Biochemical basis for the essential genetic requirements of RecA and the beta-clamp in Pol V activation

CRISPR-Cas9-assisted genome editing in E. coli elevates the frequency of unintended mutations

Cas-assisted lambda Red recombineering techniques have rapidly become a mainstay of bacterial genome editing. Such techniques have been used to construct both individual mutants and massive libraries to assess the effects of genomic changes. We have found that a commonly used Cas9-assisted editing method results in unintended mutations elsewhere in the genome in 26% of edited clones. The unintended mutations are frequently found over 200 kb from the intended edit site and even over 10 kb from potential off-target sites. We attribute the high frequency of unintended mutations to error-prone polymerases expressed in response to dsDNA breaks introduced at the edit site. Most unintended mutations occur in regulatory or coding regions and thus may have phenotypic effects. Our findings highlight the risks associated with genome editing techniques involving dsDNA breaks in E. coli and likely other bacteria and emphasize the importance of sequencing the genomes of edited cells to ensure the absence of unintended mutations.

Transient State Kinetics of Plasmodium falciparum Apicoplast DNA Polymerase Suggests the Involvement of Accessory Factors for Efficient and Accurate DNA Synthesis

Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa. Most apicomplexans, including Plasmodium, contain an essential nonphotosynthetic plastid called the apicoplast that harbors its own genome that is replicated by a dedicated organellar replisome. This replisome employs a single DNA polymerase (apPol), which is expected to perform both replicative and translesion synthesis. Unlike other replicative polymerases, no processivity factor for apPol has been identified. While preliminary structural and biochemical studies have provided an overall characterization of apPol, the kinetic mechanism of apPol's activity remains unknown. We have used transient state methods to determine the kinetics of replicative and translesion synthesis by apPol and show that apPol has low processivity and efficiency while copying undamaged DNA. Moreover, while apPol can bypass oxidatively damaged lesions, the bypass is error-prone. Taken together, our results raise the following question─how does a polymerase with low processivity, efficiency, and fidelity (for translesion synthesis) faithfully replicate the apicoplast organellar DNA within the hostile environment of the human host? We hypothesize that interactions with putative components of the apicoplast replisome and/or an as-yet-undiscovered processivity factor transform apPol into an efficient and accurate enzyme.

Whole genome analysis of UV-induced mutagenesis in Caulobacter crescentus

UV-induced mutagenesis is, to greater extent, a phenomenon dependent on translesion synthesis (TLS) and regulated by the SOS response in bacteria. Caulobacter crescentus, like many bacterial species, employs the ImuABC (ImuAB DnaE2) pathway in TLS. To have a better understanding of the characteristics of UV-induced mutagenesis in this organism, we performed a whole genome analysis of mutations present in survivors after an acute UVC exposure (300 J/m²). We found an average of 3.2 mutations/genome in irradiated samples, distributed in a mutational spectrum consisting exclusively of base substitutions, including tandem mutations. Although limited in conclusions by the small number of mutations identified, our study points to the feasibility of using whole-genome sequencing to study mutagenesis occurring in experiments involving a single acute exposure to genotoxic agents.

The SOS Error-Prone DNA Polymerase V Mutasome and β-Sliding Clamp Acting in Concert on Undamaged DNA and during Translesion Synthesis

In the mid 1970s, Miroslav Radman and Evelyn Witkin proposed that Escherichia coli must encode a specialized error-prone DNA polymerase (pol) to account for the 100-fold increase in mutations accompanying induction of the SOS regulon. By the late 1980s, genetic studies showed that SOS mutagenesis required the presence of two “UV mutagenesis” genes, umuC and umuD, along with recA. Guided by the genetics, decades of biochemical studies have defined the predicted error-prone DNA polymerase as an activated complex of these three gene products, assembled as a mutasome, pol V Mut = UmuD’₂C-RecA-ATP. Here, we explore the role of the β-sliding processivity clamp on the efficiency of pol V Mut-catalyzed DNA synthesis on undamaged DNA and during translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Primer elongation efficiencies and TLS were strongly enhanced in the presence of β. The results suggest that β may have two stabilizing roles: its canonical role in tethering the pol at a primer-3’-terminus, and a possible second role in inhibiting pol V Mut’s ATPase to reduce the rate of mutasome-DNA dissociation. The identification of umuC, umuD, and recA homologs in numerous strains of pathogenic bacteria and plasmids will ensure the long and productive continuation of the genetic and biochemical journey initiated by Radman and Witkin.

