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Mutation spectra of Glu-P-1 in Salmonella: induction of hotspot frameshifts and site-specific base substitutions.

We used colony probe hybridization and PCR/DNA sequence analysis to determine the mutations in approximately 1,640 revertants of the -1 frameshift allele hisD3052 and approximately 260 revertants of the base substitution allele hisG46 of Salmonella typhimurium induced by the heterocyclic amine cooked food mutagen 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1). All of the mutations were at sites containing guanine, which is the base at which Glu-P-1 forms DNA adducts. A hotspot mutation involving the deletion of a CG or GC within the sequence CGCGCGCG accounted for 100% of the Glu-P-1-induced mutations at the frameshift allele in strains TA1978 (uvr+) and TA1538 (delta uvrB) and 99% in TA98 (delta uvrB, pKM101). To explain the induction of these hotspot mutations by Glu-P-1, we describe here a more detailed version of our recently proposed correct incorporation/slippage model [Genetics:136:731, 1994]. We propose that after cytosine is incorporated correctly opposite a Glu-P-1-adducted guanine, various slipped intermediates may form (a total of 18), depending on which guanine is adducted and whether it remains within the helix or becomes extrahelical. This variety of mutational pathways may account for the high mutability of the hotspot sequence by Glu-P-1. Although the pKM101 plasmid does not influence the mutagenic potency or mutational spectrum of Glu-P-1 at the frameshift allele, it is required by Glu-P-1 to revert the base substitution allele, where Glu-P-1 induces G-C --> T-A transversions (75%) and G-C --> tA-T transitions (25%) exclusively at a single site (the second position of the CCC codon of the hisG46 allele). The limited (20-30 times less) base substitution mutagenic potency of Glu-P-1 relative to its frameshift mutagenic potency as well as the extreme site specificity exhibited by Glu-P-1 for base substitutions may have bearing on the lack of base substitutions identified in ras genes in Glu-P-1-induced rat colon tumors.

Alleles↗

Suppression of translation frameshift by upstream termination codon.

Retroviruses employ translation frameshift for gene expression. Translation frameshift takes place at the slippery heptanucleotide sequence on mRNA. A downstream stem-loop structure (and a pseudoknot formed by the stem-loop) enhances the level of ribosomal frameshifting. Here, we describe that an upstream termination codon suppresses the ribosomal frameshifting, leading to reduction in the expression of downstream genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production of UV-induced frameshift mutations in vitro by DNA polymerases deficient in 3'-->5' exonuclease activity.

In order to study the conversion of UV lesions into frameshift and base substitution mutations, M13mp2 phage DNA was altered by the addition of extra pyrimidines, or by construction of a nonsense codon preceded by a run of pyrimidines within the beta-galactosidase complementing region. The normal sequence 5' GTC GTT TTA CAA 3' was changed to GTC GTT T TTA CAA (MIDT) or GTC GTT C TTA CAA (MIDC) to study frameshifts and to GTC GTT CTT TAA (OCHRE) to study reversion of the ochre (TAA) codon. Escherichia coli pol I Kf and T7 DNA polymerase mutant enzymes devoid of 3'-->5' exonuclease activity produced UV-induced revertants at higher frequency than did their exonuclease proficient counterparts. Removal of cyclobutane dimers with photolyase before in vitro synthesis did not greatly affect mutant frequency although such treatment led to significantly increased DNA synthesis by the wild-type T7 DNA polymerase on UV-irradiated substrate. Reversions of the in frame ochre sequence GTT CTT TAA produced by the delta 28 T7 DNA polymerase were mainly by base substitution in the TAA codon. About half of the E. coli Kf exo- enzyme ochre revertants had a TTA deletion. Five mutant T7 DNA polymerases with varying exonuclease activity gave revertant frequencies that correlated better with published values of enzyme velocity than with exonuclease activity or with measured bypass synthesis. Our data indicate that loss of proofreading activity increases the frequency of UV-induced frameshifts, but lack of such activity is not sufficient for their production. We suggest that frameshifts occur more frequently when nucleotide addition opposite the lesion is slow. The same lesion can give rise to a different spectrum of mutations depending on the polymerase.

