Intrinsic immunity against retrotransposons by APOBEC cytidine deaminases

The cytidine deaminase APOBEC3C has unique sequence and genome feature preferences

APOBEC proteins are cytidine deaminases that restrict the replication of viruses and transposable elements. Several members of the APOBEC3 family, APOBEC3A, APOBEC3B, and APOBEC3H-I, can access the nucleus and cause what is thought to be indiscriminate deamination of the genome, resulting in mutagenesis and genome instability. Although APOBEC3C is also present in the nucleus, the full scope of its deamination target preferences is unknown. By expressing human APOBEC3C in a yeast model system, I have defined the APOBEC3C mutation signature, as well as the preferred genome features of APOBEC3C targets. The APOBEC3C mutation signature is distinct from those of the known cancer genome mutators APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B. APOBEC3C produces DNA strand-coordinated mutation clusters, and APOBEC3C mutations are enriched near the transcription start sites of active genes. Surprisingly, APOBEC3C lacks the bias for the lagging strand of DNA replication that is seen for APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B. The unique preferences of APOBEC3C constitute a mutation profile that will be useful in defining sites of APOBEC3C mutagenesis in human genomes.

Protein Interaction Map of APOBEC3 Enzyme Family Reveals Deamination-Independent Role in Cellular Function

Human APOBEC3 enzymes are a family of single-stranded (ss)DNA and RNA cytidine deaminases that act as part of the intrinsic immunity against viruses and retroelements. These enzymes deaminate cytosine to form uracil which can functionally inactivate or cause degradation of viral or retroelement genomes. In addition, APOBEC3s have deamination-independent antiviral activity through protein and nucleic acid interactions. If expression levels are misregulated, some APOBEC3 enzymes can access the human genome leading to deamination and mutagenesis, contributing to cancer initiation and evolution. While APOBEC3 enzymes are known to interact with large ribonucleoprotein complexes, the function and RNA dependence are not entirely understood. To further understand their cellular roles, we determined by affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) the protein interaction network for the human APOBEC3 enzymes and mapped a diverse set of protein-protein and protein-RNA mediated interactions. Our analysis identified novel RNA-mediated interactions between APOBEC3C, APOBEC3H Haplotype I and II, and APOBEC3G with spliceosome proteins, and APOBEC3G and APOBEC3H Haplotype I with proteins involved in tRNA methylation and ncRNA export from the nucleus. In addition, we identified RNA-independent protein-protein interactions with APOBEC3B, APOBEC3D, and APOBEC3F and the prefoldin family of protein-folding chaperones. Interaction between prefoldin 5 (PFD5) and APOBEC3B disrupted the ability of PFD5 to induce degradation of the oncogene cMyc, implicating the APOBEC3B protein interaction network in cancer. Altogether, the results uncover novel functions and interactions of the APOBEC3 family and suggest they may have fundamental roles in cellular RNA biology, their protein-protein interactions are not redundant, and there are protein-protein interactions with tumor suppressors, suggesting a role in cancer biology. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD044275.

Distinguishing preferences of human APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B for cytosines in hairpin loops, and reflection of these preferences in APOBEC-signature cancer genome mutations

The APOBEC3 enzymes convert cytosines in single-stranded DNA to uracils to protect against viruses and retrotransposons but can contribute to mutations that diversify tumors. To understand the mechanism of mutagenesis, we map the uracils resulting from expression of APOBEC3B or its catalytic carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) in Escherichia coli. Like APOBEC3A, the uracilomes of A3B and A3B-CTD show a preference to deaminate cytosines near transcription start sites and the lagging-strand replication templates and in hairpin loops. Both biochemical activities of the enzymes and genomic uracil distribution show that A3A prefers 3 nt loops the best, while A3B prefers 4 nt loops. Reanalysis of hairpin loop mutations in human tumors finds intrinsic characteristics of both the enzymes, with a much stronger contribution from A3A. We apply Hairpin Signatures 1 and 2, which define A3A and A3B preferences respectively and are orthogonal to published methods, to evaluate their contribution to human tumor mutations.

Protein interaction map of APOBEC3 enzyme family reveals deamination-independent role in cellular function

Human APOBEC3 enzymes are a family of single-stranded (ss)DNA and RNA cytidine deaminases that act as part of the intrinsic immunity against viruses and retroelements. These enzymes deaminate cytosine to form uracil which can functionally inactivate or cause degradation of viral or retroelement genomes. In addition, APOBEC3s have deamination independent antiviral activity through protein and nucleic acid interactions. If expression levels are misregulated, some APOBEC3 enzymes can access the human genome leading to deamination and mutagenesis, contributing to cancer initiation and evolution. While APOBEC3 enzymes are known to interact with large ribonucleoprotein complexes, the function and RNA dependence is not entirely understood. To further understand their cellular roles, we determined by affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) the protein interaction network for the human APOBEC3 enzymes and map a diverse set of protein-protein and protein-RNA mediated interactions. Our analysis identified novel RNA-mediated interactions between APOBEC3C, APOBEC3H Haplotype I and II, and APOBEC3G with spliceosome proteins, and APOBEC3G and APOBEC3H Haplotype I with proteins involved in tRNA methylation and ncRNA export from the nucleus. In addition, we identified RNA-independent protein-protein interactions with APOBEC3B, APOBEC3D, and APOBEC3F and the prefoldin family of protein folding chaperones. Interaction between prefoldin 5 (PFD5) and APOBEC3B disrupted the ability of PFD5 to induce degradation of the oncogene cMyc, implicating the APOBEC3B protein interaction network in cancer. Altogether, the results uncover novel functions and interactions of the APOBEC3 family and suggest they may have fundamental roles in cellular RNA biology, their protein-protein interactions are not redundant, and there are protein-protein interactions with tumor suppressors, suggesting a role in cancer biology.

Regulatory factor X1 induces macrophage M1 polarization by promoting DNA demethylation in autoimmune inflammation

Abnormal macrophage polarization is generally present in autoimmune diseases. Overwhelming M1 macrophage activation promotes the continuous progression of inflammation, which is one of the reasons for the development of autoimmune diseases. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Here we explore the function of Regulatory factor X1 (RFX1) in macrophage polarization by constructing colitis and lupus-like mouse models. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that RFX1 can promote M1 and inhibit M2 macrophage polarization. Furthermore, we found that RFX1 promoted DNA demethylation of macrophage polarization-related genes by increasing APOBEC3A/Apobec3 expression. We identified a potential RFX1 inhibitor, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), providing a potential strategy for treating autoimmune diseases.

Unveiling the epigenomic mechanisms of acquired platinum-resistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy is the major cause of death from high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). We hypothesise that detection of specific DNA methylation changes may predict platinum resistance in HGSOC. Using a publicly available "discovery" dataset we examined epigenomic and transcriptomic alterations between primary platinum-sensitive (n = 32) and recurrent acquired drug resistant HGSOC (n = 28) and identified several genes involved in immune and chemoresistance-related pathways. Validation via high-resolution melt analysis of these findings, in cell lines and HGSOC tumours, demonstrated the most consistent changes were observed in three of the genes: APOBEC3A, NKAPL and PDCD1. Plasma samples from an independent HGSOC cohort (n = 17) were analysed using droplet digital PCR. Hypermethylation of NKAPL was detected in 46% and hypomethylation of APOBEC3A in 69% of plasma samples taken from women with relapsed HGSOC (n = 13), with no alterations identified in disease-free patients (n = 4). Following these results, and using a CRISPR-Cas9 approach, we were also able to demonstrate that in vitro NKAPL promoter demethylation increased platinum sensitivity by 15%. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of aberrant methylation, especially of the NKAPL gene, in acquired platinum resistance in HGSOC.

