DNA synthesis in permeabilized mouse L cells

Nonconventional involvement of LysRS in the molecular mechanism of USF2 transcriptional activity in FcepsilonRI-activated mast cells

Reports of the biological multifunctional activity of various aminoacyl tRNA synthetases have recently accumulated in the literature. The primary function of these critical enzymes is to charge various tRNAs with their appropriate amino acids, thus producing the building blocks of protein synthesis. We have previously shown that lysyl tRNA synthetase (LysRS) associates with microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) and regulates its activity by synthesis of Ap(4)A in mast cells. Here, we show for the first time that LysRS associates with another transcription factor, USF2, which unlike MITF, is ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells. Using mast cells, we have found that USF2 is negatively regulated by Hint and Ap(4)A acts as a positive regulator of USF2 by a molecular mechanism similar to that described for MITF. Since USF2 plays a significant role in a variety of cellular functions, our finding suggests that LysRS and Ap(4)A may be involved in general regulation of gene transcription.

Impact of 2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole riboside and inhibitors of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis on human cytomegalovirus genome maturation

Herpesvirus genome maturation is a complex process in which concatemeric DNA molecules are translocated into capsids and cleaved at specific sequences to produce encapsidated-unit genomes. Bacteriophage studies further suggest that important ancillary processes, such as RNA transcription and DNA synthesis, concerned with repeat duplication, recombination, branch resolution, or damage repair may also be involved with the genome maturation process. To gain insight into the biochemical activities needed for herpesvirus genome maturation, 2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole riboside (BDCRB) was used to allow the accumulation of human cytomegalovirus concatemeric DNA while the formation of new genomes was being blocked. Genome formation was restored upon BDCRB removal, and addition of various inhibitors during this time window permitted evaluation of their effects on genome maturation. Inhibitors of protein synthesis, RNA transcription, and the viral DNA polymerase only modestly reduced genome formation, demonstrating that these activities are not required for genome maturation. In contrast, drugs that inhibit both viral and host DNA polymerases potently blocked genome formation. Radioisotope incorporation in the presence of a viral DNA polymerase inhibitor further suggested that significant host-mediated DNA synthesis occurs throughout the viral genome. These results indicate a role for host DNA polymerases in genome maturation and are consistent with a need for terminal repeat duplication, debranching, or damage repair concomitant with DNA packaging or cleavage. Similarities to previously reported effects of BDCRB on guinea pig cytomegalovirus were also noted; however, BDCRB induced low-level formation of a supergenomic species called monomer+ DNA that is unique to human cytomegalovirus. Analysis of monomer+ DNA suggested a model for its formation in which BDCRB permits limited packaging of concatemeric DNA but induces skipping of cleavage sites.

The function of lysyl-tRNA synthetase and Ap4A as signaling regulators of MITF activity in FcepsilonRI-activated mast cells

The involvement of microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) in the function of mast cells, melanocytes, and osteoclasts has recently started to be investigated in depth. In a previous study, we found Hint to be associated with MITF in mast cells and showed that it suppresses MITF's transcriptional activity. Here, we have found that lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) is also associated with MITF and forms a multicomplex with MITF and Hint. We have also shown that Ap4A, an endogenous molecule consisting of two adenosine linked by four phosphate which is known to be synthesized by LysRS, is accumulated intracellularily above 700 microM in IgE-Ag-activated mast cells, binds to Hint, liberates MITF, and thus leads to the activation of MITF-dependent gene expression. This implies that LysRS plays a key role via Ap4A as an important signaling molecule in MITF transcriptional activity.

The involvement of diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate in cell cycle arrest and regulation of apoptosis

Diadenosine oligophosphates (Ap(n)A) have been proposed to function as intracellular and extracellular signaling molecules in animal cells. Here, we have examined the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of apoptosis by diadenosine 5',5"'-P(1),P(4)-tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A). We have shown a dose-dependent apoptotic response in cells treated with Ap(4)A. Flow cytometric analysis indicated an involvement of Ap(4)A at an early stage of G1/S arrest. No difference in the amount of p21(waf1) was observed in HL60 cells treated with Ap(4)A compared to control cells. The level of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) dropped dramatically when apoptosis was extensive. The cleavage of pRb was abrogated if Ap(4)A-treated cells were incubated with general caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. Ap(4)A also induced a profound decrease in the level of the Bcl-2 protein. The lack of effect of Ap(4)A on CDK1 activity indicated that Ap(4)A is not involved in "aberrant mitosis". We suggest that in vivo Ap(4)A may play a significant role in tumor growth suppression by inducing apoptosis.

