Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

A K Basu

Publications and source records attributed to A K Basu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The major mitomycin C-DNA monoadduct is cytotoxic but not mutagenic in Escherichia coli.

To determine the mutagenic and genotoxic properties of the major guanine N2-adduct formed by the antitumor drug mitomycin C, we have synthesized a decanucleotide, d(TTACG[MC]TATCT), containing the adduct, which was inserted into a gapped bacteriophage M13 genome. Analysis of the constructed genome indicated that 41% ligation of the adducted 10-mer occurred on both sides of the gap, whereas the control 10-mer ligated with 34% efficiency. After transfection of the adducted single-stranded M13 DNA into Escherichia coli, the adduct was found to be highly genotoxic. Viability of the adducted genome in a repair-competent strain was only 7%, which increased to 12% and 15% upon induction of SOS by irradiating the cells with 254-nm light at 20 and 50 J/m2, respectively. Even lower viability of 2%, 4.6%, and 0.2% was observed in uvrA, uvrB, and uvrC strains, respectively, which increased up to 10-fold with SOS. An examination of the surviving phage populations revealed that the adduct was not detectably mutagenic. No mutants from the repair-proficient strain were detected after analysis of more than 2500 progeny phage. Only 0.2% of the survivors were mutants in the uvrA strain. It is uncertain, however, if they were induced by the adduct, since all the mutants showed untargeted mutations. We conclude that the major guanine N2-adduct formed by mitomycin C is cytotoxic but not appreciably mutagenic in E. coli.

Bacteriophages

Replication inhibition and miscoding properties of DNA templates containing a site-specific cis-thymine glycol or urea residue.

Oligodeoxynucleotides modified site-specifically with cis-thymine glycol or urea residue, two ionizing radiation/oxidation damages, were used as templates in primer extension reactions catalyzed by 3' --> 5' exonuclease-deficient Klenow fragment, human DNA polymerase beta, AMV reverse transcriptase, and a modified T7 DNA polymerase (Sequenase). Both lesions blocked DNA replication one nucleotide before and opposite the lesion site, but a significant fraction of full-length product was obtained after prolonged incubation. Hill plot analysis of the results on both thymine glycol- and urea- containing templates by 3' --> 5' exonuclease-deficient Klenow fragment for incorporation of either dATP or dGTP gave linear plots with Hill coefficients much less than 1. This suggests that the dNTP concentration influences the termination of DNA synthesis at multiple steps of the catalytic process. The specificity of nucleotide incorporation opposite these lesions and chain extension by the same polymerase was determined by a steady-state kinetic analysis. The kinetic studies established that the rate of nucleotide incorporation and chain extension was highest with deoxyadenosine opposite both these lesions. However, the efficiency of forming a G.T pair relative to an A.T pair for the control at a level of 1/10(9) was enhanced to approximately 1/160 for thymine glycol and 1/20 for urea, although the former lesion was more bypassable than the latter lesion. On the basis of these in vitro results, we conclude that both these DNA damages are impediments of DNA synthesis and that a urea residue, in particular, has the potential to miscode.

DNA

Sequence specific mutagenesis of the major (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-DNA adduct at a mutational hot spot in vitro and in Escherichia coli cells.

In the supF gene, most (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide ((+)-anti-B[a]PDE) mutagenesis hot spots in Escherichia coli are in 5'-GG sequences [Rodriguez and Loechler (1993) Carcinogenesis 14, 373-383]. A major hot spot was detected at G1 in the sequence 5'-GCG1G2-CCAAAG, whereas G2 yielded very few mutants. In order to investigate the details of such sequence context effects of (+)-anti-B[a]PDE mutagenesis, we have constructed 25-mer oligonucleotides and single-stranded M13 genomes containing the above decamer sequence, in which the trans-N2-dG adduct induced by (+)-anti-B[a]PDE [(+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG] at G1 or G2 was introduced. In vitro DNA synthesis on the adducted 25-mers was strongly blocked at each site, although the 3'-->5' exonuclease-deficient Klenow fragment could incorporate a nucleotide opposite the adduct in the presence of Mn2+. For both sites purine nucleotides were preferred. The ratio Vmax/K(m) indicated that the efficiency of incorporation of dGTP opposite these sites was very similar, but dATP incorporation opposite the adduct at G1 was five-fold more efficient than that at G2. For each site, further extension beyond the adducted nucleotide was investigated by annealing four different primers, in which only the nucleotide opposite the adducted deoxyguanosine was altered. Significant extension was only observed when deoxyadenosine was located opposite adducted G1. When the M13 genomes containing the (+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG were replicated in E. coli, survival of each adducted genome was less than 1% as compared to the unadducted genome. Upon induction of SOS, viability increased 2-6-fold. DNA sequencing showed no base substitutions in the progeny from SOS-uninduced cells, although small deletions in a quasipalindromic sequence occurred with the adduct being located at either site. However, following SOS induction, up to 40% targeted base substitutions were detected when the adduct was located at G1, while approximately 12% of the progeny were mutants with the adduct at G2. Most base substitutions were targeted G-->T transversions. We conclude that (+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG is a highly mutagenic and replication blocking lesion. In addition, the biological consequence of this adduct depends on whether it is located at G1 or G2, suggesting that sequence context plays a major role in the mutagenic processing of this adduct.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide

