Molecular structure and novel DNA binding sites located in loops of flap endonuclease-1 from Pyrococcus horikoshii

Biochemical characterization and mutational analysis of a novel flap endonuclease 1 from Thermococcus barophilus Ch5

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) plays important roles in DNA replication, repair and recombination. Herein, we report biochemical characteristics and catalytic mechanism of a novel FEN1 from the hyperthermophilic euryarchaeon Thermococcus barophilus Ch5 (Tb-FEN1). As expected, the recombinant Tb-FEN1 can cleave 5'-flap DNA. However, the enzyme has no activity on cleaving pseudo Y DNA, which sharply contrasts with other archaeal and eukaryotic FEN1 homologs. Tb-FEN1 retains 24% relative activity after heating at 100 °C for 20 min, demonstrating that it is the most thermostable among all reported FEN1 proteins. The enzyme displays maximal activity in a wide range of pH from 7.0 to 9.5. The Tb-FEN1 activity is dependent on a divalent metal ion, among which Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ are optimal. Enzyme activity is inhibited by NaCl. Kinetic analyzes estimated that an activation energy for removal of 5'-flap from DNA by Tb-FEN1 was 35.7 ± 4.3 kcal/mol, which is the first report on energy barrier for excising 5'-flap from DNA by a FEN1 enzyme. Mutational studies demonstrate that the K87A, R94A and E154A amino acid substitutions abolish cleavage activity and reduce 5'-flap DNA binding efficiencies, suggesting that residues K87, R94, and E154 in Tb-FEN1 are essential for catalysis and DNA binding as well. Overall, Tb-FEN1 is an extremely thermostable endonuclease with unusual features.

Haloferax volcanii-a model archaeon for studying DNA replication and repair

The tree of life shows the relationship between all organisms based on their common ancestry. Until 1977, it comprised two major branches: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Work by Carl Woese and other microbiologists led to the recategorization of prokaryotes and the proposal of three primary domains: Eukarya, Bacteria and Archaea. Microbiological, genetic and biochemical techniques were then needed to study the third domain of life. Haloferax volcanii, a halophilic species belonging to the phylum Euryarchaeota, has provided many useful tools to study Archaea, including easy culturing methods, genetic manipulation and phenotypic screening. This review will focus on DNA replication and DNA repair pathways in H. volcanii, how this work has advanced our knowledge of archaeal cellular biology, and how it may deepen our understanding of bacterial and eukaryotic processes.

Gene cloning and characterization of Tk1281, a flap endonuclease 1 from Thermococcus kodakarensis

Flap endonuclease is a structure-specific nuclease which cleaves 5'-flap of bifurcated DNA substrates. Genome sequence of Thermococcus kodakarensis harbors an open reading frame, Tk1281, exhibiting high homology with archaeal flap endonucleases 1. The corresponding gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the gene product was purified to apparent homogeneity. Tk1281 was a monomer of 38 kDa and catalyzed the cleavage of 5'-flap from double-stranded DNA substrate containing single-stranded DNA flap. The highest cleavage activity was observed at 80 °C and pH 7.5. Under optimal conditions, Tk1281 exhibited apparent V_max and K_m values of 278 nmol/min/mg and 37 μM, respectively, against a 54-nucleotide double-stranded substrate containing a single-stranded 5'-flap of 27 nucleotides. A unique feature of Tk1281 is its highest activation in the presence of Co²⁺ and no activation with Mn²⁺. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first cloning and characterization of a flap endonuclease from the genus Thermococcus.

The Proteome and Lipidome of Thermococcus kodakarensis across the Stationary Phase

The majority of cells in nature probably exist in a stationary-phase-like state, due to nutrient limitation in most environments. Studies on bacteria and yeast reveal morphological and physiological changes throughout the stationary phase, which lead to an increased ability to survive prolonged nutrient limitation. However, there is little information on archaeal stationary phase responses. We investigated protein- and lipid-level changes in Thermococcus kodakarensis with extended time in the stationary phase. Adaptations to time in stationary phase included increased proportion of membrane lipids with a tetraether backbone, synthesis of proteins that ensure translational fidelity, specific regulation of ABC transporters (upregulation of some, downregulation of others), and upregulation of proteins involved in coenzyme production. Given that the biological mechanism of tetraether synthesis is unknown, we also considered whether any of the protein-level changes in T. kodakarensis might shed light on the production of tetraether lipids across the same period. A putative carbon-nitrogen hydrolase, a TldE (a protease in Escherichia coli) homologue, and a membrane bound hydrogenase complex subunit were candidates for possible involvement in tetraether-related reactions, while upregulation of adenosylcobalamin synthesis proteins might lend support to a possible radical mechanism as a trigger for tetraether synthesis.

