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Biomedical subjects

N Tuteja

Publications and source records attributed to N Tuteja.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Purification and properties of human DNA helicase VI.

A novel ATP-dependent DNA unwinding enzyme, called human DNA helicase VI (HDH VI), was purified to apparent homogeneity from HeLa cells and characterized. From 327 g of cultured cells, 0.44 mg of pure enzyme was recovered, free of DNA polymerase, ligase, topoisomerase, nicking and nuclease activities. The enzyme behaves as a monomer having an M(r) of 128 kDa, whether determined with SDS-PAGE, or in native conditions. Photoaffinity labelling with [alpha-32P]ATP labelled the 128 kDa protein. Only ATP or dATP hydrolysis supports the unwinding activity for which a divalent cation (Mg2+ > Mn2+) is required. HDH VI unwinds exclusively DNA duplexes with an annealed portion < 32 bp and prefers a replication fork-like structure of the substrate. It cannot unwind blunt-end duplexes and is inactive also on DNA-RNA or RNA-RNA hybrids. HDH VI unwinds DNA unidirectionally by moving in the 3' to 5' direction along the bound strand.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Human DNA helicase II: a novel DNA unwinding enzyme identified as the Ku autoantigen.

Human DNA helicase II (HDH II) is a novel ATP-dependent DNA unwinding enzyme, purified to apparent homogeneity from HeLa cells, which (i) unwinds exclusively DNA duplexes, (ii) prefers partially unwound substrates and (iii) proceeds in the 3' to 5' direction on the bound strand. HDH II is a heterodimer of 72 and 87 kDa polypeptides. It shows single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity, as well as double-stranded DNA binding capacity. All these activities comigrate in gel filtration and glycerol gradients, giving a sedimentation coefficient of 7.4S and a Stokes radius of approximately 46 A, corresponding to a native molecular weight of 158 kDa. The antibodies raised in rabbit against either polypeptide can remove from the solution all the activities of HDH II. Photoaffinity labelling with [alpha-32P]ATP labelled both polypeptides. Microsequencing of the separate polypeptides of HDH II and cross-reaction with specific antibodies showed that this enzyme is identical to Ku, an autoantigen recognized by the sera of scleroderma and lupus erythematosus patients, which binds specifically to duplex DNA ends and is regulator of a DNA-dependent protein kinase. Recombinant HDH II/Ku protein expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli cells showed DNA binding and helicase activities indistinguishable from those of the isolated protein. The exclusively nuclear location of HDH II/Ku antigen, its highly specific affinity for double-stranded DNA, its abundance and its newly demonstrated ability to unwind exclusively DNA duplexes, point to an additional, if still unclear, role for this molecule in DNA metabolism.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Calf thymus DNA helicase F, a replication protein A copurifying enzyme.

A DNA helicase from calf thymus, called DNA helicase F, copurified with replication protein A through several steps of purification including DEAE-Sephacel, hydroxyapatite and single stranded DNA cellulose. It is finally separated from replication protein A on FPLC Mono Q where the DNA helicase elutes after replication protein A. Characterization of the DNA helicase F by affinity labeling with [alpha 32P]ATP indicated that the enzyme has a catalytic subunit of 72 kDa. Gel filtration experiments suggested that DNA helicase F can exist both in a monomeric and an oligomeric form. The enzyme unwinds DNA in the 5'-->3' direction in relation to the strand it binds. All eight deoxyribonucleoside- and ribonucleosidetriphosphates could serve as an energy source. Testing a variety of DNA/DNA substrates demonstrated that the DNA helicase F preferentially unwinds very short substrates and is slightly stimulated by a single stranded 3'-tail. However, replication protein A allowed the DNA helicase to unwind much longer DNA substrates of up to 400 bases, indicating that the copurification of replication protein A with the DNA helicase F might be of functional relevance.

Animals↗

Human DNA helicase V, a novel DNA unwinding enzyme from HeLa cells.

