Expression of the inactive C145A mutant human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase in E.coli increases cell killing and mutations by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

The Versatile Attributes of MGMT: Its Repair Mechanism, Crosstalk with Other DNA Repair Pathways, and Its Role in Cancer

O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT or AGT) is a DNA repair protein with the capability to remove alkyl groups from O6-AlkylG adducts. Moreover, MGMT plays a crucial role in repairing DNA damage induced by methylating agents like temozolomide and chloroethylating agents such as carmustine, and thereby contributes to chemotherapeutic resistance when these agents are used. This review delves into the structural roles and repair mechanisms of MGMT, with emphasis on the potential structural and functional roles of the N-terminal domain of MGMT. It also explores the development of cancer therapeutic strategies that target MGMT. Finally, it discusses the intriguing crosstalk between MGMT and other DNA repair pathways.

The DNA Alkyltransferase Family of DNA Repair Proteins: Common Mechanisms, Diverse Functions

DNA alkyltransferase and alkyltransferase-like family proteins are responsible for the repair of highly mutagenic and cytotoxic O6-alkylguanine and O4-alkylthymine bases in DNA. Their mechanism involves binding to the damaged DNA and flipping the base out of the DNA helix into the active site pocket in the protein. Alkyltransferases then directly and irreversibly transfer the alkyl group from the base to the active site cysteine residue. In contrast, alkyltransferase-like proteins recruit nucleotide excision repair components for O6-alkylguanine elimination. One or more of these proteins are found in all kingdoms of life, and where this has been determined, their overall DNA repair mechanism is strictly conserved between organisms. Nevertheless, between species, subtle as well as more extensive differences that affect target lesion preferences and/or introduce additional protein functions have evolved. Examining these differences and their functional consequences is intricately entwined with understanding the details of their DNA repair mechanism(s) and their biological roles. In this review, we will present and discuss various aspects of the current status of knowledge on this intriguing protein family.

Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions at the DNA Terminus Promote Extension from Methylguanine Lesions by Human Extender DNA Polymerase ζ

Chemically induced DNA lesions can become DNA replication substrates that are bypassed by low-fidelity DNA polymerases. Following nucleotide misinsertion opposite a DNA lesion, the extension step can contribute to preserving such errors and lead to genomic instability and cancer. DNA polymerase ζ, a B-family polymerase, is proficient as an extender polymerase that catalyzes elongation; however, the chemical factors that impact its DNA replication are not understood. This study addresses the question of how DNA polymerase ζ achieves extension by examining the ability of recombinant human DNA polymerase ζ to extend from a series of methylated guanine lesions. The influence of H-bonding was examined by placing structurally altered nucleoside analogues and canonical bases opposite G, O⁶-MeG, N¹-MeG, and N²-MeG. We determined that terminal base pairs with the highest proclivity for H-bonding were most efficiently extended in both primer extension assays and steady-state kinetic analysis. In contrast, when no H-bonding was possible at the DNA terminus, the least efficient steady-state kinetics were observed. To evaluate H-bonding protein minor groove interactions that may underlie this phenomenon, we performed computational modeling with Escherichia coli DNA polymerase II, a homologue for DNA polymerase ζ. The modeling data together with the primer extension assays demonstrate the importance of having a carbonyl group on the primer strand that can interact with a lysine residue found to be conserved in many B-family polymerases, including human Pol ζ. These data provide a model whereby interbase H-bonding interactions at the DNA terminus promote lesion bypass and extension by human DNA polymerase ζ.

Preventive Efficacy of Vanillic Acid on Regulation of Redox Homeostasis, Matrix Metalloproteinases and Cyclin D1 in Rats Bearing Endometrial Carcinoma

Endometrial carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the female genital tract. This study has been performed to evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of vanillic acid (a bio flavonoid) on endometrial carcinoma (EC) by assessing the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), cytochrome P450, antioxidants-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxides (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamins C and E, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and 9) and cell cycle check point protein (cyclin D1) in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induced carcinogenic rats. EC provoked by intravaginal detention of MNNG (150 mg/kg b.w. for 90 days), lead to enhancement of the levels of TBARS, LOOH, cytochrome P450, and decrement in the levels of antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, vitamins C and E) and upregulated expression of MMP-2 and 9 and cyclin D1 (by western blot analysis). The treatment of vanillic acid (100 mg/kg b.w.) to MNNG treated rats (1) normalized the histopathological alterations, (2) reduced the levels of TBARS, LOOH and cytochrome P450 (3) increased the levels of antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, vitamins C and E) in plasma and uterus and (4) down regulated the expression of MMP-2, 9 and cyclin D1. The effect of vanillic acid is more predominant in pre-treatment group than co-treated rats. Our results designate that vanillic acid inhibits the EC by elevating antioxidants and by regulating the levels of metalloproteinase and cell cycle check point protein.