Structural studies of DNA end detection and resection in homologous recombination

DNA double-strand breaks are repaired by two major pathways, homologous recombination or nonhomologous end joining. The commitment to one or the other pathway proceeds via different steps of resection of the DNA ends, which is controlled and executed by a set of DNA double-strand break sensors, endo- and exonucleases, helicases, and DNA damage response factors. The molecular choreography of the underlying protein machinery is beginning to emerge. In this review, we discuss the early steps of genetic recombination and double-strand break sensing with an emphasis on structural and molecular studies.

Base excision repair in Archaea: back to the future in DNA repair

Together with Bacteria and Eukarya, Archaea represents one of the three domain of life. In contrast with the morphological difference existing between Archaea and Eukarya, these two domains are closely related. Phylogenetic analyses confirm this evolutionary relationship showing that most of the proteins involved in DNA transcription and replication are highly conserved. On the contrary, information is scanty about DNA repair pathways and their mechanisms. In the present review the most important proteins involved in base excision repair, namely glycosylases, AP lyases, AP endonucleases, polymerases, sliding clamps, flap endonucleases, and ligases, will be discussed and compared with bacterial and eukaryotic ones. Finally, possible applications and future perspectives derived from studies on Archaea and their repair pathways, will be taken into account.

Serial intermediates with a 1 nt 3'-flap and 5' variable-length flaps are formed by cooperative functioning of Pyrococcus horikoshii FEN-1 with either B or D DNA polymerases

Flap endonuclease-1 (FEN-1) plays important roles with DNA polymerases in DNA replication, repair and recombination. FEN-1 activity is elevated by the presence of a 1 nucleotide expansion at the 3' end in the upstream primer of substrates called "structures with a 1 nt 3'-flap", which appear to be the most preferable substrates for FEN-1; however, it is unclear how such substrates are generated in vivo. Here, we show that substrate production occurred by the cooperative function of FEN-1(phFEN-1) and Pyrococcus horikoshii DNA polymerase B (phPol B) or D (phPol D). Using various substrates, the activities of several phFEN-1 F79 mutants were compared with those of the wild type. Analysis of the activity profiles of these mutants led us to discriminate "structures with a 1 nt 3'-flap" from substrates with a 3' -projection longer than 2 nt or from those without a 3'-projection. When phFEN-1 processed a gap substrate with phPol B or phPol D, "structures with a 1 nt 3'-flap" were assumed the reaction intermediates. Furthermore, the phFEN-1 cleavage products with phPol B or D were from 1mer to 7mer, corresponding to the sizes of the strand-displacement products of these polymerases. This suggests that a series of 1 nt 3'-flap with 5'-variable length-flap configurations were generated as transient intermediates, in which the length of the 5'-flaps depended on the displacement distance of the downstream strand by phPol B or D. Therefore, phFEN-1 might act successively on displaced 5'-variable flaps.

Rapid progress of DNA replication studies in Archaea, the third domain of life

Archaea, the third domain of life, are interesting organisms to study from the aspects of molecular and evolutionary biology. Archaeal cells have a unicellular ultrastructure without a nucleus, resembling bacterial cells, but the proteins involved in genetic information processing pathways, including DNA replication, transcription, and translation, share strong similarities with those of Eukaryota. Therefore, archaea provide useful model systems to understand the more complex mechanisms of genetic information processing in eukaryotic cells. Moreover, the hyperthermophilic archaea provide very stable proteins, which are especially useful for the isolation of replisomal multicomplexes, to analyze their structures and functions. This review focuses on the history, current status, and future directions of archaeal DNA replication studies.

