The steric gate amino acid tyrosine 112 is required for efficient mismatched-primer extension by human DNA polymerase kappa

Protein Assemblies in Translesion Synthesis

Translesion synthesis (TLS) is a mechanism of DNA damage tolerance utilized by eukaryotic cells to replicate DNA across lesions that impede the high-fidelity replication machinery. In TLS, a series of specialized DNA polymerases are employed, which recognize specific DNA lesions, insert nucleotides across the damage, and extend the distorted primer-template. This allows cells to preserve genetic integrity at the cost of mutations. In humans, TLS enzymes include the Y-family, inserter polymerases, Polη, Polι, Polκ, Rev1, and the B-family extender polymerase Polζ, while in S. cerevisiae only Polη, Rev1, and Polζ are present. To bypass DNA lesions, TLS polymerases cooperate, assembling into a complex on the eukaryotic sliding clamp, PCNA, termed the TLS mutasome. The mutasome assembly is contingent on protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between the modular domains and subunits of TLS enzymes, and their interactions with PCNA and DNA. While the structural mechanisms of DNA lesion bypass by the TLS polymerases and PPIs of their individual modules are well understood, the mechanisms by which they cooperate in the context of TLS complexes have remained elusive. This review focuses on structural studies of TLS polymerases and describes the case of TLS holoenzyme assemblies in action emerging from recent high-resolution Cryo-EM studies.

Effects of the Y432S Cancer-Associated Variant on the Reaction Mechanism of Human DNA Polymerase κ

Human DNA polymerases are vital for genetic information management. Their function involves catalyzing the synthesis of DNA strands with unparalleled accuracy, which ensures the fidelity and stability of the human genomic blueprint. Several disease-associated mutations and their functional impact on DNA polymerases have been reported. One particular polymerase, human DNA polymerase kappa (Pol κ), has been reported to be susceptible to several cancer-associated mutations. The Y432S mutation in Pol κ, associated with various cancers, is of interest due to its impact on polymerization activity and markedly reduced thermal stability. Here, we have used computational simulations to investigate the functional consequences of the Y432S using classical molecular dynamics (MD) and coupled quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods. Our findings suggest that Y432S induces structural alterations in domains responsible for nucleotide addition and ternary complex stabilization while retaining structural features consistent with possible catalysis in the active site. Calculations of the minimum energy path associated with the reaction mechanism of the wild type (WT) and Y432S Pol κ indicate that, while both enzymes are catalytically competent (in terms of energetics and the active site's geometries), the cancer mutation results in an endoergic reaction and an increase in the catalytic barrier. Interactions with a third magnesium ion and environmental effects on nonbonded interactions, particularly involving key residues, contribute to the kinetic and thermodynamic distinctions between the WT and mutant during the catalytic reaction. The energetics and electronic findings suggest that active site residues favor the catalytic reaction with dCTP3- over dCTP4-.

DNA polymerase κ suppresses inflammation and inflammation-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenic potential in the colon of mice

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation induces DNA damage and promotes cell proliferation, thereby increasing the risk of cancer. DNA polymerase κ (Pol κ), involved in translesion DNA synthesis, counteracts mutagenesis induced by inflammation in the colon of mice. In the present study, we examined whether Pol κ suppressed inflammation-induced colon tumorigenesis by treating inactivated Polk knock-in (Polk^-/-) mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), an inducer of colon inflammation.

RESULTS

Male and female Polk^-/- and Polk^+/+ mice were administered 2% DSS in drinking water for six consecutive days, succeeded via a recovery period of 16 days, followed by 2% DSS for another two days. DSS treatment strongly induced colitis, and the severity of colitis was higher in Polk^-/- mice than in Polk^+/+ mice. The mice were sacrificed after 19 weeks from the initiation of the first DSS treatment and subjected to pathological examination and mutation analysis. DSS treatment induced colonic dysplasia, and the multiplicity of dysplasia was higher in Polk^-/- mice than in Polk^+/+mice. Some of the dysplasias in Polk^-/- mice exhibited β-catenin-stained nucleus and/or cytoplasm. Mutation frequencies in the gpt reporter gene were increased by DSS treatment in Polk^-/- mice, and were higher than those in Polk^+/+ mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Pol κ suppresses inflammation and inflammation-induced dysplasia as well as inflammation-induced mutagenesis. The possible mechanisms by which Pol κ suppresses colitis- and colitis-induced dysplasia are discussed.

The role of DNA polymerase ζ in benzo[a]pyrene-induced mutagenesis in the mouse lung

DNA polymerase zeta (Polζ) is a heterotetramer composed of the catalytic subunit Rev3l, Rev7 and two subunits of Polδ (PolD2/Pol31 and PolD3/Pol32), and this polymerase exerts translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) in yeast. Because Rev3l knockout results in embryonic lethality in mice, the functions of Polζ need further investigation in vivo. Then, we noted the two facts that substitution of leucine 979 of yeast Rev3l with methionine reduces Polζ replication fidelity and that reporter gene transgenic rodents are able to provide the detailed mutation status. Here, we established gpt delta mouse knocked in the constructed gene encoding methionine instead of leucine at residue 2610 of Rev3l (Rev3l L2610M gpt delta mice), to clarify the role of Polζ in TLS of chemical-induced bulky DNA adducts in vivo. Eight-week-old gpt delta mice and Rev3l L2610M gpt delta mice were treated with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) at 0, 40, 80, or 160 mg/kg via single intraperitoneal injection. At necropsy 31 days after treatment, lungs were collected for reporter gene mutation assays. Although the gpt mutant frequency was significantly increased by BaP in both mouse genotypes, it was three times higher in Rev3l L2610M gpt delta than gpt delta mice after treatment with 160 mg/kg BaP. The frequencies of G:C base substitutions and characteristic complex mutations were significantly increased in Rev3l L2610M gpt delta mice compared with gpt delta mice. The BaP dose-response relationship suggested that Polζ plays a central role in TLS when protective mechanisms against BaP mutagenesis, such as error-free TLS, are saturated. Overall, Polζ may incorporate incorrect nucleotides at the sites opposite to BaP-modified guanines and extend short DNA sequences from the resultant terminal mismatches only when DNA is heavily damaged.

