chronological selection of evolved DNA polymerases cited in the literature that we consider to be of great interest. To our knowledge, this work is the first to bring together the molecular, functional and evolutionary aspects of the DNA polymerase enzyme. We believe it will be of great interest to researchers whose aim is to produce new lines of evolved DNA polymerases.

Repeated horizontal acquisition of lagriamide-producing symbionts in Lagriinae beetles

Microbial symbionts associate with multicellular organisms on a continuum from facultative associations to mutual codependency. In some of the oldest intracellular symbioses there is exclusive vertical symbiont transmission, and co-diversification of symbiotic partners over millions of years. Such symbionts often undergo genome reduction due to low effective population sizes, frequent population bottlenecks, and reduced purifying selection. Here, we describe multiple independent acquisition events of closely related defensive symbionts followed by genome erosion in a group of Lagriinae beetles. Previous work in Lagria villosa revealed the dominant genome-eroded symbiont of the genus Burkholderia produces the antifungal compound lagriamide and protects the beetle's eggs and larvae from antagonistic fungi. Here, we use metagenomics to assemble 11 additional genomes of lagriamide-producing symbionts from seven different host species within Lagriinae from five countries, to unravel the evolutionary history of this symbiotic relationship. In each host species, we detected one dominant genome-eroded Burkholderia symbiont encoding the lagriamide biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). Surprisingly, however, we did not find evidence for host-symbiont co-diversification, or for a monophyly of the lagriamide-producing symbionts. Instead, our analyses support at least four independent acquisition events of lagriamide-encoding symbionts and subsequent genome erosion in each of these lineages. By contrast, a clade of plant-associated relatives retained large genomes but secondarily lost the lagriamide BGC. In conclusion, our results reveal a dynamic evolutionary history with multiple independent symbiont acquisitions characterized by high degree of specificity. They highlight the importance of the specialized metabolite lagriamide for the establishment and maintenance of this defensive symbiosis.

Non-canonical amino acids uncover the significant impact of Tyr671 on Taq DNA polymerase catalytic activity

Responsible for synthesizing the complementary strand of the DNA template, DNA polymerase is a crucial enzyme in DNA replication, recombination and repair. A highly conserved tyrosine (Tyr), located at the C-terminus of the O-helix in family A DNA polymerases, plays a critical role in enzyme activity and fidelity. Here, we combined the technology of genetic code extension to incorporate non-canonical amino acids and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to uncover the mechanisms by which Tyr671 impacts substrate binding and conformation transitions in a DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus. Five non-canonical amino acids, namely l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA), p-aminophenylalanine (pAF), p-acetylphenylalanine (pAcF), p-cyanophenylalanine (pCNF) and p-nitrophenylalanine (pNTF), were individually incorporated at position 671. Strikingly, Y671pAF and Y671DOPA were active, but with lower activity compared to Y671F and wild-type. Y671pAF showed a higher fidelity than the Y671F, despite both possessing lower fidelity than the wild-type. Metadynamics and long-timescale MD simulations were carried out to probe the role of mutations in affecting protein structure, including open conformation, open-to-closed conformation transition, closed conformation, and closed-to-open conformation transition. The MD simulations clearly revealed that the size of the 671 amino acid residue and interactions with substrate or nearby residues were critical for Tyr671 to determine enzyme activity and fidelity.

Investigation of thermal stability characteristic in family A DNA polymerase - A theoretical study

DNA polymerases create complementary DNA strands in living cells and are crucial to genome transmission and maintenance. These enzymes possess similar human right-handed folds which contain thumb, fingers, and palm subdomains and contribute to polymerization activities. These enzymes are classified into seven evolutionary families, A, B, C, D, X, Y, and RT, based on amino acid sequence analysis and biochemical characteristics. Family A DNA polymerases exist in an extended range of organisms including mesophilic, thermophilic, and hyper-thermophilic bacteria, participate in DNA replication and repair, and have a broad application in molecular biology and biotechnology. In this study, we attempted to detect factors that play a role in the thermostability properties of this family member despite their remarkable similarities in structure and function. For this purpose, similarities and differences in amino acid sequences, structure, and dynamics of these enzymes have been inspected. Our results demonstrated that thermophilic and hyper-thermophilic enzymes have more charged, aromatic, and polar residues than mesophilic ones and consequently show further electrostatic and cation-pi interactions. In addition, in thermophilic enzymes, aliphatic residues tend to position in buried states more than mesophilic enzymes. These residues within their aliphatic parts increase hydrophobic core packing and therefore enhance the thermostability of these enzymes. Furthermore, a decrease in thermophilic cavities volumes assists in the protein compactness enhancement. Moreover, molecular dynamic simulation results revealed that increasing temperature impacts mesophilic enzymes further than thermophilic ones that reflect on polar and aliphatic residues surface area and hydrogen bonds changes.

Abasic site-peptide cross-links are blocking lesions repaired by AP endonucleases

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are abundant DNA lesions arising from spontaneous hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond and as base excision repair (BER) intermediates. AP sites and their derivatives readily trap DNA-bound proteins, resulting in DNA-protein cross-links. Those are subject to proteolysis but the fate of the resulting AP-peptide cross-links (APPXLs) is unclear. Here, we report two in vitro models of APPXLs synthesized by cross-linking of DNA glycosylases Fpg and OGG1 to DNA followed by trypsinolysis. The reaction with Fpg produces a 10-mer peptide cross-linked through its N-terminus, while OGG1 yields a 23-mer peptide attached through an internal lysine. Both adducts strongly blocked Klenow fragment, phage RB69 polymerase, Saccharolobus solfataricus Dpo4, and African swine fever virus PolX. In the residual lesion bypass, mostly dAMP and dGMP were incorporated by Klenow and RB69 polymerases, while Dpo4 and PolX used primer/template misalignment. Of AP endonucleases involved in BER, Escherichia coli endonuclease IV and its yeast homolog Apn1p efficiently hydrolyzed both adducts. In contrast, E. coli exonuclease III and human APE1 showed little activity on APPXL substrates. Our data suggest that APPXLs produced by proteolysis of AP site-trapped proteins may be removed by the BER pathway, at least in bacterial and yeast cells.

Beneficial and detrimental genes in the cellular response to replication arrest

DNA replication is essential for all living organisms. Several events can disrupt replication, including DNA damage (e.g., pyrimidine dimers, crosslinking) and so-called "roadblocks" (e.g., DNA-binding proteins or transcription). Bacteria have several well-characterized mechanisms for repairing damaged DNA and then restoring functional replication forks. However, little is known about the repair of stalled or arrested replication forks in the absence of chemical alterations to DNA. Using a library of random transposon insertions in Bacillus subtilis, we identified 35 genes that affect the ability of cells to survive exposure to an inhibitor that arrests replication elongation, but does not cause chemical alteration of the DNA. Genes identified include those involved in iron-sulfur homeostasis, cell envelope biogenesis, and DNA repair and recombination. In B. subtilis, and many bacteria, two nucleases (AddAB and RecJ) are involved in early steps in repairing replication forks arrested by chemical damage to DNA and loss of either nuclease causes increased sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. These nucleases resect DNA ends, leading to assembly of the recombinase RecA onto the single-stranded DNA. Notably, we found that disruption of recJ increased survival of cells following replication arrest, indicating that in the absence of chemical damage to DNA, RecJ is detrimental to survival. In contrast, and as expected, disruption of addA decreased survival of cells following replication arrest, indicating that AddA promotes survival. The different phenotypes of addA and recJ mutants appeared to be due to differences in assembly of RecA onto DNA. RecJ appeared to promote too much assembly of RecA filaments. Our results indicate that in the absence of chemical damage to DNA, RecA is dispensable for cells to survive replication arrest and that the stable RecA nucleofilaments favored by the RecJ pathway may lead to cell death by preventing proper processing of the arrested replication fork.

