Association of CBP/p300 acetylase and thymine DNA glycosylase links DNA repair and transcription

Thymine DNA glycosylase regulates cell-cycle-driven p53 transcriptional control in pluripotent cells

Cell cycle progression is linked to transcriptome dynamics and variations in the response of pluripotent cells to differentiation cues, mostly through unknown determinants. Here, we characterized the cell-cycle-associated transcriptome and proteome of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in naive ground state. We found that the thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a cell-cycle-regulated co-factor of the tumor suppressor p53. Furthermore, TDG and p53 co-bind ESC-specific cis-regulatory elements and thereby control transcription of p53-dependent genes during self-renewal. We determined that the dynamic expression of TDG is required to promote the cell-cycle-associated transcriptional heterogeneity. Moreover, we demonstrated that transient depletion of TDG influences cell fate decisions during the early differentiation of mESCs. Our findings reveal an unanticipated role of TDG in promoting molecular heterogeneity during the cell cycle and highlight the central role of protein dynamics for the temporal control of cell fate during development.

Thymine DNA glycosylase mediates chromatin phase separation in a DNA methylation-dependent manner

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is an essential enzyme involved in numerous biological pathways, including DNA repair, DNA demethylation, and transcriptional activation. Despite these important functions, the mechanisms surrounding the actions and regulation of TDG are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that TDG induces phase separation of DNA and nucleosome arrays under physiologically relevant conditions in vitro and show that the resulting chromatin droplets exhibited behaviors typical of phase-separated liquids, supporting a liquid-liquid phase separation model. We also provide evidence that TDG has the capacity to form phase-separated condensates in the cell nucleus. The ability of TDG to induce chromatin phase separation is dependent on its intrinsically disordered N- and C-terminal domains, which in isolation, promote the formation of chromatin-containing droplets having distinct physical properties, consistent with their unique mechanistic roles in the phase separation process. Interestingly, DNA methylation alters the phase behavior of the disordered domains of TDG and compromises formation of chromatin condensates by full-length TDG, indicating that DNA methylation regulates the assembly and coalescence of TDG-mediated condensates. Overall, our results shed new light on the formation and physical nature of TDG-mediated chromatin condensates, which have broad implications for the mechanism and regulation of TDG and its associated genomic processes.

Acetyl transferase EP300 deficiency leads to chronic replication stress mediated by defective fork protection at stalled replication forks

Mutations in the epigenetic regulator and global transcriptional activator, E1A binding protein (EP300), is being increasingly reported in aggressive hematological malignancies including adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). However, the mechanistic contribution of EP300 dysregulation to cancer initiation and progression are currently unknown. Independent inhibition of EP300 in human cells results in the differential expression of genes involved in regulating the cell cycle, DNA replication and DNA damage response. Nevertheless, specific function played by EP300 in DNA replication initiation, progression and replication fork integrity has not been studied. Here, using ATLL cells as a model to study EP300 deficiency and an p300-selective PROTAC degrader, degrader as a pharmacologic tool, we reveal that EP300-mutated cells display prolonged cell cycle kinetics, due to pronounced dysregulations in DNA replication dynamics leading to persistent genomic instability. Aberrant DNA replication in EP300-mutated cells is characterized by elevated replication origin firing due to increased replisome pausing genome-wide. We demonstrate that EP300 deficiency results in nucleolytic degradation of nascently synthesized DNA at stalled forks due to a prominent defect in fork stabilization and protection. This in turn results in the accumulation of single stranded DNA gaps at collapsed replication forks, in EP300-deficient cells. Inhibition of Mre11 nuclease rescues the ssDNA accumulation indicating a dysregulation in downstream mechanisms that restrain nuclease activity at stalled forks. Importantly, we find that the absence of EP300 results in decreased expression of BRCA2 protein expression and a dependency on POLD3-mediated error-prone replication restart mechanisms. The overall S-phase abnormalities observed lead to under-replicated DNA in G2/M that instigates mitotic DNA synthesis. This in turn is associated with mitotic segregation defects characterized by elevated micronuclei formation, accumulation of cytosolic DNA and transmission of unrepaired inherited DNA lesions in the subsequent G1-phase in EP300-deficient cells. We demonstrate that the DNA replication dynamics of EP300-mutated cells ATLL cells recapitulate features of BRCA-deficient cancers. Altogether these results suggest that mutations in EP300 cause chronic DNA replication stress and defective replication fork restart results in persistent genomic instability that underlie aggressive chemo-resistant tumorigenesis in humans.

Thymine DNA Glycosylase is an RNA-Binding Protein with High Selectivity for G-Rich Sequences

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a multifaceted enzyme involved in several critical biological pathways, including transcriptional activation, DNA demethylation, and DNA repair. Recent studies have established regulatory relationships between TDG and RNA, but the molecular interactions underlying these relationships is poorly understood. Herein, we now demonstrate that TDG binds directly to RNA with nanomolar affinity. Using synthetic oligonucleotides of defined length and sequence, we show that TDG has a strong preference for binding G-rich sequences in single-stranded RNA but binds weakly to single-stranded DNA and duplex RNA. TDG also binds tightly to endogenous RNA sequences. Studies with truncated proteins indicate that TDG binds RNA primarily through its structured catalytic domain and that its disordered C-terminal domain plays a key role in regulating TDG's affinity and selectivity for RNA. Finally, we show that RNA competes with DNA for binding to TDG, resulting in inhibition of TDG-mediated excision in the presence of RNA. Together, this work provides support for and insights into a mechanism wherein TDG-mediated processes (e.g., DNA demethylation) are regulated through the direct interactions of TDG with RNA.

Noncatalytic Domains in DNA Glycosylases

Many proteins consist of two or more structural domains: separate parts that have a defined structure and function. For example, in enzymes, the catalytic activity is often localized in a core fragment, while other domains or disordered parts of the same protein participate in a number of regulatory processes. This situation is often observed in many DNA glycosylases, the proteins that remove damaged nucleobases thus initiating base excision DNA repair. This review covers the present knowledge about the functions and evolution of such noncatalytic parts in DNA glycosylases, mostly concerned with the human enzymes but also considering some unique members of this group coming from plants and prokaryotes.

Kinetic Analysis of the Effect of N-Terminal Acetylation on Thymine DNA Glycosylase

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is tasked with initiating DNA base excision repair by recognizing and removing T, U, the chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and many other oxidized and halogenated pyrimidine bases. TDG contains a long, unstructured N-terminus that contains four known sites of acetylation: lysine (K) residues 59, 83, 84, and 87. Here, K to glutamine (Q) mutants are used as acetyl-lysine (AcK) analogues to probe the effect of N-terminal acetylation on the kinetics of TDG. We find that mimicking acetylation affects neither the maximal single-turnover rate k_max nor the turnover rate k_TO, indicating that the steps after initial binding, through chemistry and product release, are not affected. Under subsaturating conditions, however, acetylation changes the processing of U substrates. Subtle differences among AcK analogues are revealed with 5-FU in single-stranded DNA. We propose that the subtleties observed among the AcK analogues may be amplified on the genomic scale, leading to regulation of TDG activity. N-terminal acetylation, though, may also play a structural, rather than kinetic role in vivo.