Enrichment of plasmid pool from E. coli for mass sequencing to detect untargeted mutagenic events

Translesion synthesis (TLS) is an event to cope with DNA damages. During TLS, the responsible TLS polymerase frequently elicits untargeted mutagenesis as potentially a source of genetic diversity. Identifying such untargeted mutations in vivo is challenging due to the bulk of DNA that does not undergo TLS. Here, we present a protocol to enrich a plasmid pool that underwent Pol V-mediated TLS in Escherichia coli for mass sequencing. The concept of this protocol could be applied into any species.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Isogawa et al. (2018).

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Design of a DNA substrate to detect TLS-associated mutagenic events in E. coli

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Detailed steps to concentrate plasmid pools that have undergone TLS events

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Concept of this protocol would be applicable to any species of interest

A Comprehensive View of Translesion Synthesis in Escherichia coli

The lesion bypass pathway, translesion synthesis (TLS), exists in essentially all organisms and is considered a pathway for postreplicative gap repair and, at the same time, for lesion tolerance. As with the saying "a trip is not over until you get back home," studying TLS only at the site of the lesion is not enough to understand the whole process of TLS. Recently, a genetic study uncovered that polymerase V (Pol V), a poorly expressed Escherichia coli TLS polymerase, is not only involved in the TLS step per se but also participates in the gap-filling reaction over several hundred nucleotides. The same study revealed that in contrast, Pol IV, another highly expressed TLS polymerase, essentially stays away from the gap-filling reaction. These observations imply fundamentally different ways these polymerases are recruited to DNA in cells. While access of Pol IV appears to be governed by mass action, efficient recruitment of Pol V involves a chaperone-like action of the RecA filament. We present a model of Pol V activation: the 3' tip of the RecA filament initially stabilizes Pol V to allow stable complex formation with a sliding β-clamp, followed by the capture of the terminal RecA monomer by Pol V, thus forming a functional Pol V complex. This activation process likely determines higher accessibility of Pol V than of Pol IV to normal DNA. Finally, we discuss the biological significance of TLS polymerases during gap-filling reactions: error-prone gap-filling synthesis may contribute as a driving force for genetic diversity, adaptive mutation, and evolution.

Pol V-Mediated Translesion Synthesis Elicits Localized Untargeted Mutagenesis during Post-replicative Gap Repair

In vivo, replication forks proceed beyond replication-blocking lesions by way of downstream repriming, generating daughter strand gaps that are subsequently processed by post-replicative repair pathways such as homologous recombination and translesion synthesis (TLS). The way these gaps are filled during TLS is presently unknown. The structure of gap repair synthesis was assessed by sequencing large collections of single DNA molecules that underwent specific TLS events in vivo. The higher error frequency of specialized relative to replicative polymerases allowed us to visualize gap-filling events at high resolution. Unexpectedly, the data reveal that a specialized polymerase, Pol V, synthesizes stretches of DNA both upstream and downstream of a site-specific DNA lesion. Pol V-mediated untargeted mutations are thus spread over several hundred nucleotides, strongly eliciting genetic instability on either side of a given lesion. Consequently, post-replicative gap repair may be a source of untargeted mutations critical for gene diversification in adaptation and evolution.

A gatekeeping function of the replicative polymerase controls pathway choice in the resolution of lesion-stalled replisomes

DNA lesions stall the replisome and proper resolution of these obstructions is critical for genome stability. Replisomes can directly replicate past a lesion by error-prone translesion synthesis. Alternatively, replisomes can reprime DNA synthesis downstream of the lesion, creating a single-stranded DNA gap that is repaired primarily in an error-free, homology-directed manner. Here we demonstrate how structural changes within the Escherichia coli replisome determine the resolution pathway of lesion-stalled replisomes. This pathway selection is controlled by a dynamic interaction between the proofreading subunit of the replicative polymerase and the processivity clamp, which sets a kinetic barrier to restrict access of translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases to the primer/template junction. Failure of TLS polymerases to overcome this barrier leads to repriming, which competes kinetically with TLS. Our results demonstrate that independent of its exonuclease activity, the proofreading subunit of the replisome acts as a gatekeeper and influences replication fidelity during the resolution of lesion-stalled replisomes.