Structures of human exonuclease 1 DNA complexes suggest a unified mechanism for nuclease family

Human exonuclease 1 (hExo1) plays important roles in DNA repair and recombination processes that maintain genomic integrity. It is a member of the 5' structure-specific nuclease family of exonucleases and endonucleases that includes FEN-1, XPG, and GEN1. We present structures of hExo1 in complex with a DNA substrate, followed by mutagenesis studies, and propose a common mechanism by which this nuclease family recognizes and processes diverse DNA structures. hExo1 induces a sharp bend in the DNA at nicks or gaps. Frayed 5' ends of nicked duplexes resemble flap junctions, unifying the mechanisms of endo- and exonucleolytic processing. Conformational control of a mobile region in the catalytic site suggests a mechanism for allosteric regulation by binding to protein partners. The relative arrangement of substrate binding sites in these enzymes provides an elegant solution to a complex geometrical puzzle of substrate recognition and processing.

Structure of flap endonuclease 1 from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Desulfurococcus amylolyticus

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a key enzyme in DNA repair and DNA replication. It is a structure-specific nuclease that removes 5'-overhanging flaps and the RNA/DNA primer during maturation of the Okazaki fragment. Homologues of FEN1 exist in a wide range of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. In order to further understand the structural basis of the DNA recognition, binding and cleavage mechanism of FEN1, the structure of FEN1 from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Desulfurococcus amylolyticus (DaFEN1) was determined at 2.00 Å resolution. The overall fold of DaFEN1 was similar to those of other archaeal FEN1 proteins; however, the helical clamp and the flexible loop exhibited a putative substrate-binding pocket with a unique conformation.

Substrate recognition and catalysis by flap endonucleases and related enzymes

FENs (flap endonucleases) and related FEN-like enzymes [EXO-1 (exonuclease-1), GEN-1 (gap endonuclease 1) and XPG (xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group G)] are a family of bivalent-metal-ion-dependent nucleases that catalyse structure-specific hydrolysis of DNA duplex-containing nucleic acid structures during DNA replication, repair and recombination. In the case of FENs, the ability to catalyse reactions on a variety of substrates has been rationalized as a result of combined functional and structural studies. Analyses of FENs also exemplify controversies regarding the two-metal-ion mechanism. However, kinetic studies of T5FEN (bacteriophage T5 FEN) reveal that a two-metal-ion-like mechanism for chemical catalysis is plausible. Consideration of the metallobiochemistry and the positioning of substrate in metal-free structures has led to the proposal that the duplex termini of substrates are unpaired in the catalytically active form and that FENs and related enzymes may recognize breathing duplex termini within more complex structures. An outstanding issue in FEN catalysis is the role played by the intermediate (I) domain arch or clamp. It has been proposed that FENs thread the 5′-portion of their substrates through this arch, which is wide enough to accommodate single-stranded, but not double-stranded, DNA. However, FENs exhibit gap endonuclease activity acting upon substrates that have a region of 5′-duplex. Moreover, the action of other FEN family members such as GEN-1, proposed to target Holliday junctions without termini, appears incompatible with a threading mechanism. An alterative is that the I domain is used as a clamp. A future challenge is to clarify the role of this domain in FENs and related enzymes.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) from Desulfurococcus amylolyticus

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a structure-specific nuclease that removes 5'-overhanging flaps in DNA repair and removes the RNA/DNA primer during maturation of the Okazaki fragment in lagging-strand DNA replication. FEN1 from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Desulfurococcus amylolyticus was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method with monoammonium dihydrogen phosphate as the precipitant at pH 8.3. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.00 A resolution. The space group of the crystal was determined as the primitive hexagonal space group P321, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 103.76, c = 84.58 A. The crystal contained one molecule in the asymmetric unit.

The 3'-flap pocket of human flap endonuclease 1 is critical for substrate binding and catalysis

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) proteins, which are present in all kingdoms of life, catalyze the sequence-independent hydrolysis of the bifurcated nucleic acid intermediates formed during DNA replication and repair. How FEN1s have evolved to preferentially cleave flap structures is of great interest especially in light of studies wherein mice carrying a catalytically deficient FEN1 were predisposed to cancer. Structural studies of FEN1s from phage to human have shown that, although they share similar folds, the FEN1s of higher organisms contain a 3'-extrahelical nucleotide (3'-flap) binding pocket. When presented with 5'-flap substrates having a 3'-flap, archaeal and eukaryotic FEN1s display enhanced reaction rates and cleavage site specificity. To investigate the role of this interaction, a kinetic study of human FEN1 (hFEN1) employing well defined DNA substrates was conducted. The presence of a 3'-flap on substrates reduced Km and increased multiple- and single turnover rates of endonucleolytic hydrolysis at near physiological salt concentrations. Exonucleolytic and fork-gap-endonucleolytic reactions were also stimulated by the presence of a 3'-flap, and the absence of a 3'-flap from a 5'-flap substrate was more detrimental to hFEN1 activity than removal of the 5'-flap or introduction of a hairpin into the 5'-flap structure. hFEN1 reactions were predominantly rate-limited by product release regardless of the presence or absence of a 3'-flap. Furthermore, the identity of the stable enzyme product species was deduced from inhibition studies to be the 5'-phosphorylated product. Together the results indicate that the presence of a 3'-flap is the critical feature for efficient hFEN1 substrate recognition and catalysis.