Solution conformation of the N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene ([AP]dG) adduct opposite dC in a DNA duplex.

Combined NMR-molecular mechanics computational studies were undertaken on the C8-deoxyguanosine adduct formed by the carcinogen 1-nitropyrene embedded in the d(C5-[AP]G6-C7).d(G16-C17-G18) sequence context in a 11-mer duplex, with dC opposite the modified deoxyguanosine. The exchangeable and nonexchangeable protons of the aminopyrene moiety and the nucleic acid were assigned following analysis of two-dimensional NMR data sets in H2O and D2O solution. There was a general broadening of several proton resonances for the three nucleotide d(G16-C17-G18) segment positioned opposite the [AP]dG6 lesion site resulting in weaker NOEs involving these protons in the adduct duplex. The solution conformation of the [AP]dG.dC 11-mer duplex has been determined by incorporating intramolecular and intermolecular proton-proton distances defined by upper and lower bounds deduced from NOESY spectra as restraints in molecular mechanics computations in torsion angle space. The aminopyrene ring of [AP]dG6 is intercalated into the DNA helix between intact Watson-Crick dC5.dG18 and dC7.dG16 base pairs. The modified deoxyguanosine ring of [AP]dG6 is displaced into the major groove and stacks with the major groove edge of dC5 in the adduct duplex. Both carbon and proton chemical shift data for the sugar resonances of the modified deoxyguanosine residue are consistent with a syn glycosidic torsion angle for the [AP]dG6 residue. The dC17 base on the partner strand is displaced from the center of the helix toward the major groove as a consequence of the aminopyrene ring intercalation into the helix. This base-displaced intercalative structure of the [AP]dG.dC 11-mer duplex exhibits several unusually shifted proton resonances which can be accounted for by the ring current contributions of the deoxyguanosinyl and pyrenyl rings of the [AP]dG6 adduct. In summary, intercalation of the aminopyrene moiety is accompanied by displacement of both [AP]dG6 and the partner dC17 into the major groove in the [AP]dG.dC 11-mer duplex.

Base Composition

Prospective randomized clinical trial to evaluate the optimal dose of 131 I for remnant ablation in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Radioiodine has been used for more than a half-century to ablate thyroid remnants following thyroid surgery, but a single optimal dose has not been established. We designed a prospective randomized trial to determine the optimal dose of 131 I for remnant ablation. METHODS: Using a simple randomization technique, 149 patients with remnant thyroid were incorporated into 4 treatment groups. Twenty-seven of these patients were administered 25 to 34 millicurie (mCi) of 131 I (30 +/- 1.5), 54 received 35 to 64 mCi (50.6 +/- 5.4), 38 received 65 to 119 mCi (88.6 +/- 14) and 30 patients received 120 to 200 mCi (155 +/- 28.7). Six months to 1 year after treatment, all subjects were reassessed after withdrawing L-thyroxine for 4 to 6 weeks. A successful ablation was defined as the absence of thyroid bed activity in 5 mCi 131 I neck scan at 48 hours along with 2 adjunctive criteria which were the neck uptake of <0.2% of the administered activity and the thyroglobulin (Tg) value of <10 ng/mL. RESULTS: Applying the above criteria, we observed complete ablation of 17 of 27 thyroid gland remnants (63%) in the 30 mCi group, 42 of 54 (77.8%) in the 50 mCi group, 28 of 38 (73.7%) in the 90 mCi group and 23 of 30 (76.7%) in the 155 mCi group. When the radiation-absorbed dose was calculated, a 30 mCi dose delivered approximately 20,000 centigray (cGy), a 50 mCi dose about 30,000 cGy, a 90 mCi dose about 50,000 cGy, and a 155 mCi dose about 130,000 cGy. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the empirical 131 I initial dose to more than 50 mCi results in plateauing of the dose-response curve and thus, conventional high dose remnant ablation needs critical evaluation. Based on dosimetry results, one should aim to deliver about 30,000 cGy to the thyroid remnant, as higher doses do not appear to yield a higher ablation rate.