The Role of Thymine DNA Glycosylase in Transcription, Active DNA Demethylation, and Cancer

Simple Summary

Thymine DNA Glycosylase (TDG) is a DNA repair protein that plays an important role in gene regulation. Recent studies have shown that TDG interacts with various transcription factors to activate target genes. TDG also functions in a pathway known as active DNA demethylation, which removes 5-mC from DNA and replaces it with unmethylated cytosine. In this review, we summarize the various functions of TDG in gene regulation as well as the physiological relevance of TDG in cancer.

Abstract

DNA methylation is an essential covalent modification that is required for growth and development. Once considered to be a relatively stable epigenetic mark, many studies have established that DNA methylation is dynamic. The 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) mark can be removed through active DNA demethylation in which 5-mC is converted to an unmodified cytosine through an oxidative pathway coupled to base excision repair (BER). The BER enzyme Thymine DNA Glycosylase (TDG) plays a key role in active DNA demethylation by excising intermediates of 5-mC generated by this process. TDG acts as a key player in transcriptional regulation through its interactions with various nuclear receptors and transcription factors, in addition to its involvement in classical BER and active DNA demethylation, which serve to protect the stability of the genome and epigenome, respectively. Recent animal studies have identified a connection between the loss of Tdg and the onset of tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on TDG’s function as a transcriptional regulator as well as the physiological relevance of TDG and active DNA demethylation in cancer.

Sp1-dependent recruitment of the histone acetylase p300 to DSBs facilitates chromatin remodeling and recruitment of the NHEJ repair factor Ku70

In response to DNA damage, most factors involved in damage recognition and repair are tightly regulated to ensure proper repair pathway choice. Histone acetylation at DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) by p300 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) is critical for the recruitment of DSB repair proteins to chromatin. Here, we show that phosphorylation of Sp1 by ATM increases its interaction with p300 and that Sp1-dependent recruitment of p300 to DSBs is necessary to modify the histones associated with p300 activity and NHEJ repair factor recruitment and repair. p300 is known to acetylate multiple residues on histones H3 and H4 necessary for NHEJ. Acetylation of H3K18 by p300 is associated with the recruitment of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex and Ku70 to DSBs for NHEJ repair. Depletion of Sp1 results in decreased acetylation of lysines on histones H3 and H4. Specifically, cells depleted of Sp1 display defects in the acetylation of H3K18, resulting in defective SWI/SNF and Ku70 recruitment to DSBs. These results shed light on mechanisms by which chromatin remodelers are regulated to ensure activation of the appropriate DSB repair pathway.

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome: A Model of Epigenetic Disorder

The Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a rare congenital developmental disorder characterized by a typical facial dysmorphism, distal limb abnormalities, intellectual disability, and many additional phenotypical features. It occurs at between 1/100,000 and 1/125,000 births. Two genes are currently known to cause RSTS, CREBBP and EP300, mutated in around 55% and 8% of clinically diagnosed cases, respectively. To date, 500 pathogenic variants have been reported for the CREBBP gene and 118 for EP300. These two genes encode paralogs acting as lysine acetyltransferase involved in transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling with a key role in neuronal plasticity and cognition. Because of the clinical heterogeneity of this syndrome ranging from the typical clinical diagnosis to features overlapping with other Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery, phenotype/genotype correlations remain difficult to establish. In this context, the deciphering of the patho-physiological process underlying these diseases and the definition of a specific episignature will likely improve the diagnostic efficiency but also open novel therapeutic perspectives. This review summarizes the current clinical and molecular knowledge and highlights the epigenetic regulation of RSTS as a model of chromatinopathy.

Epigenetic regulation in Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating and fatal monogenic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of selective neurons in the brain and is caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in a coding exon of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Progressive gene expression changes that begin at premanifest stages are a prominent feature of HD and are thought to contribute to disease progression. Increasing evidence suggests the critical involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in abnormal transcription in HD. Genome-wide alterations of a number of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and multiple histone modifications, are associated with HD, suggesting that mutant HTT causes complex epigenetic abnormalities and chromatin structural changes, which may represent an underlying pathogenic mechanism. The causal relationship of specific epigenetic changes to early transcriptional alterations and to disease pathogenesis require further investigation. In this article, we review recent studies on epigenetic regulation in HD with a focus on DNA and histone modifications. We also discuss the contribution of epigenetic modifications to HD pathogenesis as well as potential mechanisms linking mutant HTT and epigenetic alterations. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of epigenetic-based treatments.

Loss of Thymine DNA Glycosylase Causes Dysregulation of Bile Acid Homeostasis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a nuclear receptor coactivator that plays an essential role in the maintenance of epigenetic stability in cells. Here, we demonstrate that the conditional deletion of TDG in adult mice results in a male-predominant onset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TDG loss leads to a prediabetic state, as well as bile acid (BA) accumulation in the liver and serum of male mice. Consistent with these data, TDG deletion led to dysregulation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and small heterodimer partner (SHP) regulatory cascade in the liver. FXR and SHP are tumor suppressors of HCC and play an essential role in BA and glucose homeostasis. These results indicate that TDG functions as a tumor suppressor of HCC by regulating a transcriptional program that protects against the development of glucose intolerance and BA accumulation in the liver.

Reversible chromatin condensation by the DNA repair and demethylation factor thymine DNA glycosylase

Chromatin structures (and modulators thereof) play a central role in genome organization and function. Herein, we report that thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an essential enzyme involved in DNA repair and demethylation, has the capacity to alter chromatin structure directly through its physical interactions with DNA. Using chemically defined nucleosome arrays, we demonstrate that TDG induces decompaction of individual chromatin fibers upon binding and promotes self-association of nucleosome arrays into higher-order oligomeric structures (i.e. condensation). Chromatin condensation is mediated by TDG’s disordered polycationic N-terminal domain, whereas its C-terminal domain antagonizes this process. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TDG-mediated chromatin condensation is reversible by growth arrest and DNA damage 45 alpha (GADD45a), implying that TDG cooperates with its binding partners to dynamically control chromatin architecture. Finally, we show that chromatin condensation by TDG is sensitive to the methylation status of the underlying DNA. This new paradigm for TDG has specific implications for associated processes, such as DNA repair, DNA demethylation, and transcription, and general implications for the role of DNA modification ‘readers’ in controlling chromatin organization.

