The Mechanism of the Supercoiled DNA Recognition by the Eukaryotic Type I Topoisomerases: I. The Enzyme Interaction with Nonspecific Oligonucleotides

Interaction of the DNA type I topoisomerases from the murine and human placenta cells with nonspecific oligonucleotides was analyzed. The contributions of strong and week nonspecific electrostatic, van der Waals's, and hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonding of the enzymes to the complex formation with the single- and double-stranded DNAs were determined. The factors that determine the top-priority recognition of the topologically stressed DNA were revealed. The results were interpreted in comparison with the X-ray analysis data for human DNA topoisomerase I.     

The mechanism of supercoiled DNA recognition by eukaryotic type I topoisomerases. II. A comparison of the enzyme interaction with specific and nonspecific oligonucleotides

Data on the interaction of DNA type I topoisomerases from the murine and human placenta cells with specific and nonspecific oligonucleotides of various structures and lengths are summarized. The relative contributions of various contacts between the enzymes and DNA that have previously been detected by X-ray analysis to the total affinity of the topoisomerases for DNA substrates are estimated. Factors that determine the differences in the enzyme interactions with specific and nonspecific single- and double-stranded DNAs are revealed. The results of the X-ray analysis of human DNA topoisomerase I are interpreted taking into account data on the comprehensive thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of the enzyme interaction with the specific and nonspecific DNAs.     

The Mechanism of Supercoiled DNA Recognition by Eukaryotic Type I Topoisomerases: II. A Comparison of the Enzyme Interaction with Specific and Nonspecific Oligonucleotides

Data on the interaction of DNA type I topoisomerases from the murine and human placenta cells with specific and nonspecific oligonucleotides of various structures and lengths are summarized. The relative contributions of various contacts between the enzymes and DNA that have previously been detected by X-ray analysis to the total affinity of the topoisomerases for DNA substrates are estimated. Factors that determine the differences in the enzyme interactions with specific and nonspecific single- and double-stranded DNAs are revealed. The results of the X-ray analysis of human DNA topoisomerase I are interpreted taking into account data on the comprehensive thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of the enzyme interaction with the specific and nonspecific DNAs.     

Binding of ATP to human DNA topoisomerase I resulting in an alteration of the conformation of the enzyme.

It has been known for some time that ATP inhibits the DNA relaxation activity of human DNA topoisomerase I. However, the underlying mechanism of this inhibitory effect remains largely unknown. Using filter binding assays, the binding of human DNA topoisomerase I to DNA was decreased in the presence of ATP. This result suggests that the inhibition of DNA relaxation activity of human DNA topoisomerase I by ATP is at the binding step rather than at the nicking or resealing step. DNA topoisomerase I cleavage assay further supports this notion. ATP-agarose binding and UV cross-linking assays also demonstrate that ATP directly and specifically binds human DNA topoisomerase I. To address whether the ATP binding results in conformational changes in human DNA topoisomerase I, various proteases were employed for detecting potential protein conformational changes. Our results indicated that the proteolytic susceptibilities of trypsin and chymotrypsin were altered in the presence of ATP. The result suggests that the conformation of human DNA topoisomerase I was altered upon ATP binding. In addition, the binding between ATP and human DNA topoisomerase I was also reduced by increasing concentrations of DNA. Our data suggests that human DNA topoisomerase I exhibits at least two incompatible conformations. One conformation is in the form of a topoisomerase I-ATP complex, which inhibits DNA relaxation activity of human DNA topoisomerase I, and the other, a topoisomerase I-DNA complex, which exerts DNA relaxation activity. Our studies identify the role of ATP in the regulation of human DNA topoisomerase I and provide a substantial implication of how human DNA topoisomerase I compromises its versatile functions.     

Mammalian DNA ligases. Catalytic domain and size of DNA ligase I.

DNA ligase I is the major DNA ligase activity in proliferating mammalian cells. The protein has been purified to apparent homogeneity from calf thymus. It has a monomeric structure and a blocked N-terminal residue. DNA ligase I is a 125-kDa polypeptide as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis and by gel chromatography under denaturing conditions, whereas hydrodynamic measurements indicate that the enzyme is an asymmetric 98-kDa protein. Immunoblotting with rabbit polyclonal antibodies to the enzyme revealed a single polypeptide of 125 kDa in freshly prepared crude cell extracts of calf thymus. Limited digestion of the purified DNA ligase I with several reagent proteolytic enzymes generated a relatively protease-resistant 85-kDa fragment. This domain retained full catalytic activity. Similar results were obtained with partially purified human DNA ligase I. The active large fragment represents the C-terminal part of the intact protein, and contains an epitope conserved between mammalian DNA ligase I and yeast and vaccinia virus DNA ligases. The function of the N-terminal region of DNA ligase I is unknown.     

