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The role of transient hypermutators in adaptive mutation in Escherichia coli.

Microbial populations under nonlethal selection can give rise to mutations that relieve the selective pressure, a phenomenon that has come to be called "adaptive mutation." One explanation for adaptive mutation is that a small proportion of the cells experience a period of transient hypermutation, and that these hypermutators account for the mutations that appear. The experiments reported here investigated the contribution that hypermutators make to the mutations occurring in a Lac- strain of Escherichia coli during selection for lactose utilization. A broad mutational screen, loss of motility, was used to compare the frequency of nonselected mutations in starved Lac- cells, in Lac+ revertants, and in Lac+ revertants carrying yet another nonselected mutation. These frequencies allowed us to calculate that the hypermutating subpopulation makes up approximately 0.06% of the population and that its mutation rate is elevated approximately 200-fold. From these numbers we conclude that the hypermutators are responsible for nearly all multiple mutations but produce only approximately 10% of the adaptive Lac+ mutations.

Escherichia coli↗

Localization of the functional domains of human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 and the effects of a Sorsby's fundus dystrophy mutation.

A transient COS-7 cell expression system was used to investigate the functional domain arrangement of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3), specifically to assess the contribution of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal domains of the molecule to its matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory and extracellular matrix (ECM) binding properties. Wild type TIMP-3 was entirely localized to the ECM in both its glycosylated (27 kDa) and unglycosylated (24 kDa) forms. A COOH-terminally truncated TIMP-3 molecule was found to be a non-ECM bound MMP inhibitor, whereas a chimeric TIMP molecule, consisting of the NH2-terminal domain of TIMP-2 fused to the COOH-terminal domain of TIMP-3, displayed ECM binding, albeit with a lower affinity than the wild type TIMP-3 molecule. Thus the functional domain arrangement of TIMP-3 is analogous to that seen in TIMP-1 and -2, namely that the NH2-terminal domain is responsible for MMP inhibition whereas the COOH-terminal domain is most important in mediating the specific functions of the molecule. A mutant TIMP-3 in which serine 181 was changed to a cysteine, found in Sorsby's fundus dystrophy, a hereditary macular degenerative disease, was also expressed in COS-7 cells. This gave rise to an additional 48-kDa species (possibly a TIMP-3 dimer) that retained its ability to inhibit MMPs and localize to the ECM. These data favor the hypothesis that the TIMP-3 mutations seen in Sorsby's fundus dystrophy contribute to disease progression by accumulation of mutant protein rather than by the loss of functional TIMP-3.

Animals↗

Mutations in GATA1 in both transient myeloproliferative disorder and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia of Down syndrome.

Mutations in transcription factors often contribute to human leukemias by providing a block to normal differentiation. To determine whether mutations in the hematopoietic transcription factor GATA1 are associated with leukemia, we assayed for alterations in the GATA1 gene in bone marrow samples from patients with various subtypes of acute leukemia. Here we summarize our findings that GATA1 is mutated in the leukemic blasts of patients with Down syndrome acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (DS-AMKL). We did not find mutations in GATA1 in leukemic cells of DS patients with other types of acute leukemia, or in other patients with AMKL who did not have DS. Furthermore, we did not detect GATA1 mutations in DNAs from over 75 other patients with acute leukemia or from 21 healthy individuals. Since the GATA1 mutations were restricted to DS-AMKL, we also investigated whether GATA1 was altered in the "preleukemia" of DS, transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD). TMD is a common myeloid disorder that affects 10% of DS newborns and evolves to AMKL in nearly 30% patients. We detected GATA1 mutations in TMD blasts from every infant examined. Together, these results demonstrate that GATA1 is likely to play a critical role in the etiology of TMD and DS-AMKL, and that mutagenesis of GATA1 represents a very early event in DS myeloid leukemogenesis. We hypothesize that disruption of normal GATA-1 function is an essential step in the initiation of megakaryoblastic leukemia in DS.

Bone Marrow↗

Tetrasomy 21 transient leukemia with a GATA1 mutation in a phenotypically normal trisomy 21 mosaic infant: case report and review of the literature.

