The biochemical basis and in vivo regulation of SOS-induced mutagenesis promoted by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase V (UmuD'2C)

Coordination and Substitution of DNA Polymerases in Response to Genomic Obstacles

The ability for DNA polymerases (Pols) to overcome a variety of obstacles in its path to maintain genomic stability during replication is a complex endeavor. It requires the coordination of multiple Pols with differing specificities through molecular control and access to the replisome. Although a number of contacts directly between Pols and accessory proteins have been identified, forming the basis of a variety of holoenzyme complexes, the dynamics of Pol active site substitutions remain uncharacterized. Substitutions can occur externally by recruiting new Pols to replisome complexes through an "exchange" of enzyme binding or internally through a "switch" in the engagement of DNA from preformed associated enzymes contained within supraholoenzyme complexes. Models for how high fidelity (HiFi) replication Pols can be substituted by translesion synthesis (TLS) Pols at sites of damage during active replication will be discussed. These substitution mechanisms may be as diverse as the number of Pol families and types of damage; however, common themes can be recognized across species. Overall, Pol substitutions will be controlled by explicit protein contacts, complex multiequilibrium processes, and specific kinetic activities. Insight into how these dynamic processes take place and are regulated will be of utmost importance for our greater understanding of the specifics of TLS as well as providing for future novel chemotherapeutic and antimicrobial strategies.

The role of the bacterial mismatch repair system in SOS-induced mutagenesis: a theoretical background

A theoretical study is performed of the possible role of the methyl-directed mismatch repair system in the ultraviolet-induced mutagenesis of Escherichia coli bacterial cells. For this purpose, mathematical models of the SOS network, translesion synthesis and mismatch repair are developed. Within the proposed models, the key pathways of these repair systems were simulated on the basis of modern experimental data related to their mechanisms. Our model approach shows a possible mechanistic explanation of the hypothesis that the bacterial mismatch repair system is responsible for attenuation of mutation frequency during ultraviolet-induced SOS response via removal of the nucleotides misincorporated by DNA polymerase V (the UmuD'2C complex).

Characterization of polVR391: a Y-family polymerase encoded by rumA'B from the IncJ conjugative transposon, R391

Although best characterized for their ability to traverse a variety of DNA lesions, Y-family DNA polymerases can also give rise to elevated spontaneous mutation rates if they are allowed to replicate undamaged DNA. One such enzyme that promotes high levels of spontaneous mutagenesis in Escherichia coli is polV(R391), a polV-like Y-family polymerase encoded by rumA'B from the IncJ conjugative transposon R391. When expressed in a DeltaumuDC lexA(Def) recA730 strain, polV(R391) promotes higher levels of spontaneous mutagenesis than the related MucA'B (polR1) or UmuD'C (polV) polymerases respectively. Analysis of the spectrum of polV(R391)-dependent mutations in rpoB revealed a unique genetic fingerprint that is typified by an increase in C:G-->A:T and A:T-->T:A transversions at certain mutagenic hot spots. Biochemical characterization of polV(R391) highlights the exceptional ability of the enzyme to misincorporate T opposite C and T in sequence contexts corresponding to mutagenic hot spots. Purified polV(R391) can also bypass a T-T pyrimidine dimer efficiently and displays greater accuracy opposite the 3'T of the dimer than opposite an undamaged T. Our study therefore provides evidence for the molecular basis for the enhanced spontaneous mutator activity of RumA'B, as well as explains its ability to promote efficient and accurate bypass of T-T pyrimidine dimers in vivo.

Analysis of UV-induced mutation spectra in Escherichia coli by DNA polymerase eta from Arabidopsis thaliana

DNA polymerase eta belongs to the Y-family of DNA polymerases, enzymes that are able to synthesize past template lesions that block replication fork progression. This polymerase accurately bypasses UV-associated cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimers in vitro and therefore may contributes to resistance against sunlight in vivo, both ameliorating survival and decreasing the level of mutagenesis. We cloned and sequenced a cDNA from Arabidopsis thaliana which encodes a protein containing several sequence motifs characteristics of Pol eta homologues, including a highly conserved sequence reported to be present in the active site of the Y-family DNA polymerases. The gene, named AtPOLH, contains 14 exons and 13 introns and is expressed in different plant tissues. A strain from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, deficient in Pol eta activity, was transformed with a yeast expression plasmid containing the AtPOLH cDNA. The rate of survival to UV irradiation in the transformed mutant increased to similar values of the wild type yeast strain, showing that AtPOLH encodes a functional protein. In addition, when AtPOLH is expressed in Escherichia coli, a change in the mutational spectra is detected when bacteria are irradiated with UV light. This observation might indicate that AtPOLH could compete with DNA polymerase V and then bypass cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers incorporating two adenylates.