Synthesis of mitochondrial DNA in permeabilised human cultured cells

The mechanisms that underlie the maintenance of and increase in mutant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are central to our understanding of mitochondrial disease. We have therefore developed a technique based on saponin permeabilisation that allows the study of mtDNA synthesis in intact cells. Permeabilisation of cells has been extensively used in an established method both for studying transcription and DNA replication in the nucleus and for measuring respiratory chain activities in mitochondria. We have quantitatively studied incorporation of radiolabelled DNA precursors into mtDNA in human cell lines derived from controls and from patients with mitochondrial DNA disease. Total cell DNA is extracted, restriction digested and Southern blotted, newly synthesised mtDNA being proportional to the label incorporated in each restriction band. A rate of synthesis can then be derived by estimating the relative steady-state mtDNA after probing with full-length mtDNA. Where co-existing mutant and wild-type mtDNA (heteroplasmy) can be distinguished using restriction digestion, their rates of synthesis can be compared within a single cell line. This will be particularly useful in elucidating the pathophysiology of mtDNA diseases in which the distribution of mutant and wild-type mtDNA in cell lines in patient tissues may evolve with time.

Factors influencing the inhibition of repair of irradiation-induced DNA damage by 2'-deoxycoformycin and deoxyadenosine

Permeabilized L5178Y cells were used to investigate the mechanism underlying inhibition of the repair of irradiation-induced DNA strand breaks by 2'-deoxycoformycin combined with deoxyadenosine. Permeabilized cells repaired DNA strand breaks as effectively as did intact cells, and at deoxyadenosine concentrations that produced similar levels of deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP), repair of DNA strand breaks was inhibited by 2'-deoxycoformycin plus deoxyadenosine to a comparable extent in both types of cells. Accompanying the increase in intracellular dATP produced by 2'-deoxycoformycin combined with deoxyadenosine was a fall in levels of deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP), deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP), and deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP). The addition of dTTP, dGTP, and dCTP reversed the inhibition of DNA repair by 2'-deoxycoformycin plus deoxyadenosine, although the level of dATP was not affected. Reducing the phosphorylation of deoxy-adenosine to dATP by the addition of adenosine prevented the decrease in levels of dTTP, dGTP, and dCTP and the inhibition of DNA repair by 2'-deoxycoformycin and deoxyadenosine. In contrast, increasing the intracellular levels of dATP by the addition of 2'-deoxycoformycin together with dATP, deoxyadenosine diphosphate (dADP), or deoxyadenosine monophosphate (dAMP) had no effect on the levels of the other deoxynucleotide triphosphates and did not inhibit DNA repair. Moreover, DNA repair was not inhibited by the breakdown products of deoxyadenosine, adenine, or deoxyribose. These results suggest that inhibition of the repair of irradiation-induced DNA strand breaks by 2'-deoxycoformycin combined with deoxyadenosine requires the phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine and involves alterations in the levels of deoxynucleotide triphosphates.

Early replication signals in nuclei of Chinese hamster ovary cells

DNA replication sites generally known as replicon domains were resolved as individual replication signals in interphase nuclei of permeabilized Chinese hamster ovary cells by immunofluorescent microscopy. Biotin-11-dUTP was utilized as a tool to label newly replicated DNA in permeable cells and to study the distribution of nascent DNA in pulselabel and in pulsechase experiments. Active sites of DNA replication were visualized in exponentially growing cells and in synchronized cultures throughout the S phase. Fluorescent images of replication sites were analyzed by standard fluorescence microscopy and in three dimensions by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The rapid increase in number of discrete foci of newly replicated DNA is an indication that DNA synthesis starts at limited number of sites in mammalian nuclei rather than at thousands of foci at the same time.

In situ enzymology of DNA replication and ultraviolet-induced DNA repair synthesis in permeable human cells

Using permeable diploid human fibroblasts, we have studied the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate concentration dependences of ultraviolet- (UV-) induced DNA repair synthesis and semiconservative DNA replication. In both cell types (AG1518 and IMR-90) examined, the apparent Km values for dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP for DNA replication were between 1.2 and 2.9 microM. For UV-induced DNA repair synthesis, the apparent Km values were substantially lower, ranging from 0.11 to 0.44 microM for AG1518 cells and from 0.06 to 0.24 microM for IMR-90 cells. Control experiments established that these values were not significantly influenced by nucleotide degradation during the permeable cell incubations or by the presence of residual endogenous nucleotides within the permeable cells. Recent data implicate DNA polymerase delta in UV-induced repair synthesis and suggest that DNA polymerases alpha and delta are both involved in semiconservative replication. We measured Km values for dGTP and dTTP for polymerases alpha and delta, for comparison with the values for replication and repair synthesis. Km values for polymerase alpha were 2.0 microM for dGTP and 5.0 microM for dTTP. For polymerase delta, the Km values were 2.0 microM for dGTP and 3.5 microM for dTTP. The deoxyribonucleotide Km values for DNA polymerase delta are much greater than the Km values for UV-induced repair synthesis, suggesting that when polymerase delta functions in DNA repair, its characteristics are altered substantially either by association with accessory proteins or by direct posttranslational modification. In contrast, the deoxyribonucleotide binding characteristics of the DNA replication machinery differ little from those of the isolated DNA polymerases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A possible role for altered poly(adenosine diphosphoribose)-synthesis in the sensitivity of human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells to ionizing radiation