Bacteriophage M13↗

Sequence determinants for -2 frameshift mutagenesis at NarI-derived hot spots.

The recognition sequence of the NarI restriction enzyme is known to be a strong hot spot for -2 frameshift mutations (G1G2CG3CC-->GGCC) induced by the chemical carcinogen N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF). In an attempt to define a "consensus sequence" for this mutation hot spot, we have investigated the role of the bases flanking the central dinucleotide GpC repeat in the NarI sequence (NaGCGCNb) on the mutation frequency induced by the carcinogen. Construction and random modification with AAF of the 16 plasmids resulting from the replacement of Na and Nb by A,T,G and C, respectively, have been undertaken. All 16 sequences tested are found to be -2 frameshift mutation hot spots. Indeed, a level of modification of approximately five AAF adducts per plasmid molecule induces a mutation frequency ranging between 500 and 5000-fold above background. The mutations observed are mainly (90%) deletion of a dinucleotide CpG in the targeted sequence NaGCGCNb. Previous studies on NarI mutagenesis (G1G2CG3CC-->GGCC) have shown that only AAF adducts at G3 in the template for lagging strand synthesis induce -2 frameshift mutagenesis at a high level. When the mutation data obtained in this work are analyzed as originating essentially from adducts to guanines in this strand, we find that it is the nucleotide Nb located 3' to the central dinucleotide GpC repeat that strongly modulates the mutation frequency, while the nucleotide Na located on the 5' side has little effect. Our present model of frameshift mutagenesis at NarI sites involves a template-primer misalignment step with a two-nucleotide slipped mutagenic intermediate. In the context of this model, the modulation of mutagenesis by nucleotide Nb located two nucleotides 3' from the putative adduct site in the template strand can be explained in view of the fact that the replication complex encounters this nucleotide before it encounters the adduct.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Base-pairings within the RNA pseudoknot associated with the simian retrovirus-1 gag-pro frameshift site.

Frameshift and readthrough sites within retroviral messenger RNAs are often followed by nucleotide sequences that have the potential to form pseudoknot structures. In the work presented here, NMR methods were used to characterize the base-pairings and structural features of the RNA pseudoknot downstream of the gag-pro frameshift site of simian retrovirus type-1 (SRV-1) and a functional mutant of the SRV-1 pseudoknot. Evidence is presented that these pseudoknots contain two A-form helical stems of six base-pairs each, connected by two loops, in a classic H-type pseudoknot topology. A particularly interesting feature is that the shorter of the two connecting loops, loop 1, consists of only a single adenosine nucleotide that spans the major groove of stem 2. In this respect, the frameshift-associated pseudoknots are structurally similar to the pseudoknot within the gene 32 mRNA of bacteriophage T2, previously characterized by NMR methods. Despite having similar nucleotide sequences, the solvent exchange rates of the imino protons at the junction of the helical stems in the wild-type and mutant frameshifting pseudoknots differ from each other and from the bacteriophage T2 pseudoknot. The implications of this finding are discussed.

Frameshifting, Ribosomal↗

Intracisternal A-type particles express their proteinase in a separate reading frame by translational frameshifting, similar to D-type retroviruses.

Intracisternal A-type particles (IAP) are defective endogenous retroviruses that accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum of rodent cells. IAP genomes share extensive sequence homologies with D-type retroviruses, but were presumed to express the viral proteinase (PR) as part of the gag open reading frame (ORF) while D-type retroviruses express PR in a separate ORF. Here we show that expression of the murine IAP element MIA14 yields three major translation products, corresponding to the Gag, Gag-PR, and Gag-PR-Pol polyproteins. Sequence analysis revealed that MIA14 PR is encoded in its own reading frame, separate from gag and pol. Frameshifting occurred with an efficiency of approximately 25% between the gag and pro ORFs and 35% between pro and pol. The region containing the putative gag-pro frameshift signal consists of a heptanucleotide slippery sequence (A6C) and a stem-loop structure probably forming a pseudoknot. Deletion of this structure element almost completely abolished frameshifting. Insertion of an additional base next to the frameshift signal placed gag and pro in the same ORF and resulted in predominant formation of Gag-PR and Gag-PR-Pol polyproteins which were not processed following in vitro translation. Expression of a similar construct in tissue culture cells, on the other hand, led to efficient intracellular processing of the mutant polyproteins.