Tobacco Smoking-Related Mutational Signatures in Classifying Smoking-Associated and Nonsmoking-Associated NSCLC

INTRODUCTION

Patient-reported smoking history is frequently used as a stratification factor in NSCLC-directed clinical research. Nevertheless, this classification does not fully reflect the mutational processes in a tumor. Next-generation sequencing can identify mutational signatures associated with tobacco smoking, such as single-base signature 4 and indel-based signature 3. This provides an opportunity to redefine the classification of smoking- and nonsmoking-associated NSCLC on the basis of individual genomic tumor characteristics and could contribute to reducing the lung cancer stigma.

METHODS

Whole genome sequencing data and clinical records were obtained from three prospective cohorts of metastatic NSCLC (N = 316). Relative contributions and absolute counts of single-base signature 4 and indel-based signature 3 were combined with relative contributions of age-related signatures to divide the cohort into smoking-associated ("smoking high") and nonsmoking-associated ("smoking low") clusters.

RESULTS

The smoking high (n = 169) and smoking low (n = 147) clusters differed considerably in tumor mutational burden, signature contribution, and mutational landscape. This signature-based classification overlapped considerably with smoking history. Yet, 26% of patients with an active smoking history were included in the smoking low cluster, of which 52% harbored an EGFR/ALK/RET/ROS1 alteration, and 4% of patients without smoking history were included in the smoking high cluster. These discordant samples had similar genomic contexts to the rest of their respective cluster.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial subset of metastatic NSCLC is differently classified into smoking- and nonsmoking-associated tumors on the basis of smoking-related mutational signatures than on the basis of smoking history. This signature-based classification more accurately classifies patients on the basis of genome-wide context and should therefore be considered as a stratification factor in clinical research.

Synonymous nucleotide changes drive papillomavirus evolution

Papillomaviruses have been evolving alongside their hosts for at least 450 million years. This review will discuss some of the insights gained into the evolution of this diverse family of viruses. Papillomavirus evolution is constrained by pervasive purifying selection to maximize viral fitness. Yet these viruses need to adapt to changes in their environment, e.g., the host immune system. It has long been known that these viruses evolved a codon usage that doesn't match the infected host. Here we discuss how papillomavirus genomes evolve by acquiring synonymous changes that allow the virus to avoid detection by the host innate immune system without changing the encoded proteins and associated fitness loss. We discuss the implications of studying viral evolution, lifecycle, and cancer progression.

Competition for DNA binding between the genome protector replication protein A and the genome modifying APOBEC3 single-stranded DNA deaminases

The human APOBEC family of eleven cytosine deaminases use RNA and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as substrates to deaminate cytosine to uracil. This deamination event has roles in lipid metabolism by altering mRNA coding, adaptive immunity by causing evolution of antibody genes, and innate immunity through inactivation of viral genomes. These benefits come at a cost where some family members, primarily from the APOBEC3 subfamily (APOBEC3A-H, excluding E), can cause off-target deaminations of cytosine to form uracil on transiently single-stranded genomic DNA, which induces mutations that are associated with cancer evolution. Since uracil is only promutagenic, the mutations observed in cancer genomes originate only when uracil is not removed by uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) or when the UNG-induced abasic site is erroneously repaired. However, when ssDNA is present, replication protein A (RPA) binds and protects the DNA from nucleases or recruits DNA repair proteins, such as UNG. Thus, APOBEC enzymes must compete with RPA to access their substrate. Certain APOBEC enzymes can displace RPA, bind and scan ssDNA efficiently to search for cytosines, and can become highly overexpressed in tumor cells. Depending on the DNA replication conditions and DNA structure, RPA can either be in excess or deficient. Here we discuss the interplay between these factors and how despite RPA, multiple cancer genomes have a mutation bias at cytosines indicative of APOBEC activity.

Genome assembly of the Pendlebury's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros pendleburyi, revealed the expansion of Tc1/Mariner DNA transposons in Rhinolophoidea

Bats (Chiroptera) constitute the second largest order of mammals and have several distinctive features, such as true self-powered flight and strong immunity. The Pendlebury's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros pendleburyi, is endemic to Thailand and listed as a vulnerable species. We employed the 10× Genomics linked-read technology to obtain a genome assembly of H. pendleburyi. The assembly size was 2.17 Gb with a scaffold N50 length of 15,398,518 bases. Our phylogenetic analysis placed H. pendleburyi within the rhinolophoid clade of the suborder Yinpterochiroptera. A synteny analysis showed that H. pendleburyi shared conserved chromosome segments (up to 105 Mb) with Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Phyllostomus discolor albeit having different chromosome numbers and belonging different families. We found positive selection signals in genes involved in inflammation, spermatogenesis and Wnt signalling. The analyses of transposable elements suggested the contraction of short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) and the accumulation of young mariner DNA transposons in the analysed hipposiderids. Distinct mariners were likely horizontally transferred to hipposiderid genomes over the evolution of this family. The lineage-specific profiles of SINEs and mariners might involve in the evolution of hipposiderids and be associated with the phylogenetic separations of these bats from other bat families.

The Role of Transposable Elements of the Human Genome in Neuronal Function and Pathology

Transposable elements (TEs) have been extensively studied for decades. In recent years, the introduction of whole-genome and whole-transcriptome approaches, as well as single-cell resolution techniques, provided a breakthrough that uncovered TE involvement in host gene expression regulation underlying multiple normal and pathological processes. Of particular interest is increased TE activity in neuronal tissue, and specifically in the hippocampus, that was repeatedly demonstrated in multiple experiments. On the other hand, numerous neuropathologies are associated with TE dysregulation. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of literature about the role of TEs in neurons published over the last three decades. The first chapter of the present review describes known mechanisms of TE interaction with host genomes in general, with the focus on mammalian and human TEs; the second chapter provides examples of TE exaptation in normal neuronal tissue, including TE involvement in neuronal differentiation and plasticity; and the last chapter lists TE-related neuropathologies. We sought to provide specific molecular mechanisms of TE involvement in neuron-specific processes whenever possible; however, in many cases, only phenomenological reports were available. This underscores the importance of further studies in this area.

Roles of APOBEC3 in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocarcinogenesis

APOBEC3 (A3) cytidine deaminases inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and play vital roles in maintaining a variety of biochemical processes, including the regulation of protein expression and innate immunity. Emerging evidence indicates that the deaminated deoxycytidine biochemical activity of A3 proteins in single-stranded DNA makes them a double-edged sword. These enzymes can cause cellular genetic mutations at replication forks or within transcription bubbles, depending on the physiological state of the cell and the phase of the cell cycle. Under pathological conditions, aberrant expression of A3 genes with improper deaminase activity regulation may threaten genomic stability and eventually lead to cancer development. This review attempted to summarize the antiviral activities and underlying mechanisms of A3 editing enzymes in HBV infections. Moreover, the correlations between A3 genes and hepatocarcinogenesis were also elucidated.