Cytotoxicity, extent of DNA double-strand breaks, and stimulation of poly(adenosine diphosphoribose)-synthesis were measured in two established human head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines (183A and 1483) following x-irradiation. The 1483 cell line was 15-fold more resistant to x-ray-mediated cytotoxicity than was the 183A cell line. X-ray-mediated DNA strand cleavage also differed in these two cell lines with the absolute frequency of DNA double-strand breaks in the sensitive cells 183A cells being twice that in the resistant 1483 cell line. No detectable stimulation of poly(adenosine diphosphoribose)-synthesis was measured in the sensitive 183A cells whereas a marked increase in incorporation of [3H]-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was readily detected following x-irradiation of the resistant 1483 cells. These findings suggest a possible role of altered poly(adenosine diphosphoribose)-synthesis in the sensitivity of human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells to ionizing radiation.

Introduction and metabolism of pentose and hexose phosphates in permeabilized Morris hepatoma 5123TC cells

Metabolism of arabinose 5-P, ribose 5-P and glucose 6-P in permeabilized and resealed Morris hepatoma 5123TC cells was investigated by measuring the contribution of these compounds to nucleic acid biosynthesis. The level of [14C]-arabinose (non-phosphorylated) incorporation into nucleic acids was slight, presumably due to the low activity of the transport system or the absence or low activity of a specific 'kinase' enzyme. The permeabilizing procedure involved the brief treatment of Morris hepatoma 5123TC cells with lysolecithin and resulted in a cell population which was permeable to charged compounds i.e. sugar phosphates and nucleotides, that otherwise could not cross the plasma membrane. The permeabilized (and resealed cells) retained normal cellular morphology and intactness of specific organelles as judged by the maintenance of functional properties. Following permeabilization, these cells resealed when transferred back to normal growth medium, and continued to divide and increase at the same rates as control non-permeabilized cell cultures. The permeabilized cells incorporated deoxyribonucleotides ([methyl -3H]-TTP) into DNA at a linear rate of 0.047 nmol per 10(7) cells min-1, representing 90-100 per cent of the DNA synthesis rate in vivo. The permeabilization technique, when coupled with procedures to establish cell synchrony, permitted the comparative estimate of the contributions of [14C]-labelled arabinose 5-P, ribose 5-P and glucose 6-P to RNA, DNA, amino acids, CO2, lactate and sugar mono- and bisphosphates. The percentage of [14C]-isotope incorporated into total nucleic acids by these three labelled sugar phosphates were 2.3, 4.9 and 6.3 respectively. Possible reasons for the lower incorporation of 14C from arabinose 5-P are given. The results are consistent with the proposal that arabinose 5-P, an intermediate of the L-type pentose pathway activity of 5123TC cells, was incorporated into nucleic acids by its interconversion with ribulose 5-P and ribose 5-P and thus into PRPP. This study represents the first report of sugar phosphate as opposed to free sugar metabolism by tumour cells in culture.

Early nuclear events in lymphocyte proliferation. The role of DNA strand break repair and ADP ribosylation

The previously reported extensive DNA strand breakage in resting murine splenic lymphocytes is not an artifact of the extraction or assay procedure. The benzamide inhibitors of poly(ADP ribose) synthetase (pADPRS), such as 5-methoxybenzamide (MBA), had been shown to block the strand break repair occurring within 2 h of activation of splenic lymphocytes by the mitogen concanavalin A (conA); the inhibitors also blocked early events in proliferation, such as blast formation, as well as entry into S phase. Inhibitors of pADPRS blocked lymphocyte proliferation by inhibiting the activity of this enzyme, rather than by non-specific effects. Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of alpha-polymerase, also prevented DNA strand break repair in conA-stimulated cells but, unlike MBA, did not prevent blast formation. DNA strand breaks accumulated in the presence of MBA at the same linear rate (300-400/h) in both resting and conA-treated cells. We and others had hypothesized that this accumulation was due to a continuous production of strand breaks in lymphocytes, leading to their accumulation in presence of repair inhibitors. However, incubation of the cells with aphidicolin at concentrations that inhibited repair did not result in any increase in strand breaks. The hypothesis of continuous cycling of breaks is incorrect; accumulation of breaks was due to some indirect effect of MBA, such as a possible disinhibition of an ADP-ribosylation-sensitive endonuclease described in other cell types. All of the early stages of lymphocyte proliferation, including blast transformation (but not DNA synthesis) require ADP ribosylation. Repair of DNA strand breaks is not a precondition for blast formation, though experiments involving the combined effects of MBA and aphidicolin showed that repair of the breaks is essential in order for the cells to replicate their DNA. Our data are consistent with a model suggesting that DNA strand breaks introduced into differentiated cells act as an additional safety-catch mechanism that restrains them from replicating their genetic material but not from undergoing the early stages of proliferation.