Mutations in the monkeypox virus replication complex: Potential contributing factors to the 2022 outbreak

Attributes contributing to the current monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak remain unknown. It has been established that mutations in viral proteins may alter phenotype and pathogenicity. To assess if mutations in the MPXV DNA replication complex (RC) contribute to the outbreak, we conducted a temporal analysis of available MPXV sequences to identify mutations, generated a DNA replication complex (RC) using structures of related viral and eukaryotic proteins, and structure prediction method AlphaFold. Ten mutations within the RC were identified and mapped onto the RC to infer role of mutations. Two mutations in F8L (RC catalytic subunit), and two in G9R (a processivity factor) were ∼100% prevalent in the 2022 sequences. F8L mutation L108F emerged in 2022, whereas W411L emerged in 2018, and persisted in 2022. L108 is topologically located to enhance DNA binding affinity of F8L. Therefore, mutation L108F can change the fidelity, sensitivity to nucleoside inhibitors, and processivity of F8L. Surface exposed W411L likely affects the binding of regulatory factor(s). G9R mutations S30L and D88 N in G9R emerged in 2022, and may impact the interaction of G9R with E4R (uracil DNA glycosylase). The remaining six mutations that appeared in 2001, reverted to the first (1965 Rotterdam) isolate. Two nucleoside inhibitors brincidofovir and cidofovir have been approved for MPXV treatment. Cidofovir resistance in vaccinia virus is achieved by A314T and A684V mutations. Both A314 and A684 are conserved in MPXV. Therefore, resistance to these drugs in MPXV may arise through similar mechanisms.

Molecular Characterization of a DNA Polymerase from Thermus thermophilus MAT72 Phage vB_Tt72: A Novel Type-A Family Enzyme with Strong Proofreading Activity

We present a structural and functional analysis of the DNA polymerase of thermophilic Thermus thermophilus MAT72 phage vB_Tt72. The enzyme shows low sequence identity (<30%) to the members of the type-A family of DNA polymerases, except for two yet uncharacterized DNA polymerases of T. thermophilus phages: φYS40 (91%) and φTMA (90%). The Tt72 polA gene does not complement the Escherichia colipolA− mutant in replicating polA-dependent plasmid replicons. It encodes a 703-aa protein with a predicted molecular weight of 80,490 and an isoelectric point of 5.49. The enzyme contains a nucleotidyltransferase domain and a 3′-5′ exonuclease domain that is engaged in proofreading. Recombinant enzyme with His-tag at the N-terminus was overproduced in E. coli, subsequently purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography, and biochemically characterized. The enzyme exists in solution in monomeric form and shows optimum activity at pH 8.5, 25 mM KCl, and 0.5 mM Mg2+. Site-directed analysis proved that highly-conserved residues D15, E17, D78, D180, and D184 in 3′-5′ exonuclease and D384 and D615 in the nucleotidyltransferase domain are critical for the enzyme’s activity. Despite the source of origin, the Tt72 DNA polymerase has not proven to be highly thermoresistant, with a temperature optimum at 55 °C. Above 60 °C, the rapid loss of function follows with no activity > 75 °C. However, during heat treatment (10 min at 75 °C), trehalose, trimethylamine N-oxide, and betaine protected the enzyme against thermal inactivation. A midpoint of thermal denaturation at Tm = 74.6 °C (ΔHcal = 2.05 × 104 cal mol−1) and circular dichroism spectra > 60 °C indicate the enzyme’s moderate thermal stability.

Homologs of Phycobilisome Abundance Regulator PsoR Are Widespread across Cyanobacteria

During chromatic acclimation (CA), cyanobacteria undergo shifts in their physiology and metabolism in response to changes in their light environment. Various forms of CA, which involves the tuning of light-harvesting accessory complexes known as phycobilisomes (PBS) in response to distinct wavelengths of light, have been recognized. Recently, a negative regulator of PBS abundance, PsoR, about which little was known, was identified. We used sequence analyses and bioinformatics to predict the role of PsoR in cyanobacteria and PBS regulation and to examine its presence in a diverse range of cyanobacteria. PsoR has sequence similarities to the β-CASP family of proteins involved in DNA and RNA processing. PsoR is a putative nuclease widespread across Cyanobacteria, of which over 700 homologs have been observed. Promoter analysis suggested that psoR is co-transcribed with upstream gene tcpA. Multiple transcription factors involved in global gene regulation and stress responses were predicted to bind to the psoR-tcpA promoter. The predicted protein–protein interactions with PsoR homologs included proteins involved in DNA and RNA metabolism, as well as a phycocyanin-associated protein predicted to interact with PsoR from Fremyella diplosiphon (FdPsoR). The widespread presence of PsoR homologs in Cyanobacteria and their ties to DNA- and RNA-metabolizing proteins indicated a potentially unique role for PsoR in CA and PBS abundance regulation.

Effect of a Defective Clamp Loader Complex of DNA Polymerase III on Growth and SOS Response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

DNA polymerase III (Pol III) is the replicative enzyme in bacteria. It consists of three subcomplexes, the catalytic core, the β clamp, and the clamp loader. While this complex has been thoroughly characterized in the model organism Escherichia coli, much less is known about its functioning and/or its specific properties in other bacteria. Biochemical studies highlighted specific features in the clamp loader subunit ψ of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as compared to its E. coli counterpart, and transposon mutagenesis projects identified the ψ-encoding gene holD among the strictly essential core genes of P. aeruginosa. By generating a P. aeruginosa holD conditional mutant, here we demonstrate that, as previously observed for E. coli holD mutants, HolD-depleted P. aeruginosa cells show strongly decreased growth, induction of the SOS response, and emergence of suppressor mutants at high frequency. However, differently from what was observed in E. coli, the growth of P. aeruginosa cells lacking HolD cannot be rescued by the deletion of genes for specialized DNA polymerases. We also observed that the residual growth of HolD-depleted cells is strictly dependent on homologous recombination functions, suggesting that recombination-mediated rescue of stalled replication forks is crucial to support replication by a ψ-deficient Pol III enzyme in P. aeruginosa.

When DNA Polymerases Multitask: Functions Beyond Nucleotidyl Transfer

DNA polymerases catalyze nucleotidyl transfer, the central reaction in synthesis of DNA polynucleotide chains. They function not only in DNA replication, but also in diverse aspects of DNA repair and recombination. Some DNA polymerases can perform translesion DNA synthesis, facilitating damage tolerance and leading to mutagenesis. In addition to these functions, many DNA polymerases conduct biochemically distinct reactions. This review presents examples of DNA polymerases that carry out nuclease (3'-5' exonuclease, 5' nuclease, or end-trimming nuclease) or lyase (5' dRP lyase) extracurricular activities. The discussion underscores how DNA polymerases have a remarkable ability to manipulate DNA strands, sometimes involving relatively large intramolecular movement.

Processing and Bypass of a Site-Specific DNA Adduct of the Cytotoxic Platinum-Acridinylthiourea Conjugate by Polymerases Involved in DNA Repair: Biochemical and Thermodynamic Aspects

DNA-dependent DNA and RNA polymerases are important modulators of biological functions such as replication, transcription, recombination, or repair. In this work performed in cell-free media, we studied the ability of selected DNA polymerases to overcome a monofunctional adduct of the cytotoxic/antitumor platinum–acridinylthiourea conjugate [PtCl(en)(L)](NO₃)₂ (en = ethane-1,2-diamine, L = 1-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dimethylthiourea) (ACR) in its favored 5′-CG sequence. We focused on how a single site-specific ACR adduct with intercalation potency affects the processivity and fidelity of DNA-dependent DNA polymerases involved in translesion synthesis (TLS) and repair. The ability of the G(N7) hybrid ACR adduct formed in the 5′-TCGT sequence of a 24-mer DNA template to inhibit the synthesis of a complementary DNA strand by the exonuclease-deficient Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I (KF^exo−) and human polymerases eta, kappa, and iota was supplemented by thermodynamic analysis of the polymerization process. Thermodynamic parameters of a simulated translesion synthesis across the ACR adduct were obtained by using microscale thermophoresis (MST). Our results show a strong inhibitory effect of an ACR adduct on enzymatic TLS: there was only small synthesis of a full-length product (less than 10%) except polymerase eta (~20%). Polymerase eta was able to most efficiently bypass the ACR hybrid adduct. Incorporation of a correct dCMP opposite the modified G residue is preferred by all the four polymerases tested. On the other hand, the frequency of misinsertions increased. The relative efficiency of misinsertions is higher than that of matched cytidine monophosphate but still lower than for the nonmodified control duplex. Thermodynamic inspection of the simulated TLS revealed a significant stabilization of successively extended primer/template duplexes containing an ACR adduct. Moreover, no significant decrease of dissociation enthalpy change behind the position of the modification can contribute to the enzymatic TLS observed with the DNA-dependent, repair-involved polymerases. This TLS could lead to a higher tolerance of cancer cells to the ACR conjugate compared to its enhanced analog, where thiourea is replaced by an amidine group: [PtCl(en)(L)](NO₃)₂ (complex AMD, en = ethane-1,2-diamine, L = N-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-N-methylpropionamidine).

