Roles of translesion synthesis DNA polymerases in the potent mutagenicity of tobacco-specific nitrosamine-derived O2-alkylthymidines in human cells

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent human carcinogen. Metabolic activation of NNK generates a number of DNA adducts including O(2)-methylthymidine (O(2)-Me-dT) and O(2)-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobut-1-yl]thymidine (O(2)-POB-dT). To investigate the biological effects of these O(2)-alkylthymidines in humans, we have replicated plasmids containing a site-specifically incorporated O(2)-Me-dT or O(2)-POB-dT in human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells. The bulkier O(2)-POB-dT exhibited high genotoxicity and only 26% translesion synthesis (TLS) occurred, while O(2)-Me-dT was less genotoxic and allowed 55% TLS. However, O(2)-Me-dT was 20% more mutagenic (mutation frequency (MF) 64%) compared to O(2)-POB-dT (MF 53%) in HEK293T cells. The major type of mutations in each case was targeted T → A transversions (56% and 47%, respectively, for O(2)-Me-dT and O(2)-POB-dT). Both lesions induced a much lower frequency of T → G, the dominant mutation in bacteria. siRNA knockdown of the TLS polymerases (pols) indicated that pol η, pol ζ, and Rev1 are involved in the lesion bypass of O(2)-Me-dT and O(2)-POB-dT as the TLS efficiency decreased with knockdown of each pol. In contrast, MF of O(2)-Me-dT was decreased in pol ζ and Rev1 knockdown cells by 24% and 25%, respectively, while for O(2)-POB-dT, it was decreased by 44% in pol ζ knockdown cells, indicating that these TLS pols are critical for mutagenesis. Additional decrease in both TLS efficiency and MF was observed in cells deficient in pol ζ plus other Y-family pols. This study provided important mechanistic details on how these lesions are bypassed in human cells in both error-free and error-prone manner.

Replicative bypass of abasic site in Escherichia coli and human cells: similarities and differences

Abasic [apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)] sites are the most common DNA damages, opposite which dAMP is frequently inserted (‘A-rule’) in Escherichia coli. Nucleotide insertion opposite the AP-site in eukaryotic cells depends on the assay system and the type of cells. Accordingly, a ‘C-rule’, ‘A-rule’, or the lack of specificity has been reported. DNA sequence context also modulates nucleotide insertion opposite AP-site. Herein, we have compared replication of tetrahydrofuran (Z), a stable analog of AP-site, in E. coli and human embryonic kidney 293T cells in two different sequences. The efficiency of translesion synthesis or viability of the AP-site construct in E. coli was less than 1%, but it was 7- to 8-fold higher in the GZGTC sequence than in the GTGZC sequence. The difference in viability increased even more in pol V-deficient strains. Targeted one-base deletions occurred in 63% frequency in the GZG and 68% frequency in GZC sequence, which dropped to 49% and 21%, respectively, upon induction of SOS. The full-length products with SOS primarily involved dAMP insertion opposite the AP-site, which occurred in 49% and 71% frequency, respectively, in the GZG and GZC sequence. dAMP insertion, largely carried out by pol V, was more efficient when the AP-site was a stronger replication block. In contrast to these results in E. coli, viability was 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher in human cells, and the ‘A-rule’ was more rigidly followed. The AP-site in the GZG and GZC sequences gave 76% and 89%, respectively, Z→T substitutions. In human cells, targeted one-base deletion was undetectable, and dTMP>dCMP were the next preferred nucleotides inserted opposite Z. siRNA knockdown of Rev1 or pol ζ established that both these polymerases are vital for AP-site bypass, as demonstrated by 36–67% reduction in bypass efficiency. However, neither polymerase was indispensable, suggesting roles of additional DNA polymerases in AP-site bypass in human cells.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of (5'S)-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine in Escherichia coli and replication of (5'S)-8,5'-cyclopurine-2'-deoxynucleosides in vitro by DNA polymerase IV, exo-free Klenow fragment, and Dpo4