Genetic Association Between Angiotensinogen Polymorphisms and Lung Cancer Risk

Earlier published studies investigating the association between polymorphisms in the angiotensinogen gene and lung cancer risk showed no consistent results. In this study, we have summarized all currently available data to examine the correlation by meta-analysis. Case-control studies addressing the association being examined were identified through Embase, the Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science (Web of Knowledge), Google Scholar, PubMed, and CNKI databases. Risk of lung cancer (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) was estimated with the fixed or the random effects model assuming homozygous, allele, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive models for all angiotensinogen polymorphisms. We identified a total of 10 articles in this meta-analysis, including 7 for Leu84Phe, 4 for Ile143Val, and 3 for Leu53Leu. In the meta-analysis of Leu84Phe polymorphism, the homozygous model provided an OR of 1.44 (Phe/Phe vs Ile/Ile: OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.04-1.99, P values for heterogeneity test (Q-test) [P(Het)] = 0.382). The significantly increased risk was similarly indicated in the recessive model (Phe/Phe vs Phe/Ile + Ile/Ile: OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.02-1.95, P(Het) = 0.381). We also observed a positive association in the Caucasian subgroup. The heterozygous model and the dominant model tested for the Ile143Val polymorphism showed a marginally increased risk (Ile/Val vs Ile/Ile: OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.00-1.36, P(Het) = 0.323; Val/Val + Ile/Val vs Ile/Ile: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.99-1.34, P(Het) = 0.253). These data suggest that Leu84Phe and Ile143Val polymorphisms in the angiotensinogen gene may be useful biomarkers for lung cancer in some specific populations.

Atomic Insight into the Altered O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase Protein Architecture in Gastric Cancer

O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is one of the major DNA repair protein that counteracts the alkalyting agent-induced DNA damage by replacing O⁶-methylguanine (mutagenic lesion) back to guanine, eventually suppressing the mismatch errors and double strand crosslinks. Exonic alterations in the form of nucleotide polymorphism may result in altered protein structure that in turn can lead to the loss of function. In the present study, we focused on the population feared for high exposure to alkylating agents owing to their typical and specialized dietary habits. To this end, gastric cancer patients pooled out from the population were selected for the mutational screening of a specific error prone region of MGMT gene. We found that nearly 40% of the studied neoplastic samples harbored missense mutation at codon¹⁵¹ resulting into Serine to Isoleucine variation. This variation resulted in bringing about the structural disorder, subsequently ensuing into a major stoichiometric variance in recognition domain, substrate binding and selectivity loop of the active site of the MGMT protein, as observed under virtual microscope of molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). The atomic insight into MGMT protein by computational approach showed a significant change in the intra molecular hydrogen bond pattern, thus leading to the observed structural anomalies. To further examine the mutational implications on regulatory plugs of MGMT that holds the protein in a DNA-Binding position, a MDS based analysis was carried out on, all known physically interacting amino acids essentially clustered into groups based on their position and function. The results generated by physical-functional clustering of protein indicated that the identified mutation in the vicinity of the active site of MGMT protein causes the local and global destabilization of a protein by either eliminating the stabilizing salt bridges in cluster C3, C4, and C5 or by locally destabilizing the “protein stabilizing hing” mapped on C3-C4 cluster, preceding the active site.