Adult

Site-specific frame-shift mutagenesis by the 1-nitropyrene-DNA adduct N-(deoxyguanosin-8-y1)-1-aminopyrene located in the (CG)3 sequence: effects of SOS, proofreading, and mismatch repair.

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP), the predominant nitropolycyclic hydrocarbon found in diesel exhaust, is a mutagen and tumorigen. Nitroreduction is a major pathway by which 1-NP is metabolized. Reductively activated 1-NP forms a major DNA adduct, N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene (dGAP), both in vitro and in vivo. In Salmonella typhimurium 1-NP induces a CpG deletion in a CGCGCGCG sequence. In Escherichia coli, however, mostly -1 and +1 frame-shifts are observed, which occur predominantly in 5'-CG, 5'-GC, and 5'-GG sequences. In order to determine the mechanism of mutagenesis by dGAP in a CpG repetitive sequence, we constructed a single-stranded M13 genome containing the adduct at the underscored deoxyguanosine of an inserted CGCGCG sequence. In E. coli strains with normal repair capability the adduct induced approximately 2% CpG deletions, which was 20-fold that of the control. With SOS, the frequency of frame-shift mutations increased to 2.6%, even though the frequency of CpG deletion accompanied 50% reduction. The enhancement in mutagenesis was due to a +1 frame-shift that occurred at a high frequency. In strains with a defect in methyl-directed mismatch repair, 50-70% increase in mutation frequency was observed. When these strains were SOS induced, frame-shift mutagenesis increased by approximately 100%. When transfections were carried out in dnaQ strains that are impaired in 3'-->5'exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase III, frame-shift mutagenesis increased 5-7-fold. dGAP-induced frame-shifts in the (CG)3 sequence, therefore, varied from 2% to 17% depending on the state of repair of the host cells. We conclude that dGAP induces both -2 and +1 frame-shifts in a CpG repetitive sequence and that these two mutagenic events are competing pathways. The CpG deletion does not require SOS functions, whereas the +1 frame-shifts are SOS-dependent. On the basis of the data in repair-deficient strains, it appears that both types of frame-shifts occurred as a result of misalignment, which are corrected primarily by the proofreading exonuclease of the DNA polymerase. Misaligned structures that escape the exonuclease are repaired by the methyl-directed mismatch repair, albeit with limited efficiency.

Bacteriophage M13

Solution properties and computational analysis of an oligodeoxynucleotide containing N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene.

An oligodeoxyribonucleotide 5'-d(CTCATGAPATTCC), in which G(AP) denotes N-(guanin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene, the C8-guanine adduct of reductively activated 1-nitropyrene, was synthesized and characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and thermal melting studies. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed slower mobility of the adducted oligonucleotide in single-stranded form compared to its unmodified counterpart, as expected. In duplex form, however (with a deoxycytidine opposite the adduct), the adducted 11mer migrated faster than the parent duplex. Absorption and fluorescence studies indicated significant interaction of the aminopyrene residue with the DNA bases in the modified 11mer. The spectroscopic data also suggested the presence of one or more conformers in which the aminopyrene residue is quasi-intercalative, as well as one(s) in which the aminopyrene is externally bound. Thermodynamic parameters for the helix-to-coil transitions for the 11mer duplex were determined. The difference in free energy (delta delta G degree) between the unmodified and modified sequences was relatively small (approximately 1.2 kcal/mol). Circular dichroism spectra indicated the presence of essentially B-form DNA. The energy minimizations suggested that the most stable conformers shared a common feature: displacement of the modified guanine from the double helix. In the global minimum, the aminopyrene residue was inserted in the helix in the site of displaced guanine. In other low energy structures, the aminopyrene was also displaced towards the minor groove (in addition to guanine), or partly inserted and partly in the groove. More conventional structures were also encountered, with anti-guanine within the helix and aminopyrene in the major groove, or syn-guanine within the helix, and aminopyrene in the minor groove. Such structures were 12-20 kcal/mol less stable than the global minimum, however. The C8-guanine adduct of aminopyrene thus appears to perturb the B-DNA structure to a greater extent than do the adducts of less bulky amines such as aminofluorene and 4-aminobiphenyl.

