In vitro HeLa cell DNA synthesis. II. Partial characterization of soluble factors stimulating nuclear dna synthesis

Rat testis as a radiobiological in vivo model for radionuclides

The radiobiological effect of intracellularly localised radionuclides emitting low energy electrons (Auger electrons) has received much attention. Most in vivo studies reported have been performed in the mouse testis. We have investigated the rat testis as an in vivo radiobiological model, with sperm-head survival, testis weight loss and also alteration in the blood plasma hormone levels of FSH and LH as radiobiological endpoints. Validation of the rat testis model was evaluated by using mean absorbed doses of up to 10 Gy from intratesticularly (i.t.) injected (111)In oxine or local X-ray irradiation. Biokinetics of the i.t. injected radionuclide was analysed by scintillation camera imaging and used in the absorbed dose estimation. By the analysis of the autoradiographs, the activity distribution was revealed. Cell fractionation showed (111)In to be mainly associated with the cell nuclei. External irradiations were monitored by thermoluminescence dosimeters. The sperm-head survival was the most sensitive radiobiological parameter correlated to the mean absorbed dose, with a D(37) of 2.3 Gy for (111)In oxine and 1.3 Gy for X rays. The levels of plasma pituitary gonadal hormones FSH and LH were elevated for absorbed doses >7.7 Gy. This investigation shows that the radiobiological model based on the rat testis has several advantages compared with the previously commonly used mouse testis model. The model is appropriate for further investigations of basic phenomena such as radiation geometry, intracellular kinetics and heterogeneity, crucial for an understanding of the biological effect of low-energy electrons.

Stimulation of human neuroblastoma DNA polymerase alpha and primase activities by a protein factor isolated from rat liver chromatin

Nuclear protein factor type 1 (NPF-1) that simulates IMR-32 primase-associated DNA polymerase alpha 1 and alpha 2 activities has been purified from a high-salt extract of liver chromatin from 6-month-old rats. The final purified factor lacks DNA polymerase alpha, RNA polymerase, and DNA-unwinding or topoisomerase type I activities. The stimulatory activity is destroyed by trypsin (60 min at 37 degrees C), DNase II (60 min at 37 degrees C), and heat treatment (2 min at 68 degrees C). The 125I-labeled NPF-1 does not bind to activated calf thymus DNA or poly(dC). However, it forms a ternary complex with DNA in the presence of DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex (alpha 1 and alpha 2). The ternary complex sediments on sucrose density gradient as a heavier band (11S). The NPF-1 also stimulates (2.5-fold) primase-catalyzed incorporation of GMP and dGMP from the corresponding triphosphates on poly(dC) template even in the presence of a high concentration of alpha-amanitin (400 micrograms/ml). The labeled duplex containing the poly(dC) template, [32P]-GTP, and [3H]dGTP loses 80% of the 32P label and 70% of the 3H label after treatment with 0.3 M KOH and DNase I, respectively. The products were isolated from reaction mixtures incubated with and without NPF-1 and subjected to alkaline sucrose-density-gradient sedimentation analysis. The results suggest that the rate of synthesis of DNA short chains is increased in the presence of NPF-1 without a concomitant increase in the chain length of the newly synthesized products.

Ataxia-telangiectasia cell extracts confer radioresistant DNA synthesis on control cells

We have investigated in greater detail the radioresistant DNA synthesis universally observed in cells from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). The approach employed in this study was to permeabilize cells with lysolecithin after gamma-irradiation and thus facilitate the introduction of cell extract into these cells. This permeabilization can be reversed by diluting the cells in growth medium. Cells treated in this way show the characteristic inhibition (control cells) or lack of it (A-T cells) after exposure to ionizing radiation. Introduction of A-T cells extracts into control cells prevented the radiation-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis normally observed in these cells. A-T cell extracts did not change the level of radioresistant DNA synthesis in A-T cells. Control cell extracts on the other hand did not influence the pattern of inhibition of DNA synthesis in either cell type. It seems likely that the agent involved is a protein because of its heat lability and sensitivity to trypsin digestion. It has a molecular weight (MW) in the range 20-30 000 D. The development of this assay system for a factor conferring radioresistant DNA synthesis on control cells provides a means of purifying this factor, and ultimately an approach to identifying the gene responsible.

Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of extracts from mammalian cell-cycle mutants on DNA replication in partially lysed cells

Heat-sensitive (arrested at 39.5 degrees C, multiplying at 33 degrees C) and cold-sensitive (arrested at 33 degrees C, multiplying at 39.5 degrees C) cell-cycle mutants of the P-815-X2 murine mastocytoma line were used for the preparation of cell extracts. These were tested for their effects on DNA synthesis in 'gently lysed cells' (obtained by treatment with 0.01% Brij-58) or 'highly lysed cells' (obtained by treatment with 0.1% Brij-58). Gently lysed cells prepared from proliferating P-815-X2 or mutant cells incorporated [3H]dTTP efficiently, while highly lysed cells exhibited a low level of [3H]dTTP incorporation which was markedly increased by the addition of extracts from proliferating cells. Extracts prepared from arrested mutant cells, however, were found to inhibit DNA synthesis by gently and highly lysed cells prepared from proliferating cells. After return of arrested mutant cells to the permissive temperature, stimulating activity in cell extract reappeared at the time of reentry of cells into S phase. Both stimulatory and inhibitory activities were associated with material(s) of molecular weight above 25 000, but differed in heat sensitivity and in sensitivity to immobilized proteinase and ribonuclease. Extracts from arrested cells counteracted the stimulating effects of extracts from proliferating cells with kinetics suggesting competitive interaction between stimulating and inhibitory factors.

The mechanism of inhibition of DNA replication in HeLa S3 cells by the antitumor drug Ledakrin and other antitumor 1-nitro-9-aminoacridines

These studies were aimed at characterizing the capability of an antitumor DNA-damaging drug, Ledakrin, and its analogs to inhibit DNA replication in HeLa S3 cells. The studied agents are extremely potent inhibitors of [3H]thymidine incorporation in whole cells. These compounds produced also a potent dose- and time-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis in subcellular systems derived from drug-treated cells, as found by [3H]dGTP incorporation in cellular lysates and nuclei. Experiments in which nuclei from control and drug-treated cells were supplemented with cytoplasmic fractions from either control or drug-treated cells, or with exogenous DNA, demonstrate that Ledakrin and other 1-nitro-9-aminoacridines inhibit DNA replication in HeLa S3 cells by interfering with the DNA template, while not affecting DNA polymerase(s) or other enzymes and replication factors. The negligible effect of Ledakrin added to lysates or nuclei from untreated cells suggests that metabolic activation is a prerequisite for replication inhibition by Ledakrin. Analysis of the size of newly synthesized DNA, by alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation, indicates that Ledakrin does not inhibit the initiation of replication but does interfere with chain growth. Impairment of DNA replication by 1-nitro-9-aminoacridines seems to originate from DNA damage and to result in the inhibition of cellular growth.

Inhibition of cell proliferation by interferons. 2. Changes in processing and stability of newly synthesized DNA in human lymphoblastoid (Daudi) cells

The inhibition of proliferation of Daudi cells in culture by human interferons is characterized by a change in the kinetics of labelling of different size classes of newly synthesized DNA. Initially, labelled precursors are incorporated exclusively into small DNA (Okazaki fragments) in both control and interferon-treated cells, as revealed by alkaline sucrose gradient centrifugation. In the interferon-treated cells, there is enhanced labelling of this small DNA after short periods of incorporation and slower conversion to larger DNA size classes, in comparison with the DNA of control cells. This effect is apparent after 12 h of interferon treatment, coincident with the onset of the inhibition of cell proliferation. It becomes progressively more marked up to 4 days, by which time cell growth has ceased completely. Experiments using bromodeoxyuridine as a density label and analysis of radioactive DNA on caesium chloride/caesium sulphate gradients also reveal that some newly replicated DNA may be unstable and may turn over within a few hours of its synthesis. The label derived from DNA breakdown is efficiently reincorporated into newly synthesized molecules. It is suggested that interferon treatment inhibits DNA replication by activating DNA turnover rather than by directly inhibiting synthesis. This effect, together with the progressive retardation of conversion of Okazaki fragments to larger DNA, may lead to the eventual failure of cell proliferation.

Identification of mammalian DNA repair factors using a reconstituted subcellular system. Partial characterization and subcellular location of a DNA repair-stimulating protein in hamster cells

By reconstituting lysolecithin-permeabilized hamster cells with endogenous proteins, a protein(s) which stimulated bleomycin-induced DNA repair synthesis was identified. The repair protein was inactivated by proteinase K and had an apparent molecular weight of 12 000-15 000 D. The following enzymatic activities were not detected in the partially purified DNA repair protein: general endonuclease, apurinic endonuclease, exonuclease, DNA polymerase or DNA polymerase beta-stimulating activity. The subcellular location of the DNA repair-stimulating activity was investigated by cytochalasin B enucleation; approx. 80% of the activity was associated with karyoplasts, suggesting a nuclear location. Neither the activity nor subcellular location of the repair protein fluctuated appreciably during the cell cycle, consistent with a physiological role in DNA repair. Although the function of the DNA repair protein is not yet known, this approach should be useful in identifying and characterizing mammalian DNA repair proteins.

Does hydroxyurea inhibit DNA replication in mouse cells by more than one mechanism?