Infants with constitutional trisomy 21 are at increased risk of developing transient and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL). Mutations in GATA1 have been identified in trisomy 21 patients with AMKL, and this lesion is thought to be an initial event by virtue of its presence during transient leukemia. Transient leukemia is also observed in phenotypically normal infants albeit much less commonly so. Almost all these infants are mosaic for trisomy 21, and the clinical course of transient leukemia recapitulates that observed in constitutional trisomy 21. We report a phenotypically normal infant with tetrasomy 21 transient leukemia, GATA1 mutation within exon 2, and trisomy 21 mosaicism restricted to the hematopoietic tissue. Two years after diagnosis, low levels of trisomy 21 persisted in the peripheral blood, which resolved 2.5 years after diagnosis. The GATA1 mutation was not detected at last follow-up. The literature review identified 32 phenotypically normal infants with transient leukemia. Ninety-one percent (29 of 32) were observed and three received chemotherapy at diagnosis of transient leukemia. Nineteen percent (6 of 32) developed acute leukemia, and four continued in remission (two died). Transient leukemia in trisomy 21 mosaicism recapitulates the condition observed in constitutional trisomy 21 at the biological and clinical levels. Infants should be followed for the development of acute leukemia.

Aneuploidy↗

Effects of Cav3.2 channel mutations linked to idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

Heron and colleagues (Ann Neurol 2004;55:595-596) identified three missense mutations in the Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel gene (CACNA1H) in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. None of the variants were associated with a specific epilepsy phenotype and were not found in patients with juvenile absence epilepsy or childhood absence epilepsy. Here, we introduced and functionally characterized these three mutations using transiently expressed human Cav3.2 channels. Two of the mutations exhibited functional changes that are consistent with increased channel function. Taken together, these findings along with previous reports, strongly implicate CACNA1H as a susceptibility gene in complex idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

Calcium Channels, T-Type↗

Error-prone polymerase, DNA polymerase IV, is responsible for transient hypermutation during adaptive mutation in Escherichia coli.

The frequencies of nonselected mutations among adaptive Lac(+) revertants of Escherichia coli strains with and without the error-prone DNA polymerase IV (Pol IV) were compared. This frequency was more than sevenfold lower in the Pol IV-defective strain than in the wild-type strain. Thus, the mutations that occur during hypermutation are due to Pol IV.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Phosphotyrosine residues in the nerve-growth-factor receptor (Trk-A). Their role in the activation of inositolphospholipid metabolism and protein kinase cascades in phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells.

PC12 cells, which lack platelet derived-growth-factor (PDGF) receptors, have been stably transfected with a chimaera consisting of the extracellular domain of the beta-PDGF receptor and the intracellular and transmembrane domains of the nerve-growth-factor receptor Trk-A (termed PT-R). Mutation of the Trk-A residue Tyr490 to phenylalanine prevents the association with Shc, while similar mutations at Tyr751 or Tyr785 are reported to prevent interaction of Trk-A with the p85 subunit of inositol phospholipid 3-kinase and phospholipase C-gamma 1, respectively. The strong and sustained activation of p42 and p44 mitogen-activated-protein kinases induced by PDGF-B/B in PC12/PT-R cells was unaffected by mutation of Tyr785 or Tyr751 to phenylalanine, but was smaller and transient after mutation of Tyr490, and almost abolished by the double mutation of Tyr490 and Tyr785. Mutation of Tyr490 reduced by 70% the PDGF-induced increase in inositol phospholipid 3-kinase activity immunoprecipitated from cell extracts with antiphosphotyrosine monoclonal antibodies and greatly suppressed the PDGF-induced increase in the intracellular products of inositol phospholipid 3-kinase, while mutation of Tyr751 or Tyr785 had no effect. Mutation of Tyr785 (but not mutation of Tyr490 or Tyr751) abolished PDGF-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Mutation of Tyr490, alone or in combination with mutation of Tyr751 and Tyr785, had no effect on the PDGF-induced activation of p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K). However, the activation of p70S6K by PDGF (or nerve growth factor), but not the activation of mitogen-activated-protein kinase, was prevented by two structurally unrelated inhibitors of inositol phospholipid 3-kinase, wortmannin or LY294002. Our results demonstrate the following: (1) the phosphorylation of Tyr490 plays a major role in the activation of inositol phospholipid 3-kinase and formation of 3-phosphorylated inositol lipids and confirm that the phosphorylation of Tyr 785 triggers the activation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 in vivo. (2) Tyr490 phosphorylation (but not inositol phospholipid 3-kinase activation) is also required for strong and sustained activation of mitogen-activated-protein kinase and neuronal differentiation, while the smaller and more transient activation of mitogen-activated-protein kinase, produced by the activation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 is insufficient to trigger the neuronal differentiation of PT-R cells. (3) Inositol phospholipid 3-kinase is required for the activation of p70S6K, but only a small increase in inositol phospholipid 3-kinase activity and the level of 3-phosphorylated inositol lipids is required for maximal p70S6K activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Decreased TXNRD1 is associated with resistance to tagraxofusp in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasms, as seen in phase II.