New insights into the structures and interactions of bacterial Y-family DNA polymerases

Bacterial Y-family DNA polymerases are usually classified into DinB (Pol IV), UmuC (the catalytic subunit of Pol V) and ImuB, a catalytically dead essential component of the ImuA-ImuB-DnaE2 mutasome. However, the true diversity of Y-family polymerases is unknown. Furthermore, for most of them the structures are unavailable and interactions are poorly characterized. To gain a better understanding of bacterial Y-family DNA polymerases, we performed a detailed computational study. It revealed substantial diversity, far exceeding traditional classification. We found that a large number of subfamilies feature a C-terminal extension next to the common Y-family region. Unexpectedly, in most C-terminal extensions we identified a region homologous to the N-terminal oligomerization motif of RecA. This finding implies a universal mode of interaction between Y-family members and RecA (or ImuA), in the case of Pol V strongly supported by experimental data. In gram-positive bacteria, we identified a putative Pol V counterpart composed of a Y-family polymerase, a YolD homolog and RecA. We also found ImuA-ImuB-DnaE2 variants lacking ImuA, but retaining active or inactive Y-family polymerase, a standalone ImuB C-terminal domain and/or DnaE2. In summary, our analyses revealed that, despite considerable diversity, bacterial Y-family polymerases share previously unanticipated similarities in their structural domains/motifs and interactions.

The SOS system: A complex and tightly regulated response to DNA damage

Genomes of all living organisms are constantly threatened by endogenous and exogenous agents that challenge the chemical integrity of DNA. Most bacteria have evolved a coordinated response to DNA damage. In Escherichia coli, this inducible system is termed the SOS response. The SOS global regulatory network consists of multiple factors promoting the integrity of DNA as well as error-prone factors allowing for survival and continuous replication upon extensive DNA damage at the cost of elevated mutagenesis. Due to its mutagenic potential, the SOS response is subject to elaborate regulatory control involving not only transcriptional derepression, but also post-translational activation, and inhibition. This review summarizes current knowledge about the molecular mechanism of the SOS response induction and progression and its consequences for genome stability. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 60:368-384, 2019. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Environmental Mutagen Society.

The recombination mediator proteins RecFOR maintain RecA* levels for maximal DNA polymerase V Mut activity

DNA template damage can potentially block DNA replication. Cells have therefore developed different strategies to repair template lesions. Activation of the bacterial lesion bypass DNA polymerase V (Pol V) requires both the cleavage of the UmuD subunit to UmuD' and the acquisition of a monomer of activated RecA recombinase, forming Pol V Mut. Both of these events are mediated by the generation of RecA* via the formation of a RecA-ssDNA filament during the SOS response. Formation of RecA* is itself modulated by competition with the ssDNA-binding protein (SSB) for binding to ssDNA. Previous observations have demonstrated that RecA filament formation on SSB-coated DNA can be favored in the presence of the recombination mediator proteins RecF, RecO, and RecR. We show here using purified proteins that in the presence of SSB and RecA, a stable RecA-ssDNA filament is not formed, although sufficient RecA* is generated to support some activation of Pol V. The presence of RecFOR increased RecA* generation and allowed Pol V to synthesize longer DNA products and to elongate from an unpaired primer terminus opposite template damage, also without the generation of a stable RecA-ssDNA filament.

Chronological Switch from Translesion Synthesis to Homology-Dependent Gap Repair In Vivo

Cells are constantly exposed to endogenous and exogenous chemical and physical agents that damage their genome by forming DNA lesions. These lesions interfere with the normal functions of DNA such as transcription and replication, and need to be either repaired or tolerated. DNA lesions are accurately removed via various repair pathways. In contrast, tolerance mechanisms do not remove lesions but only allow replication to proceed despite the presence of unrepaired lesions. Cells possess two major tolerance strategies, namely translesion synthesis (TLS), which is an error-prone strategy and an accurate strategy based on homologous recombination (homology-dependent gap repair [HDGR]). Thus, the mutation frequency reflects the relative extent to which the two tolerance pathways operate in vivo. In the present paper, we review the present understanding of the mechanisms of TLS and HDGR and propose a novel and comprehensive view of the way both strategies interact and are regulated in vivo.

