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T7 DNA polymerase is not a zinc-metalloenzyme and the polymerase and exonuclease activities are inhibited by zinc ions.

Phage T7 DNA polymerase purified to homogeneity by an antithioredoxin immunoadsorbent technique was resolved into its active subunits the gene 5 protein and Escherichia coli thioredoxin by a novel technique involving chromatography on Sephadex G-50 at pH 11.5. Analysis of the metal content of the holoenzyme by atomic absorption spectroscopy showed that it did not contain stoichiometric amounts of zinc. Determination of polymerase and exonuclease activities of the holoenzyme and the gene 5 protein in assay mixtures containing enzyme concentrations in excess of the Zn2+ concentration showed full activity. Addition of Zn2+ resulted in no stimulation and the activities were completely inhibited by 0.1 mM Zn2+. These results demonstrate that the essential T7 DNA polymerase is not a zinc-metalloenzyme and suggest that DNA polymerases show no functional requirement for Zn2+.

Chlorides↗

The use of E. coli exonuclease III to generate single stranded DNA in BrdUrd cell-cycle analysis permits simultaneous detection of cell surface antigens.

An immunocytochemical method for the simultaneous flow cytometric quantitation of total cellular DNA, incorporated 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and one or more cell surface antigens has been developed. Biotin labeling of cell surface antigens, critically tuned fixation techniques and an enzymatic denaturation of cellular DNA are the essential features of this method. Enzymatic denaturation of cellular DNA was shown to prevent loss of cell surface antigen-bound biotin moieties, and thus to preserve cell surface immunofluorescence distribution. After a mild protein extraction and the introduction of breaks into the chromatin using restriction endonucleases, E. coli exonuclease III was used to generate stretches of single stranded DNA. This approach permits detection of the incorporated BrdUrd using anti-BrdUrd monoclonal antibodies. The enzymatic denaturation protocol was optimized using in vitro BrdUrd-labeled L1210 murine leukemia cells, and applied to both in vivo and ex vivo BrdUrd-labeled murine bone marrow cells. With this new method it is possible to study DNA content, cell cycle kinetics and cell surface antigen expression simultaneously, and hence functional relationships between these parameters can be investigated.

Animals↗

Hyperreactivity of B-Z junctions to 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen photobinding assayed by an exonuclease III/photoreversal mapping procedure.

We have developed an exonuclease III/photoreversal procedure to map, with base-pair resolution, the bases that have photoreacted with 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (Me3-psoralen) forming either monoadducts or interstrand crosslinks in DNA. This assay allows quantification of relative rates of Me3-psoralen photobinding to bases in DNA at levels less than one crosslink per 8000 base-pairs. We demonstrate the applicability of the Me3-psoralen mapping procedure on the Z-forming sequence GAATT(CG)6-TA(CG)6AATTC. The results confirm our previous findings that Me3-psoralen forms crosslinks in the 5'TA within the (CG)6TA(CG)6 sequence when it exists in the B conformation but not when it exists in the Z conformation. In addition, with increasing superhelical density we observe at least a hundred-fold increased Me3-psoralen presumably represent B-Z junctions. The two presumed junctions respond differently with increasing negative superhelical tension, however, suggesting that the structures of these negative superhelical tension, however, suggesting that the structures of these junctions differ. This increased Me3-psoralen photoreactivity provides a positive signal for the presence of Z-DNA. The sequence and assay described here provide a "torsionally tuned probe" for determining the effective superhelical density of DNA in vivo.

Base Sequence↗

Purification and characterization of phosphodiesterase (exonuclease) from Cerastes cerastes (Egyptian sand viper) venom.