Specificity of replicative and SOS-inducible DNA polymerases in frameshift mutagenesis: mutability of Salmonella typhimurium strains overexpressing SOS-inducible DNA polymerases to 30 chemical mutagens

DNA replication is frequently hindered because of the presence of DNA lesions induced by endogenous and exogenous genotoxic agents. To circumvent the replication block, cells are endowed with multiple specialized DNA polymerases that can bypass a variety of DNA damage. To better understand the specificity of specialized DNA polymerases to bypass lesions, we have constructed a set of derivatives of Salmonella typhimurium TA1538 harboring plasmids carrying the polB, dinB or mucAB genes encoding Escherichia coli DNA polymerase II, DNA polymerase IV or DNA polymerase RI, respectively, and examined the mutability to 30 chemicals. The parent strain TA1538 possesses CGCGCGCG hotspot sequence for -2 frameshift. Interestingly, the chemicals could be classified into four groups based on the mutagenicity to the derivatives: group I whose mutagenicity was highest in strain YG5161 harboring plasmid carrying dinB; group II whose mutagenicity was almost equally high in strain YG5161 and strain TA98 harboring plasmid carrying mucAB; group III whose mutagenicity was highest in strain TA98; group IV whose mutagenicity was not affected by the introduction of any of the plasmids. Introduction of plasmid carrying polB did not enhance the mutagenicity except for benz[a]anthracene. We also introduced a plasmid carrying polA encoding E. coli DNA polymerase I to strain TA1538. Strikingly, the introduction of the plasmid reduced the mutagenicity of chemicals belonging to groups I, II and III, but not the chemicals of group IV, to the levels observed in the derivative whose SOS-inducible DNA polymerases were all deleted. These results suggest that (i) DNA polymerase IV and DNA polymerase RI possess distinct but partly overlapping specificity to bypass lesions leading to -2 frameshift, (ii) the replicative DNA polymerase, i.e., DNA polymerase III, participates in the mutagenesis and (iii) the enhanced expression of E. coli polA may suppress the access of Y-family DNA polymerases to the replication complex.

Roles of replicative and specialized DNA polymerases in frameshift mutagenesis: mutability of Salmonella typhimurium strains lacking one or all of SOS-inducible DNA polymerases to 26 chemicals

Progression of DNA replication is occasionally blocked by endogenous and exogenous DNA damage. To circumvent the stalling of DNA replication, cells possess a variety of specialized DNA polymerases that replicate through DNA damage. Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1538 has six DNA polymerases and four of them are encoded by damage-inducible SOS genes, i.e. polB(ST) (pol II), dinB(ST) (pol IV), umuDC(ST) (pol V) and samAB. The strain has been used for the detection of a variety of chemical mutagens because of the high sensitivity to -2 frameshift occurring in CGCGCGCG sequence. To assign the role of each DNA polymerase in the frameshift mutagenesis, we have constructed the derivatives lacking one or all of SOS-inducible DNA polymerases and examined the mutability to 26 chemical mutagens. Interestingly, the chemicals could be categorized into four classes: class I whose mutagenicity was reduced by the deletion of dinB(ST) (1-aminoanthracene and other four chemicals); class II whose mutagenicity was reduced by the deletion of either dinB(ST) or umuDC(ST) plus samAB (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and other three chemicals); class III whose mutagenicity largely depended on the presence of umuDC(ST) plus samAB (1-N-6-azabenzo[a]pyrene and other three chemicals) and class IV whose mutagenicity was not reduced by deletion of any of the genes encoding SOS-inducible DNA polymerases (Glu-P-1 and other 12 chemicals). Deletion of polB(ST) reduced by 30-60% the mutagenicity of six chemicals of classes II and III. These results suggest that multiple DNA polymerases including the replicative DNA polymerase, i.e. DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, play important roles in chemically induced -2 frameshift and also that different sets of DNA polymerases are engaged in the translesion bypass of different DNA lesions.

