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Biomedical subjects

E Ohtsuka

Publications and source records attributed to E Ohtsuka.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

8-Hydroxyguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine) in hot spots of the c-Ha-ras gene: effects of sequence contexts on mutation spectra.

We previously reported that 8-hydroxyguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine) at the second position of codon 12 of the c-Ha-ras gene induces many types of mutations in NIH3T3 cells. In this study we incorporated the modified base into the first and second positions of codon 12 in the coding strand and into the first position of codon 61 in the non-coding strand of the gene using a new 8-hydroxyguanine phosphoramidite as a building block during oligonucleotide synthesis. The ras genes with 8-hydroxyguanine were transfected into NIH3T3 cells and the mutations induced were analyzed. 8-Hydroxyguanine residues at the first positions of codons 12 and 61 induced mutations to T at the modified sites almost exclusively. On the other hand, the DNA lesion at the second position of codon 12 induced a G-->A transition in addition to a G-->T transversion, confirming our previous results. Mutations in 5'-flanking sites were observed with 8-hydroxyguanine at the second position of codon 12 or the first position of codon 61. These results indicate that 8-hydroxyguanine in mammalian cells mainly induces a G-->T transversion at the modified site, but that other types of mutations are also elicited.

3T3 Cells↗

Structural composition of hammerhead ribozymes.

Eleven kinds of hammerhead ribozymes were designed and synthesized to investigate the structural composition of the complexes and to find suitable crystallization conditions, the substrate chains having been modified to prevent hydrolysis. Electrophoresis patterns indicated that the two strands except for the substrate chain form a binary complex and that they form a ternary complex when mixed with the substrate chain. Both complexes were crystallized. The crystal of the binary complex belongs to a Laue symmetry of 32 (space group of P321, P3(1)21, or P3(2)21) with cell dimensions of a = b = 53.4 and c = 59.4 A. The volume per one nucleotide allows the asymmetric unit to contain one binary complex. Our results suggest that the catalytic part forms a rigid ribozyme structure which induces a scissile reaction when the substrate is bound, in a similar manner to an enzyme protein.

Base Sequence↗

Separation of protein factors that correct the defects in the seven complementation groups of xeroderma pigmentosum cells.

We fractionated HeLa cell extracts by gel filtration and then micro-injected them into cells derived from the seven complementation groups (A-G) of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). Distinct fractions that corrected the unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) of the complementation group XP cells were identified. The apparent molecular weights corresponding to complementation groups A, B, C, D, E, F, and G were estimated to be 80, 600, 600, 240, 100, 240, and 280 kDa, respectively. These factors were stable in the respective cell lines, the shortest half life being 16 h for the XP-A and XP-G complementing factors. The fraction (80 kDa) that corrected the UDS in XP-A cells also complemented the defect of the XP-A cell extract in the incision of DNA containing a pyrimidine dimer in a cell-free system. The separated fractions will be useful for understanding the molecular nature of these factors and for assigning complementation groups of cells derived from suspected XP patients.

DNA Repair↗

Comparison of incorporation and extension of nucleotides in vitro opposite 8-hydroxyguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine) in hot spots of the c-Ha-ras gene.

DNA templates with 8-hydroxyguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, oh8Gua) at a site corresponding to the first or second position of codon 12 of the c-Ha-ras gene were prepared, and the nucleotides inserted opposite the modified base were compared. The Klenow fragment (KF) of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I inserted C opposite oh8Gua at both positions. Taq DNA polymerase incorporated C and A opposite oh8Gua, and the ratio of C to A was higher at the first position than at the second position. DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha) inserted A and C at the first position, and A at the second position of codon 12, indicating that the ratio of C to A was higher at the first position. Moreover, we studied the extensions of bases paired with oh8Gua by DNA polymerases with or without 3'-5' exonuclease activity. G and T opposite oh8Gua were removed, and subsequently C was inserted by KF. We found that an oh8Gua:A pair was recognized by the exonuclease activity of the enzyme and that A was partially substituted by C. On the other hand, pol alpha extended only C and A opposite oh8Gua. No difference was observed with oh8Gua at the two positions. These results indicate that the ratio of nucleotides incorporated opposite oh8Gua depends on the sequence context, while there is no particular difference in the extension of base pairs involving oh8Gua by DNA polymerases.