Using a strand-displacement assay with 32P labeled oligonucleotide annealed to M13 ssDNA we have purified to apparent homogeneity and characterized a novel DNA unwinding enzyme from HeLa cell nuclei, human DNA helicase V (HDH V). This is present in extremely low abundance in the cells and has the highest turnover rate among other human helicases. From 300 grams of cultured cells only 0.012 mg of pure protein was isolated which was free of DNA topoisomerase, ligase, nicking and nuclease activities. The enzyme also shows ATPase activity dependent on single-stranded DNA and has an apparent molecular weight of 92 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Only ATP or dATP hydrolysis supports the unwinding activity. The helicase requires a divalent cation (Mg2+ > Mn2+) at an optimum concentration of 1.0 mM for activity; it unwinds DNA duplexes less than 25 bp long and having a ssDNA stretch as short as 49 nucleotides. A replication fork-like structure is not required to perform DNA unwinding. HDH V cannot unwind either blunt-ended duplex DNA or DNA-RNA hybrids; it unwinds DNA unidirectionally by moving in the 3' to 5' direction along the bound strand, a polarity similar to the previously described human DNA helicases I and III (Tuteja et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 6785-6792, 1990; Tuteja et al. Nucleic Acid Res. 20, 5329-5337, 1992) and opposite to that of human DNA helicase IV (Tuteja et al. Nucleic Acid Res. 19, 3613-3618, 1991).

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

DNA helicase III from HeLa cells: an enzyme that acts preferentially on partially unwound DNA duplexes.

Human DNA helicase III, a novel DNA unwinding enzyme, has been purified to apparent homogeneity from nuclear extracts of HeLa cells and characterized. The activity was measured by using a strand displacement assay with a 32P labeled oligonucleotide annealed to M13 ssDNA. From 305 grams of cultured cells 0.26 mg of pure protein was isolated which was free of DNA topoisomerase, ligase, nicking and nuclease activities. The apparent molecular weight is 46 kDa on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme shows also DNA dependent ATPase activity and moves unidirectionally along the bound strand in 3' to 5' direction. It prefers ATP to dATP as a cofactor and requires a divalent cation (Mg2+ > Mn2+). Helicase III cannot unwind either blunt-ended duplex DNA or DNA-RNA hybrids and requires more than 84 bases of ssDNA in order to exert its unwinding activity. This enzyme is unique among human helicases as it requires a fork-like structure on the substrate for maximum activity, contrary to the previously described human DNA helicases I and IV, (Tuteja et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 6785-6792, 1990; Tuteja et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 3613-3618, 1991).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Transcription efficiency of human apolipoprotein A-I promoter varies with naturally occurring A to G transition.

In human, the gene coding for apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), a protein of the plasma lipid transport system, is expressed only in the liver and the intestine. A naturally occurring A to G substitution in the promoter at position -78 was shown to be associated with high density lipoproteins (HDL) in females. We have studied the effect of this mutation on promoter activity using various lengths of promoter sequences and the CAT reporter gene system. Transient expression studies after introduction of these constructs into Hep 3B cells revealed that in the region spanning -330 to +1 of the promoter an A to G substitution increases the activity approximately twofold. On the other hand, when further upstream region (-1469 to +397) is also included, the promoter activity seems comparable in both alleles. Our results show how minimal sequence variations can affect the in vitro analysis of promoter activity.

Adenine↗

DNA helicase IV from HeLa cells.

Human DNA helicase IV, a novel enzyme, was purified to homogeneity from HeLa cells and characterized. The activity was measured by assaying the unwinding of 32P labeled 17-mer annealed to M13 ss DNA. From 440g of HeLa cells we obtained 0.31 mg of pure protein. Helicase IV was free of DNA topoisomerases, DNA ligase and nuclease activities. The apparent molecular weight is 100 kDa. It requires a divalent cation for activity (Mg2+ = Mn2+ = Zn2+) and the hydrolysis of only ATP or dATP. The activity is destroyed by trypsin and is inhibited by 200 mM KCl or NaCl, 100 mM potassium phosphate, 45 mM ammonium sulfate, 5 mM EDTA, 20 microM ss M13 DNA or 20 microM poly [G] (as phosphate). The enzyme unwinds DNA by moving in the 5' to 3' direction along the bound strand, a polarity opposite to that of the previously described human DNA helicase I (Tuteja et al Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 6785-6792, 1990). It requires more than 84 bases of single-stranded DNA in order to exert its unwinding activity and does not require a replication fork-like structure. Like human DNA helicase I the enzyme can also unwind RNA-DNA hybrid.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

A DNA helicase from human cells.