Processing closely spaced lesions during Nucleotide Excision Repair triggers mutagenesis in E. coli

It is generally assumed that most point mutations are fixed when damage containing template DNA undergoes replication, either right at the fork or behind the fork during gap filling. Here we provide genetic evidence for a pathway, dependent on Nucleotide Excision Repair, that induces mutations when processing closely spaced lesions. This pathway, referred to as Nucleotide Excision Repair-induced Mutagenesis (NERiM), exhibits several characteristics distinct from mutations that occur within the course of replication: i) following UV irradiation, NER-induced mutations are fixed much more rapidly (t ½ ≈ 30 min) than replication dependent mutations (t ½ ≈ 80–100 min) ii) NERiM specifically requires DNA Pol IV in addition to Pol V iii) NERiM exhibits a two-hit dose-response curve that suggests processing of closely spaced lesions. A mathematical model let us define the geometry (infer the structure) of the toxic intermediate as being formed when NER incises a lesion that resides in close proximity of another lesion in the complementary strand. This critical NER intermediate requires Pol IV / Pol II for repair, it is either lethal if left unrepaired or mutation-prone when repaired. Finally, NERiM is found to operate in stationary phase cells providing an intriguing possibility for ongoing evolution in the absence of replication.

In this paper, we report the surprising finding that in addition to the well-known properties of Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) in efficiently repairing a large number of DNA lesions, NER entails a mutagenic sub-pathway. Our data suggest that closely spaced lesions are processed by NER into a toxic DNA intermediate, i.e. a gap containing a lesion, that leads either to mutagenesis during its repair or to cell death in the absence of repair. The paper describes a new pathway for the generation of mutations in stationary phase bacteria or quiescent cells; it also provides an additional role for Pol IV, the most widely distributed specialized DNA polymerase in all forms of life.

A defect in homologous recombination leads to increased translesion synthesis in E. coli

DNA damage tolerance pathways allow cells to duplicate their genomes despite the presence of replication blocking lesions. Cells possess two major tolerance strategies, namely translesion synthesis (TLS) and homology directed gap repair (HDGR). TLS pathways involve specialized DNA polymerases that are able to synthesize past DNA lesions with an intrinsic risk of causing point mutations. In contrast, HDGR pathways are essentially error-free as they rely on the recovery of missing information from the sister chromatid by RecA-mediated homologous recombination. We have investigated the genetic control of pathway choice between TLS and HDGR in vivo in Escherichia coli In a strain with wild type RecA activity, the extent of TLS across replication blocking lesions is generally low while HDGR is used extensively. Interestingly, recA alleles that are partially impaired in D-loop formation confer a decrease in HDGR and a concomitant increase in TLS. Thus, partial defect of RecA's capacity to invade the homologous sister chromatid increases the lifetime of the ssDNA.RecA filament, i.e. the 'SOS signal'. This increase favors TLS by increasing both the TLS polymerase concentration and the lifetime of the TLS substrate, before it becomes sequestered by homologous recombination. In conclusion, the pathway choice between error-prone TLS and error-free HDGR is controlled by the efficiency of homologous recombination.

Translesion DNA Synthesis

All living organisms are continually exposed to agents that damage their DNA, which threatens the integrity of their genome. As a consequence, cells are equipped with a plethora of DNA repair enzymes to remove the damaged DNA. Unfortunately, situations nevertheless arise where lesions persist, and these lesions block the progression of the cell's replicase. In these situations, cells are forced to choose between recombination-mediated "damage avoidance" pathways or a specialized DNA polymerase (pol) to traverse the blocking lesion. The latter process is referred to as Translesion DNA Synthesis (TLS). As inferred by its name, TLS not only results in bases being (mis)incorporated opposite DNA lesions but also bases being (mis)incorporated downstream of the replicase-blocking lesion, so as to ensure continued genome duplication and cell survival. Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium possess five DNA polymerases, and while all have been shown to facilitate TLS under certain experimental conditions, it is clear that the LexA-regulated and damage-inducible pols II, IV, and V perform the vast majority of TLS under physiological conditions. Pol V can traverse a wide range of DNA lesions and performs the bulk of mutagenic TLS, whereas pol II and pol IV appear to be more specialized TLS polymerases.

