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Mutations in yeast replication proteins that increase CAG/CTG expansions also increase repeat fragility.

Expansion of trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) is the causative mutation in several human genetic diseases. Expanded TNR tracts are both unstable (changing in length) and fragile (displaying an increased propensity to break). We have investigated the relationship between fidelity of lagging-strand replication and both stability and fragility of TNRs. We devised a new yeast artificial chromomosme (YAC)-based assay for chromosome breakage to analyze fragility of CAG/CTG tracts in mutants deficient for proteins involved in lagging-strand replication: Fen1/Rad27, an endo/exonuclease involved in Okazaki fragment maturation, the nuclease/helicase Dna2, RNase HI, DNA ligase, polymerase delta, and primase. We found that deletion of RAD27 caused a large increase in breakage of short and long CAG/CTG tracts, and defects in DNA ligase and primase increased breakage of long tracts. We also found a correlation between mutations that increase CAG/CTG tract breakage and those that increase repeat expansion. These results suggest that processes that generate strand breaks, such as faulty Okazaki fragment processing or DNA repair, are an important source of TNR expansions.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

DNA polymerase alpha from normal rat liver is different than DNA polymerases alpha from Morris hepatoma strains.

To investigate whether DNA replication in rat hepatoma cells is altered compared with that in normal rat liver, the main replicative enzyme, i.e. the DNA polymerase alpha complex, was partially purified from a slow-growing (TC5123) and a fast-growing (MH3924) Morris hepatoma cell strain as well as from normal rat liver. The purified DNA polymerase alpha complexes contained RNA primase. DNA polymerase alpha activities of these complexes were characterized with regard to both their molecular properties and their dNTP and DNA binding sites. The latter were probed with competitive inhibitors of dNTP binding, resulting in Ki values, and with DNA templates, yielding Km values. The sedimentation coefficients of native DNA polymerases alpha from Morris hepatoma cells were found to be lower than that of polymerase alpha from normal rat liver. Consequently, when following the procedure of Siegel and Monty for determination of molecular mass considerably smaller molecular masses were calculated for polymerases of hepatoma strains (TC5123, 127 kDa; MH3924, 138 kDa; rat liver, 168 kDa). Similar differences were found when the dNTP binding site was probed with inhibitors. Ki values obtained with butylphenyl-dGTP were higher for polymerases of the hepatoma strains than for that of normal rat liver. However, Ki values measured with aphidicolin and butylanilino-dATP were lower for DNA polymerase alpha from the fast-growing hepatoma cell strain than for that from normal rat liver, indicating a reduced affinity of the dNTP binding sites for dATP and dCTP. This reduced affinity could be responsible for lowered specificity of nucleotide selection in the base-pairing process which in turn may cause an enhanced error rate in DNA replication in malignant cells. Furthermore, when the DNA binding site was characterized by Michaelis-Menten constants using gapped DNA as a template, Km values were similar for all three DNA polymerases. In contrast, the Km value measured with single-stranded DNA as a template was found to be lower for DNA polymerase alpha from the fast-growing hepatoma MH3924 than for that from normal rat liver. Thus, the DNA-polymerizing complex from MH3924 combines both higher binding strength to single-stranded DNA templates and decreased nucleotide selection, properties which may enhance replication velocity and may lower fidelity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Spontaneous mutation in Escherichia coli containing the dnaE911 DNA polymerase antimutator allele.

We have previously isolated mutants of Escherichia coli that replicate their DNA with increased fidelity. These mutants have a mutation in the dnaE gene, encoding the alpha subunit of DNA polymerase III. They were isolated in a mismatch-repair-defective mutL background, in which mutations can be considered to represent uncorrected DNA replication errors. In the present study we analyze the effect of one of these alleles, dnaE911, on spontaneous mutagenesis in a mismatch-repair-proficient background. In this background, spontaneous mutations may be the sum of uncorrected replication errors and mutations resulting from other pathways. Hence, the effect of the dnaE allele may provide insights into the contribution of uncorrected DNA replication errors to spontaneous mutation. The data show that dnaE911 decreases the level of Rifr, lacI and galK mutations in this background by 1.5-2-fold. DNA sequencing of 748 forward mutants in the lacI gene reveals that this effect has a clear specificity. Transversions are decreased by approximately 3-fold, whereas transitions, frameshifts, deletions and duplications remain essentially unchanged. Among the transversions, A.T-->T.A are affected most strongly (approximately 6-fold). In addition to this effect on transversions within the lacI gene, one previously recognized A.T-->G.C base-pair substitution hotspot in the lac operator is also reduced (approximately 5-fold). The data are discussed in the light of the role of DNA replication errors in spontaneous mutation, as well as other possible explanations for the observed antimutator effects.

