The active site of TthPolX is adapted to prevent 8-oxo-dGTP misincorporation

Noncanonical prokaryotic X family DNA polymerases lack polymerase activity and act as exonucleases

The X family polymerases (PolXs) are specialized DNA polymerases that are found in all domains of life. While the main representatives of eukaryotic PolXs, which have dedicated functions in DNA repair, were studied in much detail, the functions and diversity of prokaryotic PolXs have remained largely unexplored. Here, by combining a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of prokaryotic PolXs and biochemical experiments involving selected recombinant enzymes, we reveal a previously unrecognized group of PolXs that seem to be lacking DNA polymerase activity. The noncanonical PolXs contain substitutions of the key catalytic residues and deletions in their polymerase and dNTP binding sites in the palm and fingers domains, but contain functional nuclease domains, similar to canonical PolXs. We demonstrate that representative noncanonical PolXs from the Deinococcus genus are indeed inactive as DNA polymerases but are highly efficient as 3'-5' exonucleases. We show that both canonical and noncanonical PolXs are often encoded together with the components of the non-homologous end joining pathway and may therefore participate in double-strand break repair, suggesting an evolutionary conservation of this PolX function. This is a remarkable example of polymerases that have lost their main polymerase activity, but retain accessory functions in DNA processing and repair.

The PHP domain of PolX from Staphylococcus aureus aids high fidelity DNA synthesis through the removal of misincorporated deoxyribo-, ribo- and oxidized nucleotides

The X family is one of the eight families of DNA polymerases (dPols) and members of this family are known to participate in the later stages of Base Excision Repair. Many prokaryotic members of this family possess a Polymerase and Histidinol Phosphatase (PHP) domain at their C-termini. The PHP domain has been shown to possess 3'-5' exonuclease activity and may represent the proofreading function in these dPols. PolX from Staphylococcus aureus also possesses the PHP domain at the C-terminus, and we show that this domain has an intrinsic Mn²⁺ dependent 3'-5' exonuclease capable of removing misincorporated dNMPs from the primer. The misincorporation of oxidized nucleotides such as 8oxodGTP and rNTPs are known to be pro-mutagenic and can lead to genomic instability. Here, we show that the PHP domain aids DNA replication by the removal of misincorporated oxidized nucleotides and rNMPs. Overall, our study shows that the proofreading activity of the PHP domain plays a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity and stability. The exonuclease activity of this enzyme can, therefore, be the target of therapeutic intervention to combat infection by methicillin-resistant-Staphylococcus-aureus.

Insights into the effect of minor groove interactions and metal cofactors on mutagenic replication by human DNA polymerase β

DNA polymerases accommodate various base-pair conformations in the event of incorrect insertions. In particular, Watson-Crick-like dG:dTTP base pair has been observed at the insertion site of human DNA polymerase β (pol β). A potential factor contributing to the diverse conformations of base-pair mismatches is minor groove interactions. To gain insights into the effect of minor groove interactions on base-pair conformations, we generated an Asn279Ala polβ mutant that cannot make minor groove contacts with an incoming nucleotide. We conducted structural and kinetic studies of Asn279Ala polβ in complex with incoming dTTP and templating dG or O6-methyl-dG. The crystal structure of the Asn279Ala polβ-G:T complex showed a wobble dG:dTTP base pair, indicating that the previously observed Watson-Crick-like dG:dTTP conformation was induced by the minor groove contact. In contrast, O6-methyl-dG, an analog of the enol tautomer of guanine, formed a Watson-Crick-like base pair with dTTP in the absence of the minor groove contact. These results suggest that the Watson-Crick-like G:T base pair at the insertion site is formed by the rare enol tautomers of G or T, whose population is increased by the minor groove hydrogen bond with Asn279. Kinetic studies showed that Asn279Ala mutation decreased dG:dTTP misincorporation rate six-fold in the presence of Mg²⁺ but increased the rate three-fold in the presence of Mn²⁺, highlighting the effect of minor groove interactions and metal ions on promutagenic replication by polβ.

Not breathing is not an option: How to deal with oxidative DNA damage

Oxidative DNA damage constitutes a major threat to genetic integrity, and has thus been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. 7,8-dihydro-8oxo-deoxyGuanine (8-oxo-G) is one of the best characterised oxidative DNA lesions, and it can give rise to point mutations due to its miscoding potential that instructs most DNA polymerases (Pols) to preferentially insert Adenine (A) opposite 8-oxo-G instead of the correct Cytosine (C). If uncorrected, A:8-oxo-G mispairs can give rise to C:G→A:T transversion mutations. Cells have evolved a variety of pathways to mitigate the mutational potential of 8-oxo-G that include i) mechanisms to avoid incorporation of oxidized nucleotides into DNA through nucleotide pool sanitisation enzymes (by MTH1, MTH2, MTH3 and NUDT5), ii) base excision repair (BER) of 8-oxo-G in DNA (involving MUTYH, OGG1, Pol λ, and other components of the BER machinery), and iii) faithful bypass of 8-oxo-G lesions during replication (using a switch between replicative Pols and Pol λ). In the following, the fate of 8-oxo-G in mammalian cells is reviewed in detail. The differential origins of 8-oxo-G in DNA and its consequences for genetic stability will be covered. This will be followed by a thorough discussion of the different mechanisms in place to cope with 8-oxo-G with an emphasis on Pol λ-mediated correct bypass of 8-oxo-G during MUTYH-initiated BER as well as replication across 8-oxo-G. Furthermore, the multitude of mechanisms in place to regulate key proteins involved in 8-oxo-G repair will be reviewed. Novel functions of 8-oxo-G as an epigenetic-like regulator and insights into the repair of 8-oxo-G within the cellular context will be touched upon. Finally, a discussion will outline the relevance of 8-oxo-G and the proteins involved in dealing with 8-oxo-G to human diseases with a special emphasis on cancer.

