The role of conformation in chemical mutagenesis

Heavy metals enhance the reactivation of nitrous acid-treated adenovirus in HeLa cells

Treatment of HeLa cells with cadmium chloride and zinc chloride increases the survival rate of nitrous acid-treated adenovirus 2 (ade2). This increase is maximal if the time interval between cell treatment and virus infection is delayed by 36 h. The induction process requires protein synthesis only during the 3-h period immediately following treatment; cycloheximide does not prevent the expression of enhanced reactivation if added to the cells after this time.

Highly efficient positive selection of recombinant plasmids using a novel rglB-based Escherichia coli K-12 vector system

We have developed pBR328-derived vectors which allow highly efficient positive selection of recombinant plasmids. The system is based on the rglB-coded restriction activity of Escherichia coli K-12 directed against 5-methylcytosine (5mC)-containing DNA. The vectors code for cytosine-specific, temperature-sensitive DNA methyltransferases (ts-Mtases), whose specificity elicits RglB restriction. 5mC-free vector DNA - a prerequisite to allow establishment of such plasmids in cells expressing the RglB nuclease activity - can be prepared from cultures grown at 42 degrees C. At 30 degrees C the vector plasmids are vulnerable to RglB restriction due to the expression of suicidal Mtase activity. Cloning a DNA fragment into the ts-Mtase-coding gene disrupts the lethal methylation and thus permits selection of such recombinant plasmids at 30 degrees C. The standard vector used, pBN73, contains unique recognition sites for nine restriction enzymes within the ts-Mtase-coding gene, which can be used independently or in combination for the construction of recombinant plasmids selectable by the rglB-coded activity. Plasmid pBN74, which carries the determinants for both the ts-Mtase and the RglB nuclease, contains seven unique sites within the ts-Mtase-coding gene. While selection of recombinant plasmids derived from pBN73 obligatorily requires the employment of rglB+ strains, selection of pBN74 derivatives can be performed independent of the E. coli-host genotype. It remains to be elucidated whether positive selection of pBN74-derived recombinant plasmids can also be achieved in hosts other than E. coli. Plasmids pBN73, pBN74 and the recombinants are structurally stable. Generally applicable procedures, as developed during the establishment of this vector system, are described; they allow the isolation of ts-Mtases and facilitate the cloning of genes coding for nucleases directed against 5mC-containing DNA.

Genetic effects of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and its homologs

Since the discovery of the mutagenic activity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in 1960, this compound has become one of the most widely used chemical mutagens. The present paper gives a survey on the chemistry, metabolism, and mode of interaction of MNNG with DNA and proteins, and of the genotoxic effects of this agent on microorganisms, plants, and animals, including human cells cultured in vitro. Data on the carcinogenicity and teratogenicity of MNNG as well as on the genotoxic effects of homologs of MNNG are also presented.

Reduced N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine sister chromatid exchange induction in Chinese hamster V79 cells pre-exposed to 5-bromodeoxyuridine

The sequence in which N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) are added to cell cultures affects the number of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) induced by MNNG. When V79 Chinese hamster cell monolayer cultures were treated with MNNG for 2 h prior to addition of BrdUrd, approximately a 4-5-fold increase in SCE was observed at the second division metaphases compared to controls exposed to BrdU alone. This effect was independent of whether one or three DNA strands had been substituted as a result of incubating the cells through one or two DNA synthesis periods in the presence of BrdU. This increase in SCE also occurred after MNNG exposure and BrdU incubation was extended for three division cycles. In contrast, when BrdU incorporation preceded MNNG treatment, the average number of SCE/metaphase was reduced 70-80% at the second division cycle and 60% relative to the total number found in three division cycles. SCE induction by MNNG does not involve a caffeine sensitive step since caffeine had not effect on the SCE frequency regardless of the treatment protocol. The conditions in which BrdU preceded MNNG exposure may be responsible for either reducing the number of DNA sites available for interaction with MNNG or preventing the expression of SCE.