Chronology in lesion tolerance gives priority to genetic variability

The encounter of a replication fork with a blocking DNA lesion is a common event that cells need to address properly to preserve genome integrity. Cells possess two main strategies to tolerate unrepaired lesions: potentially mutagenic translesion synthesis (TLS) and nonmutagenic damage avoidance (DA). Little is known about the partitioning between these two strategies. Because genes involved in DA mechanisms (i.e., recA) are expressed early and genes involved in TLS (i.e., Pol V) are expressed late during the bacterial SOS response, it has long been thought that TLS was the last recourse to bypass DNA lesions when repair and nonmutagenic DA mechanisms have failed. By using a recently described methodology, we followed the fate of a single replication-blocking lesion introduced in the Escherichia coli genome during acute genotoxic stress. We show that lesion tolerance events (i) only occur when the SOS response is fully induced and (ii) are executed in chronological order, with TLS coming first, followed by DA. Therefore, in response to genotoxic stress, bacterial cells give priority to TLS, a minor pathway able to generate genetic diversity before implementing the major nonmutagenic pathway that ensures survival.

Translesion DNA synthesis and mutagenesis in prokaryotes

The presence of unrepaired lesions in DNA represents a challenge for replication. Most, but not all, DNA lesions block the replicative DNA polymerases. The conceptually simplest procedure to bypass lesions during DNA replication is translesion synthesis (TLS), whereby the replicative polymerase is transiently replaced by a specialized DNA polymerase that synthesizes a short patch of DNA across the site of damage. This process is inherently error prone and is the main source of point mutations. The diversity of existing DNA lesions and the biochemical properties of Escherichia coli DNA polymerases will be presented. Our main goal is to deliver an integrated view of TLS pathways involving the multiple switches between replicative and specialized DNA polymerases and their interaction with key accessory factors. Finally, a brief glance at how other bacteria deal with TLS and mutagenesis is presented.

Open or close the gate - stomata action under the control of phytohormones in drought stress conditions

Two highly specialized cells, the guard cells that surround the stomatal pore, are able to integrate environmental and endogenous signals in order to control the stomatal aperture and thereby the gas exchange. The uptake of CO2 is associated with a loss of water by leaves. Control of the size of the stomatal aperture optimizes the efficiency of water use through dynamic changes in the turgor of the guard cells. The opening and closing of stomata is regulated by the integration of environmental signals and endogenous hormonal stimuli. The various different factors to which the guard cells respond translates into the complexity of the network of signaling pathways that control stomatal movements. The perception of an abiotic stress triggers the activation of signal transduction cascades that interact with or are activated by phytohormones. Among these, abscisic acid (ABA), is the best-known stress hormone that closes the stomata, although other phytohormones, such as jasmonic acid, brassinosteroids, cytokinins, or ethylene are also involved in the stomatal response to stresses. As a part of the drought response, ABA may interact with jasmonic acid and nitric oxide in order to stimulate stomatal closure. In addition, the regulation of gene expression in response to ABA involves genes that are related to ethylene, cytokinins, and auxin signaling. In this paper, recent findings on phytohormone crosstalk, changes in signaling pathways including the expression of specific genes and their impact on modulating stress response through the closing or opening of stomata, together with the highlights of gaps that need to be elucidated in the signaling network of stomatal regulation, are reviewed.

Structural model of the Y-Family DNA polymerase V/RecA mutasome

To synthesize past DNA damaged by chemicals or radiation, cells have lesion bypass DNA polymerases (DNAPs), most of which are in the Y-Family. One class of Y-Family DNAPs includes DNAP η in eukaryotes and DNAP V in bacteria, which have low fidelity when replicating undamaged DNA. In Escherchia coli, DNAP V is carefully regulated to insure it is active for lesion bypass only, and one mode of regulation involves interaction of the polymerase subunit (UmuC) and two regulatory subunits (UmuD') with a RecA-filament bound to ss-DNA. Taking a docking approach, ∼150,000 unique orientations involving UmuC, UmuD' and RecA were evaluated to generate models, one of which was judged best able to rationalize the following published findings. (1) In the UmuD'(2)C/RecA-filament model, R64-UmuC interacts with S117-RecA, which is known to be at the UmuC/RecA interface. (2) At the model's UmuC/RecA interface, UmuC has three basic amino acids (K59/R63/R64) that anchor it to RecA. No other Y-Family DNAP has three basic amino acids clustered in this region, making it a plausible site for UmuC to form its unique interaction with RecA. (3) In the model, residues N32/N33/D34 of UmuC form a second interface with RecA, which is consistent with published findings. (4) Active UmuD' is generated when 24 amino acids in the N-terminal tail of UmuD are proteolyzed, which occurs when UmuD(2)C binds the RecA-filament. When UmuD is included in an UmuD(2)C/RecA-filament model, plausible UmuD/RecA contacts guide the UmuD cleavage site (C24/G25) into the UmuD proteolysis active site (S60/K97). One contact involves E11-UmuD interacting with R243-RecA, where the latter is known to be important for UmuD cleavage. (5) The UmuD(2)C/RecA-filament model rationalizes published findings that at least some UmuD-to-UmuD' cleavage occurs intermolecularly. (6) Active DNAP V is known to be the heterotetramer UmuD'(2)C/RecA, a model of which can be generated by a simple rearrangement of the RecA monomer at the 3'-end of the RecA-filament. The rearranged UmuD'(2)C/RecA model rationalizes published findings about UmuD' residues in proximity to RecA. In summary, docking and molecular simulations are used to develop an UmuD'(2)C/RecA model, whose structure rationalizes much of the known properties of the active form of DNA polymerase V.