Response of Sulfolobus solfataricus Dpo4 polymerase in vitro to a DNA G-quadruplex

Repetitive DNA sequences support the formation of structures that can interrupt replication and repair, leading to breaks and mutagenesis. One particularly stable structure is G-quadruplex (G4) DNA, which is four-stranded and formed from tandemly repetitive guanine bases. When folded within a template, G4 interferes with DNA synthesis. Similar to non-duplex structures, DNA base lesions can also halt an advancing replication fork, but the Y-family polymerases solve this problem by bypassing the damage. In order to better understand how guanine-rich DNA is replicated, we have investigated the activity of the model Y-family polymerase, Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4), on guanine-rich templates in vitro. We find that Dpo4 progression on templates containing either a single GC-rich hairpin or a G4 DNA structure is greatly reduced and synthesis stalls at the structure. Human polymerase eta (hPol eta) showed the same pattern of stalling at G4; however, and in contrast to Klenow, hPol eta and Dpo4 partially synthesise into the guanine repeat. Substitution of the nucleotide selectivity residue in Dpo4 with alanine permitted ribonucleotide incorporation on unstructured templates, but this further reduced the ability of Dpo4 to synthesise across from the guanine repeats. The advancement of Dpo4 on G4 templates was highest when the reaction was supplied with only deoxycytidine triphosphate, suggesting that high-fidelity synthesis is favoured over misincorporation. Our results are consistent with a model where the Y-family polymerases pause upon encountering G4 structures but have an ability to negotiate some synthesis through tetrad-associated guanines. This suggests that the Y-family polymerases reduce mutagenesis by catalysing the accurate replication of repetitive DNA sequences, but most likely in concert with additional replication and structure resolution activities.

Mammalian DNA Polymerase Kappa Activity and Specificity

DNA polymerase (pol) kappa is a Y-family translesion DNA polymerase conserved throughout all domains of life. Pol kappa is special6 ized for the ability to copy DNA containing minor groove DNA adducts, especially N²-dG adducts, as well as to extend primer termini containing DNA damage or mismatched base pairs. Pol kappa generally cannot copy DNA containing major groove modifications or UV-induced photoproducts. Pol kappa can also copy structured or non-B-form DNA, such as microsatellite DNA, common fragile sites, and DNA containing G quadruplexes. Thus, pol kappa has roles both in maintaining and compromising genomic integrity. The expression of pol kappa is altered in several different cancer types, which can lead to genome instability. In addition, many cancer-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms have been reported in the POLK gene, some of which are associated with poor survival and altered chemotherapy response. Because of this, identifying inhibitors of pol kappa is an active area of research. This review will address these activities of pol kappa, with a focus on lesion bypass and cellular mutagenesis.

DNA polymerase kappa counteracts inflammation-induced mutagenesis in multiple organs of mice

In vitro studies indicate that DNA polymerase kappa (Polκ) is able to accurately and efficiently perform DNA synthesis using templates containing various types of DNA damage, including benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced N² -deoxyguanosine adducts. In this study, we examined sensitivity of inactivated Polk knock-in (Polk^-/- ) mice to BP carcinogenicity in the colon by administering an oral dose of BP plus dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), an inflammation causing promoter of carcinogenesis. Although colon cancer was successfully induced by BP plus DSS, there was no significant difference in tumor incidence or multiplicity between Polk^-/- and Polk^+/+ mice. Malignant lymphoma was induced in thymus by the treatment only in Polk^-/- mice, but it lacked statistical significance. Mutant frequencies (MFs) in the gpt reporter gene were strongly enhanced in colon; almost to the same extent in both types of mice. Micronucleus formation in bone marrow at the high dose of BP and DNA adducts in colon and lung was not significantly different between two types of mice. Surprisingly, however, Polk^-/- mice exhibited significantly higher MFs in colon and lung than did Polk^+/+ mice when they were treated with DSS alone. The most prominent mutation induced by DSS treatment was G:C to C:G transversion, whose specific MF in proximal colon was 30 times higher in Polk^-/- than in Polk^+/+ mice. DSS alone did not enhance MF at all in Polk^+/+ mice. The results indicate that Polκ does not suppress BP-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in the colon, but counteracts inflammation-induced mutagenesis in multiple organs. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 60:320-330, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Characterization of Nine Cancer-Associated Variants in Human DNA Polymerase κ

Specialized DNA damage-bypass Y-family DNA polymerases contribute to cancer prevention by providing cellular tolerance to DNA damage that can lead to mutations and contribute to cancer progression by increasing genomic instability. Y-family polymerases can also bypass DNA adducts caused by chemotherapy agents. One of the four human Y-family DNA polymerases, DNA polymerase (pol) κ, has been shown to be specific for bypass of minor groove adducts and inhibited by major groove adducts. In addition, mutations in the gene encoding pol κ are associated with different types of cancers as well as with chemotherapy responses. We characterized nine variants of pol κ whose identity was inferred from cancer-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms for polymerization activity on undamaged and damaged DNA, their abilities to extend from mismatched or damaged base pairs at primer termini, and overall stability and dynamics. We find that these pol κ variants generally fall into three categories: similar activity to wild-type (WT) pol κ (L21F, I39T, P169T, F192C, and E292K), more active than WT pol κ (S423R), and less active than pol κ (R219I, R298H, and Y432S). Of these, only pol κ variants R298H and Y432S had markedly reduced thermal stability. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with undamaged DNA revealed that the active variant F192C and more active variant S423R with either correct or incorrect incoming nucleotide mimic WT pol κ with the correct incoming nucleotide, whereas the less active variants R219I, R298H, and Y432S with the correct incoming nucleotide mimic WT pol κ with the incorrect incoming nucleotide. Thus, the observations from MD simulations suggest a possible explanation for the observed experimental results that pol κ adopts specific active and inactive conformations that depend on both the protein variant and the identity of the DNA adduct.