Animals↗

1-Methylguanosine in place of Y base at position 37 in phenylalanine tRNA is responsible for its shiftiness in retroviral ribosomal frameshifting.

Many mammalian retroviruses express their protease and polymerase by ribosomal frameshifting. It was originally proposed that a specialized shifty tRNA promotes the frameshift event. We previously observed that phenylalanine tRNA(Phe) lacking the highly modified wybutoxosine (Y) base on the 3' side of its anticodon stimulated frameshifting, demonstrating that this tRNA is shifty. We now report the shifty tRNA(Phe) contains 1-methylguanosine (m(1)G) in place of Y and that the m(1)G form from rabbit reticulocytes stimulates frameshifting more efficiently than its m(1)G-containing counterpart from mouse neuroblastoma cells. The latter tRNA contains unmodified C and G nucleosides at positions 32 and 34, respectively, while the former tRNA contains the analogous 2'-O-methylated nucleosides at these positions. The data suggest that not only does the loss of a highly modified base from the 3' side of the anticodon render tRNA(Phe) shifty, but the modification status of the entire anticodon loop contributes to the degree of shiftiness. Possible biological consequences of these findings are discussed.

Animals↗

A umuDC-independent SOS pathway for frameshift mutagenesis.

The chemical carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene induces mainly frameshift mutations, which occur within two types of sequences (mutation hot spots): -1 frameshift mutations within contiguous guanine sequences and -2 frameshift mutations within alternating GC sequences such as the NarI and BssHII restriction site sequences. We have investigated the genetic control of mutagenesis at these sequences by means of a reversion assay using plasmids pW17 and pX2, which contain specific targets for contiguous guanine and alternating GC sequences, respectively. Our results suggest that mutations at these hot spot sequences are generated by two different genetic pathways, both involving induction of SOS functions. The two pathways differ both in their LexA-controlled gene and RecA protein requirements. In the mutation pathway that acts at contiguous guanine sequences, the RecA protein participates together with the umuDC gene products. In contrast, RecA is not essential for mutagenesis at alternating GC sequences, except to cleave the LexA repressor. The LexA-regulated gene product(s), which participate in this latter mutational pathway, do not involve umuDC but another as yet uncharacterized inducible function. We also show that wild-type RecA and RecA430 proteins exert an antagonistic effect on mutagenesis at alternating GC sequences, which is not observed either in the presence of activated RecA (RecA*), RecA730 or RecA495 proteins, or in the complete absence of RecA as in recA99. It is concluded that the -1 mutation pathway presents the same genetic requirements as the pathway for UV light mutagenesis, while the -2 mutation pathway defines a distinct SOS pathway for frameshift mutagenesis.

Acetoxyacetylaminofluorene↗

Mutation of a highly conserved base in the yeast mitochondrial 21S rRNA restricts ribosomal frameshifting.