Different patterns of evolution for duplicated DNA repair genes in bacteria of the Xanthomonadales group

BACKGROUND

DNA repair genes encode proteins that protect organisms against genetic damage generated by environmental agents and by-products of cell metabolism. The importance of these genes in life maintenance is supported by their high conservation, and the presence of duplications of such genes may be easily traced, especially in prokaryotic genomes.

RESULTS

The genome sequences of two Xanthomonas species were used as the basis for phylogenetic analyses of genes related to DNA repair that were found duplicated. Although 16S rRNA phylogenetic analyses confirm their classification at the basis of the gamma proteobacteria subdivision, differences were found in the origin of the various genes investigated. Except for lexA, detected as a recent duplication, most of the genes in more than one copy are represented by two highly divergent orthologs. Basically, one of such duplications is frequently positioned close to other gamma proteobacteria, but the second is often positioned close to unrelated bacteria. These orthologs may have occurred from old duplication events, followed by extensive gene loss, or were originated from lateral gene transfer (LGT), as is the case of the uvrD homolog.

CONCLUSIONS

Duplications of DNA repair related genes may result in redundancy and also improve the organisms' responses to environmental challenges. Most of such duplications, in Xanthomonas, seem to have arisen from old events and possibly enlarge both functional and evolutionary genome potentiality.

Mutagenic DNA repair potential inPseudomonasspp., and characterization of therulABPcoperon from the highly mutable strainPseudomonas cichorii302959

We assessed the tolerance to ultraviolet B (UVB; 290-320 nm) radiation and UVB-induced mutability in 28 Pseudomonas spp. and four Burkholderia cepacia strains. The UVB survival of 23 (72%) of the strains was elevated (>46% survival following irradiation with a 2250 J m-2dose), and 17 (53%) strains were defined as mutable by UVB. A mutagenic DNA repair determinant was cloned and characterized from the highly mutable strain P. cichorii 302959 and shown by sequence analysis to be an allele of rulAB, a mutagenic DNA repair determinant previously characterized from Pseudomonas syringae. Phylogenetic analyses of RulA- and RulB-related sequences indicated that the sequences identified in environmental bacteria shared a common ancestor with UmuDC-like sequences from enteric bacteria but were considerably diverged. The dynamics of UVB-induced mutability to nalidixic acid resistance (NalR) and rifampicin resistance (RifR) were studied in replicate populations of P. cichorii 302959 subjected to a daily UVB dose of 2250 J m-2for 14 consecutive days. While there was an initial spike in the frequency of NalRand RifRmutants recovered on Days 1 and 2 of two separate experiments, the frequencies were sharply reduced and then fluctuated throughout the duration of both experiments. These experimental results are intriguing because they point to the possibility that P. cichorii possesses additional mechanisms to curtail the induction of spontaneous mutants following repeated episodes of UVB irradiation.Key words: phyllosphere, UVB survival, UVB mutability, long-term mutability, translesion synthesis, Y family DNA polymerase.

Escherichia coli DNA polymerase V subunit exchange: a post-SOS mechanism to curtail error-prone DNA synthesis

DNA polymerase V consisting of a heterotrimer composed of one molecule of UmuC and two molecules of UmuD' (UmuD'2C) is responsible for SOS damage-induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli. Here we show that although the UmuD'2C complex remains intact through multiple chromatographic steps, excess UmuD, the precursor to UmuD', displaces UmuD' from UmuD'2C by forming a UmuDD' heterodimer, while UmuC concomitantly aggregates as an insoluble precipitate. Although soluble UmuD'2C is readily detected when the two genes are co-transcribed and translated in vitro, soluble UmuD2C or UmuDD'C are not detected. The subunit exchange between UmuD'2C and UmuD offers a biological means to inactivate error-prone polymerase V following translesion synthesis, thus preventing mutations from occurring on undamaged DNA.

Two distinct modes of RecA action are required for DNA polymerase V-catalyzed translesion synthesis