Ribonucleotide discrimination by translesion synthesis DNA polymerases

The well-being of all living organisms relies on the accurate duplication of their genomes. This is usually achieved by highly elaborate replicase complexes which ensure that this task is accomplished timely and efficiently. However, cells often must resort to the help of various additional "specialized" DNA polymerases that gain access to genomic DNA when replication fork progression is hindered. One such specialized polymerase family consists of the so-called "translesion synthesis" (TLS) polymerases; enzymes that have evolved to replicate damaged DNA. To fulfill their main cellular mission, TLS polymerases often must sacrifice precision when selecting nucleotide substrates. Low base-substitution fidelity is a well-documented inherent property of these enzymes. However, incorrect nucleotide substrates are not only those which do not comply with Watson-Crick base complementarity, but also those whose sugar moiety is incorrect. Does relaxed base-selectivity automatically mean that the TLS polymerases are unable to efficiently discriminate between ribonucleoside triphosphates and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates that differ by only a single atom? Which strategies do TLS polymerases employ to select suitable nucleotide substrates? In this review, we will collate and summarize data accumulated over the past decade from biochemical and structural studies, which aim to answer these questions.

Limited ability of DNA polymerase kappa to suppress benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxicity in vivo

DNA polymerase kappa (Polk) is a specialized DNA polymerase involved in translesion DNA synthesis. To understand the protective roles against genotoxins in vivo, we established inactivated Polk knock-in gpt delta (inactivated Polk KI) mice that possessed reporter genes for mutations and expressed inactive Polk. In this study, we examined genotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) to determine whether Polk actually suppressed BP-induced genotoxicity as predicted by biochemistry and in vitro cell culture studies. Seven-week-old inactivated Polk KI and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with BP at doses of 5, 15, or 50 mg/(kg·day) for three consecutive days by intragastric gavage, and mutations in the colon and micronucleus formation in the peripheral blood were examined. Surprisingly, no differences were observed in the frequencies of mutations and micronucleus formation at 5 or 50 mg/kg doses. Inactivated Polk KI mice exhibited approximately two times higher gpt mutant frequency than did WT mice only at the 15 mg/kg dose. The frequency of micronucleus formation was slightly higher in inactivated Polk KI than in WT mice at the same dose, but it was statistically insignificant. The results suggest that Polk has a limited ability to suppress BP-induced genotoxicity in the colon and bone marrow and also that the roles of specialized DNA polymerases in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis should be examined not only by in vitro assays but also by in vivo mouse studies. We also report the spontaneous mutagenesis in inactivated Polk KI mice at young and old ages. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:644-653, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of Ribonucleotide Backbone on Translesion Synthesis and Repair of 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanine

Numerous ribonucleotides are incorporated into the genome during DNA replication. Oxidized ribonucleotides can also be erroneously incorporated into DNA. Embedded ribonucleotides destabilize the structure of DNA and retard DNA synthesis by DNA polymerases (pols), leading to genomic instability. Mammalian cells possess translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) pols that bypass DNA damage. The mechanism of TLS and repair of oxidized ribonucleotides remains to be elucidated. To address this, we analyzed the miscoding properties of the ribonucleotides riboguanosine (rG) and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-riboguanosine (8-oxo-rG) during TLS catalyzed by the human TLS pols κ and η in vitro The primer extension reaction catalyzed by human replicative pol α was strongly blocked by 8-oxo-rG. pol κ inefficiently bypassed rG and 8-oxo-rG compared with dG and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), whereas pol η easily bypassed the ribonucleotides. pol α exclusively inserted dAMP opposite 8-oxo-rG. Interestingly, pol κ preferentially inserted dCMP opposite 8-oxo-rG, whereas the insertion of dAMP was favored opposite 8-oxo-dG. In addition, pol η accurately bypassed 8-oxo-rG. Furthermore, we examined the activity of the base excision repair (BER) enzymes 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 on the substrates, including rG and 8-oxo-rG. Both BER enzymes were completely inactive against 8-oxo-rG in DNA. However, OGG1 suppressed 8-oxo-rG excision by RNase H2, which is involved in the removal of ribonucleotides from DNA. These results suggest that the different sugar backbones between 8-oxo-rG and 8-oxo-dG alter the capacity of TLS and repair of 8-oxoguanine.