Multiple strategies for translesion synthesis in bacteria

Damage to DNA is common and can arise from numerous environmental and endogenous sources. In response to ubiquitous DNA damage, Y-family DNA polymerases are induced by the SOS response and are capable of bypassing DNA lesions. In Escherichia coli, these Y-family polymerases are DinB and UmuC, whose activities are modulated by their interaction with the polymerase manager protein UmuD. Many, but not all, bacteria utilize DinB and UmuC homologs. Recently, a C-family polymerase named ImuC, which is similar in primary structure to the replicative DNA polymerase DnaE, was found to be able to copy damaged DNA and either carry out or suppress mutagenesis. ImuC is often found with proteins ImuA and ImuB, the latter of which is similar to Y‑family polymerases, but seems to lack the catalytic residues necessary for polymerase activity. This imuAimuBimuC mutagenesis cassette represents a widespread alternative strategy for translesion synthesis and mutagenesis in bacteria. Bacterial Y‑family and ImuC DNA polymerases contribute to replication past DNA damage and the acquisition of antibiotic resistance.

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.

Simple and efficient purification of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase V: cofactor requirements for optimal activity and processivity in vitro

Most damage induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli is dependent upon the UmuD'(2)C protein complex, which comprises DNA polymerase V (pol V). Biochemical characterization of pol V has been hindered by the fact that the enzyme is notoriously difficult to purify, largely because overproduced UmuC is insoluble. Here, we report a simple and efficient protocol for the rapid purification of milligram quantities of pol V from just 4 L of bacterial culture. Rather than over producing the UmuC protein, it was expressed at low basal levels, while UmuD'(2)C was expressed in trans from a high copy-number plasmid with an inducible promoter. We have also developed strategies to purify the β-clamp and γ-clamp loader free from contaminating polymerases. Using these highly purified proteins, we determined the cofactor requirements for optimal activity of pol V in vitro and found that pol V shows robust activity on an SSB-coated circular DNA template in the presence of the β/γ-complex and a RecA nucleoprotein filament (RecA*) formed in trans. This strong activity was attributed to the unexpectedly high processivity of pol V Mut (UmuD'(2)C · RecA · ATP), which was efficiently recruited to a primer terminus by SSB.

Increase in dNTP pool size during the DNA damage response plays a key role in spontaneous and induced-mutagenesis in Escherichia coli

Exposure of Escherichia coli to UV light increases expression of NrdAB, the major ribonucleotide reductase leading to a moderate increase in dNTP levels. The role of elevated dNTP levels during translesion synthesis (TLS) across specific replication-blocking lesions was investigated. Here we show that although the specialized DNA polymerase PolV is necessary for replication across UV-lesions, such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers or pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoproduct, Pol V per se is not sufficient. Indeed, efficient TLS additionally requires elevated dNTP levels. Similarly, for the bypass of an N-2-acetylaminofluorene-guanine adduct that requires Pol II instead of PolV, efficient TLS is only observed under conditions of high dNTP levels. We suggest that increased dNTP levels transiently modify the activity balance of Pol III (i.e., increasing the polymerase and reducing the proofreading functions). Indeed, we show that the stimulation of TLS by elevated dNTP levels can be mimicked by genetic inactivation of the proofreading function (mutD5 allele). We also show that spontaneous mutagenesis increases proportionally to dNTP pool levels, thus defining a unique spontaneous mutator phenotype. The so-called "dNTP mutator" phenotype does not depend upon any of the specialized DNA polymerases, and is thus likely to reflect an increase in Pol III's own replication errors because of the modified activity balance of Pol III. As up-regulation of the dNTP pool size represents a common physiological response to DNA damage, the present model is likely to represent a general and unique paradigm for TLS pathways in many organisms.