Alleviation of C⋅C Mismatches in DNA by the Escherichia coli Fpg Protein

DNA polymerase III mis-insertion may, where not corrected by its 3′→ 5′ exonuclease or the mismatch repair (MMR) function, result in all possible non-cognate base pairs in DNA generating base substitutions. The most thermodynamically unstable base pair, the cytosine (C)⋅C mismatch, destabilizes adjacent base pairs, is resistant to correction by MMR in Escherichia coli, and its repair mechanism remains elusive. We present here in vitro evidence that C⋅C mismatch can be processed by base excision repair initiated by the E. coli formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) protein. The k_cat for C⋅C is, however, 2.5 to 10 times lower than for its primary substrate 8-oxoguanine (oxo⁸G)⋅C, but approaches those for 5,6-dihydrothymine (dHT)⋅C and thymine glycol (Tg)⋅C. The K_M values are all in the same range, which indicates efficient recognition of C⋅C mismatches in DNA. Fpg activity was also exhibited for the thymine (T)⋅T mismatch and for N⁴- and/or 5-methylated C opposite C or T, Fpg activity being enabled on a broad spectrum of DNA lesions and mismatches by the flexibility of the active site loop. We hypothesize that Fpg plays a role in resolving C⋅C in particular, but also other pyrimidine⋅pyrimidine mismatches, which increases survival at the cost of some mutagenesis.

Single-molecule view of coordination in a multi-functional DNA polymerase

Replication and repair of genomic DNA requires the actions of multiple enzymatic functions that must be coordinated in order to ensure efficient and accurate product formation. Here, we have used single-molecule FRET microscopy to investigate the physical basis of functional coordination in DNA polymerase I (Pol I) from Escherichia coli, a key enzyme involved in lagging-strand replication and base excision repair. Pol I contains active sites for template-directed DNA polymerization and 5' flap processing in separate domains. We show that a DNA substrate can spontaneously transfer between polymerase and 5' nuclease domains during a single encounter with Pol I. Additionally, we show that the flexibly tethered 5' nuclease domain adopts different positions within Pol I-DNA complexes, depending on the nature of the DNA substrate. Our results reveal the structural dynamics that underlie functional coordination in Pol I and are likely relevant to other multi-functional DNA polymerases.

Elucidating Essential Genes in Plant-Associated Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5 Using Transposon Insertion Sequencing

Gene essentiality studies have been performed on numerous bacterial pathogens, but essential gene sets have been determined for only a few plant-associated bacteria. Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5 is a plant-commensal, biocontrol bacterium that can control disease-causing pathogens on a wide range of crops. Work on Pf-5 has mostly focused on secondary metabolism and biocontrol genes, but genome-wide approaches such as high-throughput transposon mutagenesis have not yet been used for this species. In this study, we generated a dense P. protegens Pf-5 transposon mutant library and used transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS) to identify 446 genes essential for growth on rich media. Genes required for fundamental cellular machinery were enriched in the essential gene set, while genes related to nutrient biosynthesis, stress responses, and transport were underrepresented. The majority of Pf-5 essential genes were part of the P. protegens core genome. Comparison of the essential gene set of Pf-5 with those of two plant-associated pseudomonads, P. simiae and P. syringae, and the well-studied opportunistic human pathogen P. aeruginosa PA14 showed that the four species share a large number of essential genes, but each species also had uniquely essential genes. Comparison of the Pf-5 in silico-predicted and in vitro-determined essential gene sets highlighted the essential cellular functions that are over- and underestimated by each method. Expanding essentiality studies into bacteria with a range of lifestyles may improve our understanding of the biological processes important for bacterial survival and growth.IMPORTANCE Essential genes are those crucial for survival or normal growth rates in an organism. Essential gene sets have been identified in numerous bacterial pathogens but only a few plant-associated bacteria. Employing genome-wide approaches, such as transposon insertion sequencing, allows for the concurrent analyses of all genes of a bacterial species and rapid determination of essential gene sets. We have used transposon insertion sequencing to systematically analyze thousands of Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5 genes and gain insights into gene functions and interactions that are not readily available using traditional methods. Comparing Pf-5 essential genes with those of three other pseudomonads highlights how gene essentiality varies between closely related species.

DNA Polymerase B1 Binding Protein 1 Is Important for DNA Repair by Holoenzyme PolB1 in the Extremely Thermophilic Crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

DNA polymerase B1 (PolB1) is a member of the B-family DNA polymerase family and is a replicative DNA polymerase in Crenarchaea. PolB1 is responsible for the DNA replication of both the leading and lagging strands in the thermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Recently, two subunits, PolB1-binding protein (PBP)1 and PBP2, were identified in Saccharolobus solfataricus. Previous in vitro studies suggested that PBP1 and PBP2 influence the core activity of apoenzyme PolB1 (apo-PolB1). PBP1 contains a C-terminal acidic tail and modulates the strand-displacement synthesis activity of PolB1 during the synthesis of Okazaki fragments. PBP2 modestly enhances the DNA polymerase activity of apo-PolB1. These subunits are present in Sulfolobales, Acidilobales, and Desulfurococcales, which belong to Crenarchaea. However, it has not been determined whether these subunits are essential for the activity of apo-PolB1. In this study, we constructed a pbp1 deletion strain in S. acidocaldarius and characterized its phenotypes. However, a pbp2 deletion strain was not obtained, indicating that PBP2 is essential for replication by holoenzyme PolB1. A pbp1 deletion strain was sensitive to various types of DNA damage and exhibited an increased mutation rate, suggesting that PBP1 contribute to the repair or tolerance of DNA damage by holoenzyme PolB1. The results of our study suggest that PBP1 is important for DNA repair by holoenzyme PolB1 in S. acidocaldarius.

The pathway of recombining short homologous ends in Escherichia coli revealed by the genetic study

The recombination of short homologous ends in Escherichia coli has been known for 30 years, and it is often used for both site-directed mutagenesis and in vivo cloning. For cloning, a plasmid and target DNA fragments were converted into linear DNA fragments with short homologous ends, which are joined via recombination inside E. coli after transformation. Here this mechanism of joining homologous ends in E. coli was determined by a linearized plasmid with short homologous ends. Two 3'-5' exonucleases ExoIII and ExoX with nonprocessive activity digested linear dsDNA to generate 5' single-strand overhangs, which annealed with each other. The polymerase activity of DNA polymerase I (Pol I) was exclusively employed to fill in the gaps. The strand displacement activity and the 5'-3' exonuclease activity of Pol I were also required, likely to generate 5' phosphate termini for subsequent ligation. Ligase A (LigA) joined the nicks to finish the process. The model involving 5' single-stranded overhangs is different from established recombination pathways that all generate 3' single-stranded overhangs. This recombination is likely common in bacteria since the involved enzymes are ubiquitous.

Thermodynamic Insights by Microscale Thermophoresis into Translesion DNA Synthesis Catalyzed by DNA Polymerases Across a Lesion of Antitumor Platinum-Acridine Complex

Translesion synthesis (TLS) through DNA adducts of antitumor platinum complexes has been an interesting aspect of DNA synthesis in cells treated with these metal-based drugs because of its correlation to drug sensitivity. We utilized model systems employing a DNA lesion derived from a site-specific monofunctional adduct formed by antitumor [PtCl(en)(L)](NO₃)₂ (complex AMD, en = ethane-1,2-diamine, L = N-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-N-methylpropionamidine) at a unique G residue. The catalytic efficiency of TLS DNA polymerases, which differ in their processivity and fidelity for the insertion of correct dCTP, with respect to the other incorrect nucleotides, opposite the adduct of AMD, was investigated. For a deeper understanding of the factors that control the bypass of the site-specific adducts of AMD catalyzed by DNA polymerases, we also used microscale thermophoresis (MST) to measure the thermodynamic changes associated with TLS across a single, site-specific adduct formed in DNA by AMD. The relative catalytic efficiency of the investigated DNA polymerases for the insertion of correct dCTP, with respect to the other incorrect nucleotides, opposite the AMD adduct, was reduced. Nevertheless, incorporation of the correct C opposite the G modified by AMD of the template strand was promoted by an increasing thermodynamic stability of the resulting duplex. The reduced relative efficiency of the investigated DNA polymerases may be a consequence of the DNA intercalation of the acridine moiety of AMD and the size of the adduct. The products of the bypass of this monofunctional lesion produced by AMD and DNA polymerases also resulted from the misincorporation of dNTPs opposite the platinated G residues. The MST analysis suggested that thermodynamic factors may contribute to the forces that governed enhanced incorporation of the incorrect dNTPs by DNA polymerases.