Functionally distinct roles for TET-oxidized 5-methylcytosine bases in somatic reprogramming to pluripotency

Active DNA demethylation via ten-eleven translocation (TET) family enzymes is essential for epigenetic reprogramming in cell state transitions. TET enzymes catalyze up to three successive oxidations of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), generating 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), or 5-carboxycytosine (5caC). Although these bases are known to contribute to distinct demethylation pathways, the lack of tools to uncouple these sequential oxidative events has constrained our mechanistic understanding of the role of TETs in chromatin reprogramming. Here, we describe the first application of biochemically engineered TET mutants that unlink 5mC oxidation steps, examining their effects on somatic cell reprogramming. We show that only TET enzymes proficient for oxidation to 5fC/5caC can rescue the reprogramming potential of Tet2-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. This effect correlated with rapid DNA demethylation at reprogramming enhancers and increased chromatin accessibility later in reprogramming. These experiments demonstrate that DNA demethylation through 5fC/5caC has roles distinct from 5hmC in somatic reprogramming to pluripotency.

Cellular response to endogenous DNA damage: DNA base modifications in gene expression regulation

The integrity of the genetic information is continuously challenged by numerous genotoxic insults, most frequently in the form of oxidation, alkylation or deamination of the bases that result in DNA damage. These damages compromise the fidelity of the replication, and interfere with the progression and function of the transcription machineries. The DNA damage response (DDR) comprises a series of strategies to deal with DNA damage, including transient transcriptional inhibition, activation of DNA repair pathways and chromatin remodeling. Coordinated control of transcription and DNA repair is required to safeguardi cellular functions and identities. Here, we address the cellular responses to endogenous DNA damage, with a particular focus on the role of DNA glycosylases and the Base Excision Repair (BER) pathway, in conjunction with the DDR factors, in responding to DNA damage during the transcription process. We will also discuss functions of newly identified epigenetic and regulatory marks, such as 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and its oxidative products and 8-oxoguanine, that were previously considered only as DNA damages. In light of these resultsthe classical perception of DNA damage as detrimental for cellular processes are changing. and a picture emerges whereDNA glycosylases act as dynamic regulators of transcription, placing them at the intersection of DNA repair and gene expression modulation.

Focus on DNA Glycosylases-A Set of Tightly Regulated Enzymes with a High Potential as Anticancer Drug Targets

Cancer is the second leading cause of death with tens of millions of people diagnosed with cancer every year around the world. Most radio- and chemotherapies aim to eliminate cancer cells, notably by causing severe damage to the DNA. However, efficient repair of such damage represents a common mechanism of resistance to initially effective cytotoxic agents. Thus, development of new generation anticancer drugs that target DNA repair pathways, and more particularly the base excision repair (BER) pathway that is responsible for removal of damaged bases, is of growing interest. The BER pathway is initiated by a set of enzymes known as DNA glycosylases. Unlike several downstream BER enzymes, DNA glycosylases have so far received little attention and the development of specific inhibitors of these enzymes has been lagging. Yet, dysregulation of DNA glycosylases is also known to play a central role in numerous cancers and at different stages of the disease, and thus inhibiting DNA glycosylases is now considered a valid strategy to eliminate cancer cells. This review provides a detailed overview of the activities of DNA glycosylases in normal and cancer cells, their modes of regulation, and their potential as anticancer drug targets.

Active DNA demethylation-The epigenetic gatekeeper of development, immunity, and cancer

DNA methylation is a critical process in the regulation of gene expression with dramatic effects in development and continually expanding roles in oncogenesis. 5-Methylcytosine was once considered to be an inherited and stably repressive epigenetic mark, which can be only removed by passive dilution during multiple rounds of DNA replication. However, in the past two decades, physiologically controlled DNA demethylation and deamination processes have been identified, thereby revealing the function of cytosine methylation as a highly regulated and complex state-not simply a static, inherited signature or binary on-off switch. Alongside these fundamental discoveries, clinical studies over the past decade have revealed the dramatic consequences of aberrant DNA demethylation. In this review we discuss DNA demethylation and deamination in the context of 5-methylcytosine as critical processes for physiological and physiopathological transitions within three states-development, immune maturation, and oncogenic transformation; and we describe the expanding role of DNA demethylating drugs as therapeutic agents in cancer.

Lost in the Crowd: How Does Human 8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase 1 (OGG1) Find 8-Oxoguanine in the Genome?

The most frequent DNA lesion resulting from an oxidative stress is 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG). 8-oxoG is a premutagenic base modification due to its capacity to pair with adenine. Thus, the repair of 8-oxoG is critical for the preservation of the genetic information. Nowadays, 8-oxoG is also considered as an oxidative stress-sensor with a putative role in transcription regulation. In mammalian cells, the modified base is excised by the 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1), initiating the base excision repair (BER) pathway. OGG1 confronts the massive challenge that is finding rare occurrences of 8-oxoG among a million-fold excess of normal guanines. Here, we review the current knowledge on the search and discrimination mechanisms employed by OGG1 to find its substrate in the genome. While there is considerable data from in vitro experiments, much less is known on how OGG1 is recruited to chromatin and scans the genome within the cellular nucleus. Based on what is known of the strategies used by proteins searching for rare genomic targets, we discuss the possible scenarios allowing the efficient detection of 8-oxoG by OGG1.

Acetylation and Deacetylation of DNA Repair Proteins in Cancers

Hundreds of DNA repair proteins coordinate together to remove the diverse damages for ensuring the genomic integrity and stability. The repair system is an extensive network mainly encompassing cell cycle arrest, chromatin remodeling, various repair pathways, and new DNA fragment synthesis. Acetylation on DNA repair proteins is a dynamic epigenetic modification orchestrated by lysine acetyltransferases (HATs) and lysine deacetylases (HDACs), which dramatically affects the protein functions through multiple mechanisms, such as regulation of DNA binding ability, protein activity, post-translational modification (PTM) crosstalk, and protein–protein interaction. Accumulating evidence has indicated that the aberrant acetylation of DNA repair proteins contributes to the dysfunction of DNA repair ability, the pathogenesis and progress of cancer, as well as the chemosensitivity of cancer cells. In the present scenario, targeting epigenetic therapy is being considered as a promising method at par with the conventional cancer therapeutic strategies. This present article provides an overview of the recent progress in the functions and mechanisms of acetylation on DNA repair proteins involved in five major repair pathways, which warrants the possibility of regulating acetylation on repair proteins as a therapeutic target in cancers.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals may deregulate DNA repair through estrogen receptor mediated seizing of CBP/p300 acetylase

PURPOSE

Environmental pollutants are known to induce DNA breaks, leading to genomic instability. Here, we propose a novel mechanism for the genotoxic effects exerted by environmentally exposed endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

METHODS

Bibliographic research and presentation of the analysis.