Animals↗

Acute myeloblastic leukaemia without Philadelphia chromosome developing after interferon therapy for chronic myelocytic leukaemia with Philadelphia chromosome.

We report a patient who developed Philadelphia chromosome negative acute myeloblastic leukaemia with trisomy 8 and trisomy 11 after receiving treatment with alkylating agents and interferon for chronic myelocytic leukaemia positive for Philadelphia chromosome. Leukaemic cells were positive for myeloperoxidase and expressed CD13, CD33 and DR; some expressed CD2, CD4 and CD34. The fluorescence in situ hybridization method revealed that bcr-abl fusion genes were absent from > 90% of the bone marrow cells. The major bcr rearrangement was not detected by Southern blot analysis. We conclude that the leukaemic cells negative for Philadelphia chromosome may have developed as a result of treatment with alkylating agents and interferon in the present case.

Aged↗

[Essential thrombocythemia transformed to minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia].

A 64-year-old female diagnosed for essential thrombocythemia was treated with MCNU 50 mg four times in the course of the disease. Six months after the last administration, in May 1991, she was admitted because of decreasing thrombocyte count and appearance of blasts in the peripheral blood. On admission, laboratory findings were as follows: WBC 700/microliters with 5% of blasts, RBC 331 x 10(4)/microliters, and PLT 17.9 x 10(4)/microliters. Bone marrow aspiration revealed hypocellular marrow with 39% blasts. About 5% of the blasts were positive for myeloperoxidase by electron microscopy analysis. Leukemic cells were positive for CD 7, 13, 33 and 34, negative for other lymphoid lineage markers, and demonstrated no rearrangement of TCR-beta, gamma and IgH genes. Although she was treated with low-dose cytosine arabinoside, no response was observed. Subdural hematoma and sequential pneumonia developed and the patient died eight months after leukemic transformation. In conclusion, we think that the leukemic transformation might have been developed in the natural course of essential thrombocythemia in the present case. However, we cannot exclude the influence of MCNU.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

Design and anti-HIV-1 activity of ribozymes that cleave HIV-1 LTR.

A hairpin ribozyme (HR112) and two hammerhead ribozymes (RZ115 and RZ119) containing a 5'C(UUCG)G3' loop were designed to cleave the long terminal repeat (LTR) of HIV-1. When the ribozyme catalyzed RNA cleavage reaction for a chemically synthesized 19 mer (LTR 19) was measured, the t 1/2 value of LTR 19 mediated by RZ115 was smaller than that of the RZ119 case. Moreover, the transformed CEM cells harboring the gene encoding these ribozymes were challenged with a HIV-1IIIB strain, two ribozymes, HR112 and RZ119 possessed strong anti-HIV-1 activity. However, the anti-HIV-1 activity displayed by RZ115 was weak. On the basis of secondary structure predictions of the RNA transcribed with the gene encoding ribozymes, the secondary structure of the transcribed RNA with RZ115 sequences was observed to be different from those with the other ribozymes. It has been demonstrated that the secondary structures of transcribed RNAs can possibly influence the anti-HIV-1 activity.

Antiviral Agents↗

Construction of new hairpin ribozymes with replaced domains.

We have constructed a new type of hairpin ribozyme by cleaving and reverse-joining one of the two catalytic domains to conserve an essential bending structure. The two domains of the new ribozymes were tethered by different lengths of cytidylate linkers. These ribozymes retained the cleavage activity and the cleavage activities depended on the linker lengths. Although these rejoined ribozymes showed weak turnover abilities, those with 18 cytidylates showed a larger kcat/K(m) value than the natural hairpin ribozymes. These modifications in the primary structure of the hairpin ribozyme confirm the bent conformation for the catalytic reaction of this ribozyme, and provide a new approach for the design of highly efficient ribozymes.

Base Sequence↗

Kinetic analyses of DNA-linked ribonucleases H with different sizes of DNA.

A series of DNA-linked ribonucleases H with DNA adducts varying in size and sequence, ranging from heptamer to nonamer, were constructed and examined for their ability to cleave the 12-base RNA (5'-CGGAGAUGACGG-3') site-specifically. The DNA-linked RNase H with the 9-base DNA (5'-GTCATCTCC-3') cleaved the 12-base RNA specifically at A6-U7. Kinetic studies revealed that the DNA-linked RNase H with the 8-base DNA (5'-TCATCTCC-3') cleaved it slightly more effectively than that with the 9-base DNA. Factors that may affect the specificity and catalytic efficiency of a DNA-linked RNase H are described.