A mutation shown to cause resistance to chloramphenicol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was mapped to the central loop in domain V of the yeast mitochondrial 21S rRNA. The mutant 21S rRNA has a base pair exchange from U2677 (corresponding to U2504 in Escherichia coli) to C2677, which significantly reduces rightward frameshifting at a UU UUU UCC A site in a +1 U mutant. There is evidence to suggest that this reduction also applies to leftward frameshifting at the same site in a -1 U mutant. The mutation did not increase the rate of misreading of a number of mitochondrial missense, nonsense or frameshift (of both signs) mutations, and did not adversely affect the synthesis of wild-type mitochondrial gene products. It is suggested here that ribosomes bearing either the C2677 mutation or its wild-type allele may behave identically during normal decoding and only differ at sites where a ribosomal stall, by permitting non-standard decoding, differentially affects the normal interaction of tRNAs with the chloramphenicol resistant domain V. Chloramphenicol-resistant mutations mapping at two other sites in domain V are described. These mutations had no effect on frameshifting.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A rapid screening method for hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha frameshift mutations; prevalence in maturity-onset diabetes of the young and late-onset non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) is a polygenic heterogeneous disorder of glucose homeostasis. Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a monogenic subtype of NIDDM characterised by early-onset (< 25 years) and autosomal dominant inheritance. Mutations in the hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha (HNF-1 alpha) gene have recently been shown to cause MODY. The incidence of mutations in this gene in MODY and late-onset NIDDM is not known. We have developed a rapid specific polymerase chain reaction test for HNF-1 alpha mutations; this test involves the use of fluorescently labelled forward primers and modified reverse primers to detect length polymorphisms resulting from frameshift mutations. With this method, we have screened 102 MODY probands, viz. 60 defined according to strict diagnostic criteria (autosomal dominant inheritance and at least one member diagnosed age < 25 years) and 95 late-onset NIDDM probands (diagnosed 35-70 years with > or = 1 affected relative), for the presence of 9 known HNF-1 alpha frameshift mutations, including 6 that occur at two sites for recurring mutation (residues 291/292 and 379). Mutations were detected in 11 of the strictly defined MODY probands and one mutation was also found in a single subject with early-onset NIDDM but no family history of the disease. The HNF-1 alpha frameshift mutations were not detected in any late-onset NIDDM subjects, suggesting these mutations do not have a major role in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. Our results indicate that the prevalence of the nine frameshift mutations in strictly defined UK MODY is 18%, with the P291fsinsC mutation alone having a frequency of 13%.

Adult↗

Seven, eight and nine-membered anticodon loop mutants of tRNA(2Arg) which cause +1 frameshifting. Tolerance of DHU arm and other secondary mutations.

The mutant tRNA(2Arg) encoded by the genetically-selected frameshift suppressor, sufT621, inserts arginine and causes a +1 reading-frame shift at the proline codon, CCG(U). There is an extra base, G36.1, in argV beta, one of the four identical genes for tRNA(2Arg) in the position between bases 36 and 37, corresponding to the 3' side of the anticodon. The new four-base anticodon, predicted from DNA sequencing to be 3' GGCA 5', is complementary to the four-base codon CCGU. Quadruplet translocation promoted by mutant argV does not require perfect complementarity between the codon and the anticodon since synthetic genes encoding derivatives of tRNA(2Arg) and tRNA(1Pro), with four-base anticodons complementary to three out of the four bases of CCGU, were also shown to be capable of frameshifting. Two other mutants of argV, inferred to have normal-size, seven-base anticodon loops, were also found to be capable of four-base-decoding demonstrating that quadruplet translocation promoted by mutant argV does not require an enlarged anticodon loop. Other alleles of argV, predicted to have nine bases in the anticodon loop, were also found to cause frameshifting. The DNA sequence of two of these showed in addition, either a deletion of G24, or a ten-base duplication in the region corresponding to the TFC arm. A general finding is that mutations in the DHU arm of tRNA(2Arg) are compatible with, and in one case necessary for, frameshifting.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and characterization of a +1 frameshift observed during the expression of Epstein-Barr virus IL-10 in Escherichia coli.

Epstein-Barr virus IL-10 (ebvIL-10) mimics the biological functions of cellular IL-10 including a number of immunoinhibitory activities on diverse immune cells. Characterization of ebvIL-10 and several mutants, expressed in Escherichia coli, by gel filtration chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed a +1 frameshift upon ebvIL-10 expression. The frameshift is caused by the rare AGG codon at ebvIL-10 Arg159, which is followed by the most inefficient stop signal, UGAC. The frameshift was corrected by substituting the rare AGG codon with an abundant arginine codon, CGU, or by enhancing the level of tRNA that decodes the AGG codon. As a result, ebvIL-10 expression levels increased by approximately 3-fold and the purity of the protein improved from 85-95% to 98-99%. The correction of the frameshift has been essential for continuing structural and biophysical studies of ebvIL-10.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Roles of the mutagenesis proteins SamA'B and MucA'B in chemically induced frameshift mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium hisD3052.