The anti/syn conformation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine is modulated by Bacillus subtilis PolX active site residues His255 and Asn263. Efficient processing of damaged 3'-ends

8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8oxodG) is a major lesion resulting from oxidative stress and found in both DNA and dNTP pools. Such a lesion is usually removed from DNA by the Base Excision Repair (BER), a universally conserved DNA repair pathway. 8oxodG usually adopts the favored and promutagenic syn-conformation at the active site of DNA polymerases, allowing the base to hydrogen bonding with adenine during DNA synthesis. Here, we study the structural determinants that affect the glycosidic torsion-angle of 8oxodGTP at the catalytic active site of the family X DNA polymerase from Bacillus subtilis (PolXBs). We show that, unlike most DNA polymerases, PolXBs exhibits a similar efficiency to stabilize the anti and syn conformation of 8oxodGTP at the catalytic site. Kinetic analyses indicate that at least two conserved residues of the nucleotide binding pocket play opposite roles in the anti/syn conformation selectivity, Asn263 and His255 that favor incorporation of 8oxodGMP opposite dA and dC, respectively. In addition, the presence in PolXBs of Mn²⁺-dependent 3'-phosphatase and 3'-phosphodiesterase activities is also shown. Those activities rely on the catalytic center of the C-terminal Polymerase and Histidinol Phosphatase (PHP) domain of PolXBs and, together with its 3'-5' exonuclease activity allows the enzyme to resume gap-filling after processing of damaged 3' termini.

Nucleotide binding interactions modulate dNTP selectivity and facilitate 8-oxo-dGTP incorporation by DNA polymerase lambda

8-Oxo-7,8,-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP) is a major product of oxidative damage in the nucleotide pool. It is capable of mispairing with adenosine (dA), resulting in futile, mutagenic cycles of base excision repair. Therefore, it is critical that DNA polymerases discriminate against 8-oxo-dGTP at the insertion step. Because of its roles in oxidative DNA damage repair and non-homologous end joining, DNA polymerase lambda (Pol λ) may frequently encounter 8-oxo-dGTP. Here, we have studied the mechanisms of 8-oxo-dGMP incorporation and discrimination by Pol λ. We have solved high resolution crystal structures showing how Pol λ accommodates 8-oxo-dGTP in its active site. The structures indicate that when mispaired with dA, the oxidized nucleotide assumes the mutagenic syn-conformation, and is stabilized by multiple interactions. Steady-state kinetics reveal that two residues lining the dNTP binding pocket, Ala(510) and Asn(513), play differential roles in dNTP selectivity. Specifically, Ala(510) and Asn(513) facilitate incorporation of 8-oxo-dGMP opposite dA and dC, respectively. These residues also modulate the balance between purine and pyrimidine incorporation. Our results shed light on the mechanisms controlling 8-oxo-dGMP incorporation in Pol λ and on the importance of interactions with the incoming dNTP to determine selectivity in family X DNA polymerases.

ATP insertion opposite 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine by Pol4 mediates error-free tolerance in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

7,8-Dihydro-8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8oxodG) is a highly premutagenic DNA lesion due to its ability to mispair with adenine. Schizosaccharomyces pombe lacks homologs for relevant enzymes that repair 8oxodG, which suggests that this lesion could be persistent and must be tolerated. Here we show that SpPol4, the unique PolX in fission yeast, incorporates ATP opposite 8oxodG almost exclusively when all nucleotides (ribos and deoxys) are provided at physiological concentrations. Remarkably, this SpPol4-specific reaction could also occur during the NHEJ of DSBs. In cell extracts, misincorporation of ATP opposite 8oxodG was shown to be SpPol4-specific, although RNase H2 efficiently recognized the 8oxodG:AMP mispair to remove AMP and trigger error-free incorporation of dCTP. These data are the first evidence that ribonucleotides can be used safely for 8oxodG tolerance, suggesting that insertion of the highly abundant ATP substrate could be beneficial to promote efficient and error-free repair of 8oxodG-associated DSBs. Moreover, we demonstrate that purified SpPol4 uses 8oxo-dGTP and 8oxo-GTP as substrates for DNA polymerization, although with poor efficiency compared to the incorporation of undamaged nucleotides opposite either 8oxodG or undamaged templates. This suggests that SpPol4 is specialized in tolerating 8oxodG as a DNA template, without contributing significantly to the accumulation of this lesion in the DNA.