We have initiated the characterization of the DNA helicases from HeLa cells, and we have observed at least 4 molecular species as judged by their different fractionation properties. One of these only, DNA helicase I, has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. Helicase activity was measured by assaying the unwinding of a radioactively labelled oligodeoxynucleotide (17 mer) annealed to M13 DNA. The apparent molecular weight of helicase I on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is 65 kDa. Helicase I reaction requires a divalent cation for activity (Mg2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Ca2+) and is dependent on hydrolysis of ATP or dATP. CTP, GTP, UTP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP, ADP, AMP and non-hydrolyzable ATP analogues such as ATP gamma S are unable to sustain helicase activity. The helicase activity has an optimal pH range between pH8.0 to pH9.0, is stimulated by KCl or NaCl up to 200mM, is inhibited by potassium phosphate (100mM) and by EDTA (5mM), and is abolished by trypsin. The unwinding is also inhibited competitively by the coaddition of single stranded DNA. The purified fraction was free of DNA topoisomerase, DNA ligase and nuclease activities. The direction of unwinding reaction is 3' to 5' with respect to the strand of DNA on which the enzyme is bound. The enzyme also catalyses the ATP-dependent unwinding of a DNA:RNA hybrid consisting of a radioactively labelled single stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (18 mer) annealed on a longer RNA strand. The enzyme does not require a single stranded DNA tail on the displaced strand at the border of duplex regions; i.e. a replication fork-like structure is not required to perform DNA unwinding. The purification of the other helicases is in progress.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Isolation and characterization of cDNA encoding the gamma-subunit of cGMP phosphodiesterase in human retina.

Cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE) plays a key role in the normal functioning of retinal rod photoreceptor cells. The enzyme is composed of alpha- and beta-catalytic subunits which are inhibited by two identical gamma-subunits. A cDNA encoding the gamma-subunits (PDE gamma) from human retina has been cloned and sequenced. The 1012-bp cDNA has a coding region of 261 bp which is highly homologous to those of the PDE gamma cDNAs from bovine and mouse retinas. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the proteins from the three species indicates that PDE gamma has been very well conserved through evolution. The mRNA encoded by the cloned cDNA is 1.0 kb long, is similar in size to the corresponding mRNAs from mouse, dog and bovine retinas and is not detected in ground squirrel retina. The PDEG gene has been assigned to human chromosome 17, probably in the region q21.1.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

G protein-effector coupling: interactions of recombinant inhibitory gamma subunit with transducin and phosphodiesterase.

A bacterial expression vector for the inhibitory gamma subunit of retinal rod phosphodiesterase has been constructed by inserting a mouse gamma cDNA into pUC19. Escherichia coli 222 transformed with this plasmid produces a 12-kDa recombinant protein consisting of 18 additional amino acids attached to the amino terminus of gamma. The fusion protein, designated beta-gal-gamma, has been refolded into an active form in formic acid and partially purified by gel filtration chromatography. Despite a large extended sequence at the amino terminus, beta-gal-gamma is able to inhibit the activity of trypsin-activated phosphodiesterase, bind tightly to the catalytic alpha beta subunits, and interact with the alpha subunit of transducin in a nucleotide-dependent manner. The availability of large quantities of active bacterial gamma, together with the ability to change its primary structure by site-directed mutagenesis, promises to provide considerable new information on the interaction between transducin and phosphodiesterase, as well as insights into the molecular mechanism of G protein-effector coupling.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Cloning and sequencing of the gamma-subunit of retinal cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase from rd mouse.

Molecular cloning, sequencing and Northern blot analysis have been performed on the gamma-subunit of cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE gamma) from the retina of mice affected with the rd mutation. The full length cDNA has a total of 926 bp which include 261 bp of coding region, 121 bp of 5'-untranslated and 544 bp of 3'-untranslated regions. The latter contains a poly A tail of 50 bp. The coding region has only one base changed from the normal mouse cGMP-PDE gamma cDNA, a C replaced by an A at position 105 (Tuteja and Farber, 1988), and 91% homology with the coding region of the bovine retinal enzyme (Ovchinnikov et al., 1986). The mRNA of cGMP-PDE gamma is 900 bp long in both normal and rd mouse retinas and codes for a protein containing 87 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of cGMP-PDE gamma from rd retina has 100% homology with that of the enzyme from normal mouse retina and 97.7% homology with that of the bovine cGMP-PDE gamma suggesting that if this subunit of cGMP-PDE is properly transcribed and translated, it is not defective in the degenerative rd mouse retina.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

The gene for the gamma-subunit of retinal cGMP-phosphodiesterase is on mouse chromosome 11.

Mice carrying the rd mutation are affected with an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the total degeneration of retinal photoreceptor cells, which begins at postnatal day 8 and reaches completion by 3 wk of life. Biochemical studies have led to the proposal that a lesion in cGMP metabolism may be the cause of the rd photoreceptor degeneration, since cGMP reaches abnormally high levels in the rd retina a few days before the morphological pathology starts. The abnormal cGMP level is due to deficient cGMP-phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE) activity. A cDNA for the gamma-subunit of mouse cGMP-PDE has recently been cloned and characterized. We have mapped this cDNA to mouse chromosome 11 using a panel comprised of 19 hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids by Southern blot hybridization. Our results suggest that the structural gene for the gamma-subunit of cGMP-PDE from mouse retina, which we have designated 'Pdeg', is not the primary defect in rd disease, as the locus of this genetic defect is on mouse chromosome 5.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Gamma-subunit of mouse retinal cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase: cDNA and corresponding amino acid sequence.