Incorporation of nucleotide tracers into nucleic acids in permeabilized cells and cellular homogenates

The validity of permeabilized cells as a model of DNA and RNA synthesis was studied with the use of mouse S-49 lymphoblastoma cells rendered permeable by exposure to L-alpha-lysophosphatidylcholine. The permeabilized cells readily incorporated exogenously supplied cytosine and uracil nucleotides into HClO4-insoluble macromolecular material. However, the incorporation of these tracers did not require the three other complementary nucleotides, and adenine, guanine or thymine nucleotide tracers were incorporated at much lower rates. These results, which were also obtained with permeabilized Abelsohn-leukaemia-virus-transformed mouse macrophages, mouse neuroblastoma cells and S-49 lymphoblastoma homogenates, are inconsistent with semi-conservative DNA replication or RNA transcription; rather, they suggest the involvement of terminal nucleotidyltransferase(s) that mediate the incorporation of uracil and cytosine nucleotides. DNA synthesis was restored when permeabilized cells or cellular homogenates were supplemented with denatured salmon testes DNA. These results suggest that endogenous cellular DNA is impaired in its function as a template for DNA replication and transcription in vitro. Metabolic channelling or compartmentation of nucleic-acid-precursor pathways could not be demonstrated in the permeabilized cells.

Increased protein ADPribosylation in HeLa cells exposed to the anti-cancer drug methotrexate

DNA single-strand breaks (about 200-300 per genome) were transiently detected during the first hour when HeLa cells were incubated for up to 24 h with 100 microM methotrexate. There was an expected increase in ADPribosyltransferase activity, which reached a maximum 2-3-fold stimulation at 3 h but which was still greater than in control cells after 24 h. When hypoxanthine (25 microM) was present in the incubations together with the methotrexate the transferase was no longer activated, although basal, control levels of activity were still present. DNA strand breaks were reduced in number but were still just detectable under these conditions. Cellular NAD+ levels were mostly unaffected by the various drug treatments, except for a small transient decrease after 1 h, possibly as a result of the transferase activation. Methotrexate did not cause an increase in the rate of ADPribose degradation. Degradation of ADPribose residues labelled in a preincubation period in permeabilized cells was more extensive at pH 6.0 was a 50% loss of acid-insoluble radioactivity in 30 min at 26 degrees C. At pH 8.0 the loss did not exceed 30-35% even after 90 min incubation. The activation of the transferase is reflected in a general increase in protein ADPribosylation detected by autoradiography of 32P-labelled proteins in 6.25-18.25%T gradient acrylamide gels. There were three major acceptors with molecular masses of 17, 100 and over 100 kDa, which could be respectively a histone, a transferase-derived peptide fragment and the transferase itself. When ADPribosyltransferase was inhibited with 3-amino-benzamide DNA single-strand breaks were no longer detected. However, this had no observably signficant effect on the kinetics of loss of cell viability (from Trypan blue uptake), cell number or colony-forming ability. Similar results are observed in most cases when the activation of the transferase, resulting from the incubation of cells with methotrexate, is inhibited by hypoxanthine. We conclude from such observations that the enhanced protein ADPribosylation seen in the cells exposed to methotrexate is a direct consequence of drug-exposure, but does not have any significant influence over the course of events leading ultimately to cell death.

Proteolysis of poly(ADPribose) polymerase by a pyrophosphate- and nucleotide-stimulated system dependent on two different classes of proteinase

We have identified a system in human lymphocytes which proteolytically cleaves poly(ADPribose) polymerase to specific fragments of molecular weight 96 000, 79 000 and 62 000-60 000. This proteolytic processing is dependent on two different classes of proteinase. One of these proteinases is a serine proteinase, since the processing is inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, antipain, soybean trypsin inhibitor and diisopropylfluorophosphate, the other is a cathepsin D-like proteinase, since processing is also inhibited by pepstatin A. The processing that occurs in permeabilized cells can be simulated in vitro by treating purified poly(ADPribose) polymerase with trypsin, but not by treating the polymerase with cathepsin D. Since processing at the cellular level is blocked by inhibitors of either of the two proteinases, but only trypsin could cleave the purified polymerase, this suggests that in the cell the action of the cathepsin D-like proteinase is a prerequisite for cleavage of poly(ADPribose) polymerase by the serine proteinase. Thus, a pathway involving sequential action of these proteinases may exist. Proteolysis in permeabilized human lymphocytes is stimulated by nucleotides containing a pyrophosphate group, such as 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate and ATP, or by pyrophosphate itself. In contrast, nucleotides containing only a single phosphate, such as AMP and cyclic AMP, or inorganic sodium phosphate, do not show this stimulation of proteolysis. These results suggest that a pyrophosphate linkage is the minimum molecular requirement for stimulation of proteolytic processing of poly(ADPribose) polymerase. Proteolytic processing of poly(ADPribose) polymerase is independent of ADPribosylation. Following proteolysis, specific fragments of the polymerase, particularly the 62 000-60 000 molecular weight fragment(s), are still capable of being ADPribosylated.