Genetic effects of dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, and related compounds

DMS and DES are monofunctional alkylating agents that have been shown to induce mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and other genetic alterations in a diversity of organisms. They have also been shown to be carcinogenic in animals. As an alkylating agent, DMS is a typical SN2 agent, attacking predominantly nitrogen sites in nucleic acids. DES is capable of SN1 alkylations as well as SN2 and thereby causes some alkylation on oxygen sites including the O6-position of guanine which is thought to be significant in mutagenesis by direct mispairing. The mutagenicity of DMS is better explained in terms of indirect, repair-dependent processes. With respect to both alkylating activity and genetic effects, striking similarities are found between DMS and MMS and between DES and EMS. In most systems where they have been tested, both DMS and DES are mutagenic. Results of many of the mutagenesis studies involving these compounds and other alkylating sulfuric acid esters are summarized in Tables 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of this review. Most data are consistent with these agents acting primarily as base-pair substitution mutagens. In the case of DES, strong specificity for G.C to A.T transitions has been reported in some systems but has not been clearly supported in some others. Low levels of frameshift mutations of the deletion type are also likely. In addition to the induction of mutations, recombinogenic and clastogenic effects have been described.

Lethla effect of nitrous acid on Escherichia coli

The effect of nitrous acid (NA) on viability, integrity of cellular DNA and on membrane transport were studied in 5 strains of Escherichia coli. Stationary phase cells, grown on mineral salts medium, were exposed to NA. The viability of strains decreased in thefollowing order: W3110 wild-type greater than WP2 wild-type, WP2 uvrA greater than NG30 recA greater than P3478 polA. Alterations were found in the DNA sedimentation profile in alkaline sucrose gradient. Disturbance of DNA synthesis was measured by 3H-labelled thymidine ([3H]Thd) incorporation. No degradation of DNA was found after NA treatment. Low doses of NA caused significant inhibition of leucine and glucose transport into whole cells. The results are interpreted in terms of the multi-target action of NA causing the death of cells.

Mechanism of hydroxylamine mutagenesis. Crystal structure and conformation of 1,5-dimethyl-N4-hydroxycytosine

The crystal structure of the title compound, which is a formal analogue of 5-methyl-N4-hydroxycytosine nucleosides, has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The space group is P2(1)/c with a = 7.368 (2), b = 12.096 (3), c = 9.192 (4) A, beta = 113.94 (3) degrees. Three-dimensional intensity data were collected with a four-circle diffractometer, and the structure was refined by block-diagonal least-squares to R = 0.053. The compound is in the imino form, and the exocyclic N4-OH is located essentially in the plane of the pyrimidine ring, and syn to the ring (N(3). There is an intramolecular hydrogen bond involving the N(3)-H as donor and O(4) as acceptor, viz. N(3)-H(31)----O(4)-H. With this conformation, which probably prevails also in solution, the compound would be unable to participate in normal Watson-Crick base pairing. It is shown that a similar situation may prevail for N4-hydroxycytosine nucleosides. The implications with regard to the molecular mechanism of hydroxylamine mutagenesis, with particular reference to the T-even bacteriophages, are discussed. Analogous considerations are applied to an examination of the possible behaviour of hydroxylamine-modified adenine nucleosides.

Intragenic mutational spectra and hot spots

In this review we outline the various factors which may contribute to the non-randomness of intragenic mutational spectra and the occurrence of hot spots. These factors include sample size limitation, particularly for sites of low mutability, and possible regions of low recombination potential. In addition, the nature of the gene product places great restraint on the detectability of either frameshift and premature chain-terminating mutations on one hand, or of the majority of missense mutations on the other. The nature of the Genetic Code itself also limits the mutational spectrum in so far as specific base pair substitutions lead only to a limited number of detectable amino acid replacements. Mutational hot spots may be a special example of the influence of neighbouring base pairs in the mutability of any given base pair. This is apparently true for frameshift mutations which tend to occur in runs of repeated base pairs or base pair doublets. Neighbouring base effects could operate not only at the level of initial reactivity with a mutagen, but also subsequently at the levels of DNA repair, recombination or replication. In some cases rare or modified bases may be responsible for neighbour effects. We suggest specific experimental approaches which seem likely to aid in the elucidation of these problems.