SOS mutagenesis in Escherichia coli requires DNA polymerase V (pol V) and RecA protein to copy damaged DNA templates. Here we show that two distinct biochemical modes for RecA protein are necessary for pol V-catalyzed translesion synthesis. One RecA mode is characterized by a strong stimulation in nucleotide incorporation either directly opposite a lesion or at undamaged template sites, but by the absence of lesion bypass. A separate RecA mode is necessary for translesion synthesis. The RecA1730 mutant protein, which was identified on the basis of its inability to promote pol V (UmuD'(2)C)-dependent UV-mutagenesis, appears proficient for the first mode of RecA action but is deficient in the second mode. Data are presented suggesting that the two RecA modes are "nonfilamentous". That is, contrary to current models for SOS mutagenesis, formation of a RecA nucleoprotein filament may not be required for copying damaged DNA templates. Instead, SOS mutagenesis occurs when pol V interacts with two RecA molecules, first at a 3' primer end, upstream of a template lesion, where RecA mode 1 stimulates pol V activity, and subsequently at a site immediately downstream of the lesion, where RecA mode 2 cocatalyzes lesion bypass. We posit that in vivo assembly of a RecA nucleoprotein filament may be required principally to target pol V to a site of DNA damage and to stabilize the pol V-RecA interaction at the lesion. However, it is only a RecA molecule located at the 3' filament tip, proximal to a damaged template base, that is directly responsible for translesion synthesis.

SOS-induced DNA polymerases enhance long-term survival and evolutionary fitness

Escherichia coli encodes three SOS-induced DNA polymerases: pol II, pol IV, and pol V. We show here that each of these polymerases confers a competitive fitness advantage during the stationary phase of the bacterial life cycle, in the absence of external DNA-damaging agents known to induce the SOS response. When grown individually, wild-type and SOS pol mutants exhibit indistinguishable temporal growth and death patterns. In contrast, when grown in competition with wild-type E. coli, mutants lacking one or more SOS polymerase suffer a severe reduction in fitness. These mutants also fail to express the "growth advantage in stationary phase" phenotype as do wild-type strains, instead expressing two additional new types of "growth advantage in stationary phase" phenotype. These polymerases contribute to survival by providing essential functions to ensure replication of the chromosome and by generating genetic diversity.

Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III can replicate efficiently past a T-T cis-syn cyclobutane dimer if DNA polymerase V and the 3' to 5' exonuclease proofreading function encoded by dnaQ are inactivated

Although very little replication past a T-T cis-syn cyclobutane dimer normally takes place in Escherichia coli in the absence of DNA polymerase V (Pol V), we previously observed as much as half of the wild-type bypass frequency in Pol V-deficient (DeltaumuDC) strains if the 3' to 5' exonuclease proofreading activity of the Pol III epsilon subunit was also disabled by mutD5. This observation might be explained in at least two ways. In the absence of Pol V, wild-type Pol III might bind preferentially to the blocked primer terminus but be incapable of bypass, whereas the proofreading-deficient enzyme might dissociate more readily, providing access to bypass polymerases. Alternatively, even though wild-type Pol III is generally regarded as being incapable of lesion bypass, proofreading-impaired Pol III might itself perform this function. We have investigated this issue by examining dimer bypass frequencies in DeltaumuDC mutD5 strains that were also deficient for Pol I, Pol II, and Pol IV, both singly and in all combinations. Dimer bypass frequencies were not decreased in any of these strains and indeed in some were increased to levels approaching those found in strains containing Pol V. Efficient dimer bypass was, however, entirely dependent on the proofreading deficiency imparted by mutD5, indicating the surprising conclusion that bypass was probably performed by the mutD5 Pol III enzyme itself. This mutant polymerase does not replicate past the much more distorted T-T (6-4) photoadduct, however, suggesting that it may only replicate past lesions, like the T-T dimer, that form base pairs normally.

The "tale" of UmuD and its role in SOS mutagenesis

Recently, the Escherichia coli umuD and umuC genes have been shown to encode E. coli's fifth DNA polymerase, pol V (consisting of a heterotrimer of UmuD'(2)C). The main function of pol V appears to be the bypass of DNA lesions that would otherwise block replication by pols I-IV. This process is error-prone and leads to a striking increase in mutations at sites of DNA damage. While the enzymatic properties of pol V are now only beginning to be fully appreciated, a great deal is known about how E. coli regulates the intracellular levels of the Umu proteins so that the lesion-bypassing activity of pol V is available to help cells survive the deleterious consequences of DNA damage, yet keeps any unwarranted activity on undamaged templates to a minimum. Our review summarizes the multiple restrictions imposed upon pol V, so as to limit its activity in vivo and, in particular, highlights the pivotal role that the N-terminal tail of UmuD plays in regulating SOS mutagenesis.

