Functional mutation of DNA polymerase beta found in human gastric cancer--inability of the base excision repair in vitro

Phosphorylation Induced Conformational Transitions in DNA Polymerase β

DNA polymerase β (pol β) is a member of the X- family of DNA polymerases that catalyze the distributive addition of nucleoside triphosphates during base excision DNA repair. Previous studies showed that the enzyme was phosphorylated in vitro with PKC at two serines (44 and 55), causing loss of DNA polymerase activity but not DNA binding. In this work, we have investigated the phosphorylation-induced conformational changes in DNA polymerase β in the presence of Mg ions. We report a comprehensive atomic resolution study of wild type and phosphorylated DNA polymerase using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results are examined via novel methods of internal dynamics and energetics analysis to reveal the underlying mechanism of conformational transitions observed in DNA pol β. The results show drastic conformational changes in the structure of DNA polymerase β due to S44 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation-induced conformational changes transform the enzyme from a closed to an open structure. The dynamic cross-correlation shows that phosphorylation enhances the correlated motions between the different domains. Centrality network analysis reveals that the S44 phosphorylation causes structural rearrangements and modulates the information pathway between the Lyase domain and base pair binding domain. Further analysis of our simulations reveals that a critical hydrogen bond (between S44 and E335) disruption and the formation of three additional salt bridges are potential drivers of these conformational changes. In addition, we found that two of these additional salt bridges form in the presence of Mg ions on the active sites of the enzyme. These results agree with our previous study of DNA pol β S44 phosphorylation without Mg ions which predicted the deactivation of DNA pol β. However, the phase space of structural transitions induced by S44 phosphorylation is much richer in the presence of Mg ions.

The Role of Natural Polymorphic Variants of DNA Polymerase β in DNA Repair

DNA polymerase β (Polβ) is considered the main repair DNA polymerase involved in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, which plays an important part in the repair of damaged DNA bases usually resulting from alkylation or oxidation. In general, BER involves consecutive actions of DNA glycosylases, AP endonucleases, DNA polymerases, and DNA ligases. It is known that protein-protein interactions of Polβ with enzymes from the BER pathway increase the efficiency of damaged base repair in DNA. However natural single-nucleotide polymorphisms can lead to a substitution of functionally significant amino acid residues and therefore affect the catalytic activity of the enzyme and the accuracy of Polβ action. Up-to-date databases contain information about more than 8000 SNPs in the gene of Polβ. This review summarizes data on the in silico prediction of the effects of Polβ SNPs on DNA repair efficacy; available data on cancers associated with SNPs of Polβ; and experimentally tested variants of Polβ. Analysis of the literature indicates that amino acid substitutions could be important for the maintenance of the native structure of Polβ and contacts with DNA; others affect the catalytic activity of the enzyme or play a part in the precise and correct attachment of the required nucleotide triphosphate. Moreover, the amino acid substitutions in Polβ can disturb interactions with enzymes involved in BER, while the enzymatic activity of the polymorphic variant may not differ significantly from that of the wild-type enzyme. Therefore, investigation regarding the effect of Polβ natural variants occurring in the human population on enzymatic activity and protein-protein interactions is an urgent scientific task.

Significance of base excision repair to human health

Oxidative and alkylating DNA damage occurs under normal physiological conditions and exogenous exposure to DNA damaging agents. To counteract DNA base damage, cells have evolved several defense mechanisms that act at different levels to prevent or repair DNA base damage. Cells combat genomic lesions like these including base modifications, abasic sites, as well as single-strand breaks, via the base excision repair (BER) pathway. In general, the core BER process involves well-coordinated five-step reactions to correct DNA base damage. In this review, we will uncover the current understanding of BER mechanisms to maintain genomic stability and the biological consequences of its failure due to repair gene mutations. The malfunction of BER can often lead to BER intermediate accumulation, which is genotoxic and can lead to different types of human disease. Finally, we will address the use of BER intermediates for targeted cancer therapy.

Mutation in DNA Polymerase Beta Causes Spontaneous Chromosomal Instability and Inflammation-Associated Carcinogenesis in Mice

DNA polymerase beta (Pol β) is a key enzyme in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Pol β is mutated in approximately 40% of human tumors in small-scale studies. The 5´-deoxyribose-5-phosphate (dRP) lyase domain of Pol β is responsible for DNA end tailoring to remove the 5’ phosphate group. We previously reported that the dRP lyase activity of Pol β is critical to maintain DNA replication fork stability and prevent cellular transformation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the human gastric cancer associated variant of Pol β (L22P) has the ability to promote spontaneous chromosomal instability and carcinogenesis in mice. We constructed a Pol β L22P conditional knock-in mouse model and found that L22P enhances hyperproliferation and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in stomach cells. Moreover, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from L22P mice frequently induce abnormal numbers of chromosomes and centrosome amplification, leading to chromosome segregation errors. Importantly, L22P mice exhibit chronic inflammation accompanied by stomach tumors. These data demonstrate that the human cancer-associated variant of Pol β can contribute to chromosomal instability and cancer development.

LINC00668 promotes tumorigenesis and progression through sponging miR-188-5p and regulating USP47 in colorectal cancer

Long intergenic non-coding RNA No.668 (LINC00668) is implicated in the development of various malignancies. However, the role of LINC00668 and underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains totally unknown. The expression pattern of LINC00668 in CRC cells were determined by qRT-PCR. CCK-8, EdU incorporation, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound-healing assays were run to evaluate the functions of LINC00668 in CRC cells. Bioinformatics analyses were used to identify the LINC00668-specific binding with miRNAs that were screened by RNA pull-down. RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase gene report assay were performed to confirm the interaction between miR-188-5p and LINC00668 in CRC cells. LINC00668 was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. Knockdown of LINC00668 suppressed cell proliferation and migration potential and induced cell apoptosis, but inhibition of miR-188-5p which was predicted to bind with LINC00668 reversed these effects. Furthermore, USP47 was a direct target of miR-188-5p, and overexpression of USP47 attenuated LINC00668 knockdown-induced tumor suppressive effects in CRC cells. Conclusively, our findings demonstrated that lncRNA LINC00668 acted as an oncogenic role in CRC cells by sponging miR-188-5p and upregulating USP47 and may represent a potential marker for CRC patients.

Hypoxia induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells through ubiquitin-specific protease 47-mediated stabilization of Snail: A potential role of Sox9

During the metastatic phase, cancer cells require the dissolution of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and a dramatic re-organization of the cytoskeleton through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby acquiring migratory and invasive capabilities. In most tumors, EMT is accompanied by hypoxia. However, the intracellular signaling molecule that mediates hypoxia-induced EMT remained overlooked. By utilizing the microarray database system of the Cancer Genome Atlas, we identified ubiquitin-specific protease 47 (USP47), a deubiquitinating enzyme, as a potential mediator of hypoxia-induced EMT. Immunofluorescence staining of human colorectal tissue microarrays revealed that USP47 is overexpressed in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues compared with normal adjacent tissues. The expression of USP47 was found to be elevated in three different human colorectal cancer cell lines. The enhancement of USP47 in colorectal cancer cells under hypoxic conditions induced the disassembly of E-cadherin and promoted EMT through deubiquitination of Snail. Silencing of USP47 accelerated the proteasomal degradation of Snail and inhibited EMT. Notably, hypoxia-induced USP47 upregulation was mediated by Sox9. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the role for USP47, as a novel target of Sox9, in the regulation of EMT and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.