Six Germline Genetic Variations Impair the Translesion Synthesis Activity of Human DNA Polymerase κ

DNA polymerase (pol) κ efficiently catalyzes error-free translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) opposite bulky N²-guanyl lesions induced by carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We investigated the biochemical effects of nine human nonsynonymous germline POLK variations on the TLS properties of pol κ, utilizing recombinant pol κ (residues 1-526) enzymes and DNA templates containing an N²-CH₂(9-anthracenyl)G (N²-AnthG), 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG), O⁶-methyl(Me)G, or an abasic site. In steady-state kinetic analyses, the R246X, R298H, T473A, and R512W variants displayed 7- to 18-fold decreases in k_cat/K_m for dCTP insertion opposite G and N²-AnthG, with 2- to 3-fold decreases in DNA binding affinity, compared to that of the wild-type, and further showed 5- to 190-fold decreases in k_cat/K_m for next-base extension from C paired with N²-AnthG. The A471V variant showed 2- to 4-fold decreases in k_cat/K_m for correct nucleotide insertion opposite and beyond G (or N²-AnthG) compared to that of the wild-type. These five hypoactive variants also showed similar patterns of attenuation of TLS activity opposite 8-oxoG, O⁶-MeG, and abasic lesions. By contrast, the T44M variant exhibited 7- to 11-fold decreases in k_cat/K_m for dCTP insertion opposite N²-AnthG and O⁶-MeG (as well as for dATP insertion opposite an abasic site) but not opposite both G and 8-oxoG, nor beyond N²-AnthG, compared to that of the wild-type. These results suggest that the R246X, R298H, T473A, R512W, and A471V variants cause a general catalytic impairment of pol κ opposite G and all four lesions, whereas the T44M variant induces opposite lesion-dependent catalytic impairment, i.e., only opposite O⁶-MeG, abasic, and bulky N²-G lesions but not opposite G and 8-oxoG, in pol κ, which might indicate that these hypoactive pol κ variants are genetic factors in modifying individual susceptibility to genotoxic carcinogens in certain subsets of populations.

Mechanism of Ribonucleotide Incorporation by Human DNA Polymerase η

Ribonucleotides and 2'-deoxyribonucleotides are the basic units for RNA and DNA, respectively, and the only difference is the extra 2'-OH group on the ribonucleotide sugar. Cellular rNTP concentrations are much higher than those of dNTP. When copying DNA, DNA polymerases not only select the base of the incoming dNTP to form a Watson-Crick pair with the template base but also distinguish the sugar moiety. Some DNA polymerases use a steric gate residue to prevent rNTP incorporation by creating a clash with the 2'-OH group. Y-family human DNA polymerase η (hpol η) is of interest because of its spacious active site (especially in the major groove) and tolerance of DNA lesions. Here, we show that hpol η maintains base selectivity when incorporating rNTPs opposite undamaged DNA and the DNA lesions 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer but with rates that are 10(3)-fold lower than for inserting the corresponding dNTPs. X-ray crystal structures show that the hpol η scaffolds the incoming rNTP to pair with the template base (dG) or 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine with a significant propeller twist. As a result, the 2'-OH group avoids a clash with the steric gate, Phe-18, but the distance between primer end and Pα of the incoming rNTP increases by 1 Å, elevating the energy barrier and slowing polymerization compared with dNTP. In addition, Tyr-92 was identified as a second line of defense to maintain the position of Phe-18. This is the first crystal structure of a DNA polymerase with an incoming rNTP opposite a DNA lesion.

Catalytic and non-catalytic roles of DNA polymerase κ in the protection of human cells against genotoxic stresses

DNA polymerase κ (Pol κ) is a specialized DNA polymerase involved in translesion DNA synthesis. Although its bypass activities across lesions are well characterized in biochemistry, its cellular protective roles against genotoxic insults are still elusive. To better understand the in vivo protective roles, we have established a human cell line deficient in the expression of Pol κ (KO) and another expressing catalytically dead Pol κ (CD), to examine the cytotoxic sensitivity to 11 genotoxins including ultraviolet C light (UV). These cell lines were established in a genetic background of Nalm-6-MSH+, a human lymphoblastic cell line that has high efficiency for gene targeting, and functional p53 and mismatch repair activities. We classified the genotoxins into four groups. Group 1 includes benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide, mitomycin C, and bleomycin, where the sensitivity was equally higher in KO and CD than in the cell line expressing wild-type Pol κ (WT). Group 2 includes hydrogen peroxide and menadione, where hypersensitivity was observed only in KO. Group 3 includes methyl methanesulfonate and ethyl methanesulfonate, where hypersensitivity was observed only in CD. Group 4 includes UV and three chemicals, where the chemicals exhibited similar cytotoxicity to all three cell lines. The results suggest that Pol κ not only protects cells from genotoxic DNA lesions via DNA polymerase activities, but also contributes to genome integrity by acting as a non-catalytic protein against oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide and menadione. The non-catalytic roles of Pol κ in protection against oxidative damage by hydrogen peroxide are discussed.

Steric gate residues of Y-family DNA polymerases DinB and pol kappa are crucial for dNTP-induced conformational change

Discrimination against ribonucleotides by DNA polymerases is critical to preserve DNA integrity. For many DNA polymerases, including those of the Y family, rNTP discrimination has been attributed to steric clashes between a residue near the active site, the steric gate, and the 2'-hydroxyl of the incoming rNTP. Here we used hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry (MS) to probe the effects of the steric gate in the Y-family DNA polymerases Escherichia coli DinB and human DNA pol κ. Formation of a ternary complex with a G:dCTP base pair in the active site resulted in slower hydrogen exchange relative to a ternary complex with G:rCTP in the active site. The protection from exchange was localized to regions both distal and proximal to the active site, suggesting that DinB and DNA pol κ adopt different conformations depending on the sugar of the incoming nucleotide. In contrast, when the respective steric gate residues were mutated to alanine, the differences in HDX between the dNTP- and rNTP-bound ternary complexes were attenuated such that for DinB(F13A) and pol κ(Y112A), ternary complexes with either G:dCTP or G:rCTP base pairs had similar HDX profiles. Furthermore, the HDX in these ternary complexes resembled that of the rCTP-bound state rather than the dCTP-bound state of the wild-type enzymes. Primer extension assays confirmed that DinB(F13A) and pol κ(Y112A) do not discriminate against rNTPs to the same extent as the wild-type enzymes. Our observations indicate that the steric gate is crucial for rNTP discrimination because of its role in specifically promoting a dNTP-induced conformational change and that rNTP discrimination occurs in a relatively closed state of the polymerases.