Metabolic cofactors NADH and FAD act as non-canonical initiating substrates for a primase and affect replication primer processing in vitro

To initiate replication on a double-stranded DNA de novo, all organisms require primase, an RNA polymerase making short RNA primers which are then extended by DNA polymerases. Here, we show that primase can use metabolic cofactors as initiating substrates, instead of its canonical substrate ATP. DnaG primase of Escherichia coli initiates synthesis of RNA with NADH (the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) in vitro. These cofactors consist of an ADP core covalently bound to extra moieties. The ADP component of these metabolites base-pairs with the DNA template and provides a 3′-OH group for RNA extension. The additional cofactors moieties apparently contact the ‘basic ridge’ domain of DnaG, but not the DNA template base at the –1 position. ppGpp, the starvation response regulator, strongly inhibits the initiation with cofactors, hypothetically due to competition for overlapping binding sites. Efficient RNA primer processing is a prerequisite for Okazaki fragments maturation, and we find that the efficiency of primer processing by DNA polymerase I in vitro is specifically affected by the cofactors on its 5′-end. Together these results indicate that utilization of cofactors as substrates by primase may influence regulation of replication initiation and Okazaki fragments processing.

Display of functional nucleic acid polymerase on Escherichia coli surface and its application in directed polymerase evolution

We report a first of its kind functional cell surface display of nucleic acid polymerase and its directed evolution to efficiently incorporate 2'-O-methyl nucleotide triphosphates (2'-OMe-NTPs). In the development of polymerase cell surface display, two autotransporter proteins (Escherichia coli adhesin involved in diffuse adherence and Pseudomonas aeruginosa esterase A [EstA]) were employed to transport and anchor the 68-kDa Klenow fragment (KF) of E. coli DNA polymerase I on the surface of E. coli. The localization and function of the displayed KF were verified by analysis of cell outer membrane fractions, immunostaining, and fluorometric detection of synthesized DNA products. The EstA cell surface display system was applied to evolve KF for the incorporation of 2'-OMe-NTPs and a KF variant with a 50.7-fold increased ability to successively incorporate 2'-OMe-NTPs was discovered. Expanding the scope of cell-surface displayable proteins to the realm of polymerases provides a novel screening tool for tailoring polymerases to diverse application demands in a polymerase chain reaction and sequencing-based biotechnological and medical applications. Especially, cell surface display enables novel polymerase screening strategies in which the heat-lysis step is bypassed and thus allows the screening of mesophilic polymerases with broad application potentials ranging from diagnostics and DNA sequencing to replication of synthetic genetic polymers.

Polymerization Domain Translated from 0.9 kb Gene Fragment of DNA Polymerase I from a Thermo-Halophilic PLS A Strain

The search for novel DNA Polymerases I, with higher fidelity and better polymerization rate, is essential to improve the Polymerase Chain Reaction method. A thermo-halophilic bacterium has been isolated from an undersea hot spring, dubbed Pria Laot Sabang (PLS) A strain. The 0.9 kb DNA Polymerase I gene fragments from the isolate were amplified, sequenced, and identified. The fragments were part of the polymerization domain of the enzyme. Homological analysis of the gene sequence showed that the PLS A strain was closely related to Bacillus caldolyticusstrain XM. However, Swissprot structural analysis reveals that PLS A strain had high homology to Geobacillus stearathermophilus. Full sequence analysis is still needed to identify the species and evaluate the intact enzyme structure.

A polar filter in DNA polymerases prevents ribonucleotide incorporation

The presence of ribonucleotides in DNA can lead to genomic instability and cellular lethality. To prevent adventitious rNTP incorporation, the majority of the DNA polymerases (dPols) possess a steric filter. The dPol named MsDpo4 (Mycobacterium smegmatis) naturally lacks this steric filter and hence is capable of rNTP addition. The introduction of the steric filter in MsDpo4 did not result in complete abrogation of the ability of this enzyme to incorporate ribonucleotides. In comparison, DNA polymerase IV (PolIV) from Escherichia coli exhibited stringent selection for deoxyribonucleotides. A comparison of MsDpo4 and PolIV led to the discovery of an additional polar filter responsible for sugar selectivity. Thr43 represents the filter in PolIV and this residue forms interactions with the incoming nucleotide to draw it closer to the enzyme surface. As a result, the 2’-OH in rNTPs will clash with the enzyme surface, and therefore ribonucleotides cannot be accommodated in the active site in a conformation compatible with productive catalysis. The substitution of the equivalent residue in MsDpo4–Cys47, with Thr led to a drastic reduction in the ability of the mycobacterial enzyme to incorporate rNTPs. Overall, our studies evince that the polar filter serves to prevent ribonucleotide incorporation by dPols.

Symmetric activity of DNA polymerases at and recruitment of exonuclease ExoR and of PolA to the Bacillus subtilis replication forks

DNA replication forks are intrinsically asymmetric and may arrest during the cell cycle upon encountering modifications in the DNA. We have studied real time dynamics of three DNA polymerases and an exonuclease at a single molecule level in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. PolC and DnaE work in a symmetric manner and show similar dwell times. After addition of DNA damage, their static fractions and dwell times decreased, in agreement with increased re-establishment of replication forks. Only a minor fraction of replication forks showed a loss of active polymerases, indicating relatively robust activity during DNA repair. Conversely, PolA, homolog of polymerase I and exonuclease ExoR were rarely present at forks during unperturbed replication but were recruited to replications forks after induction of DNA damage. Protein dynamics of PolA or ExoR were altered in the absence of each other during exponential growth and during DNA repair, indicating overlapping functions. Purified ExoR displayed exonuclease activity and preferentially bound to DNA having 5′ overhangs in vitro. Our analyses support the idea that two replicative DNA polymerases work together at the lagging strand whilst only PolC acts at the leading strand, and that PolA and ExoR perform inducible functions at replication forks during DNA repair.

Translesion DNA Synthesis Across Lesions Induced by Oxidative Products of Pyrimidines: An Insight into the Mechanism by Microscale Thermophoresis

Oxidative stress in cells can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and oxidation of DNA precursors. Oxidized nucleotides such as 2'-deoxyribo-5-hydroxyuridin (HdU) and 2'-deoxyribo-5-hydroxymethyluridin (HMdU) can be inserted into DNA during replication and repair. HdU and HMdU have attracted particular interest because they have different effects on damaged-DNA processing enzymes that control the downstream effects of the lesions. Herein, we studied the chemically simulated translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) across the lesions formed by HdU or HMdU using microscale thermophoresis (MST). The thermodynamic changes associated with replication across HdU or HMdU show that the HdU paired with the mismatched deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates disturbs DNA duplexes considerably less than thymidine (dT) or HMdU. Moreover, we also demonstrate that TLS by DNA polymerases across the lesion derived from HdU was markedly less extensive and potentially more mutagenic than that across the lesion formed by HMdU. Thus, DNA polymerization by DNA polymerase η (polη), the exonuclease-deficient Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I (KF^-), and reverse transcriptase from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1 RT) across these pyrimidine lesions correlated with the different stabilization effects of the HdU and HMdU in DNA duplexes revealed by MST. The equilibrium thermodynamic data obtained by MST can explain the influence of the thermodynamic alterations on the ability of DNA polymerases to bypass lesions induced by oxidative products of pyrimidines. The results also highlighted the usefulness of MST in evaluating the impact of oxidative products of pyrimidines on the processing of these lesions by damaged DNA processing enzymes.