Three metal ions participate in the reaction catalyzed by T5 flap endonuclease

Protein nucleases and RNA enzymes depend on divalent metal ions to catalyze the rapid hydrolysis of phosphate diester linkages of nucleic acids during DNA replication, DNA repair, RNA processing, and RNA degradation. These enzymes are widely proposed to catalyze phosphate diester hydrolysis using a "two-metal-ion mechanism." Yet, analyses of flap endonuclease (FEN) family members, which occur in all domains of life and act in DNA replication and repair, exemplify controversies regarding the classical two-metal-ion mechanism for phosphate diester hydrolysis. Whereas substrate-free structures of FENs identify two active site metal ions, their typical separation of > 4 A appears incompatible with this mechanism. To clarify the roles played by FEN metal ions, we report here a detailed evaluation of the magnesium ion response of T5FEN. Kinetic investigations reveal that overall the T5FEN-catalyzed reaction requires at least three magnesium ions, implying that an additional metal ion is bound. The presence of at least two ions bound with differing affinity is required to catalyze phosphate diester hydrolysis. Analysis of the inhibition of reactions by calcium ions is consistent with a requirement for two viable cofactors (Mg2+ or Mn2+). The apparent substrate association constant is maximized by binding two magnesium ions. This may reflect a metal-dependent unpairing of duplex substrate required to position the scissile phosphate in contact with metal ion(s). The combined results suggest that T5FEN primarily uses a two-metal-ion mechanism for chemical catalysis, but that its overall metallobiochemistry is more complex and requires three ions.

Crystal structure of bacteriophage T4 5' nuclease in complex with a branched DNA reveals how flap endonuclease-1 family nucleases bind their substrates

Bacteriophage T4 RNase H, a flap endonuclease-1 family nuclease, removes RNA primers from lagging strand fragments. It has both 5' nuclease and flap endonuclease activities. Our previous structure of native T4 RNase H (PDB code 1TFR) revealed an active site composed of highly conserved Asp residues and two bound hydrated magnesium ions. Here, we report the crystal structure of T4 RNase H in complex with a fork DNA substrate bound in its active site. This is the first structure of a flap endonuclease-1 family protein with its complete branched substrate. The fork duplex interacts with an extended loop of the helix-hairpin-helix motif class 2. The 5' arm crosses over the active site, extending below the bridge (helical arch) region. Cleavage assays of this DNA substrate identify a primary cut site 7-bases in from the 5' arm. The scissile phosphate, the first bond in the duplex DNA adjacent to the 5' arm, lies above a magnesium binding site. The less ordered 3' arm reaches toward the C and N termini of the enzyme, which are binding sites for T4 32 protein and T4 45 clamp, respectively. In the crystal structure, the scissile bond is located within the double-stranded DNA, between the first two duplex nucleotides next to the 5' arm, and lies above a magnesium binding site. This complex provides important insight into substrate recognition and specificity of the flap endonuclease-1 enzymes.

Comparison of the catalytic parameters and reaction specificities of a phage and an archaeal flap endonuclease