Cell-free DNA synthesis was performed in a lysed cell system from mouse cell cultures. The in vitro reaction was totally inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide but unaffected by hydroxyurea or fluorodeoxyuridine when these compounds were added to the incubation mixture. However, in a preparation obtained from cells which had been blocked by hydroxyurea before lysis, the rate of DNA synthesis was markedly reduced. This effect could not have been caused by the depletion of the precursor pools as all necessary triphosphates were added to the in vitro incubation mixture. Analysis by alkaline density gradients showed that the ligation of primary synthesis products is retarded in hydroxyurea-pretreated lysed cells and that small fragments accumulate. These results suggest that hydroxyurea interferes with the processing of early replication products, preventing the formation of longer intermediates. Its mechanism is either independent from the well-known inhibition of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase or it may be the result of an as-yet-unknown function of this enzyme in a later step of replication. This observation could help to explain why cells appear to be blocked by hydroxyurea in the early part of the S phase (rather than at the G1/S border proper) and also why DNA repair synthesis is relatively insensitive to the drug.

Cellular factor stimulating DNA synthesis in nuclei isolated from sea urchin embryos

DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei of morula-stage embryos of sea urchin was studied. Embryonic extracts of cleaving embryos (but not unfertilized eggs) stimulated DNA synthesis in the in vitro system. A stimulatory factor was identified which eluted at 0.52 M KCl during chromatography on DEAE-cellulose column. This factor was inactivated by heat treatment and trypsin digestion, and was resolved into three active peaks by gel filtration (Strokes radii of 6.3, 4.6, and 4.1 nm, respectively).

Does hydroxyurea inhibit DNA replication in mouse cells by more than one mechanism?

Cell-free DNA synthesis was performed in a lysed cell system from mouse cell cultures. The in vitro reaction was totally inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide but unaffected by hydroxyurea or fluorodeoxyuridine when these compounds were added to the incubation mixture. However, in a preparation obtained from cells which had been blocked by hydroxyurea before lysis, the rate of DNA synthesis was markedly reduced. This effect could not have been caused by the depletion of the precursor pools as all necessary triphosphates were added to the in vitro incubation mixture. Analysis by alkaline density gradients showed that the ligation of primary synthesis products is retarded in hydroxyurea-pretreated lysed cells and that small fragments accumulate. These results suggest that hydroxyurea interferes with the processing of early replication products, preventing the formation of longer intermediates. Its mechanism is either independent from the well-known inhibition of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase or it may be the result of an as-yet-unknown function of this enzyme in a later step of replication. This observation could help to explain why cells appear to be blocked by hydroxyurea in the early part of the S phase (rather than at the G1/S border proper) and also why DNA repair synthesis is relatively insensitive to the drug.

Alteration of chromatin structure induced by the binding of adriamycin, daunorubicin and ethidium bromide

The results reported in this paper show the changes in chromatin structure caused by the binding of adriamycin (ADR), daunorubicin (DR) and ethidium bromide (EtdBr) to DNA in chromatin, either isolated or in nuclei or whole cells. Micrococcal nuclease was used as the structural probe of chromatin. The binding of the drugs to chromatin DNA induced two structural changes. First, it produced an unfolding of the overall chromatin structure as evidenced by the increased production of acid-soluble oligonucleotides for the drug-treated samples above the level of the control sample. Second, it caused a disruption of the core particle structure with increased production of DNA of subnucleosomal size and smearing of the nucleosome pattern. The effects were greatest for duanorubicin, followed by adriamycin and ethidium bromide.

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.

Role of cytosol proteins in DNA chain growth and chromatin replication in Friend erythroleukemia cell nuclei

The influence of cytosol proteins on the replication of DNA and chromatin in isolated nuclei from Friend erythroleukemia cells has been investigated. The overall process has been clearly shown to proceed stepwise. In the absence of cytosol proteins DNA chain growth tends to stop after the addition of approximately 200 nucleotides to the ends of growing chains. In the presence of cytosol proteins these sections grow to approximately 250 nucleotides, and participate in the stepwise extension of the replication process through adjacent nucleosomal sections of the template. Immediately following pulse labeling, the newly replicated DNA resides in a chromatin form which appears to be relatively resistant to digestion by micrococcal nuclease. During a chase interval, the association of the pulse-labeled DNA with nuclear proteins matures to a form which yields lengths of DNA upon digestion with micrococcal nuclease that correspond to mono-, di-, tri- and polynucleosomal units of chromatin. In the absence of cytosol proteins the nuclease resistant state of the labeled DNA tends to predominate and persist. The data support the view that DNA replication in a chromosomal setting proceeds stepwise over successive nucleosomal sections of template made accessible by the interaction of the cytosol proteins at or near the replication fork.