Inhibition of replicative DNA synthesis in nuclei of Strongylocentrotus intermedium urchin embryo by 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-aminonucleoside 5'-triphosphates

2',3'-Dideoxy-3'-aminonucleoside 5'-triphosphates have been shown to be inhibitors of replicative DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei of sea urchin embryo. These compounds inhibit the Okazaki fragment synthesis. The effect of 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-aminothymidine 5'-triphosphate and arabinothymidine 5'-triphosphate is reversible when adding the corresponding substrate for DNA synthesis, 2'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate.

In vitro DNA replication in association with the nuclear matrix of permeable mammalian cells

DNA replication has been studied in in vitro cultured bovine liver cells permeabilized in 0.02% Triton X-100. The Km for TTP was 20 microM. The initial incorporation rate at 10 microM TTP concentration was about 12% of the in vivo synthesis and declined very strongly within 1 h. A similar decline of the incorporation rate was found at 0.12 microM TTP concentration. DNAase I digestion of DNA-matrix complexes obtained from isolated nuclei in 2 M NaCl revealed that newly replicated DNA was preferentially bound to the nuclear matrix. A similar digestion with S1 nuclease caused a selective release of short duplexes of Okazaki fragments with the complementary parental strand. The results show that in vivo replication continues in permeabilized cells in an almost unchanged way, except for a gradual decline of its rate which is mainly due to inactivation of one or more essential components.

Regulation of repair of naturally occurring DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes

Mouse lymphocytes have been shown to contain DNA strand breaks that were repaired within 2h of onset of culture with mitogen. Inhibitors of ADP ribosylation prevented this repair and blocked cell proliferation. The mitogen concanavalin A caused the internal concentration of NAD+, the substrate of the ADP ribose polymerase, to rise to about double that of resting cells within 45 min of stimulation. Addition of 300 micron nicotinamide to the culture in absence of mitogen also resulted in a similar increase in internal [NAD+], resulting in increased ADP ribosylation activity (measured in permeabilized cells) and in joining of DNA strand breaks; however, none of the subsequent events of lymphocyte activation such as blast transformation and DNA synthesis occurred. These findings indicate that (1) cellular [NAD+] is a rate limiting factor in repair of DNA strand breaks in resting lymphocytes and (2) this repair is necessary but not sufficient for lymphocyte proliferation.

Effect of benzamide on cell growth, NAD and ATP levels in cultured chick limb bud cells

Benzamide, an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase, which augments chondrocytic differentiation, significantly decreased poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase activity in cultured chick limb bud cells. Benzamide significantly increased cell proliferation, but did not affect DNA synthesis per cultured cell. Furthermore, benzamide significantly increased NAD levels and synthesis, while it did not affect ATP levels and synthesis except for ATP synthesis on day 1. Thus, we suggest that benzamide augments both cell proliferation and NAD synthesis during chondrocytic differentiation.

Activation of ADP-ribosyltransferase in polyamine-depleted mammalian cells

Mammalian fibroblasts were cultured in the presence of alpha-methylornithine and/or methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), which inhibit the synthesis of polyamines. This led to a decrease in the cellular content of the polyamines spermine and spermidine by up to 60% when the cells were grown in the presence of both drugs together. The activity of the chromatin-associated enzyme ADP-ribosyltransferase was enhanced 2-3-fold in the drug-treated cells when measured in cells subsequently rendered permeable to exogenous NAD+, the substrate for the transferase. This is a novel and surprising observation, since the transferase is invariably activated by the addition of polyamines to a suitable incubation system such as permeabilized cells, isolated nuclei or the purified enzyme. We found no evidence that the activation was due to the appearance of DNA strand breaks, by using a variety of procedures including both neutral [the 'nucleoid' technique of Cook & Brazell [(1975) J. Cell Sci. 19, 261-279; (1976) J. Cell Sci. 22, 287-302]] and alkaline sucrose-gradient centrifugation and gel electrophoresis, suggesting that this therefore may not be the only means of regulating the activity of ADP-ribosyltransferase and that polyamines may have a role to play in this regard in vivo.