Mutagenesis of plasmid DNA with hydroxylamine: isolation of mutants of multi-copy plasmids

An investigation of in vitro mutagenesis of plasmid DNA with hydroxylamine is described. The treated plasmid DNA was used to transform Escherichia coli K12. Mutants of the plasmid NTP3, which codes for resistance to ampicillin and sulphonamides, were isolated and characterised. They were classified according to the reduction in level of their beta-lactamase activity. Hydroxylamine-induced mutants of NTP14 were also isolated. This plasmid codes for ampicillin resistance, synthesis of colicin E1, and the EcoRI restriction and modification enzymes. One class of mutants is lethal to the host strain at temperatures above 33 degrees C, but carrier strains grow well at 28 degrees C. There is evidence that these mutants code for a temperature-sensitive EcoRI modification activity: the lethal effect probably results from the cleavage of the host-cell DNA by the restriction enzyme at non-permissive temperatures. The possible genetic uses of the mutant plasmids for the production of hybrid plasmids in the bacterial cell are discussed.

Characterization of inactivation of myxoviruses and paramyxoviruses by hydroxylamine, N-methylhydroxylamine and O-methylhydroxylamine

A study of the mechanism of myxovirus and paramyxovirus inactivattion by hydroxylamine, O-methylhydroxylamine and N-methylhydroxylamine was conducted. Influenza A (WSN) was used as the sensitive myxovirus and Newcastle disease virus (NDV-L) was used as the relatively resistant paramyxovirus in certain experiments. Inactivation was found to be rapid (15 minutes) and mose effective at high concentrations (2M). All three compounds significantly decreased the hemagglutination titer of WSN treated at pH smaller than or equal to 5.0. There was no detectable change in NDV hemagglutination titer. Adsorption of hydroxylamine (pH 7.0) inactivated WSN appeared normal; however, the rate of adsorption was decreased when virus was inactivated by (pH 5.0) O-methylhydroxylamine. Equilibrium density gradient centrifugation in potassium tartrate showed no density changes in inactivated virus. WSN inactivated virus. WSN inactivated with 14C-O-methylhydroxylamine and subjected to RNA extraction showed greater than or equal to 35 percent of the 14C in the phenol phases and 21 per cent in the RNA. The 14C-O-methylhydroxylamine associated with the RNA of insensitive NDV was about 3 per cent of that associated with sensitive WSN-RNA. Hydroxylamine has no apparent effect on paramyxovirus (NDV) hemagglutination titer and less 14C-O-methylhydroxylamine is associated with the RNA of this virus. The results suggest these compounds may affect both the RNA and the envelope portion of myxoviruses (WSN) to produce inactivation.

Human cells repair DNA damaged by nitrous acid

Cultured fibroblasts from normal persons or persons afflicted by xeroderma pigmentosum were used as hosts for adenovirus 2 infection. With xeroderma cells as hosts, nitrous acid-treated virus showed less plaque-forming ability than when normal cells were used, indicating that DNA damaged by nitrous acid is at least partly repaired by normal human cells.

Reaction of nitrosoguanidine (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine) with tobacco mosaic virus and its RNA

"Nitrosoguanidine" (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine) acts on polynucleotides in neutral aqueous solution, methylating guanine in the 7-position, and, to a much lesser extent, adenine. In 67 percent dimethylformamide the effect on the purines decreased, and what seems to be 3-methyl-cytosine appeared. In formamide solution no base changes were detected. Nitrosoguanidine had little mutagenic effect on tobacco mosaic virus RNA in water; it had greater effect in dimethylformamide, and even greater in formamide; it was a strong mutagen only when it acted on intact tobacco mosaic virus particles. Thus, neither the methylation of guanine nor the cytosine modification represents the main mutagenic event.