DISCUSSION

In mammals, nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining pathways are some of the major DNA repair pathways. p300 along with CREB-binding protein (CBP) contributes to chromatin remodeling, DNA damage response and repair of both single- and double-stranded DNA breaks. In addition to its role in DNA repair, CBP/p300 also acts as a coactivator to interact with the estrogen receptor and androgen receptor during its estrogen- and androgen-dependent transactivation, respectively. Since activated estrogen receptors (ERs) seize p300 from the repressed genes and redistribute it to the enhancer genes to activate transcription, the cellular functioning may be based on a balance between these pathways and any disturbance in one may alter the other, leading to undesirable physiological effects.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, CBP/p300 is important for DNA repair and nuclear hormone receptor transactivation. Activated hormone receptors can sequester p300 to regulate the hormonal effects. Hence, we believe that activation of ERs by EDCs results in sequestration of CBP/p300 for ER transactivation and transcription initiation of its target genes, leading to a competition for CBP/P300, resulting in the deregulation of all other pathways involving p300/CBP.

Mutations in CREBBP and EP300 genes affect DNA repair of oxidative damage in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome cells

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by intellectual disability, skeletal abnormalities, growth deficiency and an increased risk of tumors. RSTS is predominantly caused by mutations in CREBBP or EP300 genes encoding for CBP and p300 proteins, two lysine acetyl-transferases (KAT) playing a key role in transcription, cell proliferation and DNA repair. However, the efficiency of these processes in RSTS cells is still largely unknown. Here, we have investigated whether pathways involved in the maintenance of genome stability are affected in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) obtained from RSTS patients with mutations in CREBBP or in EP300 genes. We report that RSTS LCLs with mutations affecting CBP or p300 protein levels or KAT activity, are more sensitive to oxidative DNA damage and exhibit defective base excision repair (BER). We have found reduced OGG1 DNA glycosylase activity in RSTS compared to control cell extracts, and concomitant lower OGG1 acetylation levels, thereby impairing the initiation of the BER process. In addition, we report reduced acetylation of other BER factors, such as DNA polymerase β and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), together with acetylation of histone H3. We also show that complementation of CBP or p300 partially reversed RSTS cell sensitivity to DNA damage. These results disclose a mechanism of defective DNA repair as a source of genome instability in RSTS cells.

LINC00467 is up-regulated by TDG-mediated acetylation in non-small cell lung cancer and promotes tumor progression

The long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) abnormally expresses in several cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To better understand the role of key lncRNA involving cancer progress, we conduct a comprehensive data mining on LINC00467 and determine its molecular mechanisms. We identified LINC00467 was the up-regulated lncRNA that common significantly differentially expressed in NSCLC and CRC tissues from GEO database. LINC00467 highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and associated with advanced clinical stages and poor outcome. Knockdown of LINC00467 inhibited cell growth and metastasis via regulating the Akt signaling pathway. Finally, we demonstrated that TDG mediated acetylation is the key factor controlling LINC00467 expression. In conclusion, LINC00467 promotes NSCLC progression via Akt signal pathway. The identified LINC00467 may serve as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as well as a therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Base Excision Repair in the Immune System: Small DNA Lesions With Big Consequences

The integrity of the genome is under constant threat of environmental and endogenous agents that cause DNA damage. Endogenous damage is particularly pervasive, occurring at an estimated rate of 10,000–30,000 per cell/per day, and mostly involves chemical DNA base lesions caused by oxidation, depurination, alkylation, and deamination. The base excision repair (BER) pathway is primary responsible for removing and repairing these small base lesions that would otherwise lead to mutations or DNA breaks during replication. Next to preventing DNA mutations and damage, the BER pathway is also involved in mutagenic processes in B cells during immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM), which are instigated by uracil (U) lesions derived from activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) activity. BER is required for the processing of AID-induced lesions into DNA double strand breaks (DSB) that are required for CSR, and is of pivotal importance for determining the mutagenic outcome of uracil lesions during SHM. Although uracils are generally efficiently repaired by error-free BER, this process is surprisingly error-prone at the Ig loci in proliferating B cells. Breakdown of this high-fidelity process outside of the Ig loci has been linked to mutations observed in B-cell tumors and DNA breaks and chromosomal translocations in activated B cells. Next to its role in preventing cancer, BER has also been implicated in immune tolerance. Several defects in BER components have been associated with autoimmune diseases, and animal models have shown that BER defects can cause autoimmunity in a B-cell intrinsic and extrinsic fashion. In this review we discuss the contribution of BER to genomic integrity in the context of immune receptor diversification, cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Biochemical and Cellular Assays to Assess the Effects of Acetylation on Base Excision Repair Enzymes

Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs), including acetylation, have emerged as important regulators for controlling many cellular processes. DNA base excision repair (BER), a highly coordinated multistep cellular process, is primarily involved in the repair of both endogenous and drug-induced exogenous DNA base damages. BER relies on sequential recruitment and coordinated actions of multiple proteins. Increasing evidence suggests that acetylation of lysine residues of BER proteins facilitates fine-tuning of enzymatic activities, protein-protein interactions, and coordination of the steps in BER pathway. In this chapter, we describe detailed in vitro and in vivo approaches to examine the effect of acetylation on BER enzymes, focusing on the impact of acetylation of AP-endonuclease (APE1), a key enzyme in BER pathway, on its DNA damage repair activity, substrate-binding, and subcellular localization.

On the epigenetic role of guanosine oxidation

Chemical modifications of DNA and RNA regulate genome functions or trigger mutagenesis resulting in aging or cancer. Oxidations of macromolecules, including DNA, are common reactions in biological systems and often part of regulatory circuits rather than accidental events. DNA alterations are particularly relevant since the unique role of nuclear and mitochondrial genome is coding enduring and inheritable information. Therefore, an alteration in DNA may represent a relevant problem given its transmission to daughter cells. At the same time, the regulation of gene expression allows cells to continuously adapt to the environmental changes that occur throughout the life of the organism to ultimately maintain cellular homeostasis. Here we review the multiple ways that lead to DNA oxidation and the regulation of mechanisms activated by cells to repair this damage. Moreover, we present the recent evidence suggesting that DNA damage caused by physiological metabolism acts as epigenetic signal for regulation of gene expression. In particular, the predisposition of guanine to oxidation might reflect an adaptation to improve the genome plasticity to redox changes.

Additional functions of selected proteins involved in DNA repair

Protein moonlighting is a phenomenon in which a single polypeptide chain can perform a number of different unrelated functions. Here we present our analysis of moonlighting in the case of selected DNA repair proteins which include G:T mismatch-specific thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 4 (MBD4), apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), AlkB homologs, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and single-strand selective monofunctional uracil DNA glycosylase 1 (SMUG1). Most of their additional functions are not accidental and clear patterns are emerging. Participation in RNA metabolism is not surprising as bases occurring in RNA are the same or very similar to those in DNA. Other common additional function involves regulation of transcription. This is not unexpected as these proteins bind to specific DNA regions for DNA repair, hence they can also be recruited to regulate transcription. Participation in demethylation and replication of DNA appears logical as well. Some of the multifunctional DNA repair proteins play major roles in many diseases, including cancer. However, their moonlighting might prove a major difficulty in the development of new therapies because it will not be trivial to target a single protein function without affecting its other functions that are not related to the disease.