Hallmarks of Retroelement Expression in T-Cells Treated With HDAC Inhibitors

A wide spectrum of drugs have been assessed as latency reversal agents (LRA) to reactivate HIV-1 from cellular reservoirs and aid in viral eradication strategies. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have been studied in vitro and in vivo as potential candidates for HIV-1 latency reversion. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and romidepsin (RMD) are two HDACi able to reverse HIV latency, however studies of potential off-target effects on retroelement expression have been limited. Retroelements constitute a large portion of the human genome, and some are considered “fossil viruses” as they constitute remnants of ancient exogenous retroviruses infections. Retroelements are reactivated during certain disease conditions like cancer or during HIV-1 infection. In this study, we analyzed differential expression of retroelements using publicly available RNA-seq datasets (GSE102187 and GSE114883) obtained from uninfected CD4+, and HIV-1 latently infected CD4+ T-cells treated with HDACi (SAHA and RMD). We found a total of 712 and 1,380 differentially expressed retroelements in HIV-1 latently infected cells following a 24-h SAHA and RMD treatment, respectively. Furthermore, we found that 531 retroelement sequences (HERVs and L1) were differentially expressed under both HDACi treatments, while 1,030 HERV/L1 were exclusively regulated by each drug. Despite differences in specific HERV loci expression, the overall pattern at the HERV family level was similar for both treatments. We detected differential expression of full-length HERV families including HERV-K, HERV-W and HERV-H. Furthermore, we analyzed the link between differentially expressed retroelements and nearby immune genes. TRAF2 (TNF receptor) and GBP5 (inflammasome activator) were upregulated in HDACi treated samples and their expression was correlated with nearby HERV (MERV101_9q34.3) and L1 (L1FLnI_1p22.2k, L1FLnI_1p22.2j, L1FLnI_1p22.2i). Our findings suggest that HDACi have an off-target effect on the expression of retroelements and on the expression of immune associated genes in treated CD4+ T-cells. Furthermore, our data highlights the importance of exploring the interaction between HIV-1 and retroelement expression in LRA treated samples to understand their role and impact on “shock and kill” strategies and their potential use as reservoir biomarkers.

Immune inactivation by APOBEC3B enrichment predicts response to chemotherapy and survival in gastric cancer

Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide 3B (APOBEC3B) plays an important role in tumor mutagenesis. However, its clinical significance in gastric cancer (GC) remains largely unknown. We enrolled a total of 482 GC patients from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University for immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to evaluate the prognostic and predictive values of APOBEC3B. Genomic and phenotypic datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG) cohort were downloaded for external validation and complementary bioinformatic analysis. Fresh specimens of additional 60 patients from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were collected to detect CD8⁺ T cell phenotype with flow cytometry (FCM). The high expression of APOBEC3B indicated inferior overall survival (OS, P < .001 and P = .003) and disease-free survival (DFS, P < .001 and P < .001), yet superior therapeutic responsiveness to fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in TNM stage II patients. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of APOBEC3B-enriched tumors was characterized by reduced infiltration of tumor reactive CD8⁺ T cells expressing both effector molecules and immune checkpoints. APOBEC3B ^high CD8⁺ T cell ^high GC patients were most likely to benefit from ACT and PD-1 blockade. Our study demonstrates that APOBEC3B was an independent prognostic and predictive factor in GC. The potential interplay between APOBEC3B and CD8⁺ T cells merited further investigations.

Overexpression of transposable elements is associated with immune evasion and poor outcome in colorectal cancer

AIM

High immune cell infiltration of the tumour microenvironment is generally associated with a good prognosis in solid cancers. However, a subset of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) tumours with high immune cell infiltration have a poor outcome. These tumours have a high level of T cell infiltration and are also characterised by increased expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). As these tumours comprise both microsatellite instability and microsatellite stable subtypes, the mechanism underlying this phenotype is unknown.

METHODS

Using RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we quantified transposable element (TE) expression and developed a TE expression score that is predictive of prognosis and immune infiltration independent of microsatellite instability status and tumour staging in CRC.

RESULTS

Tumours with the highest TE expression score showed increased immune cell infiltration with upregulation of interferon (IFN) signalling pathways and downstream activation of IFN-simulated genes. As expected, cell lines treated with DNA methyltransferase inhibitor mimicked patient tumours with increased TE expression and IFN signalling. However, surprisingly, unlike high TE expressing CRC, there is little evidence for the activation of JAK-STAT signalling and PD-L1 expression in DNA methyltransferase inhibitor-treated cells. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of CRC samples showed that PD-L1 expression is mainly confined to tumour-associated macrophages and T cells, suggesting that TE mediated IFN signalling is triggering expression of PD-L1 in immune cells rather than in tumour cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study uncovers a novel mechanism of TE driven immune evasion and highlights TE expression as an important factor for patient prognosis in CRC.

Expression of Retroelements in Cervical Cancer and Their Interplay with HPV Infection and Host Gene Expression

Retroelements are expressed in diverse types of cancer and are related to tumorigenesis and to cancer progression. We characterized the expression of retroelements in cervical cancer and explored their interplay with HPV infection and their association with expression of neighboring genes. Forty biopsies of invasive cervical carcinoma (squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas) with genotyped HPV were selected and analyzed for human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) and long interspersed nuclear element 1 (L1) expression through RNA-seq data. We found 8060 retroelements expressed in the samples and a negative correlation of DNA methyltransferase 1 expression with the two most expressed L1 elements. A total of 103 retroelements were found differentially expressed between tumor histological types and between HPV types, including several HERV families (HERV-K, HERV-H, HERV-E, HERV-I and HERV-L). The comparison between HPV mono- and co-infections showed the highest proportion of differentially expressed L1 elements. The location of retroelements affected neighboring gene expression, such as shown for the interleukin-20 gene family. Three HERVs and seven L1 were located close to this gene family and two L1 showed a positive association with IL20RB expression. This study describes the expression of retroelements in cervical cancer and shows their association with HPV status and host gene expression.

AID and APOBECs as Multifaceted Intrinsic Virus-Restricting Factors: Emerging Concepts in the Light of COVID-19

The AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)/APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit) family with its multifaceted mode of action emerges as potent intrinsic host antiviral system that acts against a variety of DNA and RNA viruses including coronaviruses. All family members are cytosine-to-uracil deaminases that either have a profound role in driving a strong and specific humoral immune response (AID) or restricting the virus itself by a plethora of mechanisms (APOBECs). In this article, we highlight some of the key aspects apparently linking the AID/APOBECs and SARS-CoV-2. Among those is our discovery that APOBEC4 shows high expression in cell types and anatomical parts targeted by SARS-CoV-2. Additional focus is given by us to the lymphoid structures and AID as the master regulator of germinal center reactions, which result in antibody production by plasma and memory B cells. We propose the dissection of the AID/APOBECs gene signature towards decisive determinants of the patient-specific and/or the patient group-specific antiviral response. Finally, the patient-specific mapping of the AID/APOBEC polymorphisms should be considered in the light of COVID-19.

Translesion DNA Synthesis and Carcinogenesis

Tens of thousands of DNA lesions are formed in mammalian cells each day. DNA translesion synthesis is the main mechanism of cell defense against unrepaired DNA lesions. DNA polymerases iota (Pol ι), eta (Pol η), kappa (Pol κ), and zeta (Pol ζ) have active sites that are less stringent toward the DNA template structure and efficiently incorporate nucleotides opposite DNA lesions. However, these polymerases display low accuracy of DNA synthesis and can introduce mutations in genomic DNA. Impaired functioning of these enzymes can lead to an increased risk of cancer.

Editing and Chemical Modifications on Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer: A New Tale with Clinical Significance

Currently, for seemingly every type of cancer, dysregulated levels of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are reported and non-coding transcripts are expected to be the next class of diagnostic and therapeutic tools in oncology. Recently, alterations to the ncRNAs transcriptome have emerged as a novel hallmark of cancer. Historically, ncRNAs were characterized mainly as regulators and little attention was paid to the mechanisms that regulate them. The role of modifications, which can control the function of ncRNAs post-transcriptionally, only recently began to emerge. Typically, these modifications can be divided into reversible (i.e., chemical modifications: m⁵C, hm⁵C, m⁶A, m¹A, and pseudouridine) and non-reversible (i.e., editing: ADAR dependent, APOBEC dependent and ADAR/APOBEC independent). The first research papers showed that levels of these modifications are altered in cancer and can be part of the tumorigenic process. Hence, the aim of this review paper is to describe the most common regulatory modifications (editing and chemical modifications) of the traditionally considered “non-functional” ncRNAs (i.e., microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs) in the context of malignant disease. We consider that only by understanding this extra regulatory layer it is possible to translate the knowledge about ncRNAs and their modifications into clinical practice.