A venom exonuclease 'phosphodiesterase' (E.C. 3.1.4.1) has been purified from Cerastes cerastes venom by a combination of gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 superfine and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose. The enzyme showed a single band on PAGE and SDS-PAGE and had a molecular weight of 110,000. The final preparation was purified 28 fold. It had no carbohydrate and it did not have protease or 5'-nucleotidase activities. Optimum temperature for enzyme activity was 56 degrees C. The enzyme was rapidly inactivated when pre-incubated above 40 degrees C. Energy of activation (Ea) was calculated to be 0.913. The optimum pH was 9.0. Cysteine, glutathione, dithiothreitol, 2-mercaptoethanol, ADP and AMP inhibited the enzyme. Cysteine caused a non-competitive inhibition, while ADP showed a competitive inhibition. EDTA at a concentration of 0.5 mM caused complete inhibition of the enzyme, which could be reversed by the addition of Ca2+ or Mn2+.

Animals↗

Exonuclease III promotes in vitro binding of the replication initiator protein of plasmid pSC101 to the repeated sequences in the ori region.

Purified Rep protein, a replication initiator protein of plasmid pSC101, has less binding affinity for the direct repeats (DR) in the replication origin region (ori) than that for the inverted repeats (IR) in the promoter region of the structure gene of Rep (rep) (Sugiura, S. et al. (1990) J. Biochem. 107, 369-376). We found a protein factor that promotes binding of purified Rep to the DR sequence in the cell extract of Escherichia coli. In the presence of the factor, DNA fragments containing the DR sequence can form a specific DNA-protein complex by the addition of low concentrations of Rep. On the contrary, IR-containing DNA loses its binding activity for Rep by preincubation with the factor. We purified extensively the factor and identified it as exonuclease III (exo III). Enzymatic action of the factor or authentic exo III at 37 degrees C is necessary for binding of Rep to DR-DNA. This binding of Rep to duplex DNA treated with exo III is DR-sequence specific. Since Rep cannot bind to the single stranded DR sequence, the present finding suggests that partial single-stranded regions around the DR sequence are required for binding of Rep.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mapping of RNA polymerase binding sites in the H/A gene region of bacteriophage S13 by footprinting and exonuclease III analysis.

The H/A gene region of the bacteriophage S13 genome (map positions 4597 to 289) was analyzed for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase-binding sites by combined DNase I footprinting, exonuclease III analysis and DNA sequencing. Two high-affinity binding sites were identified, one corresponding to the A gene promoter at position 5384 to 56, overlapping the H/A intergenic region at position 1 to 63, the other at position 5171 to 5230, at the 3'-end of the H gene. A medium-affinity RNA polymerase binding site was mapped at position 4810 to 4850 in the middle of the H gene upstream of a low-affinity site at position 5280 to 5330. The studies complete footprinting analyses of the S13 genome from position 4597 to 2198 and in combination with previous studies on transcription provide definitive evidence on the position of the A gene promoter in S13 and the closely related phage psi X174.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗

Cloning of a gene encoding a DNA polymerase-exonuclease of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

A procedure was developed for cloning and characterizing genes that encode proteins with nuclease activity in the Streptococcus pneumoniae [pLS1] host/vector system. Clones are screened for nuclease activity by a DNase colony assay and the nucleases that they produce are characterized by detection of enzyme activity after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The method was used to clone the gene encoding a DNA polymerase (Pol)-exonuclease of S. pneumoniae. The activity of this enzyme, the predominant DNA Pol of S. pneumoniae, is tenfold greater in cells carrying the multicopy recombinant plasmid than in cells without the plasmid. The enzyme corresponds to a 100-kDa polypeptide, and its properties are similar to PolI of Escherichia coli. A restriction map of the pSM22 plasmid containing the pneumococcal polA gene was obtained. The gene was transferred into Bacillus subtilis and E. coli, and it was expressed in both species. Its direction of transcription was determined by placement of the gene in both orientations in an E. coli hyperexpression plasmid. In one of the orientations the pneumococcal PolI enzyme was produced at a level 50-fold greater than normally found in S. pneumoniae, and it comprised 5% of the total protein.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Use of exonuclease for rapid polymerase-chain-reaction-based in vitro mutagenesis.