Nascent DNA chains synthesized in reversibly permeable cells of mouse thymocytes

Freshly prepared thymocytes continue to synthesize DNA under hypotonic conditions in the presence of 4.5% dextran T-150, the four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and ATP. Permeable cells could seal the membrane in a serum-enriched medium within a few hours. 2'-Deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate is effectively substituted by 5-mercuri-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate as a substrate. The newly synthesized mercurated DNA can be separated from cellular DNA and RNA on a thiol-agarose affinity matrix. The rate of incorporation of [3H]thymidine triphosphate into permeable cells is the same as that of the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into intact cells, corresponding to approximately 30% of the rate in vivo. Synthesis in permeable cells reflects DNA replication shown by inhibitors such as 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate (aCTP), nalidixic acid and novobiocin and by density shift experiments. More than 80% of the newly synthesized low-molecular-mass DNA, 8-60 nucleotides in length, consists of RNA-linked DNA. This conclusion is based on phosphorylation with [gamma-32]ATP and polynucleotide kinase and rephosphorylation after alkaline hydrolysis. The 5' end of RNA consists of adenylate, guanylate, cytidylate and uridylate residues in a ratio of 4:3:1.5:1.5.

Nucleotide-stimulated proteolysis of histone H1

We have identified a proteolytic system that selectively degrades histone H1 in normal human lymphocytes. Treatment of permeabilized human lymphocytes with a series of nucleotides produced a marked decrease in their histone H1 content compared to untreated cells. The nucleotide-stimulated process was selective for histone H1 because gel electrophoresis showed that almost all other lymphocyte protein bands remained constant while histone H1 disappeared. The elimination of histone H1 appears to be the result of proteolysis by a trypsin-like enzyme because it was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, antipain, soybean trypsin inhibitor, and diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Proteolysis was stimulated by P1,P4-di(adenosine-5') tetraphosphate, P1,P3-di(adenosine-5') triphosphate, P1,P5-di(adenosine-5') pentaphosphate, adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate, ATP, adenosine 5'-[alpha, beta-methylene]triphosphate, adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-methylene]triphosphate, ADP, CTP, GTP, UTP, dATP, or pyrophosphate, whereas AMP, adenosine, adenosine diphosphoribose, NAD+, cAMP, or sodium phosphate did not show this stimulation of proteolysis. ATP, [alpha, beta-methylene]ATP, [beta, gamma-methylene]ATP, and pyrophosphate all stimulated proteolysis, suggesting that a pyrophosphate linkage was necessary for this process. Thus, resting human lymphocytes contain a trypsin-like protease that is stimulated by nucleotides or pyrophosphate to selectively degrade histone H1.

Permeable embryonic cells of sea urchins as a model for studying nucleus-cytoplasm interactions

Sea urchin embryonic cells were made permeable by treating them with glycerol solution for the purpose of exchanging cytoplasmic components. When proteoglycans prepared from embryos of advanced stages of development permeated into these glycerinated cells, these substances accumulated rapidly in the nucleus, being bound with chromatin.

Studies on the mechanism of action of tiazofurin metabolism to an analog of NAD with potent IMP dehydrogenase-inhibitory activity

Following the parenteral administration of tiazofurin, 2-beta D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide (thiazole nucleoside, TR), a potent but reversible inhibitor of IMP dehydrogenase is generated in subcutaneous nodules of the P388 leukemia. The compound responsible for this effect has been isolated from homogenates of the tumor by ion-exchange HPLC, and its presence monitored by enzyme-inhibition assay. The inhibitor has also been prepared by incubation of tiazofurin with P388 cells in culture. Chromatographically, the inhibitory principle exhibits a moderately strong set negative charge at pH 3, and elutes in the general vicinity of the nucleoside-5'-diphosphates; its absorption maximum in aqueous solution (pH 7) lies at 252 nm. Exposure of the molecule to snake-venom phosphodiesterase or to nucleotide pyrophosphatase destroys its inhibitory potency, whereas other phosphodiesterases are either less effective or inert. Since these results suggested that the anabolite might be a dinucleotide with a phosphodiester linkage of the kind found in NAD, attempts were made to synthesize such an analogue from the 5'-monophosphate of thiazole nucleoside and ATP-Mg2+, using a purified preparation of NAD pyrophosphorylase; modest yields were obtained of a compound with chromatographic, spectral and enzyme-inhibitory properties identical to those of the material isolated from P388 tumor nodules. This enzyme-synthesized material was radioactive when [3H]ATP was used as cosubstrate, and yielded both AMP and thiazole nucleoside-5'-monophosphate on treatment with phosphodiesterase. It resisted attack by NAD glycohydrolase. An apparently identical dinucleotide was also synthesized chemically by means of the Khorana condensation. Mass spectral analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance studies with homogeneous preparations of both the enzymically and chemically synthesized compound were compatible with its being a dinucleotide in which the nicotinamide of NAD has been replaced by thiazole-4-carboxamide. Versus IMP dehydrogenase, the dinucleotide exhibited a K1 of approximately 2 X 10(-7) M and was non-competitive with NAD as the variable substrate. Other NAD utilizing enzymes, including representative dehydrogenases and poly ADP ribose polymerase, were, by comparison to mammalian IMPD, resistant to inhibition by TAD. The properties of this novel dinucleotide are compared and contrasted with those of analogs of NAD containing modifications in the pyridine, adenine or ribofuranose rings, as well as in the pyrophosphate bridge.