Tagraxofusp is a CD123-targeted therapy comprised of a recombinant human interleukin-3 (IL-3) fused to a truncated diphtheria toxin payload. It is the first approved treatment specifically for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). To identify biomarkers of response, bone marrow samples from 12 BPDCN patients who were treated with tagraxofusp in the pivotal phase II trial (NCT02113982) were profiled longitudinally using a gene panel and single-cell RNA sequencing. Residual tumor cells following tagraxofusp expressed lower levels of TXNRD1 that would reduce the efficacy of tagraxofusp. In support of this, enzymatic inhibition of TXNRD1 resulted in higher viability of CAL-1 BPDCN cells following tagraxofusp. Responders had either wild-type or missense TET2 mutations, while transient and non-responders had at least one truncating TET2 mutation. Examples of these mutations within the catalytic domain of TET2 were constructed and transduced into cells. Missense and truncating mutants displayed reduced sensitivities to hypomethylating agents and prolonged S-phase stasis. These results suggest that the levels of TXNRD1 interact with intrinsic TET2 truncating mutations within the bone marrow to modulate patient response to tagraxofusp.

Female↗

Discrimination between perfect and mismatched duplexes with oligonucleotide gel microchips: role of thermodynamic and kinetic effects during hybridization.

The efficiency of discrimination between perfect and mismatched duplexes during hybridization on microchips depends on the concentrations of target DNA in solution and immobilized probes, buffer composition, and temperature of hybridization and is determined by both thermodynamic relationships and hybridization kinetics. In this work, optimal conditions of discrimination were studied using hybridization of fluorescently labeled target DNA with custom-made gel-based oligonucleotide microchips. The higher the concentration of immobilized probes and the higher the association constant, the higher the concentration of the formed duplexes and the stronger the corresponding fluorescence signal, but, simultaneously, the longer the time needed to reach equilibrium. Since mismatched duplexes hybridize faster than their perfect counterparts, perfect-to-mismatch signal ratio is lower in transient regime, and short hybridization times may hamper the detection of mutations. The saturation time can be shortened by decreasing the probe concentration or augmenting the gel porosity. This improves the detection of mutations in transient regime. It is shown that the decrease in the initial concentration of oligonucleotide probes by an order of magnitude causes only 1.5-2.5-fold decrease of fluorescence signals after hybridization of perfect duplexes for 3-12 h. At the same time, these conditions improve the discrimination between perfect and mismatched duplexes more than two-fold. A similar improvement may be obtained using an optimized dissociation procedure.

Base Composition↗

A novel approach to describe a U1 snRNA binding site.

RNA duplex formation between U1 snRNA and a splice donor (SD) site can protect pre-mRNA from degradation prior to splicing and initiates formation of the spliceosome. This process was monitored, using sub-genomic HIV-1 expression vectors, by expression analysis of the glycoprotein env, whose formation critically depends on functional SD4. We systematically derived a hydrogen bond model for the complementarity between the free 5' end of U1 snRNA and 5' splice sites and numerous mutations following transient transfection of HeLa-T4+ cells with 5' splice site mutated vectors. The resulting model takes into account number, interdependence and neighborhood relationships of predicted hydrogen bond formation in a region spanning the three most 3' base pairs of the exon (-3 to -1) and the eight most 5' base pairs of the intron (+1 to +8). The model is represented by an algorithm classifying U1 snRNA binding sites which can or cannot functionally substitute SD4 with respect to Rev-mediated env expression. In a data set of 5' splice site mutations of the human ATM gene we found a significant correlation between the algorithmic classification and exon skipping (P = 0.018, chi2-test), showing that the applicability of the proposed model reaches far beyond HIV-1 splicing. However, the algorithmic classification must not be taken as an absolute measure of SD usage as it may be modified by upstream sequence elements. Upstream to SD4 we identified a fragment supporting ASF/SF2 binding. Mutating GAR nucleotide repeats within this site decreased the SD4-dependent Rev-mediated env expression, which could be balanced simply by artificially increasing the complementarity of SD4.