Restriction fragment primed phi X174 single-stranded DNA as template for DNA polymerase alpha and beta. Detection and partial purification of a polymerase alpha stimulating factor

Template-primers constructed of phiX174 single-stranded viral DNA hybridized to a restriction fragment of phiX174 RF DNA can be used for extensive polymerization by DNA polymerase alpha. Polymerization is dependent upon a restriction fragment containing a 3'OH. The products of the reaction have been identified by agarose gel electrophoresis. Polymerization of 150--400 nucleotides can be obtained in 1h depending upon the restriction fragment used as primer. Synthesis may be limited by barriers in the primary or secondary structure of the template. A factor which stimulates the rate of alpha polymerase activity on these templates was partially purified. This factor does not stimulate alpha polymerase on activated DNA. The stimulating factor sediments at 5.5 S in glycerol gradients containing 0.4M potassium phosphate and has an apparent molecular weight of 70 000 on Sephadex G-100.

Differential effect of aphidicolin on adenovirus DNA synthesis and cellular DNA synthesis

There is strong evidence for a participation of DNA polymerase gamma in the replication of adenovirus (Ad) DNA. To study a possible additional role of DNA polymerase alpha we measured the effect of aphidicolin on viral DNA replication. In intact cells, aphidicolin inhibits Ad DNA synthesis weakly. The drug concentration required for 50% inhibition of Ad DNA replication was 300-400 fold higher than for a similar effect on cellular DNA synthesis. Such a differential inhibition was also observed in AGMK cells doubly infected with SV40 and the simian adenovirus SA7. No evidence was found for modification of aphidicolin in infected cells or for a change in aphidicolin sensitivity of DNA polymerase alpha after infection. The extent of inhibition of purified DNA polymerase alpha was dependent upon the dCTP concentration. The same situation was observed when DNA synthesis was studied in isolated nuclei from uninfected cells. However, in nuclei from Ad infected cells no effect of dCTP on aphidicolin sensitivity was found. These results were taken as evidence that DNA polymerase alpha does not participate in the replication of adenovirus DNA.

Effect of Ehrlich ascites cell chalone on nascent DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei

Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) chalone has been shown to inhibit nascent DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA polymerase alpha and beta (Nakai, 1976), but one of the problems in studying eurkaryotic DNA replication has been the relative impermeability of the cell membrane to precursors and macromolecules; hence, to circumvent this restriction without sacrificing the integrity of the replication process, a broken cell system utilizing nuclei in aqueous media was investigated. Isolated nuclei appear to continue the process of DNA replication that was proceeding in vivo before their isolation and under optimal concitions are able to initiate new synthesis (Fraser & Huberman, 1977). The effects of partially purified EAT chalone on nascent DNA could be studied directly in this nuclear system, which excluded effects of the cell membrane, nucleotide pools and other cytosol elements. A concentration-related inhibition of [3H]thymidine triphosphate ([3H]dTTP) incorporation was noted over a chalone range of 50-200 micrograms/ml. It appears that chalone can inhibit DNA polymerase alpha directly within the nucleus without an intermediate step such as a cell membrane receptor.

Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells permeabilized with ether

Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae permeabilized by treatment with ether take up and incorporate exogenous deoxynucleoside triphosphate into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). With rho(+) strains, more than 95% of the product was mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This report characterizes ether-permeabilized yeast cells and describes studies on the mechanism of mtDNA synthesis with this system. The initial rate of in vitro mtDNA synthesis with one strain (X2180-1Brho(+)) was close to the rate of mtDNA replication in vivo. The extent of synthesis after 45 min was sufficient for the duplication of about 25% of the total mtDNA in the cells. The incorporated radioactivity resulting from in vitro DNA synthesis appeared in fragments that were an average of 30% mitochondrial genome size. Density-labeling experiments showed that continuous strands of at least 7 kilobases after denaturation, and up to 25 kilobase pairs before denaturation, were synthesized by this system. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that a large proportion of DNA product after short labeling times appeared in 0.25-kilobase fragments (after denaturation), which served as precursors of high-molecular-weight DNA. It is not yet clear whether the short pieces participate in a mechanism of discontinuous replication similar to that of bacterial and animal cell chromosomal DNA or whether they are related to the rapidly turning over, short initiation sequence of animal cell mtDNA. In rho(0) strains, which lack mtDNA, the initial rate of nuclear DNA synthesis in vitro was 1 to 2% of the average in vivo rate. With temperature-sensitive DNA replication mutants (cdc8), the synthesis of nuclear DNA was temperature sensitive in vitro as well, and in vitro DNA synthesis was blocked in an initiation mutant (cdc7) that was shifted to the restrictive temperature before the ether treatment.

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.