Role of aldehydes in the toxic and mutagenic effects of nitrosamines

α-Hydroxynitrosamine metabolites of nitrosamines decompose to a reactive diazohydroxide and an aldehyde. To test the hypothesis that the aldehydes contribute to the harmful effects of nitrosamines, the toxic and mutagenic activities of three model methylating agents were compared in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing or not expressing human O⁶-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT). N-Nitrosomethylurethane (NMUr), acetoxymethylmethylnitrosamine (AMMN), and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-4-acetoxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK-4-OAc) are all activated by ester hydrolysis to methanediazohydroxide. NMUr does not form an aldehyde, whereas AMMN generates formaldehyde, and NNK-4-OAc produces 4-oxo-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (OPB). Since these compounds were likely to alkylate DNA to different extents, the toxic and mutagenic activities of these compounds were normalized to the levels of the most cytotoxic and mutagenic DNA adduct, O⁶-mG, to assess if the aldehydes contributed to the toxicological properties of these methylating agents. Levels of 7-mG indicated that the differences in cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of these compounds resulted from differences in their ability to methylate DNA. When normalized against the levels of O⁶-mG, there was no difference between these three compounds in cells that lacked AGT. However, AMMN and NNK-4-OAc were more toxic than NMUr in cells expressing AGT when normalized against O⁶-mG levels. In addition, AMMN was more mutagenic than NNK-4-OAc and MNUr in these cells. These findings demonstrate that the aldehyde decomposition products of nitrosamines can contribute to the cytotoxic and/or mutagenic activity of methylating nitrosamines.

Human O6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase containing C145A does not prevent hepatocellular carcinoma in C3HeB/FeJ transgenic mice

The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was diminished from 60% to 18% at 15 months of age in C3HeB/FeJ male transgenic mice expressing hMGMT in our previous studies. To directly test if the methyltransferase activity is required for diminished tumor prevalence, two separate lines of transgenic mice bearing an enzymatically inactive form of hMGMT were used. In these lines, cysteine 145 was substituted with alanine (C145A). Expression of the hMGMT C145A transgene in liver was demonstrated by Northern blots and Western blots. Immunohistochemistry revealed predominantly nuclear localization of the hMGMT C145A protein. hMGMT C145A transgenic mice were crossed with lacI transgenic mice to assess mutant frequencies in the presence of the mutant protein. Mutant frequencies were similar among livers of lacI × hMGMT C145A bi-transgenic mice and lacI × wild-type (WT) mice. DNA sequence analysis of recovered lacI mutants revealed similar mutation spectra for hMGMT C145A and WT mice. The prevalence of HCC was also similar for the two tested lines of hMGMT C145A mice, 45% and 48% prevalence with median tumor sizes of 11 and 8 mm, and WT mice, 40% prevalence and median tumor size of 10 mm. These results provide evidence that residue C145 in hMGMT is required to reduce the prevalence of HCC in C3HeB/FeJ mice transgenic for hMGMT.

Multifaceted roles of alkyltransferase and related proteins in DNA repair, DNA damage, resistance to chemotherapy, and research tools

O(6)-Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) is a widely distributed, unique DNA repair protein that acts as a single agent to directly remove alkyl groups located on the O(6)-position of guanine from DNA restoring the DNA in one step. The protein acts only once, and its alkylated form is degraded rapidly. It is a major factor in counteracting the mutagenic, carcinogenic, and cytotoxic effects of agents that form such adducts including N-nitroso-compounds and a number of cancer chemotherapeutics. This review describes the structure, function, and mechanism of action of AGTs and of a family of related alkyltransferase-like proteins, which do not act alone to repair O(6)-alkylguanines in DNA but link repair to other pathways. The paradoxical ability of AGTs to stimulate the DNA-damaging ability of dihaloalkanes and other bis-electrophiles via the formation of AGT-DNA cross-links is also described. Other important properties of AGTs include the ability to provide resistance to cancer therapeutic alkylating agents, and the availability of AGT inhibitors such as O(6)-benzylguanine that might overcome this resistance is discussed. Finally, the properties of fusion proteins in which AGT sequences are linked to other proteins are outlined. Such proteins occur naturally, and synthetic variants engineered to react specifically with derivatives of O(6)-benzylguanine are the basis of a valuable research technique for tagging proteins with specific reagents.

Alkyltransferase-like proteins: molecular switches between DNA repair pathways

Alkyltransferase-like proteins (ATLs) play a role in the protection of cells from the biological effects of DNA alkylation damage. Although ATLs share functional motifs with the DNA repair protein and cancer chemotherapy target O⁶-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase, they lack the reactive cysteine residue required for alkyltransferase activity, so its mechanism for cell protection was previously unknown. Here we review recent advances in unraveling the enigmatic cellular protection provided by ATLs against the deleterious effects of DNA alkylation damage. We discuss exciting new evidence that ATLs aid in the repair of DNA O⁶-alkylguanine lesions through a novel repair cross-talk between DNA-alkylation base damage responses and the DNA nucleotide excision repair pathway.