The interesting relationship between APOBEC3 deoxycytidine deaminases and cancer: a long road ahead

Cancer is considered a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells and is propelled by somatic mutations. Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3) family of enzymes are endogenous sources of somatic mutations found in multiple human cancers. While these enzymes normally act as an intrinsic immune defence against viruses, they can also catalyse 'off-target' cytidine deamination in genomic single-stranded DNA intermediates. The deamination of cytosine forms uracil, which is promutagenic in DNA. Key factors to trigger the APOBEC 'off-target' activity are overexpression in a non-normal cell type, nuclear localization and replication stress. The resulting uracil-induced mutations contribute to genomic variation, which may result in neutral, beneficial or harmful consequences for the cancer. This review summarizes the functional and biochemical basis of the APOBEC3 enzyme activity and highlights their relationship with the most well-studied cancers in this particular context such as breast, lung, bladder, and human papillomavirus-associated cancers. We focus on APOBEC3A, APOBEC3B and APOBEC3H haplotype I because they are the leading candidates as sources of somatic mutations in these and other cancers. Also, we discuss the prognostic value of the APOBEC3 expression in drug resistance and response to therapies.

The Role of APOBECs in Viral Replication

Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) proteins are a diverse and evolutionarily conserved family of cytidine deaminases that provide a variety of functions from tissue-specific gene expression and immunoglobulin diversity to control of viruses and retrotransposons. APOBEC family expansion has been documented among mammalian species, suggesting a powerful selection for their activity. Enzymes with a duplicated zinc-binding domain often have catalytically active and inactive domains, yet both have antiviral function. Although APOBEC antiviral function was discovered through hypermutation of HIV-1 genomes lacking an active Vif protein, much evidence indicates that APOBECs also inhibit virus replication through mechanisms other than mutagenesis. Multiple steps of the viral replication cycle may be affected, although nucleic acid replication is a primary target. Packaging of APOBECs into virions was first noted with HIV-1, yet is not a prerequisite for viral inhibition. APOBEC antagonism may occur in viral producer and recipient cells. Signatures of APOBEC activity include G-to-A and C-to-T mutations in a particular sequence context. The importance of APOBEC activity for viral inhibition is reflected in the identification of numerous viral factors, including HIV-1 Vif, which are dedicated to antagonism of these deaminases. Such viral antagonists often are only partially successful, leading to APOBEC selection for viral variants that enhance replication or avoid immune elimination.

Unveiling Human Non-Random Genome Editing Mechanisms Activated in Response to Chronic Environmental Changes: I. Where Might These Mechanisms Come from and What Might They Have Led To?

This article challenges the notion of the randomness of mutations in eukaryotic cells by unveiling stress-induced human non-random genome editing mechanisms. To account for the existence of such mechanisms, I have developed molecular concepts of the cell environment and cell environmental stressors and, making use of a large quantity of published data, hypothesised the origin of some crucial biological leaps along the evolutionary path of life on Earth under the pressure of natural selection, in particular, (1) virus-cell mating as a primordial form of sexual recombination and symbiosis; (2) Lamarckian CRISPR-Cas systems; (3) eukaryotic gene development; (4) antiviral activity of retrotransposon-guided mutagenic enzymes; and finally, (5) the exaptation of antiviral mutagenic mechanisms to stress-induced genome editing mechanisms directed at "hyper-transcribed" endogenous genes. Genes transcribed at their maximum rate (hyper-transcribed), yet still unable to meet new chronic environmental demands generated by "pollution", are inadequate and generate more and more intronic retrotransposon transcripts. In this scenario, RNA-guided mutagenic enzymes (e.g., Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like enzymes, APOBECs), which have been shown to bind to retrotransposon RNA-repetitive sequences, would be surgically targeted by intronic retrotransposons on opened chromatin regions of the same "hyper-transcribed" genes. RNA-guided mutagenic enzymes may therefore "Lamarkianly" generate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and gene copy number variations (CNV), as well as transposon transposition and chromosomal translocations in the restricted areas of hyper-functional and inadequate genes, leaving intact the rest of the genome. CNV and SNP of hyper-transcribed genes may allow cells to surgically explore a new fitness scenario, which increases their adaptability to stressful environmental conditions. Like the mechanisms of immunoglobulin somatic hypermutation, non-random genome editing mechanisms may generate several cell mutants, and those codifying for the most environmentally adequate proteins would have a survival advantage and would therefore be Darwinianly selected. Non-random genome editing mechanisms represent tools of evolvability leading to organismal adaptation including transgenerational non-Mendelian gene transmission or to death of environmentally inadequate genomes. They are a link between environmental changes and biological novelty and plasticity, finally providing a molecular basis to reconcile gene-centred and "ecological" views of evolution.

Human Endogenous Retrovirus Expression Is Upregulated in the Breast Cancer Microenvironment of HIV Infected Women: A Pilot Study

In people living with HIV (PLWH), chronic inflammation can lead to cancer initiation and progression, besides driving a dysregulated and diminished immune responsiveness. HIV infection also leads to increased transcription of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs), which could increase an inflammatory environment and create a tumor growth suppressive environment with high expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In order to determine the impact of HIV infection to HERV expression on the breast cancer microenvironment, we sequenced total RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast cancer samples of women HIV-negative and HIV-positive for transcriptome and retrotranscriptome analyses. We performed RNA extraction from FFPE samples, library preparation and total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The RNA-seq analysis shows 185 differentially expressed genes: 181 host genes (178 upregulated and three downregulated) and four upregulated HERV transcripts in HIV-positive samples. We also explored the impact of HERV expression in its neighboring breast cancer development genes (BRCA1, CCND1, NBS1/NBN, RAD50, KRAS, PI3K/PIK3CA) and in long non-coding RNA expression (AC060780.1, also known as RP11-242D8.1). We found a significant positive association of HERV expression with RAD50 and with AC060780.1, which suggest a possible role of HERV in regulating breast cancer genes from PLWH with breast cancer. In addition, we found immune system, extracellular matrix organization and metabolic signaling genes upregulated in HIV-positive breast cancer. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence of transcriptional and retrotranscriptional changes in breast cancer from PLWH compared to non-HIV breast cancer, including dysregulation of HERVs, suggesting an indirect effect of the virus on the breast cancer microenvironment.

Replication protein A: a multifunctional protein with roles in DNA replication, repair and beyond

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) forms continuously during DNA replication and is an important intermediate during recombination-mediated repair of damaged DNA. Replication protein A (RPA) is the major eukaryotic ssDNA-binding protein. As such, RPA protects the transiently formed ssDNA from nucleolytic degradation and serves as a physical platform for the recruitment of DNA damage response factors. Prominent and well-studied RPA-interacting partners are the tumor suppressor protein p53, the RAD51 recombinase and the ATR-interacting proteins ATRIP and ETAA1. RPA interactions are also documented with the helicases BLM, WRN and SMARCAL1/HARP, as well as the nucleotide excision repair proteins XPA, XPG and XPF–ERCC1. Besides its well-studied roles in DNA replication (restart) and repair, accumulating evidence shows that RPA is engaged in DNA activities in a broader biological context, including nucleosome assembly on nascent chromatin, regulation of gene expression, telomere maintenance and numerous other aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. In addition, novel RPA inhibitors show promising effects in cancer treatment, as single agents or in combination with chemotherapeutics. Since the biochemical properties of RPA and its roles in DNA repair have been extensively reviewed, here we focus on recent discoveries describing several non-canonical functions.