DNA polymerase β contains a functional nuclear localization signal at its N-terminus

DNA polymerase β (pol β) requires nuclear localization to fulfil its DNA repair function. Although its small size has been interpreted to imply the absence of a need for active nuclear import, sequence and structural analysis suggests that a monopartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) may reside in the N-terminal lyase domain. Binding of this domain to Importin α1 (Impα1) was confirmed by gel filtration and NMR studies. Affinity was quantified by fluorescence polarization analysis of a fluorescein-tagged peptide corresponding to pol β residues 2–13. These studies indicate high affinity binding, characterized by a low micromolar K_d, that is selective for the murine Importin α1 (mImpα1) minor site, with the K_d strengthening to ∼140 nM for the full lyase domain (residues 2–87). A further reduction in K_d obtains in binding studies with human Importin α5 (hImpα5), which in some cases has been demonstrated to bind small domains connected to the NLS. The role of this NLS was confirmed by fluorescent imaging of wild-type and NLS-mutated pol β(R4S,K5S) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking endogenous pol β. Together these data demonstrate that pol β contains a specific NLS sequence in the N-terminal lyase domain that promotes transport of the protein independent of its interaction partners. Active nuclear uptake allows development of a nuclear/cytosolic concentration gradient against a background of passive diffusion.

Computational Simulations of DNA Polymerases: Detailed Insights on Structure/Function/Mechanism from Native Proteins to Cancer Variants

Genetic information is vital in the cell cycle of DNA-based organisms. DNA polymerases (DNA Pols) are crucial players in transactions dealing with these processes. Therefore, the detailed understanding of the structure, function, and mechanism of these proteins has been the focus of significant effort. Computational simulations have been applied to investigate various facets of DNA polymerase structure and function. These simulations have provided significant insights over the years. This perspective presents the results of various computational studies that have been employed to research different aspects of DNA polymerases including detailed reaction mechanism investigation, mutagenicity of different metal cations, possible factors for fidelity synthesis, and discovery/functional characterization of cancer-related mutations on DNA polymerases.

Uniform Free-Energy Profiles of the P-O Bond Formation and Cleavage Reactions Catalyzed by DNA Polymerases β and λ

Human X-family DNA polymerases β (Polβ) and λ (Polλ) catalyze the nucleotidyl-transfer reaction in the base excision repair pathway of the cellular DNA damage response. Using empirical valence bond and free-energy perturbation simulations, we explore the feasibility of various mechanisms for the deprotonation of the 3′-OH group of the primer DNA strand, and the subsequent formation and cleavage of P–O bonds in four Polβ, two truncated Polλ (tPolλ), and two tPolλ Loop1 mutant (tPolλΔL1) systems differing in the initial X-ray crystal structure and nascent base pair. The average calculated activation free energies of 14, 18, and 22 kcal mol^–1 for Polβ, tPolλ, and tPolλΔL1, respectively, reproduce the trend in the observed catalytic rate constants. The most feasible reaction pathway consists of two successive steps: specific base (SB) proton transfer followed by rate-limiting concerted formation and cleavage of the P–O bonds. We identify linear free-energy relationships (LFERs) which show that the differences in the overall activation and reaction free energies among the eight studied systems are determined by the reaction free energy of the SB proton transfer. We discuss the implications of the LFERs and suggest pK_a of the 3′-OH group as a predictor of the catalytic rate of X-family DNA polymerases.

DNA Polymerases λ and β: The Double-Edged Swords of DNA Repair

DNA is constantly exposed to both endogenous and exogenous damages. More than 10,000 DNA modifications are induced every day in each cell's genome. Maintenance of the integrity of the genome is accomplished by several DNA repair systems. The core enzymes for these pathways are the DNA polymerases. Out of 17 DNA polymerases present in a mammalian cell, at least 13 are specifically devoted to DNA repair and are often acting in different pathways. DNA polymerases β and λ are involved in base excision repair of modified DNA bases and translesion synthesis past DNA lesions. Polymerase λ also participates in non-homologous end joining of DNA double-strand breaks. However, recent data have revealed that, depending on their relative levels, the cell cycle phase, the ratio between deoxy- and ribo-nucleotide pools and the interaction with particular auxiliary proteins, the repair reactions carried out by these enzymes can be an important source of genetic instability, owing to repair mistakes. This review summarizes the most recent results on the ambivalent properties of these enzymes in limiting or promoting genetic instability in mammalian cells, as well as their potential use as targets for anticancer chemotherapy.

Gastric cancer associated variant of DNA polymerase beta (Leu22Pro) promotes DNA replication associated double strand breaks

DNA polymerase beta (Pol β) is a key enzymefor the protection against oxidative DNA lesions via itsrole in base excision repair (BER). Approximately 1/3 of tumors studied to date express Pol β variant proteins, and several tumors overexpress Pol β. Pol β possesses DNA polymerase and dRP lyase activities, both of which are known to be important for efficient BER. The dRP lyase activity resides within the 8kDa amino terminal domain of Pol β, is responsible for removal of the 5′ phosphate group (5′-dRP). The DNA polymerase subsequently fills the gaps. Previously, we demonstrated that the human gastric cancer-associated variant of Pol β (Leu22Pro (L22P)) lacks dRP lyase function in vitro. Here, we report that L22P-expressing cells harbor significantly increased replication associated DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and defective maintenance of the nascent DNA strand (NDS) during replication stress. Moreover, L22P-expressing cells are sensitive to PARP1 inhibitors, which suggests trapped PARP1 binds to the 5′-dRP group and blocks replications forks, resulting in fork collapse and DSBs. Our data suggest that the normal function of the dRP lyase is critical to maintain replication fork integrity and prevent replication fork collapse to DSBs and cellular transformation.

Insertion of oxidized nucleotide triggers rapid DNA polymerase opening

A novel mechanism is unveiled to explain why a pro-mutagenic nucleotide lesion (oxidized guanine, 8-oxoG) causes the mammalian DNA repair polymerase-β (pol-β) to rapidly transition to an inactive open conformation. The mechanism involves unexpected features revealed recently in time-lapse crystallography. Specifically, a delicate water network associated with a lesion-stabilizing auxilliary product ion Mg(p) triggers a cascade of events that leads to poor active site geometry and the rupture of crucial molecular interactions between key residues in both the anti(8-oxoG:C) and syn(8-oxoG:A) systems. Once the base pairs in these lesioned systems are broken, dislocation of both Asp192 (a metal coordinating ligand) and the oxoG phosphate group (PO₄) interfere with the hydrogen bonding between Asp192 and Arg258, whose rotation toward Asp192 is crucial to the closed-to-open enzyme transition. Energetically, the lesioned open states are similar in energy to those of the corresponding closed complexes after chemistry, in marked contrast to the unlesioned pol-β anti(G:C) system, whose open state is energetically higher than the closed state. The delicate surveillance system offers a fundamental protective mechanism in the cell that triggers DNA repair events which help deter insertion of oxidized lesions.