Base Sequence

Renal and hepatic family 3A cytochromes P450 (CYP3A) in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Troleandomycin (TAO), a selective family 3A cytochromes P450 (CYP3A) inhibitor, decreases enhanced in vivo corticosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation and blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Corticosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation was measured in liver and kidney microsomes, to determine ontogeny and the effect of TAO on CYP3A activity at the organ level. SHR kidney CYP3A activity increased from 4 to 8 weeks, stabilized at 11 and 16 weeks, and was much higher than in control (Wistar-Kyoto, WKY) rats at all ages. Hepatic activity showed less consistency in strain difference. TAO produced a relatively large decrease in renal CYP3A activity compared with liver. Although renal CYP3A mRNA was not present in sufficient quantity for detection by northern blot analysis of total RNA, its presence was demonstrated in SHR by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification. Correlations between renal CYP3A activity and systolic blood pressure in SHR and WKY rats with variations in age, strain and drug treatment are consistent with the role of the enzyme in the pathogenesis of blood pressure elevation in SHR.

Animals

Mutagenic specificity of reductively activated 1-nitropyrene in Escherichia coli.

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP), the predominant nitropolycyclic hydrocarbon found in diesel exhaust, is a mutagen and tumorigen. Nitroreduction is a major pathway by which 1-NP is metabolized. In order to study the distribution of DNA adducts and the mutational specificity of reductively activated 1-NP, single stranded M13mp18 DNA was treated with N-hydroxyl-1-aminopyrene generated in situ to give > 95% of one major adduct, N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene. A primer was annealed to DNA containing different levels of adducts, and polymerase extension on these templates was studied. Replication inhibition, primarily at or 3' to guanine bases, was observed. Transfection of these M13 DNA in Escherichia coli indicated a dose-dependent reduction in viability with concomitant enhancement in mutagenesis in the lacZ gene fragment. Approximately two adducts per genome constituted one lethal hit (approximately 37% viability). Both survival and mutagenesis were increased when SOS functions of the host cell were induced. N-(Deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene mutagenesis appeared to be SOS-dependent. With SOS induction, one-base deletions and insertions were the major event (45%), although base substitutions also occurred at high frequency (44%). A major proportion of the point mutations, and particularly one-base deletions and insertions, were detected in 5'-CG, 5'-GC, or 5'-GG sequences. Analysis of the mutation data suggested that N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene-induced mutations occurred predominantly at the adduct site, but mutations at the base located next to it have been detected at a significant frequency as well. A large fraction of point mutations occurred in a hairpin loop region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence

Maternal environment defines blood pressure and its response to troleandomycin in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Relationship between family-3A cytochrome P-450-dependent (troleandomycin inhibitable) and maternal environmental-dependent systolic blood pressure (SBP) was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Adult SHR nursed by foster or natural SHR mothers had indistinguishable SBP. Troleandomycin reduced 50% of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY)-SHR strain difference in SBP. SHR having WKY foster mothers had SBP similar to troleandomycin-reduced SHR levels, which was unaffected by troleandomycin. The two components of SBP elevation appear identical. Because observations of others demonstrated that WKY fostered to SHR show no SBP increase, the maternally dependent/troleandomycin-sensitive component of SBP elevation may reflect epistatic interaction between genes determining maternal differences and offspring sensitivity, respectively.

Animals

DNA polymerase action on an oligonucleotide containing a site-specifically located N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene.