Flap endonucleases (FENs) catalyse the exonucleolytic hydrolysis of blunt-ended duplex DNA substrates and the endonucleolytic cleavage of 5'-bifurcated nucleic acids at the junction formed between single and double-stranded DNA. The specificity and catalytic parameters of FENs derived from T5 bacteriophage and Archaeoglobus fulgidus were studied with a range of single oligonucleotide DNA substrates. These substrates contained one or more hairpin turns and mimic duplex, 5'-overhanging duplex, pseudo-Y, nicked DNA, and flap structures. The FEN-catalysed reaction properties of nicked DNA and flap structures possessing an extrahelical 3'-nucleotide (nt) were also characterised. The phage enzyme produced multiple reaction products of differing length with all the substrates tested, except when the length of duplex DNA downstream of the reaction site was truncated. Only larger DNAs containing two duplex regions are effective substrates for the archaeal enzyme and undergo reaction at multiple sites when they lack a 3'-extrahelical nucleotide. However, a single product corresponding to reaction 1 nt into the double-stranded region occurred with A. fulgidus FEN when substrates possessed a 3'-extrahelical nt. Steady-state and pre-steady-state catalytic parameters reveal that the phage enzyme is rate-limited by product release with all the substrates tested. Single-turnover maximal rates of reaction are similar with most substrates. In contrast, turnover numbers for T5FEN decrease as the size of the DNA substrate is increased. Comparison of the catalytic parameters of the A. fulgidus FEN employing flap and double-flap substrates indicates that binding interactions with the 3'-extrahelical nucleotide stabilise the ground state FEN-DNA interaction, leading to stimulation of comparative reactions at DNA concentrations below saturation with the single flap substrate. Maximal multiple turnover rates of the archaeal enzyme with flap and double flap substrates are similar. A model is proposed to account for the varying specificities of the two enzymes with regard to cleavage patterns and substrate preferences.

Multiple but dissectible functions of FEN-1 nucleases in nucleic acid processing, genome stability and diseases

Flap EndoNuclease-1 (FEN-1) is a multifunctional and structure-specific nuclease involved in nucleic acid processing pathways. It plays a critical role in maintaining human genome stability through RNA primer removal, long-patch base excision repair and resolution of dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat secondary structures. In addition to its flap endonuclease (FEN) and nick exonuclease (EXO) activities, a new gap endonuclease (GEN) activity has been characterized. This activity may be important in apoptotic DNA fragmentation and in resolving stalled DNA replication forks. The multiple functions of FEN-1 are regulated via several means, including formation of complexes with different protein partners, nuclear localization in response to cell cycle or DNA damage and post-translational modifications. Its functional deficiency is predicted to cause genetic diseases, including Huntington's disease, myotonic dystrophy and cancers. This review summarizes the knowledge gained through efforts in the past decade to define its structural elements for specific activities and possible pathological consequences of altered functions of this multirole player.

A survey of the year 2002 commercial optical biosensor literature

We have compiled 819 articles published in the year 2002 that involved commercial optical biosensor technology. The literature demonstrates that the technology's application continues to increase as biosensors are contributing to diverse scientific fields and are used to examine interactions ranging in size from small molecules to whole cells. Also, the variety of available commercial biosensor platforms is increasing and the expertise of users is improving. In this review, we use the literature to focus on the basic types of biosensor experiments, including kinetics, equilibrium analysis, solution competition, active concentration determination and screening. In addition, using examples of particularly well-performed analyses, we illustrate the high information content available in the primary response data and emphasize the impact of including figures in publications to support the results of biosensor analyses.

Expression of flap endonuclease-1 during meiosis in a basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus

In the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus (C. cinereus), which shows a highly synchronous meiotic cell cycle, the meiotic prophase I cells demonstrate flap endonuclease-1 activity. To investigate its role during meiosis, we isolated a C. cinereus cDNA homolog of flap endonuclease-1 (CcFEN-1), 1377bp in length with the open reading frame (ORF) encoding a predicted molecular mass of 51 kDa. At amino-acid residues Glu276-Pro345, a specific inserted sequence composed of 70 amino acids rich in polar forms was found to exist, without sequence identity to other eukaryotic FEN-1 or the polar amino acid rich sequences found in C. cinereus PCNA and C. cinereus DNA ligase IV, although the lengths and percentages of polar amino acids were similar. Northern hybridization analysis indicated CcFEN-1 to be expressed not only in the pre-meiotic S phase but also in meiotic prophase I. The roles of CcFEN-1 during meiosis are discussed.

Roles of divalent metal ions in flap endonuclease-substrate interactions

Flap endonucleases (FENs) have essential roles in DNA processing. They catalyze exonucleolytic and structure-specific endonucleolytic DNA cleavage reactions. Divalent metal ions are essential cofactors in both reactions. The crystal structure of FEN shows that the protein has two conserved metal-binding sites. Mutations in site I caused complete loss of catalytic activity. Mutation of crucial aspartates in site II abolished exonuclease action, but caused enzymes to retain structure-specific (flap endonuclease) activity. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that site I has a 30-fold higher affinity for cofactor than site II. Structure-specific endonuclease activity requires binding of a single metal ion in the high-affinity site, whereas exonuclease activity requires that both the high- and low-affinity sites be occupied by divalent cofactor. The data suggest that a novel two-metal mechanism operates in the FEN-catalyzed exonucleolytic reaction. These results raise the possibility that local concentrations of free cofactor could influence the endo- or exonucleolytic pathway in vivo.