HPV16 whole genome minority variants in persistent infections from young Dutch women

BACKGROUND

Chronic infections by one of the oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are responsible for near 5% of the global cancer burden and HPV16 is the type most often found in cancers. HPV genomes display unexpected levels of variation when deep-sequenced. Minor nucleotide variations (MNVs) may reveal HPV genomic instability and HPV-related carcinogenic transformation of host cells.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to investigate HPV16 genome variation at the minor variant level on persisting HPV16 cervical infections from a population of young Dutch women.

STUDY DESIGN

15 HPV16 infections were sequenced using a whole-HPV genome deep sequencing protocol (TaME-seq). One infection was followed over a three-year period, eight were followed over a two-year period, three were followed over a one-year period and three infections had a single sampling point.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Using a 1% variant frequency cutoff, we find on average 48 MNVs per HPV16 genome and 1717 MNVs in total when sequencing coverage was >100 × . We find the transition mutation T > C to be the most common, in contrast to other studies detecting APOBEC-related C > T mutation profiles in pre-cancerous and cancer samples. Our results suggest that the relative mutagenic footprint of HPV16 genomes may differ between the infections in this study and transforming lesions. In addition, we identify a number of MNVs that have previously been associated with higher incidence of high-grade lesions (CIN3+) in a population study. These findings may provide a starting point for future studies exploring causality between emerging HPV minor genomic variants and cancer development.

APOBEC3s: DNA-editing human cytidine deaminases

Nucleic acid editing enzymes are essential components of the human immune system that lethally mutate viral pathogens and somatically mutate immunoglobulins. Among these enzymes are cytidine deaminases of the apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) super family, each with unique target sequence specificity and subcellular localization. We focus on the DNA-editing APOBEC3 enzymes that have recently attracted attention because of their involvement in cancer and potential in gene-editing applications. We review and compare the crystal structures of APOBEC3 (A3) domains, binding interactions with DNA, substrate specificity, and activity. Recent crystal structures of A3A and A3G bound to ssDNA have provided insights into substrate binding and specificity determinants of these enzymes. Still many unknowns remain regarding potential cooperativity, nucleic acid interactions, and systematic quantification of substrate preference of many APOBEC3s, which are needed to better characterize the biological functions and consequences of misregulation of these gene editors.

Differential Evolution of Antiretroviral Restriction Factors in Pteropid Bats as Revealed by APOBEC3 Gene Complexity

Bats have attracted attention in recent years as important reservoirs of viruses deadly to humans and other mammals. These infections are typically nonpathogenic in bats raising questions about innate immune differences that might exist between bats and other mammals. The APOBEC3 gene family encodes antiviral DNA cytosine deaminases with important roles in the suppression of diverse viruses and genomic parasites. Here, we characterize pteropid APOBEC3 genes and show that species within the genus Pteropus possess the largest and most diverse array of APOBEC3 genes identified in any mammal reported to date. Several bat APOBEC3 proteins are antiviral as demonstrated by restriction of retroviral infectivity using HIV-1 as a model, and recombinant A3Z1 subtypes possess strong DNA deaminase activity. These genes represent the first group of antiviral restriction factors identified in bats with extensive diversification relative to homologues in other mammals.

On the Population Dynamics of Junk: A Review on the Population Genomics of Transposable Elements

Transposable elements (TEs) play an important role in shaping genomic organization and structure, and may cause dramatic changes in phenotypes. Despite the genetic load they may impose on their host and their importance in microevolutionary processes such as adaptation and speciation, the number of population genetics studies focused on TEs has been rather limited so far compared to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Here, we review the current knowledge about the dynamics of transposable elements at recent evolutionary time scales, and discuss the mechanisms that condition their abundance and frequency. We first discuss non-adaptive mechanisms such as purifying selection and the variable rates of transposition and elimination, and then focus on positive and balancing selection, to finally conclude on the potential role of TEs in causing genomic incompatibilities and eventually speciation. We also suggest possible ways to better model TEs dynamics in a population genomics context by incorporating recent advances in TEs into the rich information provided by SNPs about the demography, selection, and intrinsic properties of genomes.

An insight into the dependence of the deamination rate of human APOBEC3F on the length of single-stranded DNA, which is affected by the concentrations of APOBEC3F and single-stranded DNA

BACKGROUND

APOBEC3F (A3F), a member of the human APOBEC3 (A3) family of cytidine deaminases, acts as an anti-HIV-1 factor by deaminating deoxycytidine in the complementary DNA of the viral genome. A full understanding of the deamination behavior of A3F awaits further investigation.

METHODS

The real-time NMR method and uracil-DNA glycosylase assay were used to track the activities of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of A3F at different concentrations of A3F-CTD and ssDNA. The steady-state fluorescence anisotropy measurement was used to examine the binding between A3F-CTD and ssDNA with different lengths. The use of the A3F-CTD N214H mutant, having higher activity than the wild-type, facilitated the tracking of the reactions.

RESULTS

A3F-CTD was found to efficiently deaminate the target deoxycytidine in long ssDNA in lower ssDNA concentration conditions ([A3F-CTD] ≫ [ssDNA]), while the target deoxycytidine in short ssDNA is deaminated efficiently in higher ssDNA concentration conditions ([A3F-CTD] ≪ [ssDNA]). This property is quite different from that of the previously studied A3 family member, A3B; the concentrations of the proteins and ssDNA had no effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The concentrations of A3F-CTD and ssDNA substrates affect the ssDNA-length-dependence of deamination rate of the A3F-CTD. This unique property of A3F is rationally interpreted on the basis of its binding characteristics with ssDNA.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The discovery of the unique property of A3F regarding the deamination rate deepens the understanding of its counteraction against HIV-1. Our strategy is applicable to investigate the other aspects of the A3 activities, such as those involved in the cancer development.

The present and future of de novo whole-genome assembly

As the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, various de novo assembly algorithms based on the de Bruijn graph have been developed to construct chromosome-level sequences. However, numerous technical or computational challenges in de novo assembly still remain, although many bright ideas and heuristics have been suggested to tackle the challenges in both experimental and computational settings. In this review, we categorize de novo assemblers on the basis of the type of de Bruijn graphs (Hamiltonian and Eulerian) and discuss the challenges of de novo assembly for short NGS reads regarding computational complexity and assembly ambiguity. Then, we discuss how the limitations of the short reads can be overcome by using a single-molecule sequencing platform that generates long reads of up to several kilobases. In fact, the long read assembly has caused a paradigm shift in whole-genome assembly in terms of algorithms and supporting steps. We also summarize (i) hybrid assemblies using both short and long reads and (ii) overlap-based assemblies for long reads and discuss their challenges and future prospects. This review provides guidelines to determine the optimal approach for a given input data type, computational budget or genome.