A 25mer oligonucleotide containing a single N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl-)-1-aminopyrene (dGAP), the major DNA adduct formed by reductively activated 1-nitropyrene, was synthesized. The adduct was located at nucleotide 21 from the 3' end. DNA synthesis on this template by human DNA polymerases alpha and beta, HIV reverse transcriptase, Sequenase (version 2.0) and Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I was strongly blocked at the nucleotide 3' to the adduct site. Only when a 3'-->5' exonuclease-deficient Klenow fragment was used was incorporation of a nucleotide opposite the adduct observed. Nevertheless, extension beyond the adduct site did not occur to a significant extent. Only a relatively small proportion of full-length product (< 5%) was detected. In the presence of Mn2+, the efficiency of bypass with this polymerase increased. When a 20mer primer was elongated in the presence of only one nucleotide triphosphate, deoxycytidylic acid was preferentially incorporated opposite the adduct. Deoxycytidine opposite the adduct was also preferred when a set of 21mer primers (containing each of the four nucleotides opposite dGAP) were elongated to a full-length product in the presence of all four deoxynucleotide triphosphates. In order to confirm these results, extension of a 15mer primer was carried out with all four deoxynucleotide triphosphates and the products were isolated. Maxam--Gilbert sequencing of each elongation product showed that primer extension occurred in an error-free manner. We conclude that dGAP is a strong block of DNA replication. However, when translesion synthesis occurs, it is largely accurate.

Base Sequence

Technetium-99m-HMPAO SPECT cerebral blood flow study in children with craniosynostosis.

UNLABELLED: Premature closure of cranial sutures (primary craniosynostosis) in children leads to characteristic skull deformities and prevents the constricted brain from growing normally. Although the cause remains unknown, several etiological factors have been cited. Recently, hypovascularity has been reported as a possible cause of craniosynostosis. METHODS: In a prospective study regional cerebral blood flow studies were carried out with 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT in seven children with craniosynostoses. Five preoperative and six postoperative studies were conducted and the results correlated with radiological and surgical findings. RESULTS: Preoperative studies revealed regional hypovascularity in the underlying cerebral hemisphere, corresponding to the fused sutures. Postoperative studies revealed disappearance of these perfusion defects in most cases, indicating normalization of perfusion following surgical decompression. CONCLUSION: This study establishes the presence of cerebral hypovascularity in craniosynostoses and suggests that early surgery and release of craniostenosis is essential to achieve optimum perfusion and brain development.

Brain

Efficacy and safety of oral iron chelating agent deferiprone in beta-thalassemia and hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess efficacy and safety of oral iron chelating agent deferiprone (DFP) in patients with beta thalassemia and hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia. DESIGN: Non-randomized study. SETTING: Hematology Out-Patient Department. SUBJECTS: Forty-one patients of beta thalassemia and hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia. INTERVENTIONS: DFP was given to 20 patients, 10 patients of beta thalassemia and 10 with hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia; the rest were taken as controls. RESULTS: A significant fall in serum ferritin was observed in the study group along with rise in urinary iron excretion (p < 0.05). Adverse effects of DFP were nausea and vomiting (30%), significant arthropathy requiring stopping of the drug (30%), and reversible neutropenia in one patient. All these complications could be managed easily with medical supervision and no death or permanent disability was seen. CONCLUSIONS: DFP is an effective and fairly well tolerated oral iron chelating agent. The side effects that occur can be tackled easily if monitored properly.

Administration, Oral

Augmented arterial pressure responses to cyclosporine in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Role of cytochrome P-450 3A.

Evidence to support a hypertensinogenic role of family 3A cytochrome P-450 (CYP3A) activity is that troleandomycin, a selective inhibitor of CYP3A, decreases both blood pressure and in vivo corticosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Renal CYP3A activity is markedly increased in SHR compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Cyclosporine acutely increases both systolic blood pressure and renal total cytochrome P-450 in SHR. We tested the hypothesis that the augmentation of blood pressure by cyclosporine is mediated by a further increase in renal CYP3A activity. Accordingly, we assessed the effect of troleandomycin administration on cyclosporine-induced systolic blood pressure increase and renal and hepatic microsomal CYP3A activity in SHR. Cyclosporine (5 mg/kg SC) given daily in 11-week-old SHR resulted in substantial augmentation of blood pressure after 6 days. This blood pressure increase was attenuated by troleandomycin (40 mg/kg) given either during or after development of hypertension. Cyclosporine increased renal (60%) but decreased hepatic (25%) microsomal CYP3A activity in SHR. In contrast, cyclosporine failed to produce any detectable increase in either blood pressure or renal CYP3A activity in WKY rats. Troleandomycin completely inhibited renal CYP3A activity measured after cyclosporine treatment of SHR, which correlated with its attenuation of the cyclosporine-induced blood pressure increase. These findings suggest that renal CYP3A could play an important role in acute cyclosporine-induced hypertension.