The cDNA nucleotide and corresponding amino acid sequences of the gamma-subunit of cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE gamma) from mouse retina have been determined. The cDNA translated region was found to be 91.5% homologous to the cDNA coding region for the enzyme from bovine retina [(1986) FEBS Lett. 204, 288-292]. On Northern blots of normal mouse retinal RNAs this cDNA hybridized the cGMP-PDE gamma mRNA which is 900 bp long. The mouse gamma-subunit contains 87 amino acid residues which share 97.7% homology with the bovine polypeptide [(1986) FEBS Lett. 204, 288-292]. Only two amino acids have been changed, Ala 8 to Gly and Met 17 to Ile.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Mutational specificity of benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide in monkey cells.

Benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (BPDE) is thought to be the major mutagenic and carcinogenic intermediate in benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in mammalian cells. In order to test the mutagenic specificity of this compound in mammalian cells, we have used the pZ189 shuttle vector system to identify and analyze point mutations induced when DNA treated in vitro with BPDE is replicated in monkey cells. We find that point mutations occur almost exclusively at G.C base pairs; G.C----T.A and G.C----C.G transversions and single base pair deletions occur most frequently. This pattern is consistent with the known preferential covalent binding of BPDE to G residues.

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

UV light-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers are mutagenic in mammalian cells.

We used a simian virus 40-based shuttle vector plasmid, pZ189, to determine the role of pyrimidine cyclobutane dimers in UV light-induced mutagenesis in monkey cells. The vector DNA was UV irradiated and then introduced into monkey cells by transfection. After replication, vector DNA was recovered from the cells and tested for mutations in its supF suppressor tRNA marker gene by transformation of Escherichia coli carrying a nonsense mutation in the beta-galactosidase gene. When the irradiated vector was treated with E. coli photolyase prior to transfection, pyrimidine cyclobutane dimers were removed selectively. Removal of approximately 90% of the pyrimidine cyclobutane dimers increased the biological activity of the vector by 75% and reduced its mutation frequency by 80%. Sequence analysis of 72 mutants recovered indicated that there were significantly fewer tandem double-base changes and G X C----A X T transitions (particularly at CC sites) after photoreactivation of the DNA. UV-induced photoproducts remained (although at greatly reduced levels) at all pyr-pyr sites after photoreactivation, but there was a relative increase in photoproducts at CC and TC sites and a relative decrease at TT and CT sites, presumably due to a persistence of (6-4) photoproducts at some CC and TC sites. These observations are consistent with the fact that mutations were found after photoreactivation at many sites at which only cyclobutane dimers would be expected to occur. From these results we conclude that UV-induced pyrimidine cyclobutane dimers are mutagenic in DNA replicated in monkey cells.

Animals↗

Developmental and tissue-specific differential regulation of the mouse dioxin-inducible P1-450 and P3-450 genes.

The murine Ah locus has two structural genes, P1-450 and P3-450, that are members of the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-inducible P-450 gene family and are closely linked on mouse chromosomes 9. Transcriptional activation of both genes in liver is controlled by the Ah receptor. Inducible P1-450 mRNA is correlated with aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, whereas inducible P3-450 mRNA is correlated with acetanilide 4-hydroxylase activity. This report shows that inducible P3-450 mRNA is also highly correlated with estradiol 2-hydroxylase activity. Both P1-450 and P3-450 activities are induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in liver; in contrast, P1-450 but not P3-450 activity is induced to a significant extent in kidney, lung, and intestine. Constitutive levels of P3-450 mRNA in liver are at least five times greater than those of P1-450 mRNA, thus accounting for the much greater "fold inducibility" of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase than acetanilide 4-hydroxylase or estradiol 2-hydroxylase. The hepatic P3-450 induction response occurs at lower inducer concentrations than the P1-450 induction response, suggesting a difference in affinity of the inducer-receptor complex for regulatory regions of the two genes. Developmentally, P1-450 inducibility occurs at least 2 weeks earlier in gestation than P3-450 inducibility, which occurs near the time of birth. These data thus demonstrate striking differences between the expression of two homologous genes in the same P-450 subfamily, with respect to developmental and tissue specificity and sensitivity to common inducers that interact with the Ah receptor.

Animals↗