The mutagenesis induced by ultraviolet light and many chemicals in Escherichia coli is largely dependent upon the proteins encoded by the umuDC operon and their analogs. In Salmonella typhimurium, there are two sets of umuDC-like operons: the umuDC(ST) operon in the chromosome and the samAB operon located on the 60-MDa cryptic plasmid. The former operon, but not the latter, confers UV mutability on S. typhimurium. Nevertheless, the samAB operon, when carried on high-copy-number plasmids, can efficiently promote UV mutagenesis. In order to characterize the function of samAB in greater detail, we have compared the abilities of MucA'B and a putative activated form of SamAB, i.e. SamA'B, to promote chemically induced frameshift mutagenesis in S. typhimurium hisD3052. MucAB is an activated form of the products of mucAB, which is the most potent umuDC analog characterized so far. We have used four plasmids, each carrying samA', samB, mucA' or mucB with a lac promoter instead of their own promoters. The results indicated that under the conditions of elevated expression, SamA'B can promote chemically induced frameshift mutagenesis by furylfuramide, aflatoxin B1, 1-nitropyrene, and 1,8-dinitropyrene, with efficiencies comparable to, or even better than, MucA'B. Increase of the levels of expression enhanced the ability of SamA'B to promote the mutagenesis, while it decreased that of MucA'B. Surprisingly, the elevated expression of MucB alone significantly enhanced the frameshift mutagenesis induced by 1-nitropyrene and 1,8-dinitropyrene, whereas the elevated expression of SamB, MucA' and SamA' did not enhance it. These results suggest that the abilities of SamA'B and MucA'B to promote mutagenesis strongly depend on their levels of expression. The possible roles of these mutagenesis proteins in chemically induced frameshift mutagenesis are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Alkylation-induced frameshift mutagenesis during in vitro DNA synthesis by DNA polymerases alpha and beta.

We have analyzed the mutational spectra produced during in vitro DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase alpha-primase and DNA polymerase beta. The polymerase mutation frequency as measured in the in vitro herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) forward assay was increased when reactions utilized single-stranded DNA templates randomly modified by 20 mM N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), relative to solvent-treated templates. A 20- to 50-fold increase in the frequency of G-->A transition mutations was observed for both polymerases, as expected due to mispairing by O6-ethylguanine lesions. Strikingly, ENU treatment of the template also resulted in a five- to 12-fold increased frequency of frameshift errors at heteropolymeric (non-repetitive) template sequences produced by polymerase beta and polymerase alpha-primase, respectively. The increased proportion of frameshift mutations at heteropolymeric sequences relative to homopolymeric (repetitive) sequences produced by each polymerase in response to ENU damage was statistically significant. For polymerase alpha-primase, one-base deletion errors at template guanine residues was the second most frequent mutational event, observed at a frequency only four-fold lower than the G-->A transition frequency. In the polymerase beta reactions, the frequency of insertion errors at homopolymeric (repetitive) sequences was increased six-fold using alkylated templates, relative to solvent controls. The frequency of such insertion errors was only three-fold lower than the frequency of G-->A transition errors by polymerase beta. Although ENU is generally regarded as a potent base substitution mutagen, these data show that monofunctional alkylating agents are capable of inducing frameshift mutations in vitro. Alkylation-induced frameshift mutations occur in both repetitive and non-repetitive DNA sequences; however, the mutational specificity is dependent upon the DNA polymerase.