We describe a simple strategy for improving site-specific mutagenesis. We have combined the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a phage lambda exonuclease (Exo lambda) treatment to produce mutated fragments larger than 2.5 kb. The applicability of this approach has been proven with two overlapping mutated primers. The procedure has also been made more cost-effective by the use of a single mutated primer, which is referred to as SMP-PCR procedure. The entire procedure of kinasing the primer, amplification by PCR, Exo lambda digestion and second step of PCR can be performed in less than 6 h. We have used this approach to generate a number of mutations in the Salmonella typhimurium hisP gene of the histidine transport operon.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Are there highly conserved DNA polymerase 3'----5' exonuclease motifs?

It was proposed by Bernad et al. [Cell 59 (1989) 219-228] and Blanco et al. [Gene 100 (1991) 27-38] that the 3'----5' exonuclease (Exo) domain of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (PolI) is structurally and functionally conserved among prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA polymerases. The basis for this claim is the presence of three short peptide sequences in many DNA polymerases that resemble PolI sequences that have been shown by x-ray crystallographic and genetic engineering studies to be metal ion binding sites that are essential for PolI 3'----5' Exo activity [Derbyshire et al., Science 240 (1988) 199-201]. This claim is made even though there is little amino acid (aa) sequence similarity between PolI and many eukaryotic and viral DNA polymerases and in spite of significant differences in the amount of 3'----5' Exo activity in the DNA polymerases compared. For at least one DNA polymerase, bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase, one of the proposed conserved Exo sequences does not appear to be important for 3'----5' Exo activity. This T4 DNA polymerase result provides a reminder that caution must be used when weak aa sequence similarities are used to predict protein structure and function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence favouring the hypothesis of a conserved 3'-5' exonuclease active site in DNA-dependent DNA polymerases.

The complete amino acid (aa) alignment of the N-terminal domain of 33 DNA-dependent DNA polymerases encompassing the putative segments Exo I, Exo II and Exo III, proposed by Bernad et al. [Cell 59 (1989) 219-228] to form a conserved 3'-5' exonuclease active site in prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA polymerases, allowed us to identify and/or correct some of the most conserved segments (Exo I, II and III) in certain DNA polymerases. In particular, the aa region of T4 DNA polymerase and other eukaryotic (viral and cellular) DNA polymerases previously proposed as Exo I segment 1, did not align with the Exo I segment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (PolI)-like and protein-primed DNA polymerases; instead, a new conserved region of aa similarity was identified in T4 DNA polymerase and eukaryotic (viral and cellular) DNA polymerases as their corresponding Exo I segment. Therefore, according to our alignment, the recently reported T4 DNA polymerase site-directed mutants, D189A and E191A [Reha-Krantz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88 (1991) 2417-2421], do not correspond to what we now consider the critical Exo I motif of PolI. As discussed in this communication, the functional importance of conserved segments Exo I, Exo II and Exo III is supported by site-directed mutagenesis in PolI, and in phi 29, T7 and delta(Sc) DNA polymerases. Furthermore, genetically selected T4 DNA polymerase mutator mutants form two main clusters, centered in the conserved segment Exo III and in the newly identified Exo I segment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A recombinant exonuclease III homologue of the thermophilic archaeon Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus.