Induced Fit in the Selection of Correct versus Incorrect Nucleotides by DNA Polymerase β

DNA polymerase β (Pol β) repairs single-nucleotide gapped DNA (sngDNA) by enzymatic incorporation of the Watson-Crick partner nucleotide at the gapped position opposite the templating nucleotide. The process by which the matching nucleotide is incorporated into a sngDNA sequence has been relatively well-characterized, but the process of discrimination from nucleotide misincorporation remains unclear. We report here NMR spectroscopic characterization of full-length, uniformly labeled Pol β in apo, sngDNA-bound binary, and ternary complexes containing matching and mismatching nucleotide. Our data indicate that, while binding of the correct nucleotide to the binary complex induces chemical shift changes consistent with the process of enzyme closure, the ternary Pol β complex containing a mismatching nucleotide exhibits no such changes and appears to remain in an open, unstable, binary-like conformation. Our findings support an induced-fit mechanism for polymerases in which a closed ternary complex can only be achieved in the presence of matching nucleotide.

Oxidatively induced DNA damage and its repair in cancer

Oxidatively induced DNA damage is caused in living organisms by endogenous and exogenous reactive species. DNA lesions resulting from this type of damage are mutagenic and cytotoxic and, if not repaired, can cause genetic instability that may lead to disease processes including carcinogenesis. Living organisms possess DNA repair mechanisms that include a variety of pathways to repair multiple DNA lesions. Mutations and polymorphisms also occur in DNA repair genes adversely affecting DNA repair systems. Cancer tissues overexpress DNA repair proteins and thus develop greater DNA repair capacity than normal tissues. Increased DNA repair in tumors that removes DNA lesions before they become toxic is a major mechanism for development of resistance to therapy, affecting patient survival. Accumulated evidence suggests that DNA repair capacity may be a predictive biomarker for patient response to therapy. Thus, knowledge of DNA protein expressions in normal and cancerous tissues may help predict and guide development of treatments and yield the best therapeutic response. DNA repair proteins constitute targets for inhibitors to overcome the resistance of tumors to therapy. Inhibitors of DNA repair for combination therapy or as single agents for monotherapy may help selectively kill tumors, potentially leading to personalized therapy. Numerous inhibitors have been developed and are being tested in clinical trials. The efficacy of some inhibitors in therapy has been demonstrated in patients. Further development of inhibitors of DNA repair proteins is globally underway to help eradicate cancer.

Substrate-induced DNA polymerase β activation

DNA polymerases and substrates undergo conformational changes upon forming protein-ligand complexes. These conformational adjustments can hasten or deter DNA synthesis and influence substrate discrimination. From structural comparison of binary DNA and ternary DNA-dNTP complexes of DNA polymerase β, several side chains have been implicated in facilitating formation of an active ternary complex poised for chemistry. Site-directed mutagenesis of these highly conserved residues (Asp-192, Arg-258, Phe-272, Glu-295, and Tyr-296) and kinetic characterization provides insight into the role these residues play during correct and incorrect insertion as well as their role in conformational activation. The catalytic efficiencies for correct nucleotide insertion for alanine mutants were wild type ∼ R258A > F272A ∼ Y296A > E295A > D192A. Because the efficiencies for incorrect insertion were affected to about the same extent for each mutant, the effects on fidelity were modest (<5-fold). The R258A mutant exhibited an increase in the single-turnover rate of correct nucleotide insertion. This suggests that the wild-type Arg-258 side chain generates a population of non-productive ternary complexes. Structures of binary and ternary substrate complexes of the R258A mutant and a mutant associated with gastric carcinomas, E295K, provide molecular insight into intermediate structural conformations not appreciated previously. Although the R258A mutant crystal structures were similar to wild-type enzyme, the open ternary complex structure of E295K indicates that Arg-258 stabilizes a non-productive conformation of the primer terminus that would decrease catalysis. Significantly, the open E295K ternary complex binds two metal ions indicating that metal binding cannot overcome the modified interactions that have interrupted the closure of the N-subdomain.

Substrate rescue of DNA polymerase β containing a catastrophic L22P mutation

DNA polymerase (pol) β is a multidomain enzyme with two enzymatic activities that plays a central role in the overlapping base excision repair and single-strand break repair pathways. The high frequency of pol β variants identified in tumor-derived tissues suggests a possible role in the progression of cancer, making the determination of the functional consequences of these variants of interest. Pol β containing a proline substitution for leucine 22 in the lyase domain (LD), identified in gastric tumors, has been reported to exhibit severe impairment of both lyase and polymerase activities. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic evaluations of both pol β and the isolated LD containing the L22P mutation demonstrate destabilization sufficient to result in LD-selective unfolding with minimal structural perturbations to the polymerase domain. Unexpectedly, addition of single-stranded or hairpin DNA resulted in partial refolding of the mutated lyase domain, both in isolation and for the full-length enzyme. Further, formation of an abortive ternary complex using Ca²⁺ and a complementary dNTP indicates that the fraction of pol β(L22P) containing the folded LD undergoes conformational activation similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. Kinetic characterization of the polymerase activity of L22P pol β indicates that the L22P mutation compromises DNA binding, but nearly wild-type catalytic rates can be observed at elevated substrate concentrations. The organic osmolyte trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is similarly able to induce folding and kinetic activation of both polymerase and lyase activities of the mutant. Kinetic data indicate synergy between the TMAO cosolvent and substrate binding. NMR data indicate that the effect of the DNA results primarily from interaction with the folded LD(L22P), while the effect of the TMAO results primarily from destabilization of the unfolded LD(L22P). These studies illustrate that substrate-induced catalytic activation of pol β provides an optimal enzyme conformation even in the presence of a strongly destabilizing point mutation. Accordingly, it remains to be determined whether this mutation alters the threshold of cellular repair activity needed for routine genome maintenance or whether the “inactive” variant interferes with DNA repair.

The E295K cancer variant of human polymerase β favors the mismatch conformational pathway during nucleotide selection

DNA polymerase β (pol β) is responsible for gap filling synthesis during repair of damaged DNA as part of the base excision repair pathway. Human pol β mutations were recently identified in a high percentage (∼30%) of tumors. Characterization of specific cancer variants is particularly useful to further the understanding of the general mechanism of pol β while providing context to disease contribution. We showed that expression of the carcinoma variant E295K induces cellular transformation. The poor polymerase activity exhibited by the variant was hypothesized to be caused by the destabilization of proper active site assembly by the glutamate to lysine mutation. Here, we show that this variant exhibits an unusual preference for binding dCTP opposite a templating adenine over the cognate dTTP. Biochemical studies indicate that the noncognate competes with the cognate nucleotide for binding to the polymerase active site with the noncognate incorporation a function of higher affinity and not increased activity. In the crystal structure of the variant bound to dA:dCTP, the fingers domain closes around the mismatched base pair. Nucleotide incorporation is hindered because key residues in the polymerase active site are not properly positioned for nucleotidyl transfer. In contrast to the noncognate dCTP, neither the cognate dTTP nor its nonhydrolyzable analog induced fingers closure, as isomorphous difference Fourier maps show that the cognate nucleotides are bound to the open state of the polymerase. Comparison with published structures provides insight into the structural rearrangements within pol β that occur during the process of nucleotide discrimination.