Flipping of alkylated DNA damage bridges base and nucleotide excision repair

Alkyltransferase-like proteins (ATLs) share functional motifs with the cancer chemotherapy target O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) and paradoxically protect cells from the biological effects of DNA alkylation damage, despite lacking the reactive cysteine and alkyltransferase activity of AGT. Here we determine Schizosaccharomyces pombe ATL structures without and with damaged DNA containing the endogenous lesion O(6)-methylguanine or cigarette-smoke-derived O(6)-4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutylguanine. These results reveal non-enzymatic DNA nucleotide flipping plus increased DNA distortion and binding pocket size compared to AGT. Our analysis of lesion-binding site conservation identifies new ATLs in sea anemone and ancestral archaea, indicating that ATL interactions are ancestral to present-day repair pathways in all domains of life. Genetic connections to mammalian XPG (also known as ERCC5) and ERCC1 in S. pombe homologues Rad13 and Swi10 and biochemical interactions with Escherichia coli UvrA and UvrC combined with structural results reveal that ATLs sculpt alkylated DNA to create a genetic and structural intersection of base damage processing with nucleotide excision repair.

Alkyltransferase-mediated toxicity of 1,3-butadiene diepoxide

Human O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) expression increases mutations and cytotoxicity following exposure to 1,3-butadiene diepoxide (BDO), and hAGT-DNA cross-links are formed in the presence of BDO. We have used hAGT mutants to investigate the mechanism of cross-link formation and genotoxicity. Formation of a hAGT-DNA conjugate in vitro was observed with C145S and C145A mutant proteins but was considerably diminished with the C145A/C150S double mutant confirming that cross-linking primarily involves either of these two cysteine residues, which are located in the active site pocket of the protein. Cross-link formation by BDO occurred both via (a) an initial reaction of BDO with hAGT followed by attack of the reactive hAGT complex on DNA, and (b) the initial reaction of BDO with DNA followed by a reaction between hAGT and the DNA adduct. These results differ from those with 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) where Cys(145) is the only site of attachment and pathway (b) does not occur. The complex formed between hAGT at Cys(145) and BDO was very unstable in aqueous solution. However, the BDO-hAGT complex at Cys(150) exhibited stability for more than 1 h. The effect of hAGT and mutants on BDO-induced genotoxicity was studied in E. coli using the forward assay to rifampicin resistance. Both mutations and cell killing were greatly increased by wild type hAGT, and there was a smaller but significant effect with the C145A mutant. The R128A mutant and R128A/C145A and C145A/C150S double mutants were ineffective, supporting the hypothesis that the formation of hAGT-DNA cross-links is responsible for the enhanced genotoxicity detected in this biological system. In the absence of hAGT, there were equal proportions of G:C to A:T transitions, G:C to T:A transversions, and A:T to T:A transversions. Wild type hAGT expression yielded significantly greater G:C to A:T and A:T to G:C transitions, whereas C145A mutant expression resulted in more transitions and transversions at A:T base-pairs.

An O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase-like protein from Thermus thermophilus interacts with a nucleotide excision repair protein

The major damage to DNA caused by alkylating agents involves the formation of O6-methylguanine (O6-meG). Almost all species possess O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (Ogt) to repair such damage. Ogt repairs O6-meG lesions in DNA by stoichiometric transfer of the methyl group to a cysteine residue in its active site (PCHR). Thermus thermophilus HB8 has an Ogt homologue, TTHA1564, but in this case an alanine residue replaces cysteine in the putative active site. To reveal the possible function of TTHA1564 in processing O6-meG-containing DNA, we characterized the biochemical properties of TTHA1564. No methyltransferase activity for synthetic O6-meG-containing DNA could be detected, indicating TTHA1564 is an alkyltransferase-like protein. Nevertheless, gel shift assays showed that TTHA1564 can bind to DNA containing O6-meG with higher affinity (9-fold) than normal (unmethylated) DNA. Experiments using a fluorescent oligonucleotide suggested that TTHA1564 recognizes O6-meG in DNA using the same mechanism as other Ogts. We then investigated whether TTHA1564 functions as a damage sensor. Pull-down assays identified 20 proteins, including a nucleotide excision repair protein UvrA, which interacts with TTHA1564. Interaction of TTHA1564 with UvrA was confirmed using a surface plasmon resonance assay. These results suggest the possible involvement of TTHA1564 in DNA repair pathways.