Acetylation of the histone H3 tail domain regulates base excision repair on higher-order chromatin structures

Despite recent evidence suggesting that histone lysine acetylation contributes to base excision repair (BER) in cells, their exact mechanistic role remains unclear. In order to examine the influence of histone acetylation on the initial steps of BER, we assembled nucleosome arrays consisting of homogeneously acetylated histone H3 (H3K18 and H3K27) and measured the repair of a site-specifically positioned 2′-deoxyuridine (dU) residue by uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1). We find that H3K18ac and H3K27ac differentially influence the combined activities of UDG/APE1 on compact chromatin, suggesting that acetylated lysine residues on the H3 tail domain play distinct roles in regulating the initial steps of BER. In addition, we show that the effects of H3 tail domain acetylation on UDG/APE1 activity are at the nucleosome level and do not influence higher-order chromatin folding. Overall, these results establish a novel regulatory role for histone H3 acetylation during the initiation of BER on chromatin.

Defining the impact of sumoylation on substrate binding and catalysis by thymine DNA glycosylase

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) excises thymine from mutagenic G·T mispairs generated by deamination of 5-methylcytosine (mC) and it removes two mC derivatives, 5−formylcytosine (fC) and 5−carboxylcytosine (caC), in a multistep pathway for DNA demethylation. TDG is modified by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins, but the impact of sumoylation on TDG activity is poorly defined and the functions of TDG sumoylation remain unclear. We determined the effect of TDG sumoylation, by SUMO-1 or SUMO-2, on substrate binding and catalytic parameters. Single turnover experiments reveal that sumoylation dramatically impairs TDG base-excision activity, such that G·T activity is reduced by ≥45-fold and fC and caC are excised slowly, with a reaction half-life of ≥9 min (37°C). Fluorescence anisotropy studies reveal that unmodified TDG binds tightly to G·fC and G·caC substrates, with dissociation constants in the low nanomolar range. While sumoylation of TDG weakens substrate binding, the residual affinity is substantial and is comparable to that of biochemically-characterized readers of fC and caC. Our findings raise the possibility that sumoylation enables TDG to function, at least transiently, as reader of fC and caC. Notably, sumoylation could potentially facilitate TDG recruitment of other proteins, including transcription factors or epigenetic regulators, to these sites in DNA.

Current trends in protein acetylation analysis

INTRODUCTION

Acetylation is a widely occurring post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins that plays a crucial role in many cellular physiological and pathological processes. Over the last decade, acetylation analyses required the development of multiple methods to target individual acetylated proteins, as well as to cover a broader description of acetylated proteins that comprise the acetylome. Areas covered: This review discusses the different types of acetylation (N-ter/K-/O-acetylation) and then describes some major strategies that have been reported in the literature to detect, enrich, identify and quantify protein acetylation. The review highlights the advantages and limitations of these strategies, to guide researchers in designing their experimental investigations and analysis of protein acetylation. Finally, this review highlights the main applications of acetylomics (proteomics based on mass spectrometry) for understanding physiological and pathological conditions. Expert opinion: Recent advances in acetylomics have enhanced knowledge of the biological and pathological roles of protein acetylation and the acetylome. Besides, radiolabeling and western blotting remain also techniques-of-choice for targeted protein acetylation. Future challenges in acetylomics to analyze the N-ter and K-acetylome will most likely require enrichment/fractionation, MS instrumentation and bioinformatics. Challenges also remain to identify the potential biological roles of O-acetylation and cross-talk with other PTMs.

Nucleosomes and the three glycosylases: High, medium, and low levels of excision by the uracil DNA glycosylase superfamily

Human cells express the UDG superfamily of glycosylases, which excise uracil (U) from the genome. The three members of this structural superfamily are uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG/UDG), single-strand selective monofunctional uracil DNA glycosylase (SMUG1), and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG). We previously reported that UDG is efficient at removing U from DNA packaged into nucleosome core particles (NCP) and is minimally affected by the histone proteins when acting on an outward-facing U in the dyad region. In an effort to determine whether this high activity is a general property of the UDG superfamily of glycosylases, we compare the activity of UDG, SMUG1, and TDG on a U:G wobble base pair using NCP assembled from Xenopus laevis histones and the Widom 601 positioning sequence. We found that while UDG is highly active, SMUG1 is severely inhibited on NCP and this inhibition is independent of sequence context. Here we also provide the first report of TDG activity on an NCP, and found that TDG has an intermediate level of activity in excision of U and is severely inhibited in its excision of T. These results are discussed in the context of cellular roles for each of these enzymes.

Uncovering universal rules governing the selectivity of the archetypal DNA glycosylase TDG

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a pivotal enzyme with dual roles in both genome maintenance and epigenetic regulation. TDG is involved in cytosine demethylation at CpG sites in DNA. Here we have used molecular modeling to delineate the lesion search and DNA base interrogation mechanisms of TDG. First, we examined the capacity of TDG to interrogate not only DNA substrates with 5-carboxyl cytosine modifications but also G:T mismatches and nonmismatched (A:T) base pairs using classical and accelerated molecular dynamics. To determine the kinetics, we constructed Markov state models. Base interrogation was found to be highly stochastic and proceeded through insertion of an arginine-containing loop into the DNA minor groove to transiently disrupt Watson-Crick pairing. Next, we employed chain-of-replicas path-sampling methodologies to compute minimum free energy paths for TDG base extrusion. We identified the key intermediates imparting selectivity and determined effective free energy profiles for the lesion search and base extrusion into the TDG active site. Our results show that DNA sculpting, dynamic glycosylase interactions, and stabilizing contacts collectively provide a powerful mechanism for the detection and discrimination of modified bases and epigenetic marks in DNA.

Acetylation of oxidized base repair-initiating NEIL1 DNA glycosylase required for chromatin-bound repair complex formation in the human genome increases cellular resistance to oxidative stress

Posttranslational modifications of DNA repair proteins have been linked to their function. However, it is not clear if posttranslational acetylation affects subcellular localization of these enzymes. Here, we show that the human DNA glycosylase NEIL1, which is involved in repair of both endo- and exogenously generated oxidized bases via the base excision repair (BER) pathway, is acetylated by histone acetyltransferase p300. Acetylation occurs predominantly at Lys residues 296, 297 and 298 located in NEIL1's disordered C-terminal domain. NEIL1 mutant having the substitution of Lys 296-298 with neutral Ala loses nuclear localization, whereas Lys > Arg substitution (in 3KR mutant) at the same sites does not affect NEIL1's nuclear localization or chromatin binding, presumably due to retention of the positive charge. Although non-acetylated NEIL1 can bind to chromatin, acetylated NEIL1 is exclusively chromatin-bound. NEIL1 acetylation while dispensable for its glycosylase activity enhances it due to increased product release. The acetylation-defective 3KR mutant forms less stable complexes with various chromatin proteins, including histone chaperones and BER/single-strand break repair partners, than the wild-type (WT) NEIL1. We also showed that the repair complex with WT NEIL1 has significantly higher BER activity than the 3KR mutant complex. This is consistent with reduced resistance of non-acetylable mutant NEIL1 expressing cells to oxidative stress relative to cells expressing the acetylable WT enzyme. We thus conclude that the major role of acetylable Lys residues in NEIL1 is to stabilize the formation of chromatin-bound repair complexes which protect cells from oxidative stress.