Structural changes in the hydrophobic hinge region adversely affect the activity and fidelity of the I260Q mutator DNA polymerase β

The I260Q variant of DNA polymerase β is an efficient mutator polymerase with fairly indiscriminate misincorporation activities opposite all template bases. Previous modeling studies have suggested that I260Q harbors structural variations in its hinge region. Here, we present the crystal structures of wild type and I260Q rat polymerase β in the presence and absence of substrates. Both the I260Q apoenzyme structure and the closed ternary complex with double-stranded DNA and ddTTP show ordered water molecules in the hydrophobic hinge near Gln260, whereas this is not the case in the wild type polymerase. Compared to wild type polymerase β ternary complexes, there are subtle movements around residues 260, 272, 295, and 296 in the mutant. The rearrangements in this region, coupled with side chain movements in the immediate neighborhood of the dNTP-binding pocket, namely, residues 258 and 272, provide an explanation for the altered activity and fidelity profiles observed in the I260Q mutator polymerase.

DNA polymerase β promoter mutations and transcriptional activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The present study analyzed the correlation of DNA polymerase β (DNA polβ) promoter mutations and activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The DNA polβ promoter was amplified from 108 ESCC samples and adjacent paracancerous samples by PCR and cloned into the pGL3-enhancer luciferase vector. The recombined vectors were transfected into esophageal carcinoma cells (EC9706, Eca109, and KYSE30), and luciferase activity was detected using dual luciferase reporter gene technology. Eleven polβ promoter mutations were identified and submitted to GenBank. The mutation rate of the DNA polβ promoter was higher in ESCC tissues (36/108, 33.3 %) than in the paired paracancerous tissues (21/108, 19.4 %) (P = 0.021). The C → A mutation at locus -37 was the hotspot mutation in cancerous tissues, and its frequency was higher in ESCC tissues (26/108) than in paracancerous tissues (7/108) (P = 0.00). The highest relative luciferase activity (RLA) was observed in the DNA polβ promoter, with a C → A mutation at -37. Significant differences in RLA were observed between mutant DNA polβ promoters (except for C detected at -19, T → C at -194, C → A at -37, and T → C at 30) and the wild-type DNA polβ promoter (P = 0.000), and RLA was significantly higher in ESCC tissues than in paracancerous tissues (P = 0.003). Our findings suggest that the upregulation of transcriptional activity induced by mutations in the DNA polβ promoter in ESCC tissues may be one of the molecular mechanisms mediating abnormal overexpression of DNA polβ in ESCC.

Perspective: pre-chemistry conformational changes in DNA polymerase mechanisms

In recent papers, there has been a lively exchange concerning theories for enzyme catalysis, especially the role of protein dynamics/pre-chemistry conformational changes in the catalytic cycle of enzymes. Of particular interest is the notion that substrate-induced conformational changes that assemble the polymerase active site prior to chemistry are required for DNA synthesis and impact fidelity (i.e., substrate specificity). High-resolution crystal structures of DNA polymerase β representing intermediates of substrate complexes prior to the chemical step are available. These structures indicate that conformational adjustments in both the protein and substrates must occur to achieve the requisite geometry of the reactive participants for catalysis. We discuss computational and kinetic methods to examine possible conformational change pathways that lead from the observed crystal structure intermediates to the final structures poised for chemistry. The results, as well as kinetic data from site-directed mutagenesis studies, are consistent with models requiring pre-chemistry conformational adjustments in order to achieve high fidelity DNA synthesis. Thus, substrate-induced conformational changes that assemble the polymerase active site prior to chemistry contribute to DNA synthesis even when they do not represent actual rate-determining steps for chemistry.

Transcriptional profiling reveals elevated Sox2 in DNA polymerase ß null mouse embryonic fibroblasts

There are over 150 human proteins that have been categorized as bona fide DNA repair proteins. These DNA repair proteins maintain the integrity of the genome, reducing the onset of cancer, disease and aging phenotypes. Variations in expression and/or function would therefore impact genome integrity as well as the cellular response to genotoxins. Global gene expression analysis is an effective approach to uncover defects in DNA repair gene expression and to discover cellular and/or organismal effects brought about by external stimuli such as environmental genotoxicants, chemotherapeutic regimens, viral infections as well as developmental and age-related stimuli. Given the significance of genome stability in cell survival and response to stimuli, we have hypothesized that cells may undergo transcriptional re-programming to accommodate defects in basal DNA repair capacity to promote survival. As a test of this hypothesis, we have compared the transcriptome in three DNA polymerase ß knockout (Polß-KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and the corresponding wild-type (WT) littermate control cell lines. Each Polß-KO cell line was found to have a range of genes up-regulated, when compared to its WT littermate control cell line. Interestingly, six (6) genes were commonly up regulated in all three Polß-KO cell lines, including Sox2, one of several genes associated with the induction of pluripotent stem cells. Herein, we present these findings and suggest that loss of DNA repair and the induction of cellular transcriptional re-programming may, in part, contribute to tumor formation and the cellular response to external stimuli.

Structures of dNTP intermediate states during DNA polymerase active site assembly

DNA polymerase and substrate conformational changes are essential for high-fidelity DNA synthesis. Structures of DNA polymerase (pol) β in complex with DNA show the enzyme in an "open" conformation. Subsequent to binding the nucleotide, the polymerase "closes" around the nascent base pair with two metals positioned for chemistry. However, structures of substrate/active site intermediates prior to closure are lacking. By destabilizing the closed complex, we determined unique ternary complex structures of pol β with correct and incorrect incoming nucleotides bound to the open conformation. These structures reveal that Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding is assessed upon initial complex formation. Importantly, nucleotide-bound states representing intermediate metal coordination states occur with active site assembly. The correct, but not incorrect, nucleotide maintains Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds during interconversion of these states. These structures indicate that the triphosphate of the incoming nucleotide undergoes rearrangement prior to closure, providing an opportunity to deter misinsertion and increase fidelity.

Effect of β,γ-CHF- and β,γ-CHCl-dGTP halogen atom stereochemistry on the transition state of DNA polymerase β

Recently, we synthesized the first individual β,γ-CHX-dGTP diastereomers [(R)- or (S)-CHX, where X is F or Cl] and determined their structures in ternary complexes with DNA polymerase β (pol β). We now report stereospecificity by pol β on the mixed β,γ-CHX diastereomer pairs using nuclear magnetic resonance and on the separate diastereomers using transient kinetics. For both the F and Cl diastereomers, the R isomer is favored over the S isomer for G·C correct incorporation, with stereospecificities [(k(pol)/K(d))(R)/(k(pol)/K(d))(S)] of 3.8 and 6.3, respectively, and also for G·T misincorporation, with stereospecificities of 11 and 7.8, respectively. Stereopreference for the (R)-CHF-dGTP diastereomer was abolished for k(pol) but not K(d) with mutant pol β (R183A). These compounds constitute a new class of stereochemical probes for active site interactions involving halogen atoms. As Arg183 is unique in family X pols, the design of CXY deoxyribonucleotide analogues to enhance interaction is a possible strategy for inhibiting BER selectively in cancer cells.