Interaction interface of human flap endonuclease-1 with its DNA substrates

Flap endonuclease-1 or FEN-1 is a structure-specific and multifunctional nuclease critical for DNA replication, repair, and recombination; however, its interaction with DNA substrates has not been fully understood. In the current study, we have defined the borders of the interaction between the FEN-1 protein and its DNA substrates and identified six clusters of conserved positively charged amino acid residues, which are in direct contact with DNA substrate. To map further the corresponding interactions between FEN-1 residues and DNA substrates, we performed biochemical assays employing a series of flap DNA substrates lacking some structural components and a series of binding-deficient point mutants of FEN-1. It was revealed that Arg(47), Arg(70), and Lys(326)-Arg(327) of FEN-1 interact with the upstream duplex of DNA substrates, whereas Lys(244)-Arg(245) interact with the downstream duplex. This result indicates the orientation of the FEN-1-DNA interaction. Moreover, Arg(70) and Arg(47) were determined to interact with the sites around the 2nd nucleotide (Arg(70)) or the 5th/6th nucleotide (Arg(47)) of the template strand in the upstream duplex portion counting from the nick point of the flap substrate. Together with previously published data and the crystallographic ainformation from the FEN-1.DNA complex that we published recently (Chapados, B. R., Hosfield, D. J., Han, S., Qiu, J., Yelent, B., Shen, B., Tainer, J. A. (2004) Cell 116, 39-50) we are able to propose a reasonable model for how the human FEN-1 protein interacts with its DNA substrates.

Structural basis for FEN-1 substrate specificity and PCNA-mediated activation in DNA replication and repair

Flap EndoNuclease-1 (FEN-1) and the processivity factor proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) are central to DNA replication and repair. To clarify the molecular basis of FEN-1 specificity and PCNA activation, we report here structures of FEN-1:DNA and PCNA:FEN-1-peptide complexes, along with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and mutational results. FEN-1 binds the unpaired 3' DNA end (3' flap), opens and kinks the DNA, and promotes conformational closing of a flexible helical clamp to facilitate 5' cleavage specificity. Ordering of unstructured C-terminal regions in FEN-1 and PCNA creates an intermolecular beta sheet interface that directly links adjacent PCNA and DNA binding regions of FEN-1 and suggests how PCNA stimulates FEN-1 activity. The DNA and protein conformational changes, composite complex structures, FRET, and mutational results support enzyme-PCNA alignments and a kinked DNA pivot point that appear suitable to coordinate rotary handoffs of kinked DNA intermediates among enzymes localized by the three PCNA binding sites.

Archeal DNA replication: eukaryal proteins in a bacterial context

Genome sequences of a number of archaea have revealed an apparent paradox in the phylogenies of the bacteria, archaea, and eukarya, as well as an intriguing set of problems to be resolved in the study of DNA replication. The archaea, long thought to be bacteria, are not only different enough to merit their own domain but also appear to be an interesting mosaic of bacterial, eukaryal, and unique features. Most archaeal proteins participating in DNA replication are more similar in sequence to those found in eukarya than to analogous replication proteins in bacteria. However, archaea have only a subset of the eukaryal replication machinery, apparently needing fewer polypeptides and structurally simpler complexes. The archaeal replication apparatus also contains features not found in other organisms owing, in part, to the broad range of environmental conditions, some extreme, in which members of this domain thrive. In this review the current knowledge of the mechanisms governing DNA replication in archaea is summarized and the similarities and differences of those of bacteria and eukarya are highlighted.