Roles of the active site residues and metal cofactors in noncanonical base-pairing during catalysis by human DNA polymerase iota

Human DNA polymerase iota (Pol ι) is a Y-family polymerase that can bypass various DNA lesions but possesses very low fidelity of DNA synthesis in vitro. Structural analysis of Pol ι revealed a narrow active site that promotes noncanonical base-pairing during catalysis. To better understand the structure-function relationships in the active site of Pol ι we investigated substitutions of individual amino acid residues in its fingers domain that contact either the templating or the incoming nucleotide. Two of the substitutions, Y39A and Q59A, significantly decreased the catalytic activity but improved the fidelity of Pol ι. Surprisingly, in the presence of Mn(2+) ions, the wild-type and mutant Pol ι variants efficiently incorporated nucleotides opposite template purines containing modifications that disrupted either Hoogsteen or Watson-Crick base-pairing, suggesting that Pol ι may use various types of interactions during nucleotide addition. In contrast, in Mg(2+) reactions, wild-type Pol ι was dependent on Hoogsteen base-pairing, the Y39A mutant was essentially inactive, and the Q59A mutant promoted Watson-Crick interactions with template purines. The results suggest that Pol ι utilizes distinct mechanisms of nucleotide incorporation depending on the metal cofactor and reveal important roles of specific residues from the fingers domain in base-pairing and catalysis.

In vivo evidence that phenylalanine 171 acts as a molecular brake for translesion DNA synthesis across benzo[a]pyrene DNA adducts by human DNA polymerase κ

Humans possess multiple specialized DNA polymerases that continue DNA replication beyond a variety of DNA lesions. DNA polymerase kappa (Pol κ) bypasses benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide-N(2)-deoxyguanine (BPDE-N(2)-dG) DNA adducts in an almost error-free manner. In the previous work, we changed the amino acids close to the adducts in the active site and examined the bypass efficiency. The substitution of alanine for phenylalanine 171 (F171A) enhanced by 18-fold in vitro, the efficiencies of dCMP incorporation opposite (-)- and (+)-trans-anti-BPDE-N(2)-dG. In the present study, we established human cell lines that express wild-type Pol κ (POLK+/-), F171A (POLK F171A/-) or lack expression of Pol κ (POLK-/-) to examine the in vivo significance. These cell lines were generated with Nalm-6, a human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, which has high efficiency for gene targeting. Mutations were analyzed with shuttle vectors having (-)- or (+)-trans-anti-BPDE-N(2)-dG in the supF gene. The frequencies of mutations were in the order of POLK-/->POLK+/->POLK F171A/- both in (-)- and (+)-trans-anti-BPDE-N(2)-dG. These results suggest that F171 may function as a molecular brake for bypass across BPDE-N(2)-dG by Pol κ and raise the possibility that the cognate substrates for Pol κ are not BP adducts in DNA but may be lesions in DNA induced by endogenous mutagens.

Variants of mouse DNA polymerase κ reveal a mechanism of efficient and accurate translesion synthesis past a benzo[a]pyrene dG adduct

DNA polymerase κ (Polκ) is the only known Y-family DNA polymerase that bypasses the 10S (+)-trans-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-N(2)-deoxyguanine adducts efficiently and accurately. The unique features of Polκ, a large structure gap between the catalytic core and little finger domain and a 90-residue addition at the N terminus known as the N-clasp, may give rise to its special translesion capability. We designed and constructed two mouse Polκ variants, which have reduced gap size on both sides [Polκ Gap Mutant (PGM) 1] or one side flanking the template base (PGM2). These Polκ variants are nearly as efficient as WT in normal DNA synthesis, albeit with reduced accuracy. However, PGM1 is strongly blocked by the 10S (+)-trans-anti-BPDE-N(2)-dG lesion. Steady-state kinetic measurements reveal a significant reduction in efficiency of dCTP incorporation opposite the lesion by PGM1 and a moderate reduction by PGM2. Consistently, Polκ-deficient cells stably complemented with PGM1 GFP-Polκ remained hypersensitive to BPDE treatment, and complementation with WT or PGM2 GFP-Polκ restored BPDE resistance. Furthermore, deletion of the first 51 residues of the N-clasp in mouse Polκ (mPolκ(52-516)) leads to reduced polymerization activity, and the mutant PGM2(52-516) but not PGM1(52-516) can partially compensate the N-terminal deletion and restore the catalytic activity on normal DNA. However, neither WT nor PGM2 mPolκ(52-516) retains BPDE bypass activity. We conclude that the structural gap physically accommodates the bulky aromatic adduct and the N-clasp is essential for the structural integrity and flexibility of Polκ during translesion synthesis.