DNA binding, nucleotide flipping, and the helix-turn-helix motif in base repair by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase and its implications for cancer chemotherapy

O(6)-Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) is a crucial target both for the prevention of cancer and for chemotherapy, since it repairs mutagenic lesions in DNA, and it limits the effectiveness of alkylating chemotherapies. AGT catalyzes the unique, single-step, direct damage reversal repair of O(6)-alkylguanines by selectively transferring the O(6)-alkyl adduct to an internal cysteine residue. Recent crystal structures of human AGT alone and in complex with substrate DNA reveal a two-domain alpha/beta fold and a bound zinc ion. AGT uses its helix-turn-helix motif to bind substrate DNA via the minor groove. The alkylated guanine is then flipped out from the base stack into the AGT active site for repair by covalent transfer of the alkyl adduct to Cys145. An asparagine hinge (Asn137) couples the helix-turn-helix DNA binding and active site motifs. An arginine finger (Arg128) stabilizes the extrahelical DNA conformation. With this newly improved structural understanding of AGT and its interactions with biologically relevant substrates, we can now begin to unravel the role it plays in preserving genetic integrity and discover how it promotes resistance to anticancer therapies.

DNA repair gene polymorphisms and risk of second primary neoplasms and mortality in oral cancer patients

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

We tested the hypothesis that polymorphisms in genes involved in DNA repair pathways are associated with the development of second primary neoplasms of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT), as well as mortality, in patients previously diagnosed with oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC).

METHODS

DNA specimens from 279 OSCC patients who had participated in two previous population-based case-control studies were assayed for the following polymorphisms: X-ray repair cross-complementing (XRCC) 1 Arg399Gln, XRCC3 Thr241Met, xeroderma pigmentosum complementing group D (XPD) Lys751Gln, and O-methylguanine- DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) Leu84Phe and Val143Ile. Baseline demographic information was obtained from personal interviews and tumor characteristics and treatment were obtained from cancer registry files. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazards ratio (HR) estimates for each polymorphism in relation to the risk of developing second primary neoplasms at any site, UADT, and head and neck. HRs were also determined for associations with all-cause mortality and oral cancer specific mortality.

RESULTS

A significant increased risk of second neoplasms (all sites combined, as well as for UADT sites and for head and neck squamous cell cancers) was observed among XRCC3 241Met allele homozygotes (HR 2.65-3.44, P < .02). No significant association with the development of second neoplasms was observed for the XRCC1 399Gln, XPD 751Gln, or MGMT 84Phe or 143Ile alleles. Although no associations with oral cancer-specific mortality were observed, we found a significant inverse association between all-cause mortality and possessing at least one copy of the XRCC1 399Gln allele (HR 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.97, P = .03), as well as a suggestion of a direct association between all-cause mortality and having one copy of the XRCC3 241Met allele (HR 1.39, 95% CI 0.95-2.03, P = .09).

CONCLUSIONS

Polymorphisms in the DNA repair enzyme gene XRCC3 241Met was associated with an increased risk of second neoplasms, and polymorphisms of the XRCC1 399Gln gene were associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with primary OSCC. These findings require confirmation in other populations before the clinical implications can be considered.

Inhibition of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase by an alkyltransferase-like protein from Escherichia coli

The alkyltransferase-like (ATL) proteins contain primary sequence motifs resembling those found in DNA repair O⁶-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase proteins. However, in the putative active site of ATL proteins, a tryptophan (W⁸³) residue replaces the cysteine at the known active site of alkyltransferases. The Escherichia coli atl gene was expressed as a fusion protein and purified. Neither ATL nor C⁸³ or A⁸³ mutants transferred [³H] from [³H]-methylated DNA to themselves, and the levels of O⁶-methyl guanine (O⁶-meG) in substrate DNA were not affected by ATL. However, ATL inhibited the transfer of methyl groups to human alkyltransferase (MGMT). Inhibition was reduced by prolonged incubation in the presence of MGMT, again suggesting that O⁶-meG in the substrate is not changed by ATL. Gel-shift assays show that ATL binds to short single- or double-stranded oligonucleotides containing O⁶-meG, but not to oligonucleotides containing 8-oxoguanine, ethenoadenine, 5-hydroxycytosine or O⁴-methylthymine. There was no evidence of demethylation of O⁶-meG or of glycosylase or endonuclease activity. Overexpression of ATL in E.coli increased, or did not affect, the toxicity of N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in an alklyltransferase-proficient and -deficient strain, respectively. These results suggest that ATL may act as a damage sensor that flags O⁶-meG and possibly other O⁶-alkylation lesions for processing by other repair pathways.