APOBEC3B Nuclear Localization Requires Two Distinct N-Terminal Domain Surfaces

The APOBEC3 family of cytosine deaminases catalyzes the conversion of cytosines-to-uracils in single-stranded DNA. Traditionally, these enzymes are associated with antiviral immunity and restriction of DNA-based pathogens. However, a role for these enzymes in tumor evolution and metastatic disease has also become evident. The primary APOBEC3 candidate in cancer mutagenesis is APOBEC3B (A3B) for three reasons: (1) A3B mRNA is upregulated in several different cancers, (2) A3B expression and mutational loads correlate with poor clinical outcomes, and (3) A3B is the only family member known to be constitutively nuclear. Previous studies have mapped non-canonical A3B nuclear localization determinants to a single surface-exposed patch within the N-terminal domain (NTD). Here, we show that A3B has an additional, distinct, surface-exposed NTD region that contributes to nuclear localization. Disruption of residues within the first 30 amino acids of A3B (import surface 1) or loop 5/α-helix 3 (import surface 2) completely abolish nuclear localization. These import determinants also graft into NTDs of related family members and mediate re-localization from cell-wide-to-nucleus or cytoplasm-to-nucleus. These findings demonstrate that both sets of residues are required for non-canonical A3B nuclear localization and describe unique surfaces that may serve as novel therapeutic targets.

A Pan-cancer Landscape of Interactions between Solid Tumors and Infiltrating Immune Cell Populations

Purpose: Throughout their development, tumors are challenged by the immune system, and they acquire features to evade its surveillance. A systematic view of these traits, which shed light on how tumors respond to immunotherapies, is still lacking.Experimental Design: Here, we computed the relative abundance of an array of immune cell populations to measure the immune infiltration pattern of 9,174 tumors of 29 solid cancers. We then clustered tumors with similar infiltration pattern to define immunophenotypes. Finally, we identified genomic and transcriptomic traits associated to these immunophenotypes across cancer types.Results: In highly cytotoxic immunophenotypes, we found tumors with low clonal heterogeneity enriched for alterations of genes involved in epigenetic regulation, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, antigen presentation, and cell-cell communication, which may drive resistance in combination with the ectopic expression of negative immune checkpoints. Tumors with immunophenotypes of intermediate cytotoxicity are characterized by an upregulation of processes involved in neighboring tissue invasion and remodeling that may foster the recruitment of immunosuppressive cells. Tumors with poorly cytotoxic immunophenotype tend to be of more advanced stages and bear a greater burden of copy number alterations and frequent alterations of cell cycle, hedgehog, β-catenin, and TGFβ pathways, which may cause immune depletion.Conclusions: We provide a comprehensive landscape of the characteristics of solid tumors that may influence (or be influenced by) the characteristics of their immune infiltrate. These results may help interpret the response of solid tumors to immunotherapies and guide the development of novel drug combination strategies. Clin Cancer Res; 24(15); 3717-28. ©2018 AACR.

Biochemical Basis of APOBEC3 Deoxycytidine Deaminase Activity on Diverse DNA Substrates

The Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing complex (APOBEC) family of enzymes contains single-stranded polynucleotide cytidine deaminases. These enzymes catalyze the deamination of cytidine in RNA or single-stranded DNA, which forms uracil. From this 11 member enzyme family in humans, the deamination of single-stranded DNA by the seven APOBEC3 family members is considered here. The APOBEC3 family has many roles, such as restricting endogenous and exogenous retrovirus replication and retrotransposon insertion events and reducing DNA-induced inflammation. Similar to other APOBEC family members, the APOBEC3 enzymes are a double-edged sword that can catalyze deamination of cytosine in genomic DNA, which results in potential genomic instability due to the many mutagenic fates of uracil in DNA. Here, we discuss how these enzymes find their single-stranded DNA substrate in different biological contexts such as during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proviral DNA synthesis, retrotransposition of the LINE-1 element, and the "off-target" genomic DNA substrate. The enzymes must be able to efficiently deaminate transiently available single-stranded DNA during reverse transcription, replication, or transcription. Specific biochemical characteristics promote deamination in each situation to increase enzyme efficiency through processivity, rapid enzyme cycling between substrates, or oligomerization state. The use of biochemical data to clarify biological functions and alignment with cellular data is discussed. Models to bridge knowledge from biochemical, structural, and single molecule experiments are presented.

The Antiviral and Cancer Genomic DNA Deaminase APOBEC3H Is Regulated by an RNA-Mediated Dimerization Mechanism

Human APOBEC3H and homologous single-stranded DNA cytosine deaminases are unique to mammals. These DNA-editing enzymes function in innate immunity by restricting the replication of viruses and transposons. APOBEC3H also contributes to cancer mutagenesis. Here, we address the fundamental nature of RNA in regulating human APOBEC3H activities. APOBEC3H co-purifies with RNA as an inactive protein, and RNase A treatment enables strong DNA deaminase activity. RNA-binding-defective mutants demonstrate clear separation of function by becoming DNA hypermutators. Biochemical and crystallographic data demonstrate a mechanism in which double-stranded RNA mediates enzyme dimerization. Additionally, APOBEC3H separation-of-function mutants show that RNA binding is required for cytoplasmic localization, packaging into HIV-1 particles, and antiviral activity. Overall, these results support a model in which structured RNA negatively regulates the potentially harmful DNA deamination activity of APOBEC3H while, at the same time, positively regulating its antiviral activity.

Defective regulation of L1 endogenous retroelements in primary Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus: Role of methylating enzymes

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether altered DNA methylation contributes to the inappropriate expression of LINE-1 (L1) retroelements in primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

Minor salivary glands (MSG) were obtained from 42 patients with primary SS [23 without adverse predictors for lymphoma development (SS-low risk), 7 SS-high risk and 12 complicated by B-cell lymphoma (SS-lymphoma)] and 17 sicca controls (SC). Additionally, kidney biopsy specimens and PBMCs were obtained from 23 and 73 lupus patients, respectively. Relative mRNA expression was quantified for full-length L1 transcripts, along with mediators of methylation. In an independent set of 44 MSG samples (11 SS-low risk, 10 SS-high risk, 15 SS-lymphoma and 8 SC), methylation levels of the L1 promoter were determined by bisulphite pyrosequencing.

RESULTS

A strong positive correlation was demonstrated between L1 transcripts and gene products that mediate de novo and constitutive DNA methylation, DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)3B, DNMT1, and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), in both SS MSG and lupus renal tissues. A significant negative correlation was observed between expression of L1 and lymphoid-specific helicase (LSH, encoded by HELLS) in both SS MSG and SLE kidney tissues, as well as between DNMT3A transcripts and L1 expression in SLE kidney tissues and PBMCs. Reduced levels of L1 promoter methylation along with increased DNMT3B, DNMT1, and MeCP2, but reduced LSH levels were detected in SS-low risk patients compared to both SS-lymphoma and SC. The SS-lymphoma group was also characterized by a profound decrease of MeCP2 and DNMT3B compared to SC.

CONCLUSION

Our data support a contributory role of altered methylation mechanisms in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune disorders and related lymphoproliferative processes and suggest that LSH and DNMT3A should be investigated as candidate upstream mediators of decreased L1 promoter methylation and increased L1 expression.

Methods and Applications of CRISPR-Mediated Base Editing in Eukaryotic Genomes

The past several years have seen an explosion in development of applications for the CRISPR-Cas9 system, from efficient genome editing, to high-throughput screening, to recruitment of a range of DNA and chromatin-modifying enzymes. While homology-directed repair (HDR) coupled with Cas9 nuclease cleavage has been used with great success to repair and re-write genomes, recently developed base-editing systems present a useful orthogonal strategy to engineer nucleotide substitutions. Base editing relies on recruitment of cytidine deaminases to introduce changes (rather than double-stranded breaks and donor templates) and offers potential improvements in efficiency while limiting damage and simplifying the delivery of editing machinery. At the same time, these systems enable novel mutagenesis strategies to introduce sequence diversity for engineering and discovery. Here, we review the different base-editing platforms, including their deaminase recruitment strategies and editing outcomes, and compare them to other CRISPR genome-editing technologies. Additionally, we discuss how these systems have been applied in therapeutic, engineering, and research settings. Lastly, we explore future directions of this emerging technology.