Characterization and engineering of a DNA polymerase reveals a single amino-acid substitution in the fingers subdomain to increase strand-displacement activity of A-family prokaryotic DNA polymerases

Background

The discovery of thermostable DNA polymerases such as Taq DNA polymerase revolutionized amplification of DNA by polymerase chain reaction methods that rely on thermal cycling for strand separation. These methods are widely used in the laboratory for medical research, clinical diagnostics, criminal forensics and general molecular biology research. Today there is a growing demand for on-site molecular diagnostics; so-called ‘Point-of-Care tests’. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques do not require a thermal cycler making these techniques more suitable for performing Point-of-Care tests at ambient temperatures compared to traditional polymerase chain reaction methods. Strand-displacement activity is essential for such isothermal nucleic acid amplification; however, the selection of DNA polymerases with inherent strand-displacement activity that are capable of performing DNA synthesis at ambient temperatures is currently limited.

Results

We have characterized the large fragment of a DNA polymerase I originating from the marine psychrophilic bacterium Psychrobacillus sp. The enzyme showed optimal polymerase activity at pH 8–9 and 25–110 mM NaCl/KCl. The polymerase was capable of performing polymerase as well as robust strand-displacement DNA synthesis at ambient temperatures (25–37 °C). Through molecular evolution and screening of thousand variants we have identified a single amino-acid exchange of Asp to Ala at position 422 which induced a 2.5-fold increase in strand-displacement activity of the enzyme.

Transferring the mutation of the conserved Asp residue to corresponding thermophilic homologues from Ureibacillus thermosphaericus and Geobacillus stearothermophilus also resulted in a significant increase in the strand-displacement activity of the enzymes.

Conclusions

Substituting Asp with Ala at positon 422 resulted in a significant increase in strand-displacement activity of three prokaryotic A-family DNA polymerases adapted to different environmental temperatures i.e. being psychrophilic and thermophilic of origin. This strongly indicates an important role for the 422 position and the O1-helix for strand-displacement activity of DNA polymerase I. The D422A variants generated here may be highly useful for isothermal nucleic acid amplification at a wide temperature scale.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12860-019-0216-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In vivo continuous evolution of metabolic pathways for chemical production

Microorganisms have long been used as chemical plant to convert simple substrates into complex molecules. Various metabolic pathways have been optimised over the past few decades, but the progresses were limited due to our finite knowledge on metabolism. Evolution is a knowledge-free genetic randomisation approach, employed to improve the chemical production in microbial cell factories. However, evolution of large, complex pathway was a great challenge. The invention of continuous culturing systems and in vivo genetic diversification technologies have changed the way how laboratory evolution is conducted, render optimisation of large, complex pathway possible. In vivo genetic diversification, phenotypic selection, and continuous cultivation are the key elements in in vivo continuous evolution, where any human intervention in the process is prohibited. This approach is crucial in highly efficient evolution strategy of metabolic pathway evolution.

An updated structural classification of replicative DNA polymerases

Replicative DNA polymerases are nano-machines essential to life, which have evolved the ability to copy the genome with high fidelity and high processivity. In contrast with cellular transcriptases and ribosome machines, which evolved by accretion of complexity from a conserved catalytic core, no replicative DNA polymerase is universally conserved. Strikingly, four different families of DNA polymerases have evolved to perform DNA replication in the three domains of life. In Bacteria, the genome is replicated by DNA polymerases belonging to the A- and C-families. In Eukarya, genomic DNA is copied mainly by three distinct replicative DNA polymerases, Polα, Polδ, and Polε, which all belong to the B-family. Matters are more complicated in Archaea, which contain an unusual D-family DNA polymerase (PolD) in addition to PolB, a B-family replicative DNA polymerase that is homologous to the eukaryotic ones. PolD is a heterodimeric DNA polymerase present in all Archaea discovered so far, except Crenarchaea. While PolD is an essential replicative DNA polymerase, it is often underrepresented in the literature when the diversity of DNA polymerases is discussed. Recent structural studies have shown that the structures of both polymerase and proofreading active sites of PolD differ from other structurally characterized DNA polymerases, thereby extending the repertoire of folds known to perform DNA replication. This review aims to provide an updated structural classification of all replicative DNAPs and discuss their evolutionary relationships, both regarding the DNA polymerase and proofreading active sites.

Translesion DNA synthesis across double-base lesions derived from cross-links of an antitumor trinuclear platinum compound: primer extension, conformational and thermodynamic studies

Polynuclear platinum complexes represent a unique structural class of DNA-binding agents of biological significance. They contain at least two platinum coordinating units bridged by a linker, which means that the formation of double-base lesions (cross-links) in DNA is possible. Here, we show that the lead compound, bifunctional [{trans-PtCl(NH₃)₂}₂μ-trans-Pt(NH₃)₂{H₂N(CH₂)₆NH₂}₂]⁴⁺ (Triplatin or BBR3464), forms in DNA specific double-base lesions which affect the biophysical and biochemical properties of DNA in a way fundamentally different compared to the analogous double-base lesions formed by two adducts of monofunctional chlorodiethylenetriamineplatinum(ii) chloride (dienPt). We find concomitantly that translesion DNA synthesis by the model A-family polymerase, the exonuclease deficient Klenow fragment, across the double-base lesions derived from the intrastrand CLs of Triplatin was markedly less extensive than that across the two analogous monofunctional adducts of dienPt. Collectively, these data provide convincing support for the hypothesis that the central noncovalent tetraamine platinum linker of Triplatin, capable of hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions with DNA and bridging the two platinum adducts, represents an important factor responsible for the markedly lowered tolerance of DNA double-base adducts of Triplatin by DNA polymerases.

The nature of the DNA substrate influences pre-catalytic conformational changes of DNA polymerase β

DNA polymerase β (Pol β) is essential for maintaining genomic integrity. During short-patch base excision repair (BER), Pol β incorporates a nucleotide into a single-gapped DNA substrate. Pol β may also function in long-patch BER, where the DNA substrate consists of larger gap sizes or 5'-modified downstream DNA. We have recently shown that Pol β fills small gaps in DNA during microhomology-mediated end-joining as part of a process that increases genomic diversity. Our previous results with single-nucleotide gapped DNA show that Pol β undergoes two pre-catalytic conformational changes upon binding to the correct nucleotide substrate. Here we use FRET to investigate nucleotide incorporation of Pol β with various DNA substrates. The results show that increasing the gap size influences the fingers closing step by increasing its reverse rate. However, the 5'-phosphate group has a more significant effect. The absence of the 5'-phosphate decreases the DNA binding affinity of Pol β and results in a conformationally more open binary complex. Moreover, upon addition of the correct nucleotide in the absence of 5'-phosphate, a slow fingers closing step is observed. Interestingly, either increasing the gap size or removing the 5'-phosphate group results in loss of the noncovalent step. Together, these results suggest that the character of the DNA substrate impacts the nature and rates of pre-catalytic conformational changes of Pol β. Our results also indicate that conformational changes are important for the fidelity of DNA synthesis by Pol β.

Escherichia coli β-clamp slows down DNA polymerase I dependent nick translation while accelerating ligation

The nick translation property of DNA polymerase I (Pol I) ensures the maturation of Okazaki fragments by removing primer RNAs and facilitating ligation. However, prolonged nick translation traversing downstream DNA is an energy wasting futile process, as Pol I simultaneously polymerizes and depolymerizes at the nick sites utilizing energy-rich dNTPs. Using an in vitro assay system, we demonstrate that the β-clamp of the Escherichia coli replisome strongly inhibits nick translation on the DNA substrate. To do so, β-clamp inhibits the strand displacement activity of Pol I by interfering with the interaction between the finger subdomain of Pol I and the downstream primer-template junction. Conversely, β-clamp stimulates the 5’ exonuclease property of Pol I to cleave single nucleotides or shorter oligonucleotide flaps. This single nucleotide flap removal at high frequency increases the probability of ligation between the upstream and downstream DNA strands at an early phase, terminating nick translation. Besides β-clamp-mediated ligation helps DNA ligase to seal the nick promptly during the maturation of Okazaki fragments.