Alkylation damage in DNA and RNA--repair mechanisms and medical significance

Alkylation lesions in DNA and RNA result from endogenous compounds, environmental agents and alkylating drugs. Simple methylating agents, e.g. methylnitrosourea, tobacco-specific nitrosamines and drugs like temozolomide or streptozotocin, form adducts at N- and O-atoms in DNA bases. These lesions are mainly repaired by direct base repair, base excision repair, and to some extent by nucleotide excision repair (NER). The identified carcinogenicity of O(6)-methylguanine (O(6)-meG) is largely caused by its miscoding properties. Mutations from this lesion are prevented by O(6)-alkylG-DNA alkyltransferase (MGMT or AGT) that repairs the base in one step. However, the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of O(6)-meG is mainly due to recognition of O(6)-meG/T (or C) mispairs by the mismatch repair system (MMR) and induction of futile repair cycles, eventually resulting in cytotoxic double-strand breaks. Therefore, inactivation of the MMR system in an AGT-defective background causes resistance to the killing effects of O(6)-alkylating agents, but not to the mutagenic effect. Bifunctional alkylating agents, such as chlorambucil or carmustine (BCNU), are commonly used anti-cancer drugs. DNA lesions caused by these agents are complex and require complex repair mechanisms. Thus, primary chloroethyl adducts at O(6)-G are repaired by AGT, while the secondary highly cytotoxic interstrand cross-links (ICLs) require nucleotide excision repair factors (e.g. XPF-ERCC1) for incision and homologous recombination to complete repair. Recently, Escherichia coli protein AlkB and human homologues were shown to be oxidative demethylases that repair cytotoxic 1-methyladenine (1-meA) and 3-methylcytosine (3-meC) residues. Numerous AlkB homologues are found in viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes, including eight human homologues (hABH1-8). These have distinct locations in subcellular compartments and their functions are only starting to become understood. Surprisingly, AlkB and hABH3 also repair RNA. An evaluation of the biological effects of environmental mutagens, as well as understanding the mechanism of action and resistance to alkylating drugs require a detailed understanding of DNA repair processes.

Induction of apoptosis and G2/M arrest by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in human prostate carcinoma cells

We have investigated the effects of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), a well known DNA alkylating agent, on the growth and cell cycle progression in human prostate carcinoma PC-3 and DU145 cells, which are lacking both p53 alleles and having mutated p53, respectively. It was found that MNNG could inhibit the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with dendrite-like morphological change and induction of apoptotic cell death. Flow cytometry showed that MNNG could cause an arrest at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, which is closely correlated to inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 2 and Cdc2 kinase activities. Furthermore, this compound induced Cdk inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 expression at both the transcription and protein levels in a p53-independent manner. MNNG also activated the reporter construct of a p21 promoter. Present results indicate that the up-regulation of p21 by MNNG is likely responsible for the inhibition of Cdks kinase activity rather than the down-regulation of cyclins and Cdks expression.

Intercellular heterogeneity of expression of the MGMT DNA repair gene in pediatric medulloblastoma

DNA methylation and epigenetic inactivation of the O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) gene induces MGMT deficiency, reducing the tumor cell's DNA repair capacity and increasing its susceptibility to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents. Consequently, adult patients whose tumors are deficient in MGMT have better outcomes with alkylator chemotherapy, and MGMT methylation has been proposed as a screening marker of deficient tumors. In order to test the feasibility of this approach for medulloblastoma, a common brain tumor in children, we determined the methylation status, mRNA expression pattern, and protein expression of MGMT in a panel of clinical specimens. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed methylation of MGMT in 28 of 37 tumor samples. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed a range of expression of MGMT mRNA varying more than 20-fold. However, there was no correlation found between MGMT methylation and mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that all tumors were immunoreactive for MGMT in the nucleus of the medulloblastoma cells in a heterogeneous pattern. The intercell variability of MGMT complement explained the discordance between methylation and expression. Therefore, MGMT methylation as determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction cannot be used as a marker for MGMT deficiency in medulloblastoma. Further, these findings support the use of pharmacological MGMT depletion as a rational approach for intensification of alkylator chemotherapy in the treatment of medulloblastoma.