Methods and Applications of CRISPR-Mediated Base Editing in Eukaryotic Genomes

The past several years have seen an explosion in development of applications for the CRISPR-Cas9 system, from efficient genome editing, to high-throughput screening, to recruitment of a range of DNA and chromatin-modifying enzymes. While homology-directed repair (HDR) coupled with Cas9 nuclease cleavage has been used with great success to repair and re-write genomes, recently developed base-editing systems present a useful orthogonal strategy to engineer nucleotide substitutions. Base editing relies on recruitment of cytidine deaminases to introduce changes (rather than double-stranded breaks and donor templates) and offers potential improvements in efficiency while limiting damage and simplifying the delivery of editing machinery. At the same time, these systems enable novel mutagenesis strategies to introduce sequence diversity for engineering and discovery. Here, we review the different base-editing platforms, including their deaminase recruitment strategies and editing outcomes, and compare them to other CRISPR genome-editing technologies. Additionally, we discuss how these systems have been applied in therapeutic, engineering, and research settings. Lastly, we explore future directions of this emerging technology.

Deamination-independent restriction of LINE-1 retrotransposition by APOBEC3H

The APOBEC3 family of cytosine deaminase enzymes are able to restrict replication of retroelements, such as LINE-1. However, each of the seven APOBEC3 enzymes have been reported to act differentially to prevent LINE-1 retrotransposition and the mechanisms of APOBEC3-mediated LINE-1 inhibition has not been well understood. The prevailing view for many years was that APOBEC3-mediated LINE-1 inhibition was deamination-independent and relied on APOBEC3s blocking the LINE-1 reverse transcriptase DNA polymerization or transport of the LINE-1 RNA into the nucleus. However, recently it was shown that APOBEC3A can deaminate cytosine, to form uracil, on transiently exposed single-stranded LINE-1 cDNA and this leads to LINE-1 cDNA degradation. In this study, we confirmed that APOBEC3A is a potent deamination-dependent inhibitor of LINE-1 retrotransposition, but show that in contrast, A3H haplotype II and haplotype V restrict LINE-1 activity using a deamination-independent mechanism. Our study supports the model that different APOBEC3 proteins have evolved to inhibit LINE-1 retrotransposition through distinct mechanisms.

Sensitive Detection of DNA Lesions by Bulge-Enhanced Highly Specific Coamplification at Lower Denaturation Temperature Polymerase Chain Reaction

Mutagenic modifications of nucleotides or DNA lesions that result from environmental stress have proven to be associated with a variety of diseases, particularly cancer. The method for accurately detecting the lesions is therefore of great importance for biomedical research and toxicity study. We develop a sensitive and low-cost bulge-enhanced coamplification at lower denaturation temperature polymerase chain reaction (COLD-PCR) method for detecting DNA lesions (uracil and 8-oxoguanine) by combining an in vitro base excision repair (BER) pathway and COLD-PCR. The modified bases are converted to bulge via the BER pathway involving converting modified bases to an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site, cleavage at the AP site, and break ligation. The presence of the bulge induces a large change of the hybridization thermodynamics of double-stranded DNA, eventually enhancing the specificity of COLD-PCR. Besides, we used the free energy of hybridization as a reference to optimize the critical denaturation temperature (T_c) of COLD-PCR obtaining more specific amplification than empirical T_c. Taking advantage of the proposed bulge-enhanced COLD-PCR, we are able to identify the presence of DNA lesion-containing strands at low abundance down to 0.01%. This method also exhibits high sensitivity for glycosylase with a detection limit of 10^-4 U/mL [3 S/N (signal-to-noise ratio)] that is superior than some recently reported methods. With the design of the repair guide probe, the level of oxidative damage in genomic DNA caused by chemicals and photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be evaluated, heralding more applications in clinical diagnosis and epigenetic study.

Heat shock proteins stimulate APOBEC-3-mediated cytidine deamination in the hepatitis B virus

Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3 (APOBEC-3) enzymes are cytidine deaminases that are broadly and constitutively expressed. They are often up-regulated during carcinogenesis and candidate genes for causing the major single-base substitution in cancer-associated DNA mutations. Moreover, APOBEC-3s are involved in host innate immunity against many viruses. However, how APOBEC-3 mutational activity is regulated in normal and pathological conditions remains largely unknown. Heat shock protein levels are often elevated in both carcinogenesis and viral infection and are associated with DNA mutations. Here, using mutational analyses of hepatitis B virus (HBV), we found that Hsp90 stimulates deamination activity of APOBEC-3G (A3G), A3B, and A3C during co-expression in human liver HepG2 cells. Hsp90 directly stimulated A3G deamination activity when the purified proteins were used in in vitro reactions. Hsp40, -60, and -70 also had variable stimulatory effects in the cellular assay, but not in vitro Sequencing analyses further demonstrated that Hsp90 increased both A3G cytosine mutation efficiency on HBV DNA and total HBV mutation frequency. In addition, Hsp90 shifted A3G's cytosine region selection in HBV DNA and increased A3G's 5' nucleoside preference for deoxycytidine (5'-CC). Furthermore, the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin dose dependently inhibited A3G and A3B mutational activity on HBV viral DNA. Hsp90 knockdown by siRNA or by Hsp90 active-site mutation also decreased A3G activity. These results indicate that heat shock proteins, in particular Hsp90, stimulate APOBEC-3-mediated DNA deamination activity, suggesting a potential physiological role in carcinogenesis and viral innate immunity.

Opossum APOBEC1 is a DNA mutator with retrovirus and retroelement restriction activity

APOBEC3s (A3s) are single-stranded DNA cytosine deaminases that provide innate immune defences against retroviruses and mobile elements. A3s are specific to eutherian mammals because no direct homologs exist at the syntenic genomic locus in metatherian (marsupial) or prototherian (monotreme) mammals. However, the A3s in these species have the likely evolutionary precursors, the antibody gene deaminase AID and the RNA/DNA editing enzyme APOBEC1 (A1). Here, we used cell culture-based assays to determine whether opossum A1 restricts the infectivity of retroviruses including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the mobility of LTR/non-LTR retrotransposons. Opossum A1 partially inhibited HIV-1, as well as simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), murine leukemia virus (MLV), and the retrotransposon MusD. The mechanism of inhibition required catalytic activity, except for human LINE1 (L1) restriction, which was deamination-independent. These results indicate that opossum A1 functions as an innate barrier to infection by retroviruses such as HIV-1, and controls LTR/non-LTR retrotransposition in marsupials.

Structural basis for targeted DNA cytosine deamination and mutagenesis by APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B

APOBEC-catalyzed cytosine-to-uracil deamination of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) has beneficial functions in immunity and detrimental effects in cancer. APOBEC enzymes have intrinsic dinucleotide specificities that impart hallmark mutation signatures. Although numerous structures have been solved, mechanisms for global ssDNA recognition and local target-sequence selection remain unclear. Here we report crystal structures of human APOBEC3A and a chimera of human APOBEC3B and APOBEC3A bound to ssDNA at 3.1-Å and 1.7-Å resolution, respectively. These structures reveal a U-shaped DNA conformation, with the specificity-conferring -1 thymine flipped out and the target cytosine inserted deep into the zinc-coordinating active site pocket. The -1 thymine base fits into a groove between flexible loops and makes direct hydrogen bonds with the protein, accounting for the strong 5'-TC preference. These findings explain both conserved and unique properties among APOBEC family members, and they provide a basis for the rational design of inhibitors to impede the evolvability of viruses and tumors.