Effect of single-stranded DNA binding proteins on template/primer-independent DNA synthesis in the presence of nicking endonuclease Nt.BspD6I

In the presence of the Nt.BspD6I nicking endonuclease DNA polymerase Bst stimulates intensive template/primer-independent DNA synthesis. Template/primer-independent DNA synthesis could be the reason for appearing nonspecific DNA products in many DNA amplification reactions particularly in the reactions with using nicking endonucleases. Search of the modes for inhibition template/primer-independent DNA synthesis becomes an urgent task because of broadening the DNA amplification methods with using nicking endonucleases. We report here that the E. coli single-stranded DNA binding protein has no effect on the template/primer-independent DNA synthesis. In the absence of the nicking endonuclease the single-stranded DNA binding protein encoded by bacteriophage T4 gene 32 completely inhibits template/primer-independent DNA synthesis. This protein does not inhibit synthesis of specific DNA product in the presence of nicking endonuclease but remarkably decreases the amount of nonspecific products.     

The effect of single-stranded DNA binding proteins on template/primer-independent DNA synthesis in the presence of nicking endonuclease Nt.BspD6I

Nt.BspD6I nicking endonuclease stimulates template/primer-independent DNA synthesis by Bst DNA polymerase. Template/primer-independent DNA synthesis may be one of the reasons for the formation of nonspecific products in certain DNA amplification reactions, especially those involving nicking endonucleases. Expansion of the range of DNA amplification procedures performed in the presence of nicking endonucleases makes the search for template/primer-independent DNA synthesis inhibitors highly relevant. The present work has shown that a single-strand DNA binding protein from E. coli does not affect template/primer-independent DNA synthesis regardless of the presence or absence of Nt.BspD6I. A single-stranded DNA-binding protein coded by gene 32 from bacteriophage T4 completely inhibits template/primer-independent DNA synthesis in the absence of nicking endonuclease. If nicking endonuclease is present, the protein does not suppress the synthesis of the specific product but causes a significant decrease of the amount of template/primer-independent DNA synthesis products.     

The human topoisomerase I damage response plays a role in apoptosis

Previous studies have shown that human topoisomerase I cleavage complexes form as a response to various DNA damages in vivo, the so called human topoisomerase I "damage response". It was suggested that this damage response may play a role in DNA repair as well as in apoptosis, but only very few investigations have been done and the significance of the damage response still remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that human topoisomerase I cleavage complexes induced by high doses of UV irradiation are highly stable for up to 48 h. Furthermore, we show that human topoisomerase I cleavage complexes correlate with apoptosis. However, at low UV doses the cleavage complex level was very low and the complexes were repaired. Surprisingly, we found that high levels of stable cleavage complexes were not only found in UV-irradiated cells but also in untreated cells that underwent apoptosis. A possible role of human topoisomerase I in apoptosis is discussed.     

Short deoxyribonucleic acid repair patch length in Escherichia coli is determined by the processive mechanism of deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase I.

The lengths of ultraviolet irradiation-induced repair resynthesis patches were measured in repair-competent extracts of Escherichia coli. Extracts containing wild-type deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase I introduced a patch 15 to 20 nucleotides in length during repair of ColE1 plasmid DNA; extracts containing the polA5 mutant form of DNA polymerase I introduced a patch only about 5 nucleotides in length in a similar reaction. The repair patch length in the presence of either DNA polymerase corresponded to the processivity of that polymerase (the average number of nucleotides added per enzyme-DNA binding event) as determined with purified enzymes and DNA treated with a nonspecific endonuclease. The base composition of the repair patch inserted by the wild-type DNA polymerase was similar to that of the bacterial genome, whereas the patch inserted by the mutant enzyme was skewed toward greater pyrimidine incorporation. This skewing is expected, considering the predominance of pyrimidine incorporation occurring at the ultraviolet lesion and the short patch made by the mutant enzyme. Since the defect in the polA5 DNA polymerase which causes premature dissociation from DNA is reflected exactly in the repair patch length, the processive mechanism of the polymerase must be a central determinant of patch length.     

Influence of polyethylene glycol on the ligation reaction with calf thymus DNA ligases I and II

High concentrations of the nonspecific macromolecule polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) enabled DNA ligases I and II from calf thymus to catalyze intermolecular blunt-end ligation of duplex DNA. Intermolecular cohesive-end ligation with these enzymes was markedly stimulated in the presence of 10-16% (w/v) PEG 6000. The effect of PEG 6000 (4-16%) on the sealing of single-stranded breaks in duplex DNA with DNA ligases I and II was not appreciably stimulatory but rather inhibitory. PEG 6000 (15%) enhanced more twofold the rate of DNA ligase II-AMP complex formation, but moderately suppressed the rate of formation of DNA ligase 1-AMP complex. Polyamines and KCl inhibited blunt-end and cohesive-end ligations with DNA ligases I and II in the presence of PEG 6000.     

Analysis of the formation of AMP-DNA intermediate and the successive reaction by human DNA ligases I and II.