Paradoxical enhancement of the toxicity of 1,2-dibromoethane by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase

The presence of the DNA repair protein O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) paradoxically increases the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) in Escherichia coli. This enhancement of genotoxicity did not occur when the inactive C145A mutant of human AGT (hAGT) was used. Also, hAGT did not enhance the genotoxicity of S-(2-haloethyl)glutathiones that mimic the reactive product of the reaction of DBE with glutathione, which is catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase. These experiments support a mechanism by which hAGT activates DBE. Studies in vitro showed a direct reaction between purified recombinant hAGT and DBE resulting in a loss of AGT repair activity and a formation of an hAGT-DBE conjugate at Cys(145). A 2-hydroxyethyl adduct was found by mass spectrometry to be present in the Gly(136)-Arg(147) peptide from tryptic digests of AGT reacted with DBE. Incubation of AGT with DBE and oligodeoxyribonucleotides led to the formation of covalent AGT-oligonucleotide complexes. These results indicate that DBE reacts at the active site of AGT to generate an S-(2-bromoethyl) intermediate, which forms a highly reactive half-mustard at Cys(145). In the presence of DNA, the DNA-binding function of AGT facilitates formation of DNA adducts. In the absence of DNA, the intermediate undergoes hydrolytic decomposition to form AGT-Cys(145)-SCH(2)CH(2)OH.

Interrelationship of apoptosis, mutation, and cell proliferation in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced medaka carcinogenesis model

The present study examined the interrelationship of GSH depletion, apoptosis, mutation, and cell proliferation following carcinogen exposure. Medaka (Oryzias latipes) were investigated following a 28 day, three times/week pulse exposure to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Fish (5 weeks old) were exposed to MNNG at concentrations of 0, 0.5, and 1 mg l(-1) and reared for 3, 5 and 7 more months after the last day of exposure. GSH levels were decreased in the higher concentration groups and longer-reared groups. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that fish from the groups reared 3 and 5 months showed active apoptotic changes in the dose- and time-dependent manner, but the group reared 7 months had fewer apoptotic, rather showed more necrotic and carcinogenic alterations. Mutational responses were detected by an arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) fingerprinting method using whole body DNA samples as templates and pBR primer. A mutational change was expressed by a loss or gain of a band. There was a time-dependent mutational change, but no distinctive concentration-dependent one. A band from normal fish sample that disappeared after treatment of MNNG was excised and sequenced. The band had an 869 base pair-long sequence, however, there was no putative protein-coding region based on an analysis by DNAsis. Spindle cell sarcomas invading muscle were detected on the whole body sections from three of ten fish examined, and immunohistochemical analysis with PCNA showed that tumor cells were actively proliferating. However, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) assay showed that tumored fish still had active apoptotic cell changes in the tissues without tumor. This study shows not only the interrelationship of GSH depletion, apoptosis, mutation and cell proliferation, but also indicates that medaka is appropriate as a fish model for research on the passage of carcinogenesis.

The role of human O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase in promoting 1,2-dibromoethane-induced genotoxicity in Escherichia coli

The expression of the DNA repair protein human O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) in Escherichia coli strains GWR109 or TRG8 that lack endogenous AGT greatly increased the toxicity and mutagenicity of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE). Pretreatment of strain TRG8 expressing human AGT, which is permeable to exogenous drugs, with the AGT inhibitor O(6)-benzylguanine (BG) abolished the lethal and mutagenic effects of DBE, indicating that an active AGT is required for promoting DBE genotoxicity. This was confirmed by the observation that E. coli expressing either the C145A AGT mutant, which is inactive due to loss of the alkyl acceptor site, or mutants Y114E and R128A, which are inactive due to alteration of the DNA binding domain, did not enhance the action of DBE. However, the AGT mutant protein P138M/V139L/P140K, which is active in repairing methylated DNA but is totally resistant to inactivation by BG due to alterations in the active site pocket, was unable to enhance the genotoxicity of DBE. Similarly, other mutants, G156P, Y158H and K165R that are strongly resistant to BG, were much less effective than wild type AGT in mediating the genotoxicity of DBE. Mutant P140A, which is moderately resistant to BG, did increase mutations in response to DBE but was less active than wild type. These results suggest that human AGT is able to interact with a DNA lesion produced by DBE but, instead of repairing it, converts it to a more genotoxic adduct. This interaction is prevented by mutations that modify the active site of AGT to exclude BG.