AP endonucleases catalyse an important step in the base excision repair (BER) pathway by incising the phosphodiester backbone of damaged DNA immediately 5' to an abasic site. Here, we report the cloning and expression of the 774 bp Mth0212 gene from the thermophilic archaeon Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus, which codes for a putative AP endonuclease. The 30.3 kDa protein shares 30% sequence identity with exonuclease III (ExoIII) of Escherichia coli and 40% sequence identity with the human AP endonuclease Ape1. The gene was amplified from a culture sample and cloned into an expression vector. Using an E. coli host, the thermophilic protein could be produced and purified. Characterization of the enzymatic activity revealed strong binding and Mg2+-dependent nicking activity on undamaged double-stranded (ds) DNA at low ionic strength, even at temperatures below the optimum growth temperature of M. thermautotrophicus (65 degrees C). Additionally, a much faster nicking activity on AP site containing DNA was demonstrated. Unspecific incision of undamaged ds DNA was nearly inhibited at KCl concentration of approximately 0.5 M, whereas incision at AP sites was still complete at such salt concentrations. Nicked DNA was further degraded at temperatures above 50 degrees C, probably by an exonucleolytic activity of the enzyme, which was also found on recessed 3' ends of linearized ds DNA. The enzyme was active at temperatures up to 70 degrees C and, using circular dichroism spectroscopy, shown to denature at temperatures approaching 80 degrees C. Considering the high intracellular potassium ion concentration in M. thermautotrophicus, our results suggest that the characterized thermophilic enzyme acts as an AP endonuclease in vivo with similar activities as Ape1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Closely opposed apurinic/apyrimidinic sites are converted to double strand breaks in Escherichia coli even in the absence of exonuclease III, endonuclease IV, nucleotide excision repair and AP lyase cleavage.

Multiply damaged sites (MDSs) consist of two or more damages within 20 base pairs (bps) and are introduced into DNA by ionizing radiation. Using a plasmid assay, we previously demonstrated that repair in Escherichia coli generated a double strand break (DSB) from two closely opposed uracils when uracil DNA glycosylase initiated repair. To identify the enzymes that converted the resulting apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites to DSBs, repair was examined in bacteria deficient in AP site cleavage. Since exonuclease III (xth) and endonuclease IV (nfo) mutant bacteria were able to introduce DSBs at the MDSs, we generated unique bacterial mutants deficient in UvrA, Xth and Nfo. However, the additional disruption of nucleotide excision repair (NER) did not prevent DSB formation. xth- nfo- nfi- bacteria also converted the MDSs to DSBs, ruling out endonuclease V as the candidate AP endonuclease. By using MDSs containing tetrahydrofuran (an AP site analog), it was determined that even in the absence of Xth, Nfo, NER and AP lyase cleavage, DSBs were formed from closely opposed AP sites. This finding implies that there is an unknown enzyme/repair pathway for MDSs, and multiple underlying repair systems in cells that can process closely opposed DNA damage into lethal lesions following exposure to ionizing radiation.

Binding Sites↗

The exonuclease TREX1 is in the SET complex and acts in concert with NM23-H1 to degrade DNA during granzyme A-mediated cell death.

Granzyme A (GzmA) activates a caspase-independent cell death pathway with morphological features of apoptosis. Single-stranded DNA damage is initiated when the endonuclease NM23-H1 becomes activated to nick DNA after granzyme A cleaves its inhibitor, SET. SET and NM23-H1 reside in an endoplasmic reticulum-associated complex (the SET complex) that translocates to the nucleus in response to superoxide generation by granzyme A. We now find the 3'-to-5' exonuclease TREX1, but not its close homolog TREX2, in the SET complex. TREX1 binds to SET and colocalizes and translocates with the SET complex. NM23-H1 and TREX1 work in concert to degrade DNA. Silencing NM23-H1 or TREX1 inhibits DNA damage and death of cells treated with perforin (PFN) and granzyme A, but not of cells treated with perforin and granzyme B (GzmB). After granzyme A activates NM23-H1 to make single-stranded nicks, TREX1 removes nucleotides from the nicked 3' end to reduce the possibility of repair by rejoining the nicked ends.

Cell Death↗

Removal by human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (Ape 1) and Escherichia coli exonuclease III of 3'-phosphoglycolates from DNA treated with neocarzinostatin, calicheamicin, and gamma-radiation.