Acceptors of poly(ADP-ribosylation) in differentiation inducer-treated and untreated Friend erythroleukemia cells

Acceptors of poly(ADP-ribosylation) were identified and compared between inducer-treated and untreated Friend erythroleukemia cells. When permeabilized Friend cells were pulse labeled with 0.6 microM [32P]NAD for 1 min and labeled proteins analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, nucleosome core histones were found to be the primary acceptors, with an additional minor radioactive peak at a position corresponding to Mr = 170 000. Friend cells induced to differentiate by DMSO treatment showed a similar distribution of radioactivity, but with a 60% reduction in the overall level of poly(ADP-ribosylation) under identical labeling conditions. When isolated nuclei were pulse labeled with 0.6 microM [32P]NAD, radioactive peaks were not restricted mainly at the positions of core histones but widely dispersed in the area from 10 to 50 kDa with another peak at 170 kDa. Increase of NAD concentration resulted in the overall shift of peaks to higher molecular weight positions. When pulse-labeled nuclei or permeable cells were chased with 1 mM NAD, radioactive peaks migrated to positions of very high molecular weight (greater than Mr = 180 000). Remarkable suppression of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis was observed when DMSO, hexamethylene bisacetamide, butyric acid, or hemin were used as the inducers.

The effect of ATP on the incorporation of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I

The effect of ATP on Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I has been investigated as a function of the concentration of substrates and divalent metal ions in the presence of activated DNA as template. At saturating Mg2+ concentration 1.5 mM ATP stimulated 2.5-times the incorporation of [3H]dGTP when only one substrate (dGTP) was present, and had no significant effect in the presence of all four dNTPs, whereas under similar conditions, a saturating concentration of dATP increased the reaction rate only 1.5-times. At optimal Mn2+ concentrations ATP also showed a similarly marked effect only in the case when one substrate (dGTP) was present in the reaction. The optimal concentration of Mn2+ was shifted by ATP to higher concentrations both in the presence of one and of all four substrates. ATP did not influence the apparent Km for dGTP, while V was increased by a factor of about 2.5. The possible presence of dNTP in ATP, as inpurity, was ruled out by isotope dilution analysis. Thus, ATP stimulated the polymerization reaction only under limited conditions, i.e., when one substrate was present in the reaction.

NAD+, ADP-ribosylation and transcription in permeabilized mammalian cells

When permeabilized hamster fibroblasts were incubated with 4 mM-NAD+, the substrate for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, RNA polymerase I activity was inhibited by about 85%. This inhibition was not relieved by prior incubation of cells with 3-aminobenzamide, a potent inhibitor of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Digestion of cells with pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I resulted in the inhibition of RNA polymerase I by 80% and the activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase by up to 300%; prior incubation with 3-aminobenzamide did not prevent the inhibition of the RNA polymerase activity. No radioactivity was found associated with RNA polymerase I during later stages of purification of this enzyme from permeabilized cells previously incubated with [14C]NAD+. The inhibitory effect of NAD+ on RNA polymerase I was not specific for NAD+, as other small, negatively charged molecules with a nuclear location also inhibited the enzyme. The results do not support the concept of a role for ADP-ribosylation in transcription catalysed by RNA polymerase I.

A system of DNA replication in HeLa nuclei treated with inhibitors of protein synthesis

An in vitro DNA synthesizing system consisting os isolated nuclei from HeLa cells which had been treated with inhibitors of protein synthesis was investigated. Treatment with both 30 microgram/ml cycloheximide and 10 microgram/ml puromycin of S-phase cells reduced the rate of DNA synthesis immediately; however, the overall DNA synthesis continued for up to 4 h with a diminished rate and then ceased. In the nuclei which were isolated from the cells which had been incubated with these drugs for 6 h, little incorporation of [3H]TTP into acid-insoluble materials was observed. Addition of cytosol prepared from cells actively synthesizing DNA induced the incorporation of [3H]TTP in these nuclei, while little induction was observed by the addition of cytosol prepared from drug-treated cells in spite of the fact that the latter cytosol stimulated DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei from non-treated cells. The induced DNA synthesis was shown to require Mg2+, all four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and ATP, and to proceed discontinuously. The activity inducing DNA synthesis in drug-treated nuclei fluctuated with the phases in a cell cycle and it was not ascribed solely to DNA polymerase alpha nor to DNA ligase.