Algorithms↗

New functional promoter polymorphism, CETP/-629, in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene related to CETP mass and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels: role of Sp1/Sp3 in transcriptional regulation.

A new polymorphism located at position -629 (CETP/-629A/C) in the promoter of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene is described. The -629A allele was associated with lower CETP mass (P<0. 0001) and higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.001) than the C allele in a sample of 536 control subjects from the ECTIM study. Transfection studies in HepG2 cells with a luciferase expression vector incorporating a 777-bp fragment of the CETP promoter and containing either A or C at position -629 showed significantly lower luciferase activity with the promoter fragment of the A allele (-25%, P<0.05). By gel-shift assay, DNA-protein interactions were evaluated in nuclear extracts of HepG2 cells with the use of 2 probes (A or C probe) composed of 20 bp of the promoter sequence surrounding the polymorphic site. Two specific complexes of distinct migration rate were identified with the A and the C probe. Competition with an excess of oligonucleotide containing the Sp1 consensus binding site showed that a protein(s) of the Sp transcription factor family was implicated in complex formation with the A probe but not with the C probe. Incubation with specific antibodies indicated that Sp1 and Sp3 bound specifically to the A probe. We introduced mutations in the -629-Sp1 binding site to test its functionality and to define the characteristics of transcription factor binding. We showed, by gel-shift assay, that no nuclear proteins bound to the mutated sequence. Transient transfection of HepG2 cells revealed that the expression of the mutated fragment was significantly increased compared with that of the A promoter fragment (25%, P<0.05). The mutated fragment displayed the same activity as that of the C promoter. These results indicate that Sp1 and/or Sp3 repress CETP promoter activity, whereas nuclear factors binding the C allele are without effect on promoter expression.

Adult↗

Efficient replication of a full-length hepatitis C virus genome, strain O, in cell culture, and development of a luciferase reporter system.

Recently we reported a subgenomic hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicon derived from HCV (HCV-O strain) infected in non-neoplastic human hepatocyte PH5CH8. In this study, we developed a genome-length dicistronic HCV RNA from HCV-O. A cured HuH-7 cell line (sOc) was obtained from a cloned subgenomic replicon cell line (sO) by interferon (IFN) treatment and used for transfection with genome-length HCV RNA. One cloned cell line, O, was successfully selected by G418 treatment following the introduction of genome-length HCV RNA into sOc cells, and the robust expression of HCV RNA and proteins was confirmed. Oc, a cured cell line, was also obtained from the cloned cell line (O) by IFN treatment. The number of colonies increased drastically when genome-length HCV RNA was introduced into Oc cells. However, the cloned cured cell lines, sOc and Oc, differed in their colony formation efficiency despite their common origin. This result suggests that even a cloned cell line can change its characteristics during cell culture. Sequence analysis of HCV RNA from the O cells revealed an amino acid substitution in the NS3 helicase region (K1609E). This substitution worked as an adaptive mutation in transient reporter and colony formation assays. Using the advantages of this adaptive mutation and of Oc cells in colony formation, we established the first cell line in which genome-length dicistronic HCV RNA encoding a luciferase gene replicated efficiently. This culture system is useful tool for the study of HCV replication and mass screening for anti-HCV reagents.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Identification of an involucrin promoter transcriptional response element with activity restricted to keratinocytes.