Reactive oxygen species generate many lesions in DNA, including R and S diastereomers of 8,5′-cyclo-2′-deoxyadenosine (cdA) and 8,5′-cyclo-2′-deoxyguanosine (cdG). Herein, the result of replication of a plasmid containing S-cdA in Escherichia coli is reported. S-cdA was found mutagenic and highly genotoxic. Viability and mutagenicity of the S-cdA construct were dependent on functional pol V, but mutational frequencies (MFs) and types varied in pol II- and pol IV-deficient strains relative to the wild-type strain. Both S-cdA → T and S-cdA → G substitutions occurred in equal frequency in wild-type E. coli, but the frequency of S-cdA → G dropped in pol IV-deficient strain, especially when being SOS induced. This suggests that pol IV plays a role in S-cdA → G mutations. MF increased significantly in pol II-deficient strain, suggesting pol II’s likely role in error-free translesion synthesis. Primer extension and steady-state kinetic studies using pol IV, exo-free Klenow fragment (KF (exo^–)), and Dpo4 were performed to further assess the replication efficiency and fidelity of S-cdA and S-cdG. Primer extension by pol IV mostly stopped before the lesion, although a small fraction was extended opposite the lesion. Kinetic studies showed that pol IV incorporated dCMP almost as efficiently as dTMP opposite S-cdA, whereas it incorporated the correct nucleotide dCMP opposite S-cdG 10-fold more efficiently than any other dNMP. Further extension of each lesion containing pair, however, was very inefficient. These results are consistent with the role of pol IV in S-cdA → G mutations in E. coli. KF (exo^–) was also strongly blocked by both lesions, but it could slowly incorporate the correct nucleotide opposite them. In contrast, Dpo4 could extend a small fraction of the primer to a full-length product on both S-cdG and S-cdA templates. Dpo4 incorporated dTMP preferentially opposite S-cdA over the other dNMPs, but the discrimination was only 2- to 8-fold more proficient. Further extension of the S-cdA:T and S-cdA:C pair was not much different. For S-cdG, conversely, the wrong nucleotide, dTMP, was incorporated more efficiently than dCMP, although one-base extension of the S-cdG:T pair was less efficient than the S-cdG:C pair. S-cdG, therefore, has the propensity to cause G → A transition, as was reported to occur in E. coli. The results of this study are consistent with the strong replication blocking nature of S-cdA and S-cdG, and their ability to initiate error-prone synthesis by Y-family DNA polymerases.

Non-invasive investigation of chronic stable angina--a practical overview for medical practitioners

How does one decide on the best non-invasive test to investigate stable coronary ischaemia? This is a very common question faced by many medical practitioners. Chronic stable angina is a common presentation encountered in general practitice. Upon clinical assessment and risk stratification the patient needs to be investigated further to confirm the diagnosis. The first investigational modality involves a non-invasive test. It is important that practitioners possess a practical knowledge of the array of different tests that are available so that the best suited one for each patient can be chosen. This article aims to compare the efficacy and accuracy and the practical utility of the different non-invasive tests for coronary ischaemia and aid the practitioner in making sound decisions in this regard.

(5'S)-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine is a strong block to replication, a potent pol V-dependent mutagenic lesion, and is inefficiently repaired in Escherichia coli

8,5'-Cyclopurines, making up an important class of ionizing radiation-induced tandem DNA damage, are repaired only by nucleotide excision repair (NER). They accumulate in NER-impaired cells, as in Cockayne syndrome group B and certain Xeroderma Pigmentosum patients. A plasmid containing (5'S)-8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine (S-cdG) was replicated in Escherichia coli with specific DNA polymerase knockouts. Viability was <1% in the wild-type strain, which increased to 5.5% with SOS. Viability decreased further in a pol II(-) strain, whereas it increased considerably in a pol IV(-) strain. Remarkably, no progeny was recovered from a pol V(-) strain, indicating that pol V is absolutely required for bypassing S-cdG. Progeny analyses indicated that S-cdG is significantly mutagenic, inducing ~34% mutation with SOS. Most mutations were S-cdG → A mutations, though S-cdG → T mutation and deletion of 5'C also occurred. Incisions of purified UvrABC nuclease on S-cdG, S-cdA, and C8-dG-AP on a duplex 51-mer showed that the incision rates are C8-dG-AP > S-cdA > S-cdG. In summary, S-cdG is a major block to DNA replication, highly mutagenic, and repaired slowly in E. coli.

Abstract 1328: Replication inhibition and mutagenicity of 8,5’-cyclopurine-2’-deoxynucleosides in Escherichia coli

8,5’-Cyclopurine-2’-deoxynucleosides are unique tandem DNA lesions formed by oxidation or ionizing radiation, which are repaired only by nucleotide excision repair. They have been suspected to be responsible for neurodegeneration and other diseases. But their replication properties are little studied. In the current work, we have evaluated replication of a pMS2 plasmid containing a single (5's)-8,5’-cyclo-2’-deoxyadenosine (5's-cdA) or (5's)-8,5’-cyclo-2’-deoxyguanosine (5's-cdG) at a preselected site in Escherichia coli. In the wild type E. coli cells, viability of 5's-cdA and 5's-cdG plasmids dropped to approximately 1% and 0.5%, respectively, relative to control. The viability of each was further reduced in pol II-deficient strain, but it was most pronounced in a pol V-deficient strain, where it dropped ten-fold. By contrast, viability increased 4-7-fold in a pol IV-deficient strain. Upon induction of SOS functions, viability increased ten-fold in the wild type strain. Though less pronounced, viability increased in the other strains as well. We conclude that pol V is necessary for translesion synthesis of the cyclopurines and that it may work cooperatively with pol II, which is also needed for bypass. In addition, it appears that although pol IV competes with the other bypass polymerases, it is inefficient in bypassing these lesions. In the absence of SOS, 5's-cdA-to-G mutations occurred at a low frequency, whereas 5's-cdG-to-A events were detected at a much higher frequency. With SOS, 5's-cdA-to-T and 5's-cdG-to-T were also detected. [Supported by NIEHS grant ES-013324]

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1328. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1328