Evidence for APOBEC3B mRNA and protein expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas

It has been demonstrated that APOBEC3B possesses cytidine deaminase activity, which is likely to result in C-to-T signature mutations. Increased expression of the APOBEC3B gene has been shown to correlate with higher incidence of such mutations in various cancer types, such as breast, bladder, lung, and head and neck carcinomas. In the current study, we used in silico methods, immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR to detect the presence of APOBEC3B signature mutations and examine the levels and patterns of APOBEC3B expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we have found a high incidence of C-to-T transitions in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), of which OSCCs constitute the largest subgroup. Additionally, we compared APOBEC3B expression, at both mRNA and protein level, between OSCCs and non-cancerous samples. APOBEC3B was detected in both groups, but nuclear localization was consistent only in normal oral cells. APOBEC3B mRNA levels were clearly higher in OSCCs than in controls. These results suggest that while in normal oral cells APOBEC3B has an important nuclear function to fulfill, this activity may be hindered in a subgroup of tumor cells, due to the more prominent localization of the enzyme in the cytoplasm.

Deoxyinosine triphosphate induces MLH1/PMS2- and p53-dependent cell growth arrest and DNA instability in mammalian cells

Deoxyinosine (dI) occurs in DNA either by oxidative deamination of a previously incorporated deoxyadenosine residue or by misincorporation of deoxyinosine triphosphate (dITP) from the nucleotide pool during replication. To exclude dITP from the pool, mammals possess specific hydrolysing enzymes, such as inosine triphosphatase (ITPA). Previous studies have shown that deficiency in ITPA results in cell growth suppression and DNA instability. To explore the mechanisms of these phenotypes, we analysed ITPA-deficient human and mouse cells. We found that both growth suppression and accumulation of single-strand breaks in nuclear DNA of ITPA-deficient cells depended on MLH1/PMS2. The cell growth suppression of ITPA-deficient cells also depended on p53, but not on MPG, ENDOV or MSH2. ITPA deficiency significantly increased the levels of p53 protein and p21 mRNA/protein, a well-known target of p53, in an MLH1-dependent manner. Furthermore, MLH1 may also contribute to cell growth arrest by increasing the basal level of p53 activity.

Putative RNA-directed adaptive mutations in cancer evolution

Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the capacity of cancer cells to adapt to the tumor microenvironment and to anticancer therapies is a major challenge. In this context, cancer is believed to be an evolutionary process where random mutations and the selection process shape the mutational pattern and phenotype of cancer cells. This article challenges the notion of randomness of some cancer-associated mutations by describing molecular mechanisms involving stress-mediated biogenesis of mRNA-derived small RNAs able to target and increase the local mutation rate of the genomic loci they originate from. It is proposed that the probability of some mutations at specific loci could be increased in a stress-specific and RNA-depending manner. This would increase the probability of generating mutations that could alleviate stress situations, such as those triggered by anticancer drugs. Such a mechanism is made possible because tumor- and anticancer drug-associated stress situations trigger both cellular reprogramming and inflammation, which leads cancer cells to express molecular tools allowing them to “attack” and mutate their own genome in an RNA-directed manner.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Structure of the APOBEC3B Catalytic Domain: Structural Basis for Substrate Binding and DNA Deaminase Activity

Human APOBEC3B (A3B) is a member of the APOBEC3 (A3) family of cytidine deaminases, which function as DNA mutators and restrict viral pathogens and endogenous retrotransposons. Recently, A3B was identified as a major source of genetic heterogeneity in several human cancers. Here, we determined the solution nuclear magnetic resonance structure of the catalytically active C-terminal domain (CTD) of A3B and performed detailed analyses of its deaminase activity. The core of the structure comprises a central five-stranded β-sheet with six surrounding helices, common to all A3 proteins. The structural fold is most similar to that of A3A and A3G-CTD, with the most prominent difference being found in loop 1. The catalytic activity of A3B-CTD is ∼15-fold lower than that of A3A, although both exhibit a similar pH dependence. Interestingly, A3B-CTD with an A3A loop 1 substitution had significantly increased deaminase activity, while a single-residue change (H29R) in A3A loop 1 reduced A3A activity to the level seen with A3B-CTD. This establishes that loop 1 plays an important role in A3-catalyzed deamination by precisely positioning the deamination-targeted C into the active site. Overall, our data provide important insights into the determinants of the activities of individual A3 proteins and facilitate understanding of their biological function.

The in vitro Biochemical Characterization of an HIV-1 Restriction Factor APOBEC3F: Importance of Loop 7 on Both CD1 and CD2 for DNA Binding and Deamination

APOBEC3F (A3F) is a member of the apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) family of proteins that can deaminate cytosine (C) to uracil (U) on nucleic acids. A3F is one of the four APOBEC members with two Zn-coordinated homologous cytosine deaminase (CD) domains, with the others being A3G, A3D, and A3B. Here we report the in vitro characterization of DNA binding and deaminase activities using purified wild-type and various mutant proteins of A3F from an Escherichia coli expression system. We show that even though CD1 is catalytically inactive and CD2 is the active deaminase domain, presence of CD1 on the N-terminus of CD2 enhances the deaminase activity by over an order of magnitude. This enhancement of CD2 catalytic activity is mainly through the increase of substrate single-stranded (ss) DNA binding by the N-terminal CD1 domain. We further show that the loop 7 of both CD1 and CD2 of A3F plays an important role for ssDNA binding for each individual domain, as well as for the deaminase activity of CD2 domain in the full-length A3F.

Structural and functional assessment of APOBEC3G macromolecular complexes

There are eleven members in the human APOBEC family of proteins that are evolutionarily related through their zinc-dependent cytidine deaminase domains. The human APOBEC gene clusters arose on chromosome 6 and 22 through gene duplication and divergence to where current day APOBEC proteins are functionally diverse and broadly expressed in tissues. APOBEC serve enzymatic and non enzymatic functions in cells. In both cases, formation of higher-order structures driven by APOBEC protein-protein interactions and binding to RNA and/or single stranded DNA are integral to their function. In some circumstances, these interactions are regulatory and modulate APOBEC activities. We are just beginning to understand how macromolecular interactions drive processes such as APOBEC subcellular compartmentalization, formation of holoenzyme complexes, gene targeting, foreign DNA restriction, anti-retroviral activity, formation of ribonucleoprotein particles and APOBEC degradation. Protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid cross-linking methods coupled with mass spectrometry, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, glycerol gradient sedimentation, fluorescence anisotropy and APOBEC deaminase assays are enabling mapping of interacting surfaces that are essential for these functions. The goal of this methods review is through example of our research on APOBEC3G, describe the application of cross-linking methods to characterize and quantify macromolecular interactions and their functional implications. Given the homology in structure and function, it is proposed that these methods will be generally applicable to the discovery process for other APOBEC and RNA and DNA editing and modifying proteins.

Involvement of activation-induced cytidine deaminase in skin cancer development

Most skin cancers develop as the result of UV light-induced DNA damage; however, a substantial number of cases appear to occur independently of UV damage. A causal link between UV-independent skin cancers and chronic inflammation has been suspected, although the precise mechanism underlying this association is unclear. Here, we have proposed that activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID, encoded by AICDA) links chronic inflammation and skin cancer. We demonstrated that Tg mice expressing AID in the skin spontaneously developed skin squamous cell carcinoma with Hras and Trp53 mutations. Furthermore, genetic deletion of Aicda reduced tumor incidence in a murine model of chemical-induced skin carcinogenesis. AID was expressed in human primary keratinocytes in an inflammatory stimulus-dependent manner and was detectable in human skin cancers. Together, the results of this study indicate that inflammation-induced AID expression promotes skin cancer development independently of UV damage and suggest AID as a potential target for skin cancer therapeutics.