Excision of the doubly methylated base N4,5-dimethylcytosine from DNA by Escherichia coli Nei and Fpg proteins

Cytosine (C) in DNA is often modified to 5-methylcytosine (m5C) to execute important cellular functions. Despite the significance of m5C for epigenetic regulation in mammals, damage to m5C has received little attention. For instance, almost no studies exist on erroneous methylation of m5C by alkylating agents to doubly or triply methylated bases. Owing to chemical evidence, and because many prokaryotes express methyltransferases able to convert m5C into N4,5-dimethylcytosine (m N4,5C) in DNA, m N4,5C is probably present in vivo We screened a series of glycosylases from prokaryotic to human and found significant DNA incision activity of the Escherichia coli Nei and Fpg proteins at m N4,5C residues in vitro The activity of Nei was highest opposite cognate guanine followed by adenine, thymine (T) and C. Fpg-complemented Nei by exhibiting the highest activity opposite C followed by lower activity opposite T. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a repair enzyme activity at a further methylated m5C in DNA, as well as the first alkylated base allocated as a Nei or Fpg substrate. Based on our observed high sensitivity to nuclease S1 digestion, we suggest that m N4,5C occurs as a disturbing lesion in DNA and that Nei may serve as a major DNA glycosylase in E. coli to initiate its repair.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Frontiers in epigenetic chemical biology'.

Variable termination sites of DNA polymerases encountering a DNA-protein cross-link

DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are important DNA lesions induced by endogenous crosslinking agents such as formaldehyde or acetaldehyde, as well as ionizing radiation, cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, and abortive action of some enzymes. Due to their very bulky nature, they are expected to interfere with DNA and RNA synthesis and DNA repair. DPCs are highly genotoxic and the ability of cells to deal with them is relevant for many chemotherapeutic interventions. However, interactions of DNA polymerases with DPCs have been poorly studied due to the lack of a convenient experimental model. We have used NaBH4-induced trapping of E. coli formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase with DNA to construct model DNA polymerase substrates containing a DPC in single-stranded template, or in the template strand of double-stranded DNA, or in the non-template (displaced) strand of double-stranded DNA. Nine DNA polymerases belonging to families A, B, X, and Y were studied with respect to their behavior upon encountering a DPC: Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I, Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase I, Pyrococcus furiosus DNA polymerase, Sulfolobus solfataricus DNA polymerase IV, human DNA polymerases β, κ and λ, and DNA polymerases from bacteriophages T4 and RB69. Although none were able to fully bypass DPCs in any context, Family B DNA polymerases (T4, RB69) and Family Y DNA polymerase IV were able to elongate the primer up to the site of the cross-link if a DPC was located in single-stranded template or in the displaced strand. In other cases, DNA synthesis stopped 4-5 nucleotides before the site of the cross-link in single-stranded template or in double-stranded DNA if the polymerases could displace the downstream strand. We suggest that termination of DNA polymerases on a DPC is mostly due to the unrelieved conformational strain experienced by the enzyme when pressing against the cross-linked protein molecule.

Fidelity of DNA replication-a matter of proofreading

DNA that is transmitted to daughter cells must be accurately duplicated to maintain genetic integrity and to promote genetic continuity. A major function of replicative DNA polymerases is to replicate DNA with the very high accuracy. The fidelity of DNA replication relies on nucleotide selectivity of replicative DNA polymerase, exonucleolytic proofreading, and postreplicative DNA mismatch repair (MMR). Proofreading activity that assists most of the replicative polymerases is responsible for removal of incorrectly incorporated nucleotides from the primer terminus before further primer extension. It is estimated that proofreading improves the fidelity by a 2–3 orders of magnitude. The primer with the incorrect terminal nucleotide has to be moved to exonuclease active site, and after removal of the wrong nucleotide must be transferred back to polymerase active site. The mechanism that allows the transfer of the primer between pol and exo site is not well understood. While defects in MMR are well known to be linked with increased cancer incidence only recently, the replicative polymerases that have alterations in the exonuclease domain have been associated with some sporadic and hereditary human cancers. In this review, we would like to emphasize the importance of proofreading (3′-5′ exonuclease activity) in the fidelity of DNA replication and to highlight what is known about switching from polymerase to exonuclease active site.

Investigation of Nascent Base Pair and Polymerase Behavior in the Presence of Mismatches in DNA Polymerase I Using Molecular Dynamics

Optimizing DNA polymerases for a broad range of tasks requires an understanding of the factors influencing polymerase fidelity, but many details of polymerase behavior remain unknown, especially in the presence of mismatched nascent base pairs. Using molecular dynamics, the large fragment of Bacillus stearothermophilus DNA polymerase I is simulated in the presence of all 16 possible standard nucleoside triphosphate-template (dNTP-dN) pairs, including four Watson-Crick pairs and 12 mismatches. The precatalytic steps of nucleotide addition from nucleotide insertion to immediately preceding catalysis are explored using three starting structures representing different stages of nucleotide addition. From these simulations, interactions between dNTPs and the DNA-protein complex formed by the polymerase are elucidated. Patterns of large-scale conformational shifts, classification of nucleotide pairs based on composition, and investigation of the roles of residues interacting with dNTPs are completed on 50+ μs of simulation. The role of molecular dynamics in studies of polymerase behavior is discussed.

Derivatives of Bst-like Gss-polymerase with improved processivity and inhibitor tolerance

At the moment, one of the actual trends in medical diagnostics is a development of methods for practical applications such as point-of-care testing, POCT or research tools, for example, whole genome amplification, WGA. All the techniques are based on using of specific DNA polymerases having strand displacement activity, high synthetic processivity, fidelity and, most significantly, tolerance to contaminants, appearing from analysed biological samples or collected under purification procedures. Here, we have designed a set of fusion enzymes based on catalytic domain of DNA polymerase I from Geobacillus sp. 777 with DNA-binding domain of DNA ligase Pyrococcus abyssi and Sto7d protein from Sulfolobus tokodaii, analogue of Sso7d. Designed chimeric DNA polymerases DBD-Gss, Sto-Gss and Gss-Sto exhibited the same level of thermal stability, thermal transferase activity and fidelity as native Gss; however, the processivity was increased up to 3-fold, leading to about 4-fold of DNA product in WGA which is much more exiting. The attachment of DNA-binding proteins enhanced the inhibitor tolerance of chimeric polymerases in loop-mediated isothermal amplification to several of the most common DNA sample contaminants—urea and whole blood, heparin, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, NaCl, ethanol. Therefore, chimeric Bst-like Gss-polymerase will be promising tool for both WGA and POCT due to increased processivity and inhibitor tolerance.

Fusion of Taq DNA polymerase with single-stranded DNA binding-like protein of Nanoarchaeum equitans-Expression and characterization

DNA polymerases are present in all organisms and are important enzymes that synthesise DNA molecules. They are used in various fields of science, predominantly as essential components for in vitro DNA syntheses, known as PCR. Modern diagnostics, molecular biology and genetic engineering need DNA polymerases which demonstrate improved performance. This study was aimed at obtaining a new NeqSSB-TaqS fusion DNA polymerase from the Taq DNA Stoffel domain and a single-stranded DNA binding-like protein of Nanoarchaeum equitans in order to significantly improve the properties of DNA polymerase. The DNA coding sequence of Taq Stoffel DNA polymerase and the nonspecific DNA-binding protein of Nanoarchaeum equitans (NeqSSB-like protein) were fused. A novel recombinant gene was obtained which was cloned into the pET-30 Ek/LIC vector and introduced into E. coli for expression. The recombinant enzyme was purified and its enzymatic properties including DNA polymerase activity, PCR amplification rate, thermostability, processivity and resistance to inhibitors, were tested. The yield of the target protein reached approximately 18 mg/l after 24 h of the IPTG induction. The specific activity of the polymerase was 2200 U/mg. The recombinant NeqSSB-TaqS exhibited a much higher extension rate (1000 bp template in 20 s), processivity (19 nt), thermostability (half-life 35 min at 95°C) and higher tolerance to PCR inhibitors (0.3–1.25% of whole blood, 0.84–13.5 μg of lactoferrin and 4.7–150 ng of heparin) than Taq Stoffel DNA polymerase. Furthermore, our studies show that NeqSSB-TaqS DNA polymerase has a high level of flexibility in relation to Mg²⁺ ions (from 1 to 5 mM) and KCl or (NH₄)₂SO₄ salts (more than 60 mM and 40 mM, respectively). Using NeqSSB-TaqS DNA polymerase instead of the Taq DNA polymerase could be a better choice in many PCR applications.