Replication restart in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli involving pols II, III, V, PriA, RecA and RecFOR proteins

In Escherichia coli, UV-irradiated cells resume DNA synthesis after a transient inhibition by a process called replication restart. To elucidate the role of several key proteins involved in this process, we have analysed the time dependence of replication restart in strains carrying a combination of mutations in lexA, recA, polB (pol II), umuDC (pol V), priA, dnaC, recF, recO or recR. We find that both pol II and the origin-independent primosome-assembling function of PriA are essential for the immediate recovery of DNA synthesis after UV irradiation. In their absence, translesion replication or 'replication readthrough' occurs approximately 50 min after UV and is pol V-dependent. In a wild-type, lexA+ background, mutations in recF, recO or recR block both pathways. Similar results were obtained with a lexA(Def) recF strain. However, lexA(Def) recO or lexA(Def) recR strains, although unable to facilitate PriA-pol II-dependent restart, were able to perform pol V-dependent readthrough. The defects in restart attributed to mutations in recF, recO or recR were suppressed in a recA730 lexA(Def) strain expressing constitutively activated RecA (RecA*). Our data suggest that in a wild-type background, RecF, O and R are important for the induction of the SOS response and the formation of RecA*-dependent recombination intermediates necessary for PriA/Pol II-dependent replication restart. In con-trast, only RecF is required for the activation of RecA that leads to the formation of pol V (UmuD'2C) and facilitates replication readthrough.

Sequence analysis and phenotypes of five temperature sensitive mutator alleles of dnaE, encoding modified alpha-catalytic subunits of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme

In the 1970s, several thermosensitive alleles of dnaE (encoding the alpha-catalytic subunit of pol III) were isolated. Genetic characterization of these dnaE mutants revealed that some are mutator alleles at permissive temperature. We have determined the nucleotide changes of five such temperature sensitive mutator alleles (dnaE9, dnaE74, dnaE486, dnaE511, and dnaE1026) and find that most are single missense mutations. The exception is dnaE1026 which is a compound allele consisting of multiple missense mutations. When the previously characterized mutator alleles were moved into a lexA51(Def) recA730 strain, dnaE486, dnaE1026 and dnaE74 conferred a modest approximately two-six-fold increase in spontaneous mutagenesis when grown at the permissive temperature of 28 degrees C, while dnaE9 and dnaE511 actually resulted in a slight decrease in spontaneous mutagenesis. In isogenic DeltaumuDC derivatives, the level of spontaneous mutagenesis dropped significantly, although in each case, the overall mutator effect conferred by the dnaE allele was relatively larger, with all five dnaE alleles conferring an increased spontaneous mutation rate approximately 5-22-fold over the isogenic dnaE+ DeltaumuDC strain. Interestingly, the temperature sensitivity conferred by each allele varied considerably in the lexA51(Def) recA730 background and in many cases, this phenotype was dependent upon the presence of functional pol V (UmuD'2C). Our data suggest that pol V can compete effectively with the impaired alpha-subunit for a 3' primer terminus and as a result, a large proportion of the phenotypic effects observed with strains carrying missense temperature sensitive mutations in dnaE can, in fact, be attributed to the actions of pol V rather than pol III.

Evolution of the two-step model for UV-mutagenesis

It is quite remarkable how our understanding of translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) has changed so dramatically in the past 2 years. Until very recently, little was known about the molecular mechanisms of TLS in higher eukaryotes and what we did know, was largely based upon Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae model systems. The paradigm, proposed by Bryn Bridges and I [Mutat. Res. 150 (1985) 133] in 1985, was that error-prone TLS occurred in two steps; namely a misinsertion event opposite a lesion, followed by extension of the mispair so as to facilitate complete bypass of the lesion. The initial concept was that at least for E. coli, the misinsertion event was performed by the cell's main replicase, DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, and that elongation was achieved through the actions of specialized polymerase accessory proteins, such as UmuD and UmuC. Some 15 years later, we now know that this view is likely to be incorrect in that both misinsertion and bypass are performed by the Umu proteins (now called pol V). As pol V is normally a distributive enzyme, pol III may only be required to "fix" the misincorporation as a mutation by completing chromosome duplication. However, while the role of the E. coli proteins involved in TLS have changed, the initial concept of misincorporation followed by extension/bypass remains valid. Indeed, recent evidence suggests that it can equally be applied to TLS in eukaryotic cells where there are many more DNA polymerases to choose from. The aim of this review is, therefore, to provide a historical perspective to the "two-step" model for UV-mutagenesis, how it has recently evolved, and in particular, to highlight the seminal contributions made to it by Bryn Bridges.