Human POLB gene is mutated in high percentage of colorectal tumors

Previous small scale sequencing studies have indicated that DNA polymerase β (pol β) variants are present on average in 30% of human tumors of varying tissue origin. Many of these variants have been shown to have aberrant enzyme function in vitro and to induce cellular transformation and/or genomic instability in vivo, suggesting that their presence is associated with tumorigenesis or its progression. In this study, the human POLB gene was sequenced in a collection of 134 human colorectal tumors and was found to contain coding region mutations in 40% of the samples. The variants map to many different sites of the pol β protein and are not clustered. Many variants are nonsynonymous amino acid substitutions predicted to affect enzyme function. A subset of these variants was found to have reduced enzyme activity in vitro and failed to fully rescue pol β-deficient cells from methylmethane sulfonate-induced cytotoxicity. Tumors harboring variants with reduced enzyme activity may have compromised base excision repair function, as evidenced by our methylmethane sulfonate sensitivity studies. Such compromised base excision repair may drive tumorigenesis by leading to an increase in mutagenesis or genomic instability.

Unfavorable electrostatic and steric interactions in DNA polymerase β E295K mutant interfere with the enzyme's pathway

Mutations in DNA polymerase β (pol β) have been associated with approximately 30% of human tumors. The E295K mutation of pol β has been linked to gastric carcinoma via interference with base excision repair. To interpret the different behavior of E295K as compared to wild-type pol β in atomic and energetic detail, we resolve a binary crystal complex of E295K at 2.5 Å and apply transition path sampling (TPS) to delineate the closing pathway of the E295K pol β mutant. Conformational changes are important components in the enzymatic pathway that lead to and ready the enzyme for the chemical reaction. Our analyses show that the closing pathway of E295K mutant differs from the wild-type pol β in terms of the individual transition states along the pathway, associated energies, and the active site conformation in the final closed form of the mutant. In particular, the closed state of E295K has a more distorted active site than the active site in the wild-type pol β. In addition, the total energy barrier in the conformational closing pathway is 65 ± 11 kJ/mol, much higher than that estimated for both correct (e.g., G:C) and incorrect (e.g., G:A) wild-type pol β systems (42 ± 8 and 45 ± 7 kJ/mol, respectively). In particular, the rotation of Arg258 is the rate-limiting step in the conformational pathway of E295K due to unfavorable electrostatic and steric interactions. The distorted active site in the closed relative to open state and the high energy barrier in the conformational pathway may explain in part why the E295K mutant is observed to be inactive. Interestingly, however, following the closing of the thumb but prior to the rotation of Arg258, the E295K mutant complex has a similar energy level as compared to the wild-type pol β. This suggests that the E295K mutant may associate with DNA with similar affinity, but it may be hampered in continuing the process of chemistry. Supporting experimental data come from the observation that the catalytic activity of wild-type pol β is hampered when E295K is present: this may arise from the competition between E295K and wild-type enzyme for the DNA. These combined results suggest that the low insertion efficiency of E295K mutant as compared to wild-type pol β may be related to a closed form distorted by unfavorable electrostatic and steric interactions between Arg258 and other key residues. The active site is thus less competent for proceeding to the chemical reaction, which may also involve a higher reaction barrier than the wild-type or may not be possible in this mutant. Our analysis also suggests further experiments for other mutants to test the above hypothesis and dissect the roles of steric and electrostatic factors on enzyme behavior.

The human gastric cancer-associated DNA polymerase β variant D160N is a mutator that induces cellular transformation

Approximately 30% of human tumors sequenced to date harbor mutations in the POLB gene that are not present in matched normal tissue. Many mutations give rise to enzymes that contain non-synonymous single amino acid substitutions, several of which have been found to have aberrant activity or fidelity and transform cells when expressed. The DNA Polymerase β (Pol β) variant Asp160Asn (D160N) was first identified in a gastric tumor. Expression of D160N in cells induces cellular transformation as measured by hyperproliferation, focus formation, anchorage-independent growth and invasion. Here, we show that D160N is an active mutator polymerase that induces complex mutations. Our data support the interpretation that complex mutagenesis is the underlying mechanism of the observed cellular phenotypes, all of which are linked to tumorigenesis or tumor progression.

Metal-induced DNA translocation leads to DNA polymerase conformational activation

Binding of the catalytic divalent ion to the ternary DNA polymerase β/gapped DNA/dNTP complex is thought to represent the final step in the assembly of the catalytic complex and is consequently a critical determinant of replicative fidelity. We have analyzed the effects of Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ on the conformational activation process based on NMR measurements of [methyl-¹³C]methionine DNA polymerase β. Unexpectedly, both divalent metals were able to produce a template base-dependent conformational activation of the polymerase/1-nt gapped DNA complex in the absence of a complementary incoming nucleotide, albeit with different temperature thresholds. This conformational activation is abolished by substituting Glu295 with lysine, thereby interrupting key hydrogen bonds necessary to stabilize the closed conformation. These and other results indicate that metal-binding can promote: translocation of the primer terminus base pair into the active site; expulsion of an unpaired pyrimidine, but not purine, base from the template-binding pocket; and motions of polymerase subdomains that close the active site. We also have performed pyrophosphorolysis studies that are consistent with predictions based on these results. These findings provide new insight into the relationships between conformational activation, enzyme activity and polymerase fidelity.

Halogenated beta,gamma-methylene- and ethylidene-dGTP-DNA ternary complexes with DNA polymerase beta: structural evidence for stereospecific binding of the fluoromethylene analogues

Beta,gamma-fluoromethylene analogues of nucleotides are considered to be useful mimics of the natural substrates, but direct structural evidence defining their active site interactions has not been available, including the influence of the new chiral center introduced at the CHF carbon, as in beta,gamma-fluoromethylene-dGTP, which forms an active site complex with DNA polymerase beta, a repair enzyme that plays an important role in base excision repair (BER) and oncogenesis. We report X-ray crystallographic results for a series of beta,gamma-CXY dGTP analogues, where X,Y = H, F, Cl, Br, and/or CH(3). For all three R/S monofluorinated analogues examined (CHF, 3/4; CCH(3)F, 13/14; CClF 15/16), a single CXF-diastereomer (3, 13, 16) is observed in the active site complex, with the CXF fluorine atom at a approximately 3 A (bonding) distance to a guanidinium N of Arg183. In contrast, for the CHCl, CHBr, and CHCH(3) analogues, both diasteromers (6/7, 8/9, 10/11) populate the dGTP site in the enzyme complex about equally. The structures of the bound dichloro (5) and dimethyl (12) analogue complexes indicate little to no steric effect on the placement of the bound nucleotide backbone. The results suggest that introduction of a single fluorine atom at the beta,gamma-bridging carbon atom of these dNTP analogues enables a new, stereospecific interaction within the preorganized active site complex that is unique to fluorine. The results also provide the first diverse structural data set permitting an assessment of how closely this class of dNTP analogues mimics the conformation of the parent nucleotide within the active site complex.