Base Sequence↗

Differential replication of a single N-2-acetylaminofluorene lesion in the leading or lagging strand DNA in a human cell extract.

DNA replication in eucaryotic cells is a complex process involving a variety of proteins that synthesize the leading and lagging strand in an asymmetric, coordinated manner. To investigate the effect of this asymmetry on the translesion synthesis of bulky lesions, we have constructed SV40 origin-containing plasmids with site-specific N-2-acetylaminofluorene adduct on either leading or lagging strand templates. These plasmids have been incubated with DNA replication-competent extracts made from human HeLa cells. Two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis analyses reveal a strong blockage of fork progression only when the N-2-acetylaminofluorene adduct is located on the leading strand template. Morever, the analysis revealed that replication with HeLa cell extracts of SV40 origin-dependent plasmids functions in both directions from the origin with equal efficiency but, probably due to an important asynchrony at the formation of the two forks, proceeds unidirectionally for a large number of individual molecules. The validity of the in vitro replication approach to study the fidelity of both leading- and lagging strand synthesis is discussed with regard to these new data.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Responses in primary somatosensory cortex of rhesus monkey to controlled application of embossed grating and bar patterns.

Responses of 66 neurons in primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of three anesthetized monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were characterized with grating patterns of 550- to 2900-mm groove width (Gw) and 250-mm ridge width, and/or pairs of 3-mm-wide ridges (bars) spaced 1-20 mm apart. Surfaces were stroked across single fingertips at parametrically varied levels of force (25-150 g) and velocity (25-100 mm/sec). The average firing rates (AFRs) of many cells varied with Gw, but force and velocity altered response functions (e.g., from linear to plateau or inverted). Slowly adapting (SA) cells were more sensitive to force, rapidly adapting (RA) cells to velocity. Force and velocity affected all cells sensitive to Gw, which suggests that response independence (e.g., AFR correlated with Gw but not force or velocity) may require active touch. Discharge intervals of many cells replicated stimulus temporal period. This temporal fidelity in SAs far exceeded examples reported for active touch. However, discharge burst duration and AFR increased with Gw, supporting a neural rate rather than temporal code for roughness. Force and velocity altered the Gw at which some cells fired once in phase to stimulus cycle ("tuning point"). Responses to bar edges suggest cortical replication of peripheral mechanoreceptor sensitivity to skin curvature, leading to this temporal fidelity in some cortical cells. Graded RA responses to Gw without obvious stimulus temporal replication may reflect early stages of integrative processing in supra- and infragranular layers that blur obvious temporal patterning and lead to a rate code correlated with spatial variation and proportional to perceived roughness.

Afferent Pathways↗

Effects of Escherichia coli dnaE antimutator alleles in a proofreading-deficient mutD5 strain.

We have previously isolated seven mutants of Escherichia coli which replicate their DNA with increased fidelity. These mutants were isolated as suppressors of the elevated mutability of a mismatch-repair-defective mutL strain. Each mutant was shown to contain a single amino acid substitution in the dnaE gene product, the alpha (i.e., polymerase) subunit of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme responsible for replicating the E. coli chromosome. The mechanism(s) by which these antimutators exert their effect is of interest. Here, we have examined the effects of the antimutator alleles in a mutD5 mutator strain. This strain carries a mutation in the dnaQ gene, which results in defective exonucleolytic proofreading. Our results show that dnaE mutations also confer a strong antimutator phenotype in this background, the effects being generally much greater than those observed previously in the mutL background. The results suggest that the dnaE antimutator alleles can exert their effect independently of exonucleolytic proofreading activity. The large magnitude of the antimutator effects in the mutD5 background can be ascribed, at least in part, to the (additional) restoration of DNA mismatch repair, which is generally impaired in mutD5 strains because of error saturation. The high mutability of mutD5 strains was exploited to isolate a strong new dnaE antimutator allele on the basis of its ability to suppress the high reversion rate of an A.T-->T.A transversion in this background. A model suggesting how the dnaE antimutator alleles might exert their effects in proofreading-proficient and -deficient backgrounds is presented.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Activation of mammalian Chk1 during DNA replication arrest: a role for Chk1 in the intra-S phase checkpoint monitoring replication origin firing.