Miscoding properties of 8-chloro-2'-deoxyguanosine, a hypochlorous acid-induced DNA adduct, catalysed by human DNA polymerases

Many chronic inflammatory conditions are associated with an increased risk of cancer development. At the site of inflammation, cellular DNA is damaged by hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent oxidant generated by myeloperoxidase. 8-Chloro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-Cl-dG) is a major DNA adduct formed by HOCl and has been detected from the liver DNA and urine of rats administered lipopolysaccharide in an inflammation model. Thus, the 8-Cl-dG lesion may be associated with the carcinogenesis of inflamed tissues. In this study, we explored the miscoding properties of the 8-Cl-dG adduct generated by human DNA polymerases (pols). Site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotide containing a single 8-Cl-dG was prepared and used as a template in primer extension reactions catalysed by human pol α, ĸ or η. Primer extension reactions catalysed by pol α and ĸ in the presence of all four dNTPs were slightly retarded at the 8-Cl-dG site, while pol η readily bypassed the lesion. The fully extended products were analysed to quantify the miscoding frequency and specificity of 8-Cl-dG using two-phased polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). During the primer extension reaction in the presence of four dNTPs, pol ĸ promoted one-base deletion (6.4%), accompanied by the misincorporation of 2'-deoxyguanosine monophosphate (5.5%), dAMP (3.7%), and dTMP (3.5%) opposite the lesion. Pol α and η, on the other hand, exclusively incorporated dCMP opposite the lesion. The steady-state kinetic studies supported the results obtained from the two-phased PAGE assay. These results indicate that 8-Cl-dG is a mutagenic lesion; the miscoding frequency and specificity varies depending on the DNA polymerase used. Thus, HOCl-induced 8-Cl-dG adduct may be involved in inflammation-driven carcinogenesis.

Thymidine glycol: the effect on DNA molecular structure and enzymatic processing

Thymine glycol (Tg) in DNA is a biologically active oxidative damage caused by ionizing radiation or oxidative stress. Due to chirality of C5 and C6 atoms, Tg exists as a mixture of two pairs of cis and trans diastereomers: 5R cis-trans pair (5R,6S; 5R,6R) and 5S cis-trans pair (5S,6R; 5S,6S). Of all the modified pyrimidine lesions that have been studied to date, only thymine glycol represents a strong block to high-fidelity DNA polymerases in vitro and is lethal in vivo. Here we describe the preparation of thymine glycol-containing oligonucleotides and the influence of the oxidized residue on the structure of DNA in different sequence contexts, thymine glycol being paired with either adenine or guanine. The effect of thymine glycol on biochemical processing of DNA, such as biosynthesis, transcription and repair in vitro and in vivo, is also reviewed. Special attention is paid to stereochemistry and 5R cis-trans epimerization of Tg, and their relation to the structure of DNA double helix and enzyme-mediated DNA processing. Described here are the comparative structure and properties of other forms of pyrimidine base oxidation, as well as the role of Tg in tandem lesions.

Escherichia coli UmuC active site mutants: effects on translesion DNA synthesis, mutagenesis and cell survival

Escherichia coli polymerase V (pol V/UmuD(2)'C) is a low-fidelity DNA polymerase that has recently been shown to avidly incorporate ribonucleotides (rNTPs) into undamaged DNA. The fidelity and sugar selectivity of pol V can be modified by missense mutations around the "steric gate" of UmuC. Here, we analyze the ability of three steric gate mutants of UmuC to facilitate translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) of a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) in vitro, and to promote UV-induced mutagenesis and cell survival in vivo. The pol V (UmuC_F10L) mutant discriminates against rNTP and incorrect dNTP incorporation much better than wild-type pol V and although exhibiting a reduced ability to bypass a CPD in vitro, does so with high-fidelity and consequently produces minimal UV-induced mutagenesis in vivo. In contrast, pol V (UmuC_Y11A) readily misincorporates both rNTPs and dNTPs during efficient TLS of the CPD in vitro. However, cells expressing umuD'C(Y11A) were considerably more UV-sensitive and exhibited lower levels of UV-induced mutagenesis than cells expressing wild-type umuD'C or umuD'C(Y11F). We propose that the increased UV-sensitivity and reduced UV-mutability of umuD'C(Y11A) is due to excessive incorporation of rNTPs during TLS that are subsequently targeted for repair, rather than an inability to traverse UV-induced lesions.

Critical amino acids in Escherichia coli UmuC responsible for sugar discrimination and base-substitution fidelity

The active form of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase V responsible for damage-induced mutagenesis is a multiprotein complex (UmuD′₂C-RecA-ATP), called pol V Mut. Optimal activity of pol V Mut in vitro is observed on an SSB-coated single-stranded circular DNA template in the presence of the β/γ complex and a transactivated RecA nucleoprotein filament, RecA*. Remarkably, under these conditions, wild-type pol V Mut efficiently incorporates ribonucleotides into DNA. A Y11A substitution in the ‘steric gate’ of UmuC further reduces pol V sugar selectivity and converts pol V Mut into a primer-dependent RNA polymerase that is capable of synthesizing long RNAs with a processivity comparable to that of DNA synthesis. Despite such properties, Y11A only promotes low levels of spontaneous mutagenesis in vivo. While the Y11F substitution has a minimal effect on sugar selectivity, it results in an increase in spontaneous mutagenesis. In comparison, an F10L substitution increases sugar selectivity and the overall fidelity of pol V Mut. Molecular modeling analysis reveals that the branched side-chain of L10 impinges on the benzene ring of Y11 so as to constrict its movement and as a consequence, firmly closes the steric gate, which in wild-type enzyme fails to guard against ribonucleoside triphosphates incorporation with sufficient stringency.

An active site aromatic triad in Escherichia coli DNA Pol IV coordinates cell survival and mutagenesis in different DNA damaging agents

DinB (DNA Pol IV) is a translesion (TLS) DNA polymerase, which inserts a nucleotide opposite an otherwise replication-stalling N(2)-dG lesion in vitro, and confers resistance to nitrofurazone (NFZ), a compound that forms these lesions in vivo. DinB is also known to be part of the cellular response to alkylation DNA damage. Yet it is not known if DinB active site residues, in addition to aminoacids involved in DNA synthesis, are critical in alkylation lesion bypass. It is also unclear which active site aminoacids, if any, might modulate DinB's bypass fidelity of distinct lesions. Here we report that along with the classical catalytic residues, an active site "aromatic triad", namely residues F12, F13, and Y79, is critical for cell survival in the presence of the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Strains expressing dinB alleles with single point mutations in the aromatic triad survive poorly in MMS. Remarkably, these strains show fewer MMS- than NFZ-induced mutants, suggesting that the aromatic triad, in addition to its role in TLS, modulates DinB's accuracy in bypassing distinct lesions. The high bypass fidelity of prevalent alkylation lesions is evident even when the DinB active site performs error-prone NFZ-induced lesion bypass. The analyses carried out with the active site aromatic triad suggest that the DinB active site residues are poised to proficiently bypass distinctive DNA lesions, yet they are also malleable so that the accuracy of the bypass is lesion-dependent.