Characterization of DNA polymerase beta splicing variants in gastric cancer: the most frequent exon 2-deleted isoform is a non-coding RNA

DNA repair polymerase beta (Pol beta) gene variants are frequently associated with tumor tissues. In this study a search for Pol beta mutants and splice variants was conducted in matched normal and tumor gastric tissues and blood samples from healthy donors. No tumor associated mutations were found while a variety of alternative Pol beta splicing variants were detected with high frequency in all the specimens analysed. Quantitative PCR of the Pol beta variant lacking exon 2 (Ex2Delta) and the isoforms with exon 11 skipping allowed to clarify that these variants are not tumor- neither tissue-specific and their levels vary greatly among different individuals. The most frequent Ex2Delta variant was further characterized. We clearly demonstrated that this variant does not encode protein, as detected by both western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis of human AGS cells expressing HA-tagged Ex2Delta. The lack of translation was confirmed by comparing the DNA gap-filling capacity and alkylation sensitivity of wild type and Pol beta null murine fibroblasts expressing the human Ex2Delta variant. We showed that the Ex2Delta transcript is polyadenylated and its half-life is significantly longer than that of the wild type mRNA as inferred by treating AGS cells with actinomycin D. Moreover, we found that it localizes to polyribosomes suggesting a role as post-transcriptional regulator. This study identifies a new type of DNA repair variants that do not give rise to functional proteins but to non-coding RNAs that could either modulate target mRNAs or represent unproductive splicing events.

Catalytic mechanism of human DNA polymerase lambda with Mg2+ and Mn2+ from ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical studies

DNA polymerases play a crucial role in the cell cycle due to their involvement in genome replication and repair. Understanding the reaction mechanism by which these polymerases carry out their function can provide insights into these processes. Recently, the crystal structures of human DNA polymerase lambda (Pollambda) have been reported both for pre- and post-catalytic complexes [García-Díaz et al., DNA Repair 3 (2007), 1333]. Here we employ the pre-catalytic complex as a starting structure for the determination of the catalytic mechanism of Pollambda using ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical methods. The reaction path has been calculated using Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) as the catalytic metals. In both cases the reaction proceeds through a two-step mechanism where the 3'-OH of the primer sugar ring is deprotonated by one of the conserved Asp residues (D490) in the active site before the incorporation of the nucleotide to the nascent DNA chain. A significant charge transfer is observed between both metals and some residues in the active site as the reaction proceeds. The optimized reactant and product structures agree with the reported crystal structures. In addition, the calculated reaction barriers for both metals are close to experimentally estimated barriers. Energy decomposition analysis to explain individual residue contributions suggests that several amino acids surrounding the active site are important for catalysis. Some of these residues, including R420, R488 and E529, have been implicated in catalysis by previous mutagenesis experiments on the homologous residues on Polbeta. Furthermore, Pollambda residues R420 and E529 found to be important from the energy decomposition analysis, are homologous to residues R183 and E295 in Polbeta, both of which are linked to cancer. In addition, residues R386, E391, K422 and K472 appear to have an important role in catalysis and could be a potential target for mutagenesis experiments. There is partial conservation of these residues across the Pol X family of DNA polymerases.

The E295K DNA polymerase beta gastric cancer-associated variant interferes with base excision repair and induces cellular transformation

Approximately 30% of human tumors examined for mutations in polymerase beta (pol beta) appear to express pol beta variant proteins (D. Starcevic, S. Dalal, and J. B. Sweasy, Cell Cycle 3:998-1001, 2004). Many of these variants result from a single amino acid substitution. We have previously shown that the K289M and I260M colon and prostate cancer variants, respectively, induce cellular transformation most likely due to sequence-specific mutator activity (S. Dalal et al., Biochemistry 44:15664-15673, 2005; T. Lang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:6074-6079, 2004; J. B. Sweasy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102:14350-14355, 2005). In the work described here, we show that the E295K gastric carcinoma pol beta variant acts in a dominant-negative manner by interfering with base excision repair. This leads to an increase in sister chromatid exchanges. Expression of the E295K variant also induces cellular transformation. Our data suggest that unfilled gaps are channeled into a homology-directed repair pathway that could lead to genomic instability. The results indicate that base excision repair is critical for maintaining genome stability and could therefore be a tumor suppressor mechanism.

DNA polymerases and human diseases

DNA polymerases function in DNA replication, repair, recombination and translesion synthesis. Currently, 15 DNA polymerase genes have been identified in human cells, belonging to four distinct families. In this review, we briefly describe the biochemical activities and known cellular roles of each DNA polymerase. Our major focus is on the phenotypic consequences of mutation or ablation of individual DNA polymerase genes. We discuss phenotypes of current mouse models and altered polymerase functions and the relationship of DNA polymerase gene mutations to human cell phenotypes. Interestingly, over 120 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in human populations that are predicted to result in nonsynonymous amino acid substitutions of DNA polymerases. We discuss the putative functional consequences of these SNPs in relation to human disease.

Mammary carcinogenesis in transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of DNA polymerase beta in their mammary glands

DNA polymerase beta (polbeta) is a major contributor to mammalian DNA damage repair through its gap-filling DNA synthesis and 5'-deoxyribose phosphate lyase activities. In this way, polbeta plays pivotal roles in the repair of oxidative DNA damage, replication, embryonic survival, neuronal development, meiosis, apoptosis and telomere function. A 36 kDa truncated polbetaDelta protein is expressed in human colorectal, breast, lung and renal carcinomas, but not in normal matched tissues. Interestingly, a binary protein-protein complex of polbetaDelta and X-ray cross-complementing group 1 acts as dominant-negative mutant. In this study, the potential tumorigenic activity of polbetaDelta was examined in nude and transgenic mouse models. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) expressing polbetaDelta in the absence of endogenous polbeta exhibited increased susceptibility to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced morphological transformation as compared with cells expressing wild-type (WT) polbeta. This was accompanied by reduced gap-filling DNA synthesis activity. Anchorage-independent transformed cells derived from polbetaDelta-expressing MEFs induced 100% tumor occurrence in nude mice. To support these data, we established transgenic mice expressing polbetaDelta specifically in the mammary glands from a whey acidic protein promoter-driven transgene. This is the first report of transgenic mice with tissue-specific expression of polbetaDelta. MNU-induced tumor formation was analyzed in transgenic mice expressing polbetaDelta together with endogenous WT polbeta in their mammary glands and in normal control mice expressing only WT polbeta. The latent period of tumor appearance was markedly shorter and tumor incidence was significantly higher in transgenic animals than in control animals treated under the same conditions. These results indicate that cells expressing the mutant polbetaDelta display an enhanced sensitivity to MNU that probably underlies an increased susceptibility to tumorigenesis.

Polymorphisms of the DNA polymerase beta gene in breast cancer

DNA polymerase beta (Polbeta) provides most of the gap-filling synthesis at apurinic/apyrimidine sites of damaged DNA in the base excision repair pathway. Mutations in the gene encoding DNA polbeta have been identified in various carcinomas. We performed a case-control study to test the association between two polymorphisms in the polbeta gene: a Pro --> Arg change at codon 242 (the Pro242Arg polymorphism) and a Lys --> Met change at codon 289 (the Lys289Met polymorphism) and breast cancer risk and cancer progression. Genotypes were determined in DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 150 breast cancer patients and 150 cancer-free, age-matched women (controls) by PCR-RFLP. A strong association between breast cancer occurrence and the Met/Met phenotype of the Lys289Met polymorphism [odds ratio (OR) 3.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.87-7.56] and the Pro/Arg phenotype of the Pro242Lys polymorphism (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.15-3.34) was found. Polymorphism-polymorphism interaction between the Met/Met phenotype of the Lys289Met and the Pro/Arg phenotype of the Pro242Arg variants increased the risk of breast cancer (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.31-7.09). We did not observe any correlation between studied polymorphisms and breast cancer progression evaluated by node-metastasis, tumor size and Bloom-Richardson grading. In conclusion, Polbeta may play a role in the breast carcinogenesis and the Lys289Met polymorphism of the polbeta gene may be considered as an independent, early, molecular diagnostic marker in breast cancer. The Pro242Arg polymorphism may contribute to the carcinogenesis through the interaction with the Lys289Met and therefore may be regarded as a dependent, auxiliary marker.