Base Sequence↗

Studies of the interactions between Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI and its substrate.

Ribonuclease H (RNase H) recognizes a DNA-RNA hybrid duplex and catalyzes the hydrolysis of the phosphodiester linkages in only the RNA strand. Previously, we developed a method to cleave RNA in a sequence-dependent manner using RNase H and a complementary oligonucleotide containing 2'-O-methylribonucleosides. Since cleavage is restricted to a single site by the modified complementary strand, this system allows kinetic analysis of the RNase H reaction. We describe an investigation of the interactions between RNase HI from Escherichia coli and its substrate, and between the substrate and a metal ion using synthetic oligonucleotide duplexes modified at the cleavage site in combination with the 2'-O-methylribonucleotides. Firstly, the base moiety was changed to interfere with enzyme binding in either the major or minor groove. When 2-N-methylguanine was incorporated into the cleavage site, the Km value for this substrate, containing a methyl group in the minor groove, was 20-fold larger than that for the unmodified substrate, whereas 5-phenyluracil, with a phenyl group residing in the major groove of the duplex, did not affect the affinity. Secondly, the phosphodiester linkage at the cleavage site was changed into a phosphorothioate with a defined configuration. Only the Rp isomer was cleaved at this site in the presence of Mg2+ or Cd2+. These results suggest that the enzyme, but not the metal ion, interacts with the phosphate residue at the cleavage site. Thirdly, the 2'-position of the nucleoside on the 5'-side of the scissile phosphodiester was modified. Alteration of the 2'-hydroxyl function into an amino, fluoro or methoxy group, or removal of this 2'-hydroxyl group, did not affect the affinity for the enzyme, but reduced the reaction rate. An outer sphere interaction of a metal ion with the 2'-hydroxyl group is suggested.

Base Sequence↗

Endonuclease V from bacteriophage T4 interacts with its substrate in the minor groove.

The binding of bacteriophage T4 endonuclease V to its substrate has been studied using synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes containing a cis-syn thymine dimer. Substrate analogues containing a methylphosphonate linkage with a defined configuration at the thymine dimer site were prepared, and the binding of the enzyme to each diastereomer was analyzed by the filter-binding method. The duplex containing a methylphosphonate with the SP configuration formed a complex with the enzyme, although the dissociation constant for this substrate analogue was about 8 times larger than that for the 12-mer substrate containing a phosphodiester linkage at this site. In contrast, no binding was observed when a duplex containing the RP-methylphosphonate linkage was used. The glycosyl bond of the thymine dimer in the SP isomer was cleaved by the enzyme, while no incision was detected in the case of the RP isomer, even after alkali treatment. Another substrate analogue containing a sulfur atom in place of the 3'-oxygen of the 5'-component at the thymine dimer site showed a reduced affinity for the enzyme. These results suggest that T4 endonuclease V interacts with its substrate in the minor groove. This mode of binding was confirmed by methylation protection experiments.

Bacteriophage T4↗

Sequence-specific cleavage of RNA by a hybrid ribonuclease H.

Site-specific cleavage of the 22-, 132- and 534-base RNAs by the DNA/protein hybrid RNase H were examined. The 22-base RNA was chemically synthesized, and 132- and 534-base RNAs were prepared by run-off transcription. The hybrid enzyme cleaves these RNAs, which contain a single target sequence, primarily at the unique phosphodiester bond within the target sequence. The hybrid enzyme performs multiple turnovers, and at a substrate/enzyme ratio of 10:1 the RNAs are almost completely cleaved by the hybrid enzyme at 37 degrees C within 1 h. We propose that hybrid RNase H molecules with various oligodeoxyribonucleotides function as RNA restriction enzymes and are useful for structural and functional studies of RNA.

Base Sequence↗

Detailed study of sequence-specific DNA cleavage of triplex-forming oligonucleotides linked to 1,10-phenanthroline.