Structural mechanism of ribonucleotide discrimination by a Y-family DNA polymerase

The ability of DNA polymerases to differentiate between ribonucleotides and deoxribonucleotides is fundamental to the accurate replication and maintenance of an organism's genome. The active sites of Y-family DNA polymerases are highly solvent accessible, yet these enzymes still maintain a high selectivity towards deoxyribonucleotides. Here, we biochemically demonstrate that a single active-site mutation (Y12A) in Dpo4, a model Y-family DNA polymerase, causes both a dramatic loss of ribonucleotide discrimination and a decrease in nucleotide incorporation efficiency. We also determined two ternary crystal structures of the Dpo4 Y12A mutant incorporating either dATP or ATP nucleotides opposite a template dT base. Interestingly, both dATP and ATP were hydrolyzed to dADP and ADP, respectively. In addition, the dADP and ADP molecules adopt a similar conformation and position at the polymerase active site to a ddADP molecule in the ternary crystal structure of wild-type Dpo4. The Y12A mutant loses stacking interactions with the deoxyribose of dNTP, which destabilizes the binding of incoming nucleotides. The mutation also opens a space to accommodate the 2'-OH group of the ribose of NTP in the polymerase active site. The structural change leads to the reduction in deoxynucleotide incorporation efficiency and allows ribonucleotide incorporation.

Unlocking the sugar "steric gate" of DNA polymerases

To maintain genomic stability, ribonucleotide incorporation during DNA synthesis is controlled predominantly at the DNA polymerase level. A steric clash between the 2'-hydroxyl of an incoming ribonucleotide and a bulky active site residue, known as the "steric gate", establishes an effective mechanism for most DNA polymerases to selectively insert deoxyribonucleotides. Recent kinetic, structural, and in vivo studies have illuminated novel features about ribonucleotide exclusion and the mechanistic consequences of ribonucleotide misincorporation on downstream events, such as the bypass of a ribonucleotide in a DNA template and the subsequent extension of the DNA lesion bypass product. These important findings are summarized in this review.

Mutational specificities of brominated DNA adducts catalyzed by human DNA polymerases

Chronic inflammation is known to lead to an increased risk for the development of cancer. Under inflammatory condition, cellular DNA is damaged by hypobromous acid, which is generated by myeloperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase. The reactive brominating species induced brominated DNA adducts such as 8-bromo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-Br-dG), 8-bromo-2'-deoxyadenosine (8-Br-dA), and 5-bromo-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Br-dC). These DNA lesions may be implicated in carcinogenesis. In this study, we analyzed the miscoding properties of the brominated DNA adducts generated by human DNA polymerases (pols). Site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotides containing a single 8-Br-dG, 8-Br-dA, or 5-Br-dC were used as a template in primer extension reactions catalyzed by human pols α, κ, and η. When 8-Br-dG-modified template was used, pol α primarily incorporated dCMP, the correct base, opposite the lesion, along with a small amount of one-base deletion (4.8%). Pol κ also promoted one-base deletion (14.2%), accompanied by misincorporation of dGMP (9.5%), dAMP (8.0%), and dTMP (6.1%) opposite the lesion. Pol η, on the other hand, readily bypassed the 8-Br-dG lesion in an error-free manner. As for 8-Br-dA and 5-Br-dC, all the pols bypassed the lesions and no miscoding events were observed. These results indicate that only 8-Br-dG, and not 5-Br-dC and 8-Br-dA, is a mutagenic lesion; the miscoding frequency and specificity vary depending on the DNA pol used. Thus, hypobromous acid-induced 8-Br-dG adduct may increase mutagenic potential at the site of inflammation.

Phenylalanine 171 is a molecular brake for translesion synthesis across benzo[a]pyrene-guanine adducts by human DNA polymerase kappa

Human cells possess multiple specialized DNA polymerases (Pols) that bypass a variety of DNA lesions which otherwise would block chromosome replication. Human polymerase kappa (Pol κ) bypasses benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide-N(2)-deoxyguanine (BPDE-N(2)-dG) DNA adducts in an almost error-free manner. To better understand the relationship between the structural features in the active site and lesion bypass by Pol κ, we mutated codons corresponding to amino acids appearing close to the adducts in the active site, and compared bypass efficiencies. Remarkably, the substitution of alanine for phenylalanine 171 (F171), an amino acid conserved between Pol κ and its bacterial counterpart Escherichia coli DinB, enhanced the efficiencies of dCMP incorporation opposite (-)- and (+)-trans-anti-BPDE-N(2)-dG 18-fold. This substitution affected neither the fidelity of TLS nor the efficiency of dCMP incorporation opposite normal guanine. This amino acid change also enhanced the binding affinity of Pol κ to template/primer DNA containing (-)-trans-anti-BPDE-N(2)-dG. These results suggest that F171 functions as a molecular brake for TLS across BPDE-N(2)-dG by Pol κ and that the F171A derivative of Pol κ bypasses these DNA lesions more actively than does the wild-type enzyme.