Precursor-product relationships between thymidine nucleotides and DNA in mammalian cells. II. Studies with dTDP and dTTP on cells partially lysed by Brij-58

Cells from Chinese hamster ovary cell cultures were partially lysed with Brij-58 and incubated in a reaction mixture containing deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and permitting semiconservative DNA replication. The reaction mixture was supplemented with [3H]dTTP and [14C]dTDP or, alternatively, with [14C]dTTP and [3H]dTDP, and at different times, 3H and 14C specific activities of dTTP and dTDP, as well as 3H/14C ratios in DNA were determined. Isotope ratios in DNA were in good agreement with those expected if dTTP but not dTDP was used as the proximate precursor for DNA synthesis. These data support the conclusion that the thymidine nucleotide used as proximate substrate for DNA replication is dTTP.

Replicative activity of isolated chromatin from proliferating and quiescent early passage and aging cultured mouse cells

Replicative activity of isolated chromatin from late passage cultured mouse cells has been compared to the activities of chromatin preparaions from dividing and quiescent early passage cells. Rates of endogenous DNA synthesis are similar for chromatin from growing or resting cells but this activity is stimulated 2.5-fold in senescent cell chromatin. Chromatin from growing young cells copies exogenously added single stranded DNA at the highest efficiency. Chromatin of senescent cells copies this template at a lower rate and resting young cell chromatin replicates single stranded DNA at the lowest efficiency. Similar relative rates are obtained when activated DNA is copied by the various chromatin preparations. Total activity of DNA polymerase extracted by salt from chromatin is similar for dividing and quiescent young cells but the proportion of DNA polymerase beta is higher in the latter. Elevated activities of DNA polymerases are extracted from chromatin of old cells. It is concluded, therefore, that chromatin-directed replication is differently arrested in non-dividing senescent cells and in quiescent early passage cells. The possible regulatory mechanisms of DNA replication in quiescence and aging are discussed.

An assay system for factors involved in mammalian DNA replication

An assay for cellular factors stimulating DNA synthesis by partially lysed CHO cells is presented. The assay is based on the observation that in highly lysed cells, DNA synthesis, as determined by [3H]dTTP incorporation, was only 2-5% of that in gently lysed cells, and that this low level of DNA synthesis could be increased by a factor of approx. 50 by the addition of CHO cell extract (i.e. supernatant of a cell homogenate subjected to high-speed centrifugation). Highly lysed cells were obtained by treatment with 0.1% Brij-58 and 240 mM KCl, while for the preparation of gently lysed cells, 0.01% Brij-58 and 80 mM KCl were used. Incorporation of [3H]dTTP reflected DNA synthesis qualitatively similar to that in intact cells. It was semiconservative, and no repair synthesis was detected unless cells were irradiated with ultraviolet light prior to parital lysis. DNA molecules of 4 S were synthesized and converted to DNA of more than 25 S via 6-12-S intermediates. DNA synthesis was restricted to nuclei from cells in S phase, and cell extract did not induce DNA synthesis in nuclei from cells in G1 phase. Stimulation of DNA synthesis by cell extract was concentration-dependent. Cell extract activity was recovered to more than 50% after (NH4)2SO4 precipitation. Heat-inactivation experiments suggested that cell extract contained at least tow factors timulating DNA replication. This system may, therefore, be used for the purification and characterization of factors participating in DNA replication of mammalian cells.

Association of poly(ADP-rib) synthesis with cessation of DNA synthesis and DNA fragmentation

CHO cells and cs-4-D3 cells were used to investigate the association between poly(ADP-rib) synthesis and the cessation of DNA synthesis and DNA fragmentation. The cs4-D3 cells are cold-sensitive DNA synthesis arrest mutants of CHO cells. Upon incubation at 33 degrees C, DNA synthesis in the cs4-D3 cells stops and the cells enter a prolonged G1 or G0 phase. The events that occurred when cs4 cells were incubated at 33 degrees C were similar to those that occurred when wild-type CHO cells grew to high density. (1) In both cases, DNA synthesis and cell growth stopped. (2) The NAD+ concentration/cell was 20-25% lower in growth-arrested cells than in logarithmically growing cells. (3) Poly(ADP-rib) synthesis was 3-4 fold higher in growth-arrested cells than in logarithmically growing cells. (4) The growth-inhibited cells developed DNA strand breaks which resulted in large percentages of their DNA appearing in the low molecular weight range of alkaline sucrose gradients. (5) Both the increased rate of poly(ADP-rib) synthesis and the development of DNA strand breaks appears to be characteristic of the G1 phase of the cell cycle. (6) When growth-inhibited cells were restored to conditions favorable for DNA synthesis and cell growth, the DNA strand breaks were repaired. (7) Prolonged incubation under growth-restrictive conditions resulted in the accumulation of more DNA strand breaks than the cells could repair. This was followed by cell death when the cells were restored to conditions favorable for cell growth.