Checkpoints maintain order and fidelity in the cell cycle by blocking late-occurring events when earlier events are improperly executed. Here we describe evidence for the participation of Chk1 in an intra-S phase checkpoint in mammalian cells. We show that both Chk1 and Chk2 are phosphorylated and activated in a caffeine-sensitive signaling pathway during S phase, but only in response to replication blocks, not during normal S phase progression. Replication block-induced activation of Chk1 and Chk2 occurs normally in ataxia telangiectasia (AT) cells, which are deficient in the S phase response to ionizing radiation (IR). Resumption of synthesis after removal of replication blocks correlates with the inactivation of Chk1 but not Chk2. Using a selective small molecule inhibitor, cells lacking Chk1 function show a progressive change in the global pattern of replication origin firing in the absence of any DNA replication. Thus, Chk1 is apparently necessary for an intra-S phase checkpoint, ensuring that activation of late replication origins is blocked and arrested replication fork integrity is maintained when DNA synthesis is inhibited.

Alkaloids↗

Late-G1 cyclin-CDK activity is essential for control of cell morphogenesis in budding yeast.

The accurate spatial and temporal coordination of cell polarization with DNA replication and segregation guarantees the fidelity of genetic transmission. Here we report that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a build-up or burst of G1 cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity through activation of the cyclin genes CLN1,2 and PCL1,2 is essential for cell morphogenesis, but not for other events associated with the G1-S-phase transition, including DNA replication. Strains lacking a burst of late-G1 cyclin-CDK activity (LG1C(-)) undergo a catastrophic morphogenesis and halt the nuclear cycle at the morphogenesis checkpoint in G2 phase. Consistent with a role in morphogenesis, the Pho85 G1 cyclins Pcl1 and Pcl2 show a unique pattern of localization to sites of polarized cell growth, and strains lacking PCL1 and PCL2 show genetic interactions with the cell polarity GTPase Cdc42, its regulators and downstream effectors. Our data suggest that inability to assemble a septin ring and localize the GTP exchange factor Cdc24 at the incipient bud site may be the primary morphogenetic defects in LG1C-depleted cells. We conclude that a burst of late G1 cyclin-CDK activity is essential for establishing cell polarity and development of the cleavage apparatus.

Cell Cycle↗

Cell-cycle responses to DNA damage in G2.

Cellular reproduction, at its basic level, is simply the passing of genetic information from a single parent cell into two daughter cells. As the cellular genome encodes all the information that defines a cell, it is crucial that the genome be accurately replicated. Furthermore, the duplicated genome must be properly segregated so that each daughter cell contains the exact same information as the parent cell. The processes by which this occurs is known as the cell cycle. The failure of either duplication or segregation of the genome can have disastrous consequences for an organism, including cancer and death. This article discusses what is known about checkpoints, the surveillance mechanisms that monitor both the fidelity and accuracy of DNA replication and segregation. Specifically, we will focus on the G2 checkpoint that is responsible for ensuring proper segregation of the duplicated genome into the daughter cells and how this checkpoint functions to arrest entry into mitosis in response to DNA damage.

Cell Cycle↗

Role of an internal and two 3'-terminal RNA elements in assembly of tombusvirus replicase.

Plus-strand RNA virus replication requires the assembly of the viral replicase complexes on intracellular membranes in the host cells. The replicase of Cucumber necrosis virus (CNV), a tombusvirus, contains the viral p33 and p92 replication proteins and possible host factors. In addition, the assembly of CNV replicase is stimulated in the presence of plus-stranded viral RNA (Z. Panaviene et al., J. Virol. 78:8254-8263, 2004). To define cis-acting viral RNA sequences that stimulate replicase assembly, we performed a systematic deletion approach with a model tombusvirus replicon RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which also coexpressed p33 and p92 replication proteins. In vitro replicase assays performed with purified CNV replicase preparations from yeast revealed critical roles for three RNA elements in CNV replicase assembly: the internal p33 recognition element (p33RE), the replication silencer element (RSE), and the 3'-terminal minus-strand initiation promoter (gPR). Deletion or mutagenesis of these elements reduced the activity of the CNV replicase to a minimal level. In addition to the primary sequences of gPR, RSE, and p33RE, formation of two alternative structures among these elements may also play a role in replicase assembly. Altogether, the role of multiple RNA elements in tombusvirus replicase assembly could be an important factor to ensure fidelity of template selection during replication.