Estimating the effect of human base excision repair protein variants on the repair of oxidative DNA base damage

Epidemiologic studies have revealed a complex association between human genetic variance and cancer risk. Quantitative biological modeling based on experimental data can play a critical role in interpreting the effect of genetic variation on biochemical pathways relevant to cancer development and progression. Defects in human DNA base excision repair (BER) proteins can reduce cellular tolerance to oxidative DNA base damage caused by endogenous and exogenous sources, such as exposure to toxins and ionizing radiation. If not repaired, DNA base damage leads to cell dysfunction and mutagenesis, consequently leading to cancer, disease, and aging. Population screens have identified numerous single-nucleotide polymorphism variants in many BER proteins and some have been purified and found to exhibit mild kinetic defects. Epidemiologic studies have led to conflicting conclusions on the association between single-nucleotide polymorphism variants in BER proteins and cancer risk. Using experimental data for cellular concentration and the kinetics of normal and variant BER proteins, we apply a previously developed and tested human BER pathway model to (i) estimate the effect of mild variants on BER of abasic sites and 8-oxoguanine, a prominent oxidative DNA base modification, (ii) identify ranges of variation associated with substantial BER capacity loss, and (iii) reveal nonintuitive consequences of multiple simultaneous variants. Our findings support previous work suggesting that mild BER variants have a minimal effect on pathway capacity whereas more severe defects and simultaneous variation in several BER proteins can lead to inefficient repair and potentially deleterious consequences of cellular damage.

Base excision repair fidelity in normal and cancer cells

In mammalian cells, base excision repair (BER) is the major repair pathway involved in the removal of non-bulky damaged nucleotides. The fidelity of BER is dependent on the polymerization step, where the major BER DNA polymerase (Pol beta) must incorporate the correct Watson-Crick base paired nucleotide into the one nucleotide repair gap. Recent studies have indicated that expression of some Pol beta variants or changes in expression of wild-type Pol beta protein, frequently found in cancer cells, can lead to DNA repair synthesis errors and confers to cells a mutator phenotype.

Exogenous 8-oxo-dG is not utilized for nucleotide synthesis but enhances the accumulation of 8-oxo-Gua in DNA through error-prone DNA synthesis

7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-Gua) and its nucleoside in cytosol are derived from the repair of oxidative DNA and the cleanup of oxidatively damaged DNA precursors, respectively. While the harmful effects of 8-oxo-Gua present in DNA have been studied extensively, few have reported its effects on cytosolic function. Our previous study showed that the addition of 8-oxo-dG to culture media caused an accumulation of 8-oxo-Gua in nuclear DNA in several leukemic cells including KG-1, which lack 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) activity due to mutational loss. However, the mechanism underlying 8-oxo-Gua level increases in DNA has not been addressed. In this study, we elucidated the metabolic fate of 8-oxo-Gua-containing nucleotide and the effect of exogenous 8-oxo-dG on DNA synthesis in KG-1 cells. We found that 8-oxo-dGMP was rapidly dephosphorylated to 8-oxo-dG rather than phosphorylated to 8-oxo-dGDP, thus indicating that 8-oxo-Gua-containing molecule is not used as a substrate for DNA synthesis in KG-1 cells. In fact, radiolabeled 8-oxo-dG was incubated but radioactivity was not detected in nuclear DNA of KG-1 cells, showing that 8-oxo-dG is not directly incorporated into DNA. Interestingly, the activity of DNA polymerase beta, which synthesize DNA with low fidelity increased in KG-1 cells treated with 8-oxo-dG, whereas the expression of DNA polymerase alpha decreased. In addition, the accumulation of 8-oxo-Gua in KG-1 DNA was completely inhibited by a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase beta. Thus, our findings address that the insertion of 8-oxo-dG into KG-1 DNA is not due to the direct incorporation of exogenous 8-oxo-dG, but rather to the inaccurate incorporation of endogenous 8-oxo-dGTP by DNA polymerase beta. It further suggests that 8-oxo-dG in the cytosol may function as an active molecule itself and perturb the well-defined DNA synthesis.

Transcriptional upregulation of DNA polymerase beta by TEIF

The overexpression of DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) has been identified in lots of human cancers, but the mechanism has seldom been investigated. Telomerase transcriptional element-interacting factor (TEIF) can bind to hTERT promoter, stimulating its transcription and telomerase activities. Here, we report that TEIF could also enhance the expression of beta-pol at transcription level. TEIF could specifically activate transcription of beta-pol promoter, but not that of DNA polymerase alpha or delta promoter. The responsible sequences for binding of TEIF were revealed as GC-rich elements dispersing from +19 to -29 nt of beta-pol promoter, which due to mutations caused decreasing in binding of TEIF and apparent losing of transactivation activity. The in vivo interaction between TEIF and beta-pol promoter was identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Besides, ectopic expression of TEIF in HeLa cells could upregulate both levels of endogenous beta-pol mRNA and protein, and consequently increases resistance to the oxidative stress of H2O2. The data may provide new clue to the elucidation of beta-pol overexpression in cancers and also a functional link between beta-pol and telomerase.

Effect of over-expressed DNA polymerase b on malignant degree of esophageal cancer EC9706 cells

AIM: To observe the effect of over-expressed DNA polymerase b on the malignant degree of EC9706 cells of esophageal cancer.

METHODS: The wild and mutant type DNA polb gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into pEGFP-C3 vector to obtain wild and mutant pEGFP-C3-polb. Then pEGFP-C3-polb was transfected into EC9706 cells using lipofectamine method. The location of DNA polb gene-encoded protein was observed under fluorescent microscope. The growth of the cells was detected by MTT assay and the cycle of the cells was examined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The sequences of the two recombinants were confirmed and they were transfected into the EC9706 cells successfully. The wild DNA polb protein was mostly located inside the nuclear, but the mutant DNA Polb protein was distributed in the whole cell. The proliferation of EC9706-wtPolβ cells was significantly slower than that of control cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, the S-period frequency (SPF) was significantly decreased in EC9706-wtPolβ cells (22.11±0.12 vs 44.86±0.03, P<0.05), but not in EC9706-mtpolβ ones (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Over-expression of wild type DNA polymerase b can decrease the malignant degree of esophageal cancer.