Characterization of Escherichia coli UmuC active-site loops identifies variants that confer UV hypersensitivity

DNA is constantly exposed to chemical and environmental mutagens, causing lesions that can stall replication. In order to deal with DNA damage and other stresses, Escherichia coli utilizes the SOS response, which regulates the expression of at least 57 genes, including umuDC. The gene products of umuDC, UmuC and the cleaved form of UmuD, UmuD', form the specialized E. coli Y-family DNA polymerase UmuD'2C, or polymerase V (Pol V). Y-family DNA polymerases are characterized by their specialized ability to copy damaged DNA in a process known as translesion synthesis (TLS) and by their low fidelity on undamaged DNA templates. Y-family polymerases exhibit various specificities for different types of DNA damage. Pol V carries out TLS to bypass abasic sites and thymine-thymine dimers resulting from UV radiation. Using alanine-scanning mutagenesis, we probed the roles of two active-site loops composed of residues 31 to 38 and 50 to 54 in Pol V activity by assaying the function of single-alanine variants in UV-induced mutagenesis and for their ability to confer resistance to UV radiation. We find that mutations of the N-terminal residues of loop 1, N32, N33, and D34, confer hypersensitivity to UV radiation and to 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide and significantly reduce Pol V-dependent UV-induced mutagenesis. Furthermore, mutating residues 32, 33, or 34 diminishes Pol V-dependent inhibition of recombination, suggesting that these mutations may disrupt an interaction of UmuC with RecA, which could also contribute to the UV hypersensitivity of cells expressing these variants.

Architecture of y-family DNA polymerases relevant to translesion DNA synthesis as revealed in structural and molecular modeling studies

DNA adducts, which block replicative DNA polymerases (DNAPs), are often bypassed by lesion-bypass DNAPs, which are mostly in the Y-Family. Y-Family DNAPs can do non-mutagenic or mutagenic dNTP insertion, and understanding this difference is important, because mutations transform normal into tumorigenic cells. Y-Family DNAP architecture that dictates mechanism, as revealed in structural and modeling studies, is considered. Steps from adduct blockage of replicative DNAPs, to bypass by a lesion-bypass DNAP, to resumption of synthesis by a replicative DNAP are described. Catalytic steps and protein conformational changes are considered. One adduct is analyzed in greater detail: the major benzo[a]pyrene adduct (B[a]P-N²-dG), which is bypassed non-mutagenically (dCTP insertion) by Y-family DNAPs in the IV/κ-class and mutagenically (dATP insertion) by V/η-class Y-Family DNAPs. Important architectural differences between IV/κ-class versus V/η-class DNAPs are discussed, including insights gained by analyzing ~400 sequences each for bacterial DNAPs IV and V, along with sequences from eukaryotic DNAPs kappa, eta and iota. The little finger domains of Y-Family DNAPs do not show sequence conservation; however, their structures are remarkably similar due to the presence of a core of hydrophobic amino acids, whose exact identity is less important than the hydrophobic amino acid spacing.

A new model for SOS-induced mutagenesis: how RecA protein activates DNA polymerase V

In Escherichia coli, cell survival and genomic stability after UV radiation depends on repair mechanisms induced as part of the SOS response to DNA damage. The early phase of the SOS response is mostly dominated by accurate DNA repair, while the later phase is characterized with elevated mutation levels caused by error-prone DNA replication. SOS mutagenesis is largely the result of the action of DNA polymerase V (pol V), which has the ability to insert nucleotides opposite various DNA lesions in a process termed translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Pol V is a low-fidelity polymerase that is composed of UmuD'(2)C and is encoded by the umuDC operon. Pol V is strictly regulated in the cell so as to avoid genomic mutation overload. RecA nucleoprotein filaments (RecA*), formed by RecA binding to single-stranded DNA with ATP, are essential for pol V-catalyzed TLS both in vivo and in vitro. This review focuses on recent studies addressing the protein composition of active DNA polymerase V, and the role of RecA protein in activating this enzyme. Based on unforeseen properties of RecA*, we describe a new model for pol V-catalyzed SOS-induced mutagenesis.