Animals

Mutagenic and genotoxic effects of three vinyl chloride-induced DNA lesions: 1,N6-ethenoadenine, 3,N4-ethenocytosine, and 4-amino-5-(imidazol-2-yl)imidazole.

The mutagenic and genotoxic properties of 1,N6-ethenoadenine (epsilon Ade), 3,N4-ethenocytosine (epsilon Cyt), and 4-amino-5-(imidazol-2-yl)imidazole (beta) were investigated in vivo. The former two modified bases are known DNA adducts formed by the human carcinogen vinyl chloride; beta is formed by pyrimidine ring-opening of epsilon Ade. Chemically synthesized deoxyhexanucleotides containing epsilon Ade and beta, d[GCT-(epsilon A)GC], and d[GCT(beta)GC], respectively, were described previously [Biochemistry (1987) 26, 5626-5635]. epsilon Cyt was inserted into an oligonucleotide, d[GCTAG(epsilon C)], by a mild enzymatic synthetic procedure, which avoided exposure of the base to alkaline conditions. 3,N4-Etheno-2'-deoxycytidine 3',5'-bisphosphate coupled with reasonable efficiency (30-40%) to the 3'-nucleoside of an acceptor pentamer, d(GCTAG), in a reaction catalyzed by T4 RNA ligase in the presence of ATP. Each of the three modified hexanucleotides and an unmodified control were inserted into a six-base gap positioned at a known site in the genome of bacteriophage M13-NheI. A nick was placed in the DNA strand opposite that containing the single DNA lesions, enabling the formation of singly adducted single-stranded genomes by denaturation. After transfection of the adducted phage DNAs into Escherichia coli, each of the adducts was found to be genotoxic. The most toxic lesion was beta, which reduced survival of the genome by 97%. epsilon Cyt and epsilon Ade reduced survival by 90% and 65%, respectively. An examination of the surviving phage populations revealed that each of the three adducts was mutagenic. The least mutagenic lesion was epsilon Ade (0.1% of the survivors were mutant), which showed primarily A-->G transitions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenine

Effect of site-specifically located mitomycin C-DNA monoadducts on in vitro DNA synthesis by DNA polymerases.

A series of site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized that contained either of the two known mitomycin C-DNA monoadducts. In vitro DNA synthesis was carried out on some of these templates using a modified bacteriophage T7 DNA polymerase (Sequenase), AMV reverse transcriptase, and two different varieties of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment)--one that carries the normal 3'-->5' exonuclease activity and a mutant protein that lacks this enzymatic function. Regardless of the type of DNA polymerase being used, DNA synthesis was terminated nearly quantitatively at the nucleotide 3' to each of these two monoadduct sites, although primer extension to full length of the template was noted with the unmodified control template. Substitution of Mn2+ for Mg2+ at a high concentration of the deoxynucleotide triphosphates resulted in incorporation of nucleotides opposite the adduct in the incubations with Sequenase or the 3'-->5' exonuclease-free Klenow fragment; however, primer extension beyond the adduct site did not take place. These studies demonstrated that the mitomycin monoadducts are strong blocks of replication and are likely to be toxic lesions in vivo. Since previous molecular modeling studies and molecular mechanical calculations indicated that the mitomycin adduction does not induce severe distortions at the site of adduction, a lack of base-pairing ability of the modified base in the extended product is unlikely to be the reason for the inhibitory effect. Instead, energy-minimized structural models indicated that additional hydrogen-bonding interactions have been introduced by the mitomycin moiety, and perhaps this increased thermodynamic stabilization of a distorted structure of the replication fork, in turn, may block the replication bypass. Experimental evidence of increased thermodynamic stability was provided by thermal melting of a template/primer complex that presumably a polymerase encounters in a typical replication fork. Consistently higher Tm of the adducted "replication fork" was noted when compared to its unmodified counterpart.

Base Sequence