Commentary: DNA base excision repair defects in human pathologies

DNA base excision repair (BER) is the main pathway for repair of endogenous damage in human cells. It was expected that a number of degenerative diseases could derive from BER defects. On the contrary, the link between BER defects and human pathology is elusive and the literature is full of conflicting results. The fact that most studies have investigated DNA variations but not their functional consequences has probably contributed to this confusing picture. From a functional point of view, it is likely that gross BER defects are simply not compatible with life and only limited reductions can be observed. Notwithstanding those limits, the pathological consequences of partial BER defects might be widespread and significant at the population level. This starts to emerge in particular for colorectal and lung cancer.

Conformational Transition Pathway of Polymerase β/DNA upon Binding Correct Incoming Substrate

The closing conformational transition of wild-type polymerase beta bound to DNA template/primer before the chemical step (nucleotidyl transfer reaction) is simulated using the stochastic difference equation (in length version, "SDEL") algorithm that approximates long-time dynamics. The order of the events and the intermediate states during pol beta's closing pathway are identified and compared to a separate study of pol beta using transition path sampling (TPS) (Radhakrishnan, R.; Schlick, T. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2004, 101, 5970-5975). Results highlight the cooperative and subtle conformational changes in the pol beta active site upon binding the correct substrate that may help explain DNA replication and repair fidelity. These changes involve key residues that differentiate the open from the closed conformation (Asp192, Arg258, Phe272), as well as residues contacting the DNA template/primer strand near the active site (Tyr271, Arg283, Thr292, Tyr296) and residues contacting the beta and gamma phosphates of the incoming nucleotide (Ser180, Arg183, Gly189). This study compliments experimental observations by providing detailed atomistic views of the intermediates along the polymerase closing pathway and by suggesting additional key residues that regulate events prior to or during the chemical reaction. We also show general agreement between two sampling methods (the stochastic difference equation and transition path sampling) and identify methodological challenges involved in the former method relevant to large-scale biomolecular applications. Specifically, SDEL is very quick relative to TPS for obtaining an approximate path of medium resolution and providing qualitative information on the sequence of events; however, associated free energies are likely very costly to obtain because this will require both successful further refinement of the path segments close to the bottlenecks and large computational time.

Highly organized but pliant active site of DNA polymerase beta: compensatory mechanisms in mutant enzymes revealed by dynamics simulations and energy analyses

To link conformational transitions noted for DNA polymerases with kinetic results describing catalytic efficiency and fidelity, we investigate the role of key DNA polymerase beta residues on subdomain motion through simulations of five single-residue mutants: Arg-283-Ala, Tyr-271-Ala, Asp-276-Val, Arg-258-Lys, and Arg-258-Ala. Since a movement toward a closed state was only observed for R258A, we suggest that Arg(258) is crucial in modulating motion preceding chemistry. Analyses of protein/DNA interactions in the mutant active site indicate distinctive hydrogen bonding and van der Waals patterns arising from compensatory structural adjustments. By comparing closed mutant complexes with the wild-type enzyme, we interpret experimentally derived nucleotide binding affinities in molecular terms: R283A (decreased), Y271A (increased), D276V (increased), and R258A (decreased). Thus, compensatory interactions (e.g., in Y271A with adjacent residues Phe(272), Asn(279), and Arg(283)) increase the overall binding affinity for the incoming nucleotide although direct interactions may decrease. Together with energetic analyses, we predict that R258G might increase the rate of nucleotide insertion and maintain enzyme fidelity as R258A; D276L might increase the nucleotide binding affinity more than D276V; and R283A/K280A might decrease the nucleotide binding affinity and increase misinsertion more than R283A. The combined observations regarding key roles of specific residues (e.g., Arg(258)) and compensatory interactions echo the dual nature of polymerase active site, namely versatility (to accommodate various basepairs) and specificity (for preserving fidelity) and underscore an organized but pliant active site essential to enzyme function.

DNA polymerase beta interacts with TRF2 and induces telomere dysfunction in a murine mammary cell line

DNA polymerase beta (Polbeta) is a DNA repair protein that functions in base excision repair and meiosis. The enzyme has deoxyribose phosphate lyase and polymerase activity, but it is error prone because it bears no proofreading activity. Errors in DNA repair can lead to the accumulation of mutations and consequently to tumorigenesis. Polbeta expression has been found to be higher in tumors, and deregulation of its expression has been found to induce chromosomal instability, a hallmark of tumorigenesis, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In the present study, we have investigated whether ectopic expression of Polbeta influences the stability of chromosomes in a murine mammary cell line. The results demonstrate a telomere dysfunction phenotype: an increased rate of telomere loss and chromosome fusion, suggesting that ectopic expression of Polbeta leads to telomere dysfunction. In addition, Polbeta interacts with TRF2, a telomeric DNA binding protein. Colocalization of the two proteins occurs at nontelomeric sites and appears to be influenced by the change in the status of the telomeric complex.

A DNA polymerase beta mutant from colon cancer cells induces mutations

Previous investigations have shown that approximately 35% of the 90 tumors analyzed to date contain mutations within the DNA polymerasebeta (pol beta) gene. The existence of pol beta mutations in a substantial fraction of human tumors studied suggests a link between DNA pol beta and cancer. A DNA pol beta variant, in which Lys-289 has been altered to Met, was identified previously in a colorectal carcinoma. The K289M protein was expressed in mouse L cells containing the lambda cII mutational target. The lambda DNA was packaged and used to infect bacterial cells to obtain the spontaneous mutation frequency. We found that expression of K289M in the mouse cells resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in the mutation frequency. What was most interesting was that expression of K289M in these cells resulted in a 16-fold increase in the frequency of C to G or G to C base substitutions at a specific site within the cII target. By using this cII target sequence, kinetic analysis of the purified K289M protein revealed that it was able to misincorporate dCTP opposite template C and dGTP opposite template G with significantly higher efficiency than the wild-type pol beta protein. We provide evidence that misincorporation of nucleotides by K289M results from altered positioning of the DNA within the active site of the enzyme. Our data are consistent with the interpretation that misincorporation of nucleotides resulting from altered DNA positioning by the K289M protein has the potential to result in tumorigenesis or neoplastic progression.

Sequence variation in the human uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG) gene

Spontaneous deamination of cytosine results in a premutagenic G:U mismatch that may result in a GC-->AT transition during replication. The human UNG-gene encodes the major uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG or UNG) which releases uracil from DNA, thus, initiating base excision repair to restore the correct DNA sequence. Bacterial and yeast mutants lacking the homologous UDG exhibit elevated spontaneous mutation frequencies. Hence, mutations in the human UNG gene could presumably result in a mutator phenotype. We screened all seven exons including exon-intron boundaries, both promoters, and one intron of the UNG gene and identified considerable sequence variation in cell lines derived from normal fibroblasts and tumour tissue. None of the sequence variants was accompanied by significantly reduced UDG activity. In the UNG gene from 62 sources, we identified 12 different variant alleles, with allele frequencies ranging from 0.01 to 0.23. We identified one variant allele per 3.8kb in non-coding regions, but none in the coding region of the gene. In promoter B we identified four different variants. A substitution within an AP2 element was observed in tumour cell lines only and had an allele frequency of 0.10. Introduction of this substitution into chimaeric promoter-luciferase constructs affected transcription from the promoter. UDG-activity varied little in fibroblasts, but widely between tumour cell lines. This variation did not however correlate with the presence of any of the variant alleles. In conclusion, mutations affecting the function of human UNG gene are seemingly infrequent in human tumour cell lines.