Free Energy Coupling between DNA Bending and Base Flipping

Free energy simulations are presented to probe the energetic coupling between DNA bending and the flipping of a central thymine in double stranded DNA 13mers. The energetics are shown to depend on the neighboring base pairs, and upstream C or T or downstream C tended to make flipping more costly. Flipping to the major groove side was generally preferred. Bending aids flipping, by pushing the system up in free energy, but for small and intermediate bending angles the two were uncorrelated. At higher bending angles, bending and flipping became correlated, and bending primed the system for base flipping toward the major groove. Flipping of the 6-4 pyrimidine-pyrimidone and pyrimidine dimer photoproducts is shown to be more facile than for undamaged DNA. For the damages, major groove flipping was preferred, and DNA bending was much facilitated in the 6-4 pyrimidine-pyrimidone damaged system. Aspects of the calculations were verified by structural analyses of protein-DNA complexes with flipped bases.

Design and Discovery of New Combinations of Mutant DNA Polymerases and Modified DNA Substrates

Chemical modifications can enhance the properties of DNA by imparting nuclease resistance and generating more-diverse physical structures. However, native DNA polymerases generally cannot synthesize significant lengths of DNA with modified nucleotide triphosphates. Previous efforts have identified a mutant of DNA polymerase I from Thermus aquaticus DNA (SFM19) as capable of synthesizing a range of short, 2'-modified DNAs; however, it is limited in the length of the products it can synthesize. Here, we rationally designed and characterized ten mutants of SFM19. From this, we identified enzymes with substantially improved activity for the synthesis of 2'F-, 2'OH-, 2'OMe-, and 3'OMe-modified DNA as well as for reverse transcription of 2'OMe DNA. We also evaluated mutant DNA polymerases previously only tested for synthesis for 2'OMe DNA and showed that they are capable of an expanded range of modified DNA synthesis. This work significantly expands the known combinations of modified DNA and Taq DNA polymerase mutants.

DNA Polymerases Divide the Labor of Genome Replication

DNA polymerases synthesize DNA in only one direction, but large genomes require RNA priming and bidirectional replication from internal origins. We review here the physical, chemical, and evolutionary constraints underlying these requirements. We then consider the roles of the major eukaryotic replicases, DNA polymerases α, δ, and ɛ, in replicating the nuclear genome. Pol α has long been known to extend RNA primers at origins and on Okazaki fragments that give rise to the nascent lagging strand. Taken together, more recent results of mutation and ribonucleotide incorporation mapping, electron microscopy, and immunoprecipitation of nascent DNA now lead to a model wherein Pol ɛ and Pol δ, respectively, synthesize the majority of the nascent leading and lagging strands of undamaged DNA.

DNA Polymerase Conformational Dynamics and the Role of Fidelity-Conferring Residues: Insights from Computational Simulations

Herein we investigate the molecular bases of DNA polymerase I conformational dynamics that underlie the replication fidelity of the enzyme. Such fidelity is determined by conformational changes that promote the rejection of incorrect nucleotides before the chemical ligation step. We report a comprehensive atomic resolution study of wild type and mutant enzymes in different bound states and starting from different crystal structures, using extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that cover a total timespan of ~5 ms. The resulting trajectories are examined via a combination of novel methods of internal dynamics and energetics analysis, aimed to reveal the principal molecular determinants for the (de)stabilization of a certain conformational state. Our results show that the presence of fidelity-decreasing mutations or the binding of incorrect nucleotides in ternary complexes tend to favor transitions from closed toward open structures, passing through an ensemble of semi-closed intermediates. The latter ensemble includes the experimentally observed ajar conformation which, consistent with previous experimental observations, emerges as a molecular checkpoint for the selection of the correct nucleotide to incorporate. We discuss the implications of our results for the understanding of the relationships between the structure, dynamics, and function of DNA polymerase I at the atomistic level.

Kinetic selection vs. free energy of DNA base pairing in control of polymerase fidelity

What is the free energy source enabling high-fidelity DNA polymerases (pols) to favor incorporation of correct over incorrect base pairs by 10(3)- to 10(4)-fold, corresponding to free energy differences of ΔΔGinc∼ 5.5-7 kcal/mol? Standard ΔΔG° values (∼0.3 kcal/mol) calculated from melting temperature measurements comparing matched vs. mismatched base pairs at duplex DNA termini are far too low to explain pol accuracy. Earlier analyses suggested that pol active-site steric constraints can amplify DNA free energy differences at the transition state (kinetic selection). A recent paper [Olson et al. (2013)J Am Chem Soc135:1205-1208] used Vent pol to catalyze incorporations in the presence of inorganic pyrophosphate intended to equilibrate forward (polymerization) and backward (pyrophosphorolysis) reactions. A steady-state leveling off of incorporation profiles at long reaction times was interpreted as reaching equilibrium between polymerization and pyrophosphorolysis, yielding apparent ΔG° = -RTlnKeq, indicating ΔΔG° of 3.5-7 kcal/mol, sufficient to account for pol accuracy without need of kinetic selection. Here we perform experiments to measure and account for pyrophosphorolysis explicitly. We show that forward and reverse reactions attain steady states far from equilibrium for wrong incorporations such as G opposite T. Therefore,[Formula: see text]values obtained from such steady-state evaluations ofKeqare not dependent on DNA properties alone, but depend largely on constraints imposed on right and wrong substrates in the polymerase active site.

Mechanisms of Theta Plasmid Replication

Plasmids are autonomously replicating pieces of DNA. This article discusses theta plasmid replication, which is a class of circular plasmid replication that includes ColE1-like origins of replication popular with expression vectors. All modalities of theta plasmid replication initiate synthesis with the leading strand at a predetermined site and complete replication through recruitment of the host's replisome, which extends the leading strand continuously while synthesizing the lagging strand discontinuously. There are clear differences between different modalities of theta plasmid replication in mechanisms of DNA duplex melting and in priming of leading- and lagging-strand synthesis. In some replicons duplex melting depends on transcription, while other replicons rely on plasmid-encoded trans-acting proteins (Reps); primers for leading-strand synthesis can be generated through processing of a transcript or in other replicons by the action of host- or plasmid-encoded primases. None of these processes require DNA breaks. The frequency of replication initiation is tightly regulated to facilitate establishment in permissive hosts and to achieve a steady state. The last section of the article reviews how plasmid copy number is sensed and how this feedback modulates the frequency of replication.

The chloroplast genomes of Bryopsis plumosa and Tydemania expeditiones (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta): compact genomes and genes of bacterial origin

Background

Species of Bryopsidales form ecologically important components of seaweed communities worldwide. These siphonous macroalgae are composed of a single giant tubular cell containing millions of nuclei and chloroplasts, and harbor diverse bacterial communities. Little is known about the diversity of chloroplast genomes (cpDNAs) in this group, and about the possible consequences of intracellular bacteria on genome composition of the host. We present the complete cpDNAs of Bryopsis plumosa and Tydemania expeditiones, as well as a re-annotated cpDNA of B. hypnoides, which was shown to contain a higher number of genes than originally published. Chloroplast genomic data were also used to evaluate phylogenetic hypotheses in the Chlorophyta, such as monophyly of the Ulvophyceae (the class in which the order Bryopsidales is currently classified).

Results

Both DNAs are circular and lack a large inverted repeat. The cpDNA of B. plumosa is 106,859 bp long and contains 115 unique genes. A 13 kb region was identified with several freestanding open reading frames (ORFs) of putative bacterial origin, including a large ORF (>8 kb) closely related to bacterial rhs-family genes. The cpDNA of T. expeditiones is 105,200 bp long and contains 125 unique genes. As in B. plumosa, several regions were identified with ORFs of possible bacterial origin, including genes involved in mobile functions (transposases, integrases, phage/plasmid DNA primases), and ORFs showing close similarity with bacterial DNA methyltransferases. The cpDNA of B. hypnoides differs from that of B. plumosa mainly in the presence of long intergenic spacers, and a large tRNA region. Chloroplast phylogenomic analyses were largely inconclusive with respect to monophyly of the Ulvophyceae, and the relationship of the Bryopsidales within the Chlorophyta.