The involucrin proximal promoter was examined for response elements that confer cell-type specificity. Using a segment spanning positions -157 to +41, three possible response elements were identified by their protein-binding activity using DNase I footprinting. From distal to proximal, they were: an activator protein-1 (AP-1) site (previously identified) overlapping an Ets-like site; a second Ets-like site located 13 bp more proximally; and an extended region designated footprinted site A (FPA). Mutation of the distal Ets-like site had essentially no effect on the transcriptional activity in transfections, while mutation of the proximal site reduced the activity by half. FPA was shown by electrophoretic mobility-shift assay (EMSA) to be comprised of two separable binding sites, FPA1 (distal) and FPA2 (proximal). While mutation of FPA2 had only a modest effect on transcriptional activity in transient transfections, mutation of FPA1 reduced transcriptional activity to approx. 20% of that obtained with the intact promoter. Additional mutations of FPA1 indicated that the active region comprises positions -85 to -73 (GTGGTGAAACCTGT). The molecular masses of the major proteins binding to this site were shown by UV cross-linking to be approx. 40 and 50 kDa, while minor bands were observed at 80 and 110 kDa. Since the involucrin promoter exhibits much higher transcriptional activity in keratinocytes than in other cell types in transfection assays (indicating that cell type specificity of expression is retained), the comparative influence of FPA1 was examined. While mutation of the AP-1 site affected transcriptional activity similarly in all cell lines tested, mutation of FPA1 decreased activity substantially in keratinocytes, but not in NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells, evidence for a contribution to cell-type specificity of expression. Furthermore, a correlation between the sensitivity to FPA1 mutation and amount of involucrin expression in different keratinocyte cell lines was evident. EMSA showed that NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells lacked the same FPA1 DNA-protein complex as keratinocytes. However, the amount of complex formed with nuclear extracts from several keratinocyte lines did not correlate well with the level of involucrin expression. Other factors, such as differences in post-translational modification or co-activators, must account for varied transcriptional response mediated by this site among keratinocyte lines.

3T3 Cells↗

Ordered appearance of zidovudine resistance mutations during treatment of 18 human immunodeficiency virus-positive subjects.

The order of appearance in the reverse transcriptase gene of four mutations implicated in the development of resistance to zidovudine was investigated by selective polymerase chain reaction. Serial human immunodeficiency virus isolates were studied from 18 initially asymptomatic individuals who had been treated with zidovudine for 2 years. Most subjects had similar patterns. The first mutation occurred transiently at codon 70; its disappearance was paralleled by the appearance of a mutation at codon 215. Subsequently, in some individuals, the mutation at codon 70 reappeared. During the 2 years of treatment, no mutations developed at codon 219 and only one at codon 67, suggesting that most individuals developed only partly resistant virus. This was confirmed by plaque-reduction assay. Six subjects progressed to AIDS within the 2-year study period, confirming that the development of highly resistant isolates is not required for progression in treated individuals. No clear temporal relationship was found between the development of partial resistance and progression.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Mechanisms of mutation in nondividing cells. Insights from the study of adaptive mutation in Escherichia coli.

When populations of cells are subjected to nonlethal selection, mutations arise in the absence of cell division, a phenomenon that has been called "adaptive mutation." In a strain of Escherichia coli that cannot metabolize lactose (Lac-) but that reverts to lactose utilization (Lac+) when lactose is its sole energy and carbon source, the mutational process consists of two components. (1) A highly efficient, recombination-dependent mechanism giving rise to mutations on the F' episome that carries the Lac- allele; and (2) a less efficient, unknown mechanism giving rise to mutations elsewhere in the genome. Both selected and nonselected mutations arise in the Lac- population, but nonselected mutations are enriched in Lac+ mutants, suggesting that some Lac+ cells have passed though a transient period of increased mutation. These results have several evolutionary implications. (1) DNA synthesis initiated by recombination could be an important source of spontaneous mutation, particularly in cells that are not undergoing genomic replication. (2) The highly active mutational mechanism on the episome could be important in the horizontal transfer of variant alleles among species that carry and exchange conjugal plasmids. (3) A sub-population of cells in a state of transient mutation could be a source of multiple variant alleles and could provide a mechanism for rapid adaptive evolution under adverse conditions.

Adaptation, Biological↗

Significance of each of three missense mutations, G484A, G667A, and G808A, present in an inactive allele of the human Lewis gene (FUT3) for alpha(1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferase inactivation.

Recently, we found three novel missense mutations, G484A (Asp162Asn), G667A (Gly223Arg), and G808A (Val270Met), present in a Lewis-negative allele (le484,667,808) from an African (Xhosa) population. To define the relative contribution of each of the three mutations in the le484,667,808 allele for inactivation of the FUT3-encoded enzyme, we made chimeric FUT3 containing each of the three mutations. A transient expression study indicated that COS7 cells transfected with the FUT3 construct containing the G484A mutation expressed the Lewis antigen and had about 20% enzyme activity as compared with COS7 cells transfected with the wild type FUT3 allele, whereas COS7 cells transfected with the FUT3 construct containing either the G667A mutation or the G808A mutation did not express the Lewis antigen and showed no detectable alpha(1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferase activity. These results suggest that the G667A and/or the G808A missense mutations of FUT3 alleles are responsible for the inactivation of the FUT3-encoded enzyme.

Alleles↗