DNA repair pathways and cancer prevention

This article describes the five main classes of DNA repair processes that occur in humans with respect to their mechanism of action, major substrates, and role in protection against endogenous and environmental DNA damaging agents. The importance of all of these processes in protection from the initiation of neoplastic growth has been established either in studies of inheritable diseases affecting DNA repair or experiments with transgenic animals or both. The capacity of DNA repair pathways to deal with DNA damage is therefore a critical factor in the cellular response to environmental, and dietary carcinogens. DNA repair activity and factors affecting this activity either directly or indirectly must be taken into account in risk assessment.

Repair of O(6)-alkylguanine by alkyltransferases

The predominant pathway for the repair of O(6)-methylguanine in DNA is via the activity of an alkyltransferase protein that transfers the methyl group to a cysteine acceptor site on the protein itself. This review article describes recent studies on this alkyltransferase. The protein repairs not only methyl groups but also 2-chloroethyl-, benzyl- and pyridyloxobutyl-adducts. It acts on double-stranded DNA by flipping the O(6)-guanine adduct out of the DNA helix and into a binding pocket. The free base, O(6)-benzylguanine, is able to bind in this pocket and react with the cysteine, rendering it an effective inactivator of mammalian alkyltransferases. The alkylated form of the protein is rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin/proteasomal system. Some tumor cells do not express alkyltransferase despite having an intact gene. Methylation of key sites in CpG-rich islands in the promoter region are involved in this silencing and a change in the nuclear localization of an enhancer binding protein may also contribute. The alkyltransferase promoter contains Sp1, GRE and AP-1 sites and is slightly inducible by glucocorticoids and protein kinase C activators. There is a complex relationship between p53 and alkyltransferase expression with p53 mediating a rise in alkyltransferase in response to ionizing radiation but having no clear effect on basal levels. DNA adducts at the O(6)-position of guanine are a major factor in the carcinogenic, mutagenic, apoptopic and clastogenic actions of methylating agents and chloroethylating agents. Studies with transgenic mice in which alkyltransferase levels are increased or decreased confirm the importance of this repair pathway in protecting against carcinogenesis. Alkyltransferase activity in tumors protects them from therapeutic agents such as temozolomide and BCNU. This resistance is abolished by O(6)-benzylguanine and this drug is currently in clinical trials to enhance cancer chemotherapy by these agents. Studies are in progress to reduce the toxicity of such therapy towards the bone marrow by gene therapy to express alkyltransferases with mutations imparting resistance to O(6)-benzylguanine at high levels in marrow stem cells. Several polymorphisms in the human alkyltransferase gene have been identified but the significance of these in terms of alkyltransferase action is currently unknown.

Dominant sensitization variants of human O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase obtained by a mutational screen of surface residues

A scanning mutagenesis experiment was performed on human O(6)-methylguanine methyltransferase (hMGMT), directed largely at non-conserved surface residues that have not previously been studied. Variants typically contained two or more substitutions. Two of the 16 variants characterized in detail are inactive for methyltransfer, but increase the cytotoxicity and mutagenic effects of methylating agents. This phenotype is reminiscent of a variant (C145A) that has a mutation in the methyl-accepting cysteine. C145A is inactive, but reportedly binds methylated DNA and confers sensitivity to methylating agents. The sensitization phenotype of the two new variants is more striking in strains that are wild-type for DNA repair than in strains that are deficient for repair, suggesting that these proteins inhibit functional DNA repair proteins by competitively binding to methylated DNA. Both variants have multiple substitutions in the last helix of the protein. These results suggest that the C-terminal helix is necessary for methyltransfer activity, but not for methylguanine-specific binding.