Cucumis sativus↗

Fidelity of DNA polymerase delta holoenzyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the sliding clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen decreases its fidelity.

DNA polymerases delta and epsilon (pol delta and epsilon) are the two major replicative polymerases in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fidelity of pol delta is influenced by its 3'-5' proofreading exonuclease activity, which corrects misinsertion errors, and by enzyme cofactors. PCNA is a pol delta cofactor, called the sliding clamp, which increases the processivity of pol delta holoenzyme. This study measures the fidelity of 3'-5' exonuclease-proficient and -deficient pol delta holoenzyme using a synthetic 30mer primer/100mer template in the presence and absence of PCNA. Although PCNA increases pol delta processivity, the presence of PCNA decreased pol delta fidelity 2-7-fold. In particular, wild-type pol delta demonstrated the following nucleotide substitution efficiencies for mismatches in the absence of PCNA: G.G, 0.728 x 10(-4); T.G, 1.82 x 10(-4); A.G, <0.01 x 10(-4). In the presence of PCNA these values increased as follows: G.G, 1.30 x 10(-4); T.G, 2.62 x 10(-4); A.G, 0.074 x 10(-4). A similar but smaller effect was observed for exonuclease-deficient pol delta (i.e., 2-4-fold increase in nucleotide substitution efficiencies in the presence of PCNA). Thus, the fidelity of wild-type pol delta in the presence of PCNA is more than 2 orders of magnitude lower than the fidelity of wild-type pol epsilon holoenzyme and is comparable to the fidelity of exonuclease-deficient pol epsilon holoenzyme.

DNA Polymerase II↗

Defending genome integrity during DNA replication: a proposed role for RecQ family helicases.

The RecQ family of DNA helicases have been shown to be important for the maintenance of genomic integrity in all organisms analysed to date. In human cells, representatives of this family include the proteins defective in the cancer predisposition disorder Bloom's syndrome and the premature ageing condition, Werner's syndrome. Several pieces of evidence suggest that RecQ family helicases form associations with one or more of the cellular topoisomerases, and together these heteromeric complexes manipulate DNA structure to effect efficient DNA replication, genetic recombination, or both. Here, we propose that RecQ helicases are required for ensuring that structural abnormalities arising during replication, such as at sites where replication forks encounter DNA lesions, are corrected with high fidelity. In mutants defective in these proteins, not only is replication abnormal, but cells display aberrant responses to DNA-damaging agents or inhibitors of DNA synthesis. We suggest that RecQ helicases may be important for the integration of cellular responses to these insults, such as by linking cell cycle checkpoint responses to recombinational repair.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Dinucleotide repeat expansion catalyzed by bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase in vitro.

DNA replication normally occurs with high fidelity, but certain "slippery" regions of DNA with tracts of mono-, di-, and trinucleotide repeats are frequently mutation hot spots. We have developed an in vitro assay to study the mechanism of dinucleotide repeat expansion. The primer-template resembles a base excision repair substrate with a single nucleotide gap centered opposite a tract of nine CA repeats; nonrepeat sequences flank the dinucleotide repeats. DNA polymerases are expected to repair the gap, but further extension is possible if the DNA polymerase can displace the downstream oligonucleotide. We report here that the wild type bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase carries out gap and strand displacement replication and also catalyzes a dinucleotide expansion reaction. Repeat expansion was not detected for an exonuclease-deficient T4 DNA polymerase or for Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. The dinucleotide repeat expansion reaction catalyzed by wild type T4 DNA polymerase required a downstream oligonucleotide to "stall" replication and 3' --> 5' exonuclease activity to remove the 3'-nonrepeat sequence adjacent to the repeat tract in the template strand. These results suggest that dinucleotide repeat expansion may be stimulated in vivo during DNA repair or during processing of Okazaki fragments.

DNA Polymerase I↗

Eukaryotic polymerases iota and zeta act sequentially to bypass DNA lesions.