Kinetic basis of sugar selection by a Y-family DNA polymerase from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2

DNA polymerases use either a bulky active site residue or a backbone segment to select against ribonucleotides in order to faithfully replicate cellular genomes. Here, we demonstrated that an active site mutation (Y12A) within Sulfolobus solfataricus DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4) caused an average increase of 220-fold in matched ribonucleotide incorporation efficiency and an average decrease of 9-fold in correct deoxyribonucleotide incorporation efficiency, leading to an average reduction of 2000-fold in sugar selectivity. Thus, the bulky side chain of Tyr12 is important for both ribonucleotide discrimination and efficient deoxyribonucleotide incorporation. Other than synthesizing DNA as the wild-type Dpo4, the Y12A Dpo4 mutant incorporated more than 20 consecutive ribonucleotides into primer/template (DNA/DNA) duplexes, suggesting that this mutant protein possesses both a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity and a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Moreover, the binary and ternary crystal structures of Dpo4 have revealed that this DNA lesion bypass polymerase can bind up to eight base pairs of double-stranded DNA which is entirely in B-type. Thus, the DNA binding cleft of Dpo4 is flexible and can accommodate both A- and B-type oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes as well as damaged DNA.

DNA polymerases involved in the incorporation of oxidized nucleotides into DNA: their efficiency and template base preference

Genetic information must be duplicated with precision and accurately passed on to daughter cells and later generations. In order to achieve this goal, DNA polymerases (Pols) have to faithfully execute DNA synthesis during chromosome replication and repair. However, the conditions under which Pols synthesize DNA are not always optimal; the template DNA can be damaged by various endogenous and exogenous genotoxic agents including reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ROS oxidize dNTPs in the nucleotide pool from which Pols elongate DNA strands. Both damaged DNA and oxidized dNTPs interfere with faithful DNA synthesis by Pols, inducing various cellular abnormalities, such as mutations, cancer, neurological diseases, and cellular senescence. In this review, we focus on the process by which Pols incorporate oxidized dNTPs into DNA and compare the properties of Pols: efficiency, i.e., k(cat)/K(m), k(pol)/K(d) or V(max)/K(m), and template base preference for the incorporation of 8-oxo-dGTP, an oxidized form of dGTP. In general, Pols involved in chromosome replication, the A- and B-family Pols, are resistant to the incorporation of 8-oxo-dGTP, whereas Pols involved in repair and/or translesion synthesis, the X- and Y-family Pols, incorporate nucleotides in a relatively efficient manner and tend to incorporate it opposite template dA rather than template dC, though there are several exceptions. We discuss the molecular mechanisms by which Pols exhibit different template base preferences for the incorporation of 8-oxo-dGTP and how Pols are involved in the induction of mutations via the incorporation of oxidized nucleotides under oxidative stress.

Critical amino acids in human DNA polymerases eta and kappa involved in erroneous incorporation of oxidized nucleotides

Oxidized DNA precursors can cause mutagenesis and carcinogenesis when they are incorporated into the genome. Some human Y-family DNA polymerases (Pols) can effectively incorporate 8-oxo-dGTP, an oxidized form of dGTP, into a position opposite a template dA. This inappropriate G:A pairing may lead to transversions of A to C. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying erroneous nucleotide incorporation, we changed amino acids in human Polη and Polκ proteins that might modulate their specificity for incorporating 8-oxo-dGTP into DNA. We found that Arg61 in Polη was crucial for erroneous nucleotide incorporation. When Arg61 was substituted with lysine (R61K), the ratio of pairing of dA to 8-oxo-dGTP compared to pairing of dC was reduced from 660:1 (wild-type Polη) to 7 : 1 (R61K). Similarly, Tyr112 in Polκ was crucial for erroneous nucleotide incorporation. When Tyr112 was substituted with alanine (Y112A), the ratio of pairing was reduced from 11: 1 (wild-type Polκ) to almost 1: 1 (Y112A). Interestingly, substitution at the corresponding position in Polη, i.e. Phe18 to alanine, did not alter the specificity. These results suggested that amino acids at distinct positions in the active sites of Polη and Polκ might enhance 8-oxo-dGTP to favor the syn conformation, and thus direct its misincorporation into DNA.

Translesional DNA synthesis through a C8-guanyl adduct of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in Vitro: REV1 inserts dC opposite the lesion, and DNA polymerase kappa potentially catalyzes extension reaction from the 3'-dC terminus

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is the most abundant heterocyclic amine in cooked foods, and is both mutagenic and carcinogenic. It has been suspected that the carcinogenicity of PhIP is derived from its ability to form DNA adducts, principally dG-C8-PhIP. To shed further light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of mutations by PhIP, in vitro DNA synthesis analyses were carried out using a dG-C8-PhIP-modified oligonucleotide template. In this template, the dG-C8-PhIP adduct was introduced into the second G of the TCC GGG AAC sequence located in the 5' region. This represents one of the mutation hot spots in the rat Apc gene that is targeted by PhIP. Guanine deletions at this site in the Apc gene have been found to be preferentially induced by PhIP in rat colon tumors. DNA synthesis with A- or B-family DNA polymerases, such as Escherichia coli polymerase (pol) I and human pol delta, was completely blocked at the adducted guanine base. Translesional synthesis polymerases of the Y-family, pol eta, pol iota, pol kappa, and REV1, were also used for in vitro DNA synthesis analyses with the same templates. REV1, pol eta, and pol kappa were able to insert dCTP opposite dG-C8-PhIP, although the efficiencies for pol eta and pol kappa were low. pol kappa was also able to catalyze the extension reaction from the dC opposite dG-C8-PhIP, during which it often skipped over one dG of the triple dG sequence on the template. This slippage probably leads to the single dG base deletion in colon tumors.