Conclusions

The cpDNAs of B. plumosa and T. expeditiones are amongst the smallest and most gene dense chloroplast genomes in the core Chlorophyta. The presence of bacterial genes, including genes typically found in mobile elements, suggest that these have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer, which may have been facilitated by the occurrence of obligate intracellular bacteria in these siphonous algae.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1418-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Bacteriophage T7 DNA polymerase - sequenase

An ideal DNA polymerase for chain-terminating DNA sequencing should possess the following features: (1) incorporate dideoxy- and other modified nucleotides at an efficiency similar to that of the cognate deoxynucleotides; (2) high processivity; (3) high fidelity in the absence of proofreading/exonuclease activity; and (4) production of clear and uniform signals for detection. The DNA polymerase encoded by bacteriophage T7 is naturally endowed with or can be engineered to have all these characteristics. The chemically or genetically modified enzyme (Sequenase) expedited significantly the development of DNA sequencing technology. This article reviews the history of studies on T7 DNA polymerase with emphasis on the serial key steps leading to its use in DNA sequencing. Lessons from the study and development of T7 DNA polymerase have and will continue to enlighten the characterization of novel DNA polymerases from newly discovered microbes and their modification for use in biotechnology.

Mapping 136 pathogenic mutations into functional modules in human DNA polymerase γ establishes predictive genotype-phenotype correlations for the complete spectrum of POLG syndromes

We establish the genotype-phenotype correlations for the complete spectrum of POLG syndromes by refining our previously described protocol for mapping pathogenic mutations in the human POLG gene to functional clusters in the catalytic core of the mitochondrial replicase, Pol γ (1). We assigned 136 mutations to five clusters and identify segments of primary sequence that can be used to delimit the boundaries of each cluster. We report that compound heterozygotes with two mutations from different clusters manifested more severe, earlier-onset POLG syndromes, whereas two mutations from the same cluster are less common and generally are associated with less severe, later onset POLG syndromes. We also show that specific cluster combinations are more severe than others and have a higher likelihood to manifest at an earlier age. Our clustering method provides a powerful tool to predict the pathogenic potential and predicted disease phenotype of novel variants and mutations in POLG, the most common nuclear gene underlying mitochondrial disorders. We propose that such a prediction tool would be useful for routine diagnostics for mitochondrial disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 18th European Bioenergetic Conference.

Proteomic dissection of DNA polymerization

DNA polymerases replicate the genome by associating with a range of other proteins that enable rapid, high-fidelity copying of DNA. This complex of proteins and nucleic acids is termed the replisome. Proteins of the replisome must interact with other networks of proteins, such as those involved in DNA repair. Many of the proteins involved in DNA polymerization and the accessory proteins are known, but the array of proteins they interact with, and the spatial and temporal arrangement of these interactions, are current research topics. Mass spectrometry is a technique that can be used to identify the sites of these interactions and to determine the precise stoichiometries of binding partners in a functional complex. A complete understanding of the macromolecular interactions involved in DNA replication and repair may lead to discovery of new targets for antibiotics against bacteria and biomarkers for diagnosis of diseases, such as cancer, in humans.

Role of the LEXE motif of protein-primed DNA polymerases in the interaction with the incoming nucleotide

The LEXE motif, conserved in eukaryotic type DNA polymerases, is placed close to the polymerization active site. Previous studies suggested that the second Glu was involved in binding a third noncatalytic ion in bacteriophage RB69 DNA polymerase. In the protein-primed DNA polymerase subgroup, the LEXE motif lacks the first Glu in most cases, but it has a conserved Phe/Trp and a Gly preceding that position. To ascertain the role of those residues, we have analyzed the behavior of mutants at the corresponding ϕ29 DNA polymerase residues Gly-481, Trp-483, Ala-484, and Glu-486. We show that mutations at Gly-481 and Trp-483 hamper insertion of the incoming dNTP in the presence of Mg(2+) ions, a reaction highly improved when Mn(2+) was used as metal activator. These results, together with previous crystallographic resolution of ϕ29 DNA polymerase ternary complex, allow us to infer that Gly-481 and Trp-483 could form a pocket that orients Val-250 to interact with the dNTP. Mutants at Glu-486 are also defective in polymerization and, as mutants at Gly-481 and Trp-483, in the pyrophosphorolytic activity with Mg(2+). Recovery of both reactions with Mn(2+) supports a role for Glu-486 in the interaction with the pyrophosphate moiety of the dNTP.

Directed polymerase evolution

Polymerases evolved in nature to synthesize DNA and RNA, and they underlie the storage and flow of genetic information in all cells. The availability of these enzymes for use at the bench has driven a revolution in biotechnology and medicinal research; however, polymerases did not evolve to function efficiently under the conditions required for some applications and their high substrate fidelity precludes their use for most applications that involve modified substrates. To circumvent these limitations, researchers have turned to directed evolution to tailor the properties and/or substrate repertoire of polymerases for different applications, and several systems have been developed for this purpose. These systems draw on different methods of creating a pool of randomly mutated polymerases and are differentiated by the process used to isolate the most fit members. A variety of polymerases have been evolved, providing new or improved functionality, as well as interesting new insight into the factors governing activity.

Effect of the abortive infection mechanism and type III toxin/antitoxin system AbiQ on the lytic cycle of Lactococcus lactis phages

To survive in phage-containing environments, bacteria have evolved an array of antiphage systems. Similarly, phages have overcome these hurdles through various means. Here, we investigated how phages are able to circumvent the Lactococcus lactis AbiQ system, a type III toxin-antitoxin with antiviral activities. Lactococcal phage escape mutants were obtained in the laboratory, and their genomes were sequenced. Three unrelated genes of unknown function were mutated in derivatives of three distinct lactococcal siphophages: orf38 of phage P008, m1 of phage bIL170, and e19 of phage c2. One-step growth curve experiments revealed that the phage mutations had a fitness cost while transcriptional analyses showed that AbiQ modified the early-expressed phage mRNA profiles. The L. lactis AbiQ system was also transferred into Escherichia coli MG1655 and tested against several coliphages. While AbiQ was efficient against phages T4 (Myoviridae) and T5 (Siphoviridae), escape mutants of only phage 2 (Myoviridae) could be isolated. Genome sequencing revealed a mutation in gene orf210, a putative DNA polymerase. Taking these observations together, different phage genes or gene products are targeted or involved in the AbiQ phenotype. Moreover, this antiviral system is active against various phage families infecting Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A model for the mode of action of AbiQ is proposed.

Prechemistry nucleotide selection checkpoints in the reaction pathway of DNA polymerase I and roles of glu710 and tyr766

The accuracy of high-fidelity DNA polymerases such as DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) is governed by conformational changes early in the reaction pathway that serve as fidelity checkpoints, identifying inappropriate template–nucleotide pairings. The fingers-closing transition (detected by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based assay) is the unique outcome of binding a correct incoming nucleotide, both complementary to the templating base and with a deoxyribose (rather than ribose) sugar structure. Complexes with mispaired dNTPs or complementary rNTPs are arrested at an earlier stage, corresponding to a partially closed fingers conformation, in which weak binding of DNA and nucleotide promote dissociation and resampling of the substrate pool. A 2-aminopurine fluorescence probe on the DNA template provides further information about the steps preceding fingers closing. A characteristic 2-aminopurine signal is observed on binding a complementary nucleotide, regardless of whether the sugar is deoxyribose or ribose. However, mispaired dNTPs show entirely different behavior. Thus, a fidelity checkpoint ahead of fingers closing is responsible for distinguishing complementary from noncomplementary nucleotides and routing them toward different outcomes. The E710A mutator polymerase has a defect in the early fidelity checkpoint such that some complementary dNTPs are treated as if they were mispaired. In the Y766A mutant, the early checkpoint functions normally, but some correctly paired dNTPs do not efficiently undergo fingers closing. Thus, both mutator alleles cause a blurring of the distinction between correct and incorrect base pairs and result in a larger fraction of errors passing through the prechemistry fidelity checkpoints.