DNA lesions can often block DNA replication, so cells possess specialized low-fidelity, and often error-prone, DNA polymerases that can bypass such lesions and promote replication of damaged DNA. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD30 and human hRAD30A encode Pol eta, which bypasses a cis-syn thymine-thymine dimer efficiently and accurately. Here we show that a related human gene, hRAD30B, encodes the DNA polymerase Pol iota, which misincorporates deoxynucleotides at a high rate. To bypass damage, Pol iota specifically incorporates deoxynucleotides opposite highly distorting or non-instructional DNA lesions. This action is combined with that of DNA polymerase Pol zeta, which is essential for damage-induced mutagenesis, to complete the lesion bypass. Pol zeta is very inefficient in inserting deoxynucleotides opposite DNA lesions, but readily extends from such deoxynucleotides once they have been inserted. Thus, in a new model for mutagenic bypass of DNA lesions in eukaryotes, the two DNA polymerases act sequentially: Pol iota incorporates deoxynucleotides opposite DNA lesions, and Pol zeta functions as a mispair extender.

Base Pairing↗

Targeting double-strand breaks to replicating DNA identifies a subpathway of DSB repair that is defective in ataxia-telangiectasia cells.

The critical cellular defect(s) and basis for cell killing by ionizing radiation in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) are unknown. We use the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin (CPT), which kills mainly S-phase cells and induces DSBs predominantly in replication forks, to show that A-T cells are defective in the repair of this particular subclass of DSBs. CPT-treated A-T cells reaching G2 have abnormally high levels of chromatid exchanges (viewed as prematurely condensed G2 chromosomes); aberrations in normal cells are mostly chromatid breaks. Transfectants of A-T cells with the wild-type ATM cDNA are corrected for CPT sensitivity, chromatid aberrations, and the DSB repair defect. These data suggest that in normal cells ATM, the A-T protein, probably recognizes DSBs in active replicons and targets the repair machinery to the breaks; in addition, the ATM protein is involved in the suppression of low-fidelity, adventitious rejoining between replication-associated DSBs. The loss of ATM functions therefore leads to genome destabilization, sensitivity to DSB-inducing agents and to the cancer-promoting illegitimate exchange events that follow.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗

Screening of Estrogenic and Antiestrogenic Effects of Estradiol, Bisphenol A, and Fulvestrant Using 2D and 3D Breast Cancer Cell Systems With a Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like bisphenol A (BPA) pose health risks by interfering with hormones. This study develops and utilizes in&#xa0;vitro 2D and 3D cell models to evaluate the estrogenic and antiestrogenic properties of compounds. Human breast cancer cell lines T47D and MCF7, stably transfected with a luciferase reporter gene (ERE-LUC), were first compared in 2D. Due to the significantly higher sensitivity and responsiveness observed in the T47D line during preliminary 2D screenings, this cell line was exclusively selected for the development of the 3D spheroid model. Cells were treated with 17&#x3b2;-estradiol (E2), BPA, and Fulvestrant (FUL) to assess cell viability and luciferase activity. In 2D models, T47D ERE-LUC cells showed higher responsiveness than MCF7 ERE-LUC, which failed to show significant luciferase induction with E2. In the 3D T47D model, cells exhibited significant and robust changes in luciferase activity in response to E2 and BPA, highlighting the enhanced fidelity of 3D cultures in replicating tissue conditions compared to their 2D counterparts. The study highlights the effectiveness of 3D models over 2D in evaluating estrogenic activity. Specifically, the 3D T47D ERE-LUC system serves as a superior, sensitive, and reliable platform for screening EDCs, offering benefits in cost, data speed, and reduced in&#xa0;vivo reliance.

Humans↗

The modification of induced genetic change in yeast by an amino acid analogue.

Treatment of diploid yeast cultures with the amino acid analogue, para-fluorophenylalanine (PFPA), at concentrations which caused inhibition of growth, resulted in up to 5 fold increases in the frequency of mitotic gene conversion at two different heteroallelic loci. With haploid yeast cultures, growth in PFPA increased the rate of forward mutation to canavanine resistance by at least 2 fold. Growth of diploids in PFPA prior to exposure to the deaminating agent nitrous acid, the cross-linking agent mitomycin C, the alkylating chemical ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS) and UV light resulted in significant changes in the potency of these diverse mutagens to induce intragenic recombination. For all four mutagens, increased frequencies of gene convertants/viable cell were observed in those cultures which had been exposed to the amino acid analogue prior to mutagen treatment. In haploid WT yeast cells, amino acid analogue incorporation resulted in an enhanced frequency of UV induced forward mutation to canavanine resistance whilst in a DNA repair deficient rad 6 mutant this interaction between UV and PFPA was abolished. The results have been interpreted on the basis of incorporation of the analogue into enzymes involved with DNA replication with a consequent loss of fidelity of such enzymes and increased errors in base incorporation.

Alleles↗