CREBBP and p300 lysine acetyl transferases in the DNA damage response

The CREB-binding protein (CREBBP, or in short CBP) and p300 are lysine (K) acetyl transferases (KAT) belonging to the KAT3 family of proteins known to modify histones, as well as non-histone proteins, thereby regulating chromatin accessibility and transcription. Previous studies have indicated a tumor suppressor function for these enzymes. Recently, they have been found to acetylate key factors involved in DNA replication, and in different DNA repair processes, such as base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and non-homologous end joining. The growing list of CBP/p300 substrates now includes factors involved in DNA damage signaling, and in other pathways of the DNA damage response (DDR). This review will focus on the role of CBP and p300 in the acetylation of DDR proteins, and will discuss how this post-translational modification influences their functions at different levels, including catalytic activity, DNA binding, nuclear localization, and protein turnover. In addition, we will exemplify how these functions may be necessary to efficiently coordinate the spatio-temporal response to DNA damage. CBP and p300 may contribute to genome stability by fine-tuning the functions of DNA damage signaling and DNA repair factors, thereby expanding their role as tumor suppressors.

Novel function of HATs and HDACs in homologous recombination through acetylation of human RAD52 at double-strand break sites

The p300 and CBP histone acetyltransferases are recruited to DNA double-strand break (DSB) sites where they induce histone acetylation, thereby influencing the chromatin structure and DNA repair process. Whether p300/CBP at DSB sites also acetylate non-histone proteins, and how their acetylation affects DSB repair, remain unknown. Here we show that p300/CBP acetylate RAD52, a human homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair protein, at DSB sites. Using in vitro acetylated RAD52, we identified 13 potential acetylation sites in RAD52 by a mass spectrometry analysis. An immunofluorescence microscopy analysis revealed that RAD52 acetylation at DSBs sites is counteracted by SIRT2- and SIRT3-mediated deacetylation, and that non-acetylated RAD52 initially accumulates at DSB sites, but dissociates prematurely from them. In the absence of RAD52 acetylation, RAD51, which plays a central role in HR, also dissociates prematurely from DSB sites, and hence HR is impaired. Furthermore, inhibition of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein by siRNA or inhibitor treatment demonstrated that the acetylation of RAD52 at DSB sites is dependent on the ATM protein kinase activity, through the formation of RAD52, p300/CBP, SIRT2, and SIRT3 foci at DSB sites. Our findings clarify the importance of RAD52 acetylation in HR and its underlying mechanism.

Regulation of Active DNA Demethylation through RAR-Mediated Recruitment of a TET/TDG Complex

Retinoic acid (RA) plays important roles in development, growth, and homeostasis through regulation of the nuclear receptors for RA (RARs). Herein, we identify Hypermethylated in Cancer 1 (Hic1) as an RA-inducible gene. HIC1 encodes a tumor suppressor, which is often silenced by promoter hypermethylation in cancer. Treatment of cells with an RAR agonist causes a rapid recruitment of an RAR/RXR complex consisting of TDG, the lysine acetyltransferase CBP, and TET 1/2 to the Hic1 promoter. Complex binding coincides with a transient accumulation of 5fC/5caC and concomitant upregulation of Hic1 expression, both of which are TDG dependent. Furthermore, conditional deletion of Tdg in vivo is associated with Hic1 silencing and DNA hypermethylation of the Hic1 promoter. These findings suggest that the catalytic and scaffolding activities of TDG are essential for RA-dependent gene expression and provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying targeting of TET-TDG complexes.

Genome-wide analysis reveals a role for TDG in estrogen receptor-mediated enhancer RNA transcription and 3-dimensional reorganization

Background

The estrogen receptor (ER) is a ligand-dependant transcription factor expressed in many breast cancers and is the target of many endocrine-based cancer therapies. Genome-wide studies have shown that the ER binds to gene-specific enhancer regions in response to β-estradiol (E2) which undergo transcription producing noncoding enhancer RNA (eRNA). While eRNAs are important for transcriptional activation of neighboring genes, the mechanism remains poorly understood.

Results

Using ChIP-Seq we generate a global profile of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an ER coactivator that plays an essential role in DNA demethylation, in response to E2 in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. Remarkably, we found that in response to E2 TDG localized to enhancers which also recruit ERα, RNA Pol II and other coregulators and which are marked by histone modifications indicative of active enhancers. Importantly, depletion of TDG inhibits E2-mediated transcription of eRNAs and transcription of ER-target genes. Functionally, we find that TDG both sensitizes MCF7 cells to tamoxifen-mediated cytostasis and increases migration and invasion of MCF7 cells.

Conclusions

Taken together we find that TDG plays a central role in mediating transcription at a subset of enhancers and governs how MCF7 cells respond to both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic compounds and may be an effective therapeutic target.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13072-018-0176-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Solid-State Nanopore Analysis of Diverse DNA Base Modifications Using a Modular Enzymatic Labeling Process

Many regulated epigenetic elements and base lesions found in genomic DNA can both directly impact gene expression and play a role in disease processes. However, due to their noncanonical nature, they are challenging to assess with conventional technologies. Here, we present a new approach for the targeted detection of diverse modified bases in DNA. We first use enzymatic components of the DNA base excision repair pathway to install an individual affinity label at each location of a selected modified base with high yield. We then probe the resulting material with a solid-state nanopore assay capable of discriminating labeled DNA from unlabeled DNA. The technique features exceptional modularity via selection of targeting enzymes, which we establish through the detection of four DNA base elements: uracil, 8-oxoguanine, T:G mismatch, and the methyladenine analog 1,N⁶-ethenoadenine. Our results demonstrate the potential for a quantitative nanopore assessment of a broad range of base modifications.

A novel long noncoding RNA linc00460 up-regulated by CBP/P300 promotes carcinogenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality because of poor prognosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been gradually demonstrated to play critical roles in cancer development. We identified a novel long noncoding RNA named linc00460 by microarray analysis using esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) clinical samples, which has not been studied before. Our research indicated that linc00460 was overexpressed in the majority of tumor tissues and ESCC cell lines. Linc00460 expression was positively correlated with ESCC TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and predicted poor prognosis. In vitro experiments showed that linc00460 depletion suppressed ESCC cell growth through regulating cell proliferation and cell cycle; in additional, linc00460 depletion accelerated ESCC cell apoptosis. We further revealed that linc00460 overexpression was manipulated by transcriptional co-activator CBP/P300 through histone acetylation. Given the high expression and important biological functions of linc00460, we suggest that linc00460 works as an oncogene and might be a valuable prognostic biomarker for ESCC diagnosis and treatment.