We introduced eight bases, including four base analogs, into 15-mer triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) [d-psTTTCTTTNTTTTCTT; ps = thiophosphate; N = A, G, C, T, 2'-deoxyinosine (I), 2'-deoxyxanthosine (X), 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (m5C), or 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine(br5U)] to investigate the Hoogsteen-like hydrogen bonding to the base in the target 34-mer strand (d-TGAGTGAGTAAAGAAARAAAAGAATGAGTGCCAA.d-TTGGCACTCATTCTTTTYTTTCT TTACTCACTCA; RY = AT, GC, TA, or CG). We examined the thermal stability of 15-mer triplexes in buffer containing 100 mM sodium acetate and 1 M NaCl at pH 5.0. The triplexes with typical triplets of T.AT (51.3 degrees C), br5U.AT (52.4 degrees C), C+.GC (66.7 degrees C), and m5C+.GC (66.8 degrees C) at the central position showed relatively higher Tm values, as expected. The relatively high stability of the X.AT triplex (39.8 degrees C) was observed. Among the N.TA triplets, G.TA (44.8 degrees C) was thermally the most stable, and moreover, the data showed that the N.TA triplet was also stabilized by I in the N position (40.7 degrees C). Furthermore, the TFOs were converted to DNA-cleaving molecules by introducing a newly synthesized 1,10-phenanthroline (OP) derivative on the thiophosphate group at the 5' end. Cleavage reactions of the 32P-labeled DNA (34-mer) were carried out. The cleavage efficiencies were compared to the Tm values of triplexes with or without an OP derivative. Results showed that the increased cleavage yields reflect the higher thermal stability of the triplex formed in most cases, but a few exceptional cases existed. Especially, the G-containing TFO did not show the above correlation between thermal stability and cleavage yield.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid↗

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of the interaction of T4 endonuclease V with DNA.

T4 endonuclease V catalyzes the DNA strand cleavage in the vicinity of a thymine dimer. In order to obtain insight into the specific recognition mechanism of this enzyme with a thymine photodimer within DNA, the conformations of five different DNA duplexes, [sequence: see text] with which the enzyme can interact, were studied by 1H NMR. DNA I, DNA IV, and DNA V do not contain the TT sequence or a thymine dimer and hence, are expected to bind the enzyme only in a nonspecific manner. DNA II includes a single TT sequence which does not form a thymine dimer. Only DNA III is expected to bind specifically to the enzyme through a thymine photodimer. The NMR spectra of these five DNA duplexes in the absence of the enzyme clearly show that the formation of a thymine dimer within the DNA induces only a minor distortion in the structure and that the overall structure of B-type DNA is retained. The photodimer formation is found to cause a large change in chemical shifts at the GC7 base pair, which is located at the 3'-side of the thymine dimer, accompanied by the major conformational change at the thymine dimer site. The effects of T4 endonuclease V binding on these DNA duplexes were also investigated by 1H NMR. The binding of this enzyme to DNA I, DNA IV, and DNA V causes no alteration in chemical shift values of the imino proton resonances, but the binding to DNA II induces a small downfield shift in the imino proton resonance of GC7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Composition↗

The XPA protein is a zinc metalloprotein with an ability to recognize various kinds of DNA damage.

The XPA (xeroderma pigmentosum group A) gene encodes a protein of 273 amino acids with a zinc finger motif. The human XPA cDNA was placed in an Escherichia coli expression vector for the synthesis of the recombinant XPA protein. The molecular weight of the wild-type protein was about 40 kDa in SDS-PAGE. Microinjection of the wild-type protein specifically restored the defect of UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in XP-A cells. Thus, the bacterially expressed XPA protein retains biochemical properties identical to those of natural sources. The wild-type protein binds preferentially to UV-, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin)- or osmium tetroxide (OsO4)-damaged DNA as assayed by retention on nitrocellulose filters. In addition, the data from atomic absorption and UV-CD spectra revealed that the wild-type protein is a zinc metalloprotein with secondary structure. Furthermore, the mutant protein, of which the cysteine-103 residue in the zinc finger motif was replaced with serine, has a vastly different protein conformation resulting in a loss of XP-A correcting and DNA-binding activities. These findings indicate that the XPA protein is a zinc-binding protein with affinity for various DNA damages, and a cysteine residue in the C4-type zinc finger motif is indispensable for normal protein conformation.

Amino Acids↗