Aromatic residues located close to the active center are essential for the catalytic reaction of flap endonuclease-1 from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii

Flap endonuclease-1 (FEN-1) possessing 5'-flap endonuclease and 5'-->3' exonuclease activity plays important roles in DNA replication and repair. In this study, the kinetic parameters of mutants at highly conserved aromatic residues, Tyr33, Phe35, Phe79, and Phe278-Phe279, in the vicinity of the catalytic centers of FEN-1 were examined. The substitution of these aromatic residues with alanine led to a large reduction in kcat values, although these mutants retained Km values similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. Notably, the kcat of Y33A and F79A decreased 333-fold and 71-fold, respectively, compared with that of the wild-type enzyme. The aromatic residues Tyr33 and Phe79, and the aromatic cluster Phe278-Phe279 mainly contributed to the recognition of the substrates without the 3' projection of the upstream strand (the nick, 5'-recess-end, single-flap, and pseudo-Y substrates) for the both exo- and endo-activities, but played minor roles in recognizing the substrates with the 3' projection (the double flap substrate and the nick substrate with the 3' projection). The replacement of Tyr33, Phe79, and Phe278-Phe279, with non-charged aromatic residues, but not with aliphatic hydrophobic residues, recovered the kcat values almost fully for the substrates without the 3' projection of the upstream strand, suggesting that the aromatic groups of Tyr33, Phe79, and Phe278-Phe279 might be involved in the catalytic reaction, probably via multiple stacking interactions with nucleotide bases. The stacking interactions of Tyr33 and Phe79 might play important roles in fixing the template strand and the downstream strand, respectively, in close proximity to the active center to achieve the productive transient state leading to the hydrolysis.

Modeling of flap endonuclease interactions with DNA substrate

Structure-specific 5' nucleases play an important role in DNA replication and repair uniquely recognizing an overlap flap DNA substrate and processing it into a DNA nick. However, in the absence of a high-resolution structure of the enzyme/DNA complex, the mechanism underlying this recognition and substrate specificity, which is key to the enzyme's function, remains unclear. Here, we propose a three-dimensional model of the structure-specific 5' flap endonuclease from Pyrococcus furiosus in its complex with DNA. The model is based on the known X-ray structure of the enzyme and a variety of biochemical and molecular dynamics (MD) data utilized in the form of distance restraints between the enzyme and the DNA. Contacts between the 5' flap endonuclease and the sugar-phosphate backbone of the overlap flap substrate were identified using enzyme activity assays on substrates with methylphosphonate or 2'-O-methyl substitutions. The enzyme footprint extends two to four base-pairs upstream and eight to nine base-pairs downstream of the cleavage site, thus covering 10-13 base-pairs of duplex DNA. The footprint data are consistent with a model in which the substrate is bound in the DNA-binding groove such that the downstream duplex interacts with the helix-hairpin-helix motif of the enzyme. MD simulations to identify the substrate orientation in this model are consistent with the results of the enzyme activity assays on the methylphosphonate and 2'-O-methyl-modified substrates. To further refine the model, 5' flap endonuclease variants with alanine point substitutions at amino acid residues expected to contact phosphates in the substrate and one deletion mutant were tested in enzyme activity assays on the methylphosphonate-modified substrates. Changes in the enzyme footprint observed for two point mutants, R64A and R94A, and for the deletion mutant in the enzyme's beta(A)/beta(B) region, were interpreted as being the result of specific interactions in the enzyme/DNA complex and were used as distance restraints in MD simulations. The final structure suggests that the substrate's 5' flap interacts with the enzyme's helical arch and that the helix-hairpin-helix motif interacts with the template strand in the downstream duplex eight base-pairs from the cleavage site. This model suggests specific interactions between the 3' end of the upstream oligonucleotide and the enzyme. The proposed structure presents the first detailed description of substrate recognition by structure-specific 5' nucleases.

Dynamic evidence for metal ion catalysis in the reaction mediated by a flap endonuclease

On the basis of structural work, metal ions are proposed to play a catalytic role in reactions mediated by many phosphoryl transfer enzymes. To gain dynamic support for such mechanisms, the role of metal ion cofactors in phosphate diester hydrolysis catalysed by a flap endonuclease has been studied. The pH maximal rate profiles were measured in the presence of various metal ion cofactors; in each case, a single ionic form of the enzyme/cofactor accounts for the pH dependence. The kinetic pK(a)s display good correlation with the acidity of the corresponding hexahydrated metal ions, which strongly suggests a role for metal-bound hydroxide, or its equivalent ionic species, in the reaction. Comparing rates of reaction in the pH-independent regions, a small negative beta(nuc) value is observed. This suggests that expected trends in the nucleophilicity of the various metal-bound hydroxides are balanced by a second form of metal ion catalysis that is related to the acidity of the hexahydrated metal ion. This is likely to be either electrophilic catalysis or leaving group activation.