Alkylating Agents↗

Direct structural evidence for formation of a stem-loop structure involved in ribosomal frameshifting in human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Programmed ribosomal frameshifting in viral messenger RNA occurs in response to neighboring sequence elements consisting of: a frameshift site, a spacer, and a downstream enhancer sequence. In human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mRNA, this sequence element has a potential to form either a stem-loop or a pseudoknot structure. Based on many mutational studies, the stem-loop structure has been proposed for the downstream enhancer region of the HIV-1 mRNA. This stimulatory stem-loop structure is separated from the shift site by a spacer of seven nucleotides. In contrast, a recent report has proposed an alternative model in which the bases in the spacer sequence form a pseudoknot structure as the downstream enhancer sequence [Du et al., Biochemistry 35 (1996) 4187-4198.]. Using UV melting and enzymatic mapping analyses, we have investigated the conformation of the sequence region involved in ribosomal frameshifting in HIV-1. Our S1, V1, and T1 endonuclease mappings, together with UV melting analysis, clearly indicate that this sequence element of the HIV-1 mRNA frameshift site forms a stem-loop structure, not a pseudoknot structure. This finding further supports the stem-loop structure proposed by many mutational studies for the downstream enhancer sequence of the HIV-1 mRNA.

Endoribonucleases↗

Translating old drugs into new treatments: ribosomal frameshifting as a target for antiviral agents.

Programmed ribosomal frameshifting is used by many viruses to regulate the production of structural and enzymatic proteins. Altering the frameshifting efficiencies disrupts the virus life cycle and eliminates or reduces virus production. Ribosomal frameshifting therefore provides a unique target on which antiviral agents can function. This article describes a series of rapid assay strategies that have been developed and used to identify potential antiviral agents that target programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting.

Antiviral Agents↗

Frameshifts, base substitutions and minute deletions constitute X-ray-induced mutations in the endogenous tonB gene of Escherichia coli K12.

We have analyzed the DNA sequence changes in a total of 127 X-ray-induced mutations in the endogenous tonB gene of Escherichia coli cells. Frameshifts accounted for 61 mutations among which 51 were a - 1 frameshift. The second most commonly found mutations were base substitutions (20 transversions and 8 transitions). Twelve of the 16 deletion mutations were the minute-size deletion of 3-25 base pairs, three were the medium-size deletion of 294-643 base pairs and the remaining one was the deletion of 8375 base pairs. Half of the frameshifts and deletions had a run of several identical bases or short direct repeats at the sites of mutation. The spectrum was not in good agreement with the spectrum of spontaneous endogenous tonB mutation nor with the spectra obtained from a mutated gene on a plasmid which had been irradiated in vitro and used to transfect cells for the assay. We discuss the possibility that an X-ray-induced DNA strand break produces local alteration of DNA structure which increases aberrant DNA replication leading to frameshift and minute-size deletion mutations.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Construction of a vector for site-specific frameshift mutagenesis containing the mutable hotspot of Salmonella typhimurium TA98 on an M13 bacteriophage.

Frameshift mutations demonstrate a high degree of sequence specificity. In order to provide a vector for site-specific frameshift mutagenesis experiments, a recombinant M13 phage (M13MB102) was constructed by substitution of 27 base pairs of the Salmonella typhimurium hisD3052 sequence for 27 base pairs of the polylinker region of M13mp19. The inserted sequence contains most of the hotspot for frameshift mutations in hisD3052 and its derivative strain TA98. Structural elements of the insert include reiterated bases, direct repeats, and palindromes, and four unique restriction endonuclease cleavage sites. The recombinant phage produced blue plaques when grown in Escherichia coli strain JM105 on X-Gal indicator plates and exhibited a spontaneous mutation frequency similar to that of M13mp19. Methodology is described for preparation, isolation, and purification of closed circular duplex M13MB102 genomes containing an adduct between the SphI and BssHII cleavage sites in the (-)-strand and uracil residues in the (+)-strand. The latter modification decreases replication of the (+)-strand by 4 orders of magnitude and maximizes use of the adducted (-)-strand for in vivo replication. The structure of M13MB102 and the procedures described for introducing adducts at defined positions in its hisD3052 insert provide a convenient approach for evaluating the potential of individual carcinogen-DNA adducts to induce frameshift mutations.

Bacteriophage M13↗