TET2- and TDG-mediated changes are required for the acquisition of distinct histone modifications in divergent terminal differentiation of myeloid cells

The plasticity of myeloid cells is illustrated by a diversity of functions including their role as effectors of innate immunity as macrophages (MACs) and bone remodelling as osteoclasts (OCs). TET2, a methylcytosine dioxygenase highly expressed in these cells and frequently mutated in myeloid leukemias, may be a key contributor to this plasticity. Through transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses, we investigated 5-methylcytosine (5mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and gene expression changes in two divergent terminal myeloid differentiation processes, namely MAC and OC differentiation. MACs and OCs undergo highly similar 5hmC and 5mC changes, despite their wide differences in gene expression. Many TET2- and thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG)-dependent 5mC and 5hmC changes directly activate the common terminal myeloid differentiation programme. However, the acquisition of differential features between MACs and OCs also depends on TET2/TDG. In fact, 5mC oxidation precedes differential histone modification changes between MACs and OCs. TET2 and TDG downregulation impairs the acquisition of such differential histone modification and expression patterns at MAC-/OC-specific genes. We prove that the histone H3K4 methyltransferase SETD1A is differentially recruited between MACs and OCs in a TET2-dependent manner. We demonstrate a novel role of these enzymes in the establishment of specific elements of identity and function in terminal myeloid differentiation.

Regulation of DNA demethylation by the XPC DNA repair complex in somatic and pluripotent stem cells

In this study, Ho et al. research the mechanism by which TDG-dependent DNA demethylation occurs in a rapid and site-specific manner. Their findings demonstrate two distinct but complementary mechanisms by which XPC influences gene regulation by coordinating efficient TDG-mediated DNA demethylation along with active transcription during somatic cell reprogramming.

Faithful resetting of the epigenetic memory of a somatic cell to a pluripotent state during cellular reprogramming requires DNA methylation to silence somatic gene expression and dynamic DNA demethylation to activate pluripotency gene transcription. The removal of methylated cytosines requires the base excision repair enzyme TDG, but the mechanism by which TDG-dependent DNA demethylation occurs in a rapid and site-specific manner remains unclear. Here we show that the XPC DNA repair complex is a potent accelerator of global and locus-specific DNA demethylation in somatic and pluripotent stem cells. XPC cooperates with TDG genome-wide to stimulate the turnover of essential intermediates by overcoming slow TDG–abasic product dissociation during active DNA demethylation. We further establish that DNA demethylation induced by XPC expression in somatic cells overcomes an early epigenetic barrier in cellular reprogramming and facilitates the generation of more robust induced pluripotent stem cells, characterized by enhanced pluripotency-associated gene expression and self-renewal capacity. Taken together with our previous studies establishing the XPC complex as a transcriptional coactivator, our findings underscore two distinct but complementary mechanisms by which XPC influences gene regulation by coordinating efficient TDG-mediated DNA demethylation along with active transcription during somatic cell reprogramming.

Functions of SUMO in the Maintenance of Genome Stability

Like in most other areas of cellular metabolism, the functions of the ubiquitin-like modifier SUMO in the maintenance of genome stability are manifold and varied. Perturbations of global sumoylation causes a wide spectrum of phenotypes associated with defects in DNA maintenance, such as hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, gross chromosomal rearrangements and loss of entire chromosomes. Consistent with these observations, many key factors involved in various DNA repair pathways have been identified as SUMO substrates. However, establishing a functional connection between a given SUMO target, the cognate SUMO ligase and a relevant phenotype has remained a challenge, mainly because of the difficulties involved in identifying important modification sites and downstream effectors that specifically recognize the target in its sumoylated state. This review will give an overview over the major pathways of DNA repair and genome maintenance influenced by the SUMO system and discuss selected examples of SUMO's actions in these pathways where the biological consequences of the modification have been elucidated.

BERing the burden of damage: Pathway crosstalk and posttranslational modification of base excision repair proteins regulate DNA damage management

DNA base damage and non-coding apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are ubiquitous types of damage that must be efficiently repaired to prevent mutations. These damages can occur in both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Base excision repair (BER) is the frontline pathway for identifying and excising damaged DNA bases in both of these cellular compartments. Recent advances demonstrate that BER does not operate as an isolated pathway but rather dynamically interacts with components of other DNA repair pathways to modulate and coordinate BER functions. We define the coordination and interaction between DNA repair pathways as pathway crosstalk. Numerous BER proteins are modified and regulated by post-translational modifications (PTMs), and PTMs could influence pathway crosstalk. Here, we present recent advances on BER/DNA repair pathway crosstalk describing specific examples and also highlight regulation of BER components through PTMs. We have organized and reported functional interactions and documented PTMs for BER proteins into a consolidated summary table. We further propose the concept of DNA repair hubs that coordinate DNA repair pathway crosstalk to identify central protein targets that could play a role in designing future drug targets.

Thymine DNA glycosylase modulates DNA damage response and gene expression by base excision repair-dependent and independent mechanisms

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a base excision repair (BER) enzyme, which is implicated in correction of deamination-induced DNA mismatches, the DNA demethylation process and regulation of gene expression. Because of these pivotal roles associated, it is crucial to elucidate how the TDG functions are appropriately regulated in vivo. Here, we present evidence that the TDG protein undergoes degradation upon various types of DNA damage, including ultraviolet light (UV). The UV-induced degradation of TDG was dependent on proficiency in nucleotide excision repair and on CRL4^CDT2 -mediated ubiquitination that requires a physical interaction between TDG and DNA polymerase clamp PCNA. Using the Tdg-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we found that ectopic expression of TDG compromised cellular survival after UV irradiation and repair of UV-induced DNA lesions. These negative effects on cellular UV responses were alleviated by introducing mutations in TDG that impaired its BER function. The expression of TDG induced a large-scale alteration in the gene expression profile independently of its DNA glycosylase activity, whereas a subset of genes was affected by the catalytic activity of TDG. Our results indicate the presence of BER-dependent and BER-independent functions of TDG, which are involved in regulation of cellular DNA damage responses and gene expression patterns.