DNA strand breaks with terminal 3'-phosphoglycolate groups are produced by agents that can abstract the hydrogen atom from the 4'-carbon of DNA deoxyribose groups. Included among these agents are gamma-radiation (via the OH radical) and enediyne compounds, such as neocarzinostatin and calicheamicin. However, while the majority of radiation-induced phosphoglycolates are found at single-strand breaks, most of the phosphoglycolates generated by these two enediynes are found at bistranded lesions, including double-strand breaks. Using a 32P-post-labelling assay, we have compared the enzyme-catalyzed removal of phosphoglycolates induced by each of these agents. Both human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (Ape 1) and its Escherichia coli homolog exonuclease III rapidly removed over 80% of phosphoglycolates from gamma-irradiated DNA, although there appeared to be a small resistant subpopulation. The neocarzinostatin-induced phosphoglycolates were removed more slowly, though not to completion, while the calicheamicin-induced phosphoglycolates were extremely refractory to both enzymes. These data suggest that unless other enzymes are capable of acting upon the phosphoglycolate termini at enediyne-induced double-strand breaks, such termini will be resistant to end rejoining repair pathways.

Aminoglycosides↗

Directed evolution of beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli by mutator strains defective in the 3'-->5' exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase III.

Directed evolution of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase into variants featuring beta-glucosidase activity was challenged. To this end, mutagenesis of lacZ was performed by replication in E. coli CC954, a mutator strain containing a DNA polymerase III defective in 3'-->5' exonuclease activity. beta-Galactosidase variants can be isolated upon mutagenesis of lacZ hosted into the self-transmissible episome F'128. Optimal evolution of lacZ can be achieved by propagation of E. coli CC954/F'128 cultures for 15 generations; further growth of mutator cultures for 37 or 55 generations imposes a high mutational load on lacZ and hinders the selection of efficiently evolved clones.

Base Sequence↗

Contribution of 3' leads to 5' exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme from Escherichia coli to specificity.

The effects of deoxynucleoside monophosphates on the 3' leads to 5' exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme have been correlated with their effects on the fidelity of DNA replication. In particular, dGMP inhibits the proofreading activity of the enzyme and decreases the fidelity in those cases where a "following nucleotide effect" is also noted. This is strong evidence for proofreading. However, the absence of the effects of proofreading inhibitors or following nucleotides need not be evidence against the occurrence of proofreading: a theoretical analysis shows that these effects may not be observed even though there is active proofreading. This is suggested to be the case with the phage T4 enzyme system. The proofreading activity of Pol III appears to be directed primarily towards removing purine x pyrimidine-mediated rather than purine x purine-mediated misincorporations. recA protein inhibits the proofreading activity of Pol III on synthetic templates containing mismatched 3' termini. This is paralleled by a decrease in the fidelity of DNA replication in vitro. The inhibition is increased in the presence of dGMP or dAMP but there is no further increase in the infidelity of replication. The presence of both dNMPs and recA protein does not enable Pol III to copy past pyrimidine photodimers.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Sensitive detection of the binding of E2F to its promoter by exonuclease III- and BssHII-protection PCR assays.

For the non-radioactive, sensitive detection of the binding of transcription factor E2F to its binding site (E2 promoter), exonuclease III (ExoIII)- and BssHII-protection PCR assays were established. The binding of glutathione S-transferase E2F-1 (GST-E2F-1) fusion protein to its promoter protected the promoter against ExoIII- and BssHII-digestion. For the BssHII-protection PCR assay, a BssHII restriction site was made in the E2 promoter sequence by changing one base-pair next to its sequence. To detect E2F binding in ExoIII- or BssHII-protection PCR assays, the use of 3.13 fmol (5.00 ng) or 2.33 fmol (4.62 ng) of DNA (containing E2 promoters) and 0.325 microg (3.70 pmol) or 0.175 microg (2.00 pmol) of GST-E2F-1 protein, respectively, were found to be sufficient.

Carrier Proteins↗