Epigenetic regulation of redox signaling in diabetic retinopathy: Role of Nrf2

Diabetic retinopathy is a major vision threatening disease among working age adults, and increased oxidative stress is one of the prime causative factors in its pathogenesis. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cytosol damage mitochondria, and due to compromised antioxidant signaling system and dysfunctional mitochondria with damaged mitochondrial DNA, ROS continue to pile up, accelerating capillary cell loss. In addition to other cellular and enzymatic defense systems, the retina is also equipped with the nuclear erythroid-2-p45-related factor-2 (Nrf2) antioxidant response element signaling pathway, which controls the expression of genes important in detoxification and elimination of ROS. However, in diabetes, its transcriptional activity is impaired, further exacerbating and exposing the retina to elevated stress. Diabetic milieu also alters epigenetic factors responsible for chromatin modifications and gene regulation, and kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), important in regulating Nrf2-antioxidant signaling axis, is epigenetically modified, impeding nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and this inhibits the transcription of genes with Antioxidant Response Element. This review discusses antioxidant signaling, especially the role of Nrf2, in diabetic retinopathy, and possible involvement of epigenetic modifications in antioxidant signaling and Nrf2 transcriptional activity. Therapies targeting Nrf2 activation, including epigenetic modifications, have potentional to prevent mitochondrial damage and inhibit the development, and progression of this sight-threatening disease which most of the patients get after 20-25 years of diabetes.

The Study of Posttranslational Modifications of Tau Protein by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Phosphorylation of Tau Protein by ERK2 Recombinant Kinase and Rat Brain Extract, and Acetylation by Recombinant Creb-Binding Protein

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be used as an analytical tool to investigate posttranslational modifications of protein. NMR is a valuable tool to map the interaction regions of protein partners. Here, we present protocols that have been developed in the course of our studies of the neuronal Tau protein. Tau is found aggregated in the neurons of Alzheimer's disease patients. Development of the disease is accompanied by increased, abnormal phosphorylation and acetylation of Tau. We have used NMR to investigate how these posttranslational modifications of Tau affect the interactions with its partners. We present here detailed protocols of in vitro phosphorylation of Tau by recombinant kinase, ERK2, or kinase activity of rat brain extracts, and acetylation by recombinant Creb-binding protein (CBP) acetyltransferase. The analytical characterization of the modified Tau by NMR spectroscopy is additionally described.

Interaction with the DNA Repair Protein Thymine DNA Glycosylase Regulates Histone Acetylation by p300

How protein-protein interactions regulate and alter histone modifications is a major unanswered question in epigenetics. The histone acetyltransferase p300 binds thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG); utilizing mass spectrometry to measure site-specific changes in histone acetylation, we found that the absence of TDG in mouse embryonic fibroblasts leads to a reduction in the rate of histone acetylation. We demonstrate that TDG interacts with the CH3 domain of p300 to allosterically promote p300 activity to specific lysines on histone H3 (K18 and K23). However, when TDG concentrations approach those of histones, TDG acts as a competitive inhibitor of p300 histone acetylation. These results suggest a mechanism for how histone acetylation is fine-tuned via interaction with other proteins, while also highlighting a connection between regulators of two important biological processes: histone acetylation and DNA repair/demethylation.

Regulation of oxidized base damage repair by chromatin assembly factor 1 subunit A

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated both endogenously and in response to exogenous stress, induce point mutations by mis-replication of oxidized bases and other lesions in the genome. Repair of these lesions via base excision repair (BER) pathway maintains genomic fidelity. Regulation of the BER pathway for mutagenic oxidized bases, initiated by NEIL1 and other DNA glycosylases at the chromatin level remains unexplored. Whether single nucleotide (SN)-BER of a damaged base requires histone deposition or nucleosome remodeling is unknown, unlike nucleosome reassembly which is shown to be required for other DNA repair processes. Here we show that chromatin assembly factor (CAF)-1 subunit A (CHAF1A), the p150 subunit of the histone H3/H4 chaperone, and its partner anti-silencing function protein 1A (ASF1A), which we identified in human NEIL1 immunoprecipitation complex, transiently dissociate from chromatin bound NEIL1 complex in G1 cells after induction of oxidative base damage. CHAF1A inhibits NEIL1 initiated repair in vitro. Subsequent restoration of the chaperone-BER complex in cell, presumably after completion of repair, suggests that histone chaperones sequester the repair complex for oxidized bases in non-replicating chromatin, and allow repair when oxidized bases are induced in the genome.

Emerging roles for histone modifications in DNA excision repair

DNA repair is critical to maintain genome stability. In eukaryotic cells, DNA repair is complicated by the packaging of the DNA 'substrate' into chromatin. DNA repair pathways utilize different mechanisms to overcome the barrier presented by chromatin to efficiently locate and remove DNA lesions in the genome. DNA excision repair pathways are responsible for repairing a majority of DNA lesions arising in the genome. Excision repair pathways include nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER), which repair bulky and non-bulky DNA lesions, respectively. Numerous studies have suggested that chromatin inhibits both NER and BER in vitro and in vivo Growing evidence demonstrates that histone modifications have important roles in regulating the activity of NER and BER enzymes in chromatin. Here, we will discuss the roles of different histone modifications and the corresponding modifying enzymes in DNA excision repair, highlighting the role of yeast as a model organism for many of these studies.

Oncogenic Ras suppresses ING4-TDG-Fas axis to promote apoptosis resistance

Ras is aberrantly activated in many cancers and active DNA demethylation plays a fundamental role to establish DNA methylation pattern which is of importance to cancer development. However, it was unknown whether and how Ras regulate DNA demethylation during carcinogenesis. Here we found that Ras downregulated thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG), a DNA demethylation enzyme, by inhibiting the interaction of transcription activator ING4 with TDG promoter. TDG recruited histone lysine demethylase JMJD3 to the Fas promoter and activated its expression, thus restoring sensitivity to apoptosis. TDG suppressed in vivo tumorigenicity of xenograft pancreatic cancer. Thus, we speculate that reversing Ras-mediated ING4 inhibition to activate Fas expression is a potential therapeutic approach for Ras-driven cancers.

Structural basis of damage recognition by thymine DNA glycosylase: Key roles for N-terminal residues

Thymine DNA Glycosylase (TDG) is a base excision repair enzyme functioning in DNA repair and epigenetic regulation. TDG removes thymine from mutagenic G·T mispairs arising from deamination of 5-methylcytosine (mC), and it processes other deamination-derived lesions including uracil (U). Essential for DNA demethylation, TDG excises 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytosine, derivatives of mC generated by Tet (ten-eleven translocation) enzymes. Here, we report structural and functional studies of TDG^82-308, a new construct containing 29 more N-terminal residues than TDG^111-308, the construct used for previous structures of DNA-bound TDG. Crystal structures and NMR experiments demonstrate that most of these N-terminal residues are disordered, for substrate- or product-bound TDG^82-308 Nevertheless, G·T substrate affinity and glycosylase activity of TDG^82-308 greatly exceeds that of TDG^111-308 and is equivalent to full-length TDG. We report the first high-resolution structures of TDG in an enzyme-substrate complex, for G·U bound to TDG^82-308 (1.54 Å) and TDG^111-308 (1.71 Å), revealing new enzyme-substrate contacts, direct and water-mediated. We also report a structure of the TDG^82-308 product complex (1.70 Å). TDG^82-308 forms unique enzyme-DNA interactions, supporting its value for structure-function studies. The results advance understanding of how TDG recognizes and removes modified bases from DNA, particularly those resulting from deamination.