DNA ligation catalyzed by all DNA ligases involves two intermediary steps, the formation of the ligase-AMP and the AMP-DNA complexes. A method was developed to purify and analyze the AMP-DNA intermediate from the DNA ligation reaction catalyzed by DNA ligases. This AMP-DNA complex was maximally accumulated by preincubation of human DNA ligase I or II with ATP, followed by interaction with the DNA substrate for 5 s at 0 degrees C. The gel-purified AMP-DNA complex maintained its property as a ligation intermediate. The AMP was directly linked to the 5'-phosphate of DNA with a pyrophosphate bond. The successive ligation reaction following the AMP-DNA complex formation required DNA ligase and Mg2+ ion but was inhibited by ATP and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, indicating that the availability of the AMP binding site in the enzyme is essential for the completion of the reaction. Furthermore, the formation of the AMP-DNA complex and the subsequent DNA ligation were substrate specific for human DNA ligases I and II. These data, together with previously reported results, suggest that a major difference between human DNA ligases I and II is in their DNA-binding domains. The methods make it convenient to study in depth the kinetics of the overall DNA ligation.     

The camptothecin-resistant topoisomerase I mutant F361S is cross-resistant to antitumor rebeccamycin derivatives. A model for topoisomerase I inhibition by indolocarbazoles.

DNA topoisomerase I is a major cellular target for antitumor indolocarbazole derivatives (IND) such as the antibiotic rebeccamycin and the synthetic analogue NB-506 which is undergoing phase I clinical trials. We have investigated the mechanism of topoisomerase I inhibition by a rebeccamycin analogue, R-3, using the wild-type human topoisomerase I and a well-characterized recombinant enzyme, F361S. The catalytic activity of this mutant remains fully intact, but the enzyme is resistant to inhibition by camptothecin (CPT). Here we show that the mutated enzyme is cross-resistant to the rebeccamycin analogue. Despite their profound structural differences, CPT and R-3 interfere similarly with the activity of the wild-type and mutant topoisomerase I enzymes, and the drug-induced cleavable complexes are equally sensitive to the NaCl concentration. CPT and IND likely recognize identical structural elements of the topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complex; however, differences do exist in terms of sequence-specificity of topoisomerase I-mediated DNA cleavage. For the first time, a molecular model showing that CPT and IND share common steric and electronic features is proposed. The model helps to identify a specific pharmacophore for topoisomerase I inhibitors.     

The chromosomal localisation of human satellite DNA I

The major concentrations of human satellite DNA I (1.688 g/ml) have been localised on human chromosome preparations by the technique of in situ hybridisation using radioactive complementary RNA synthesised in vitro. Chromosomes were identified by prior study using quinacrine fluorescence microscopy. The satellite DNA is concentrated, mainly in centromeric constitutive heterochromatin, on many chromosomes but is especially obvious in the fluorescent distal segment of the Y chromosome.     

The isolation of evolutionarily conserved Eag I end-clones from mouse chromosome 17 using cloned DNA.

To isolate DNA markers from mouse chromosome 17, a genomic phage library was constructed from the mouse-hamster CMGT cell hybrid RcE-B52. This hybrid contains a chromosomal fragment from the distal end/flanking region of the t complex on mouse chromosome 17. Recombinants of mouse origin were identified by using a panel of mouse-specific repetitive sequences as a probe. A total of 1,500 mouse phage recombinants were isolated. These were found to represent 250-300 individual recombinants, comprising about 4 Mbp of cloned mouse DNA. The pooled mouse recombinant phages were used to construct an Eag I end-library. This was achieved by the specific insertion of a marker plasmid in Eag I recognition sites when present in the mouse inserts of the recombinant phages. The Eag I end-fragments were subsequently subcloned using a simple procedure taking advantage of the inserted plasmid. A total of 56 individual Eag I end-fragments were identified. These were found to contain recognition sites for rare cutting enzymes at high frequency. A large proportion (73%) were found to be evolutionarily conserved in human DNA. Furthermore, a significant fraction of these fragments, two of six tested, appears to detect specific cDNAs in a 8.5-day mouse embryo cDNA library.     

Serological analysis of human deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases. Preparation and properties of antiserum to deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase I from human lymphoid cells.

The preparation and properties of an antiserum to human DNA polymerase I (6 to 8 S) are described. Care was taken in the purification of the antigen to remove certain other DNA polymerases found in human cells. An incubation of antigen and antiserum lasting about 48 hours is necessary to achieve maximal inhibition. About 1 mug of the antipolymerase immunoglobulin G, prepared in rats, neutralizes 60% of the activity present in 54 ng of the enzyme. Tritrations varying both antiserum and enzyme demonstrate clear regions of antigen and antibody excess. Inhibition of enzyme activity is about the same whether the templateprimer is (dA)n-(dT)12-18, or partially digested DNA. An assay was developed which measures the remaining activity in the supernatant after precipitation of enzyme-antibody complexes with goat anti-rat immunoglobulin G. In this assay, 2.2 mug of the antipolymerase immunoglobulin G quantitatively bind 33 ng of DNA polymerase I. With use of the direct neutralization assay and the immuno-precipitation test, we found little, if any, antigenic relationship between DNA polymerase I and DNA polymerase II (3.4 S). Similarly, little, if any, relationship was found to the DNA polymerases from five RNA tumor viruses. The activities of RNA-directed DNA polymerases from the blood leukocytes of two patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and from the placentas of rhesus monkeys were not inhibited in neutralization assays which were shortened because these enzymes were thermolabile. In identically shortened neutralization assays, the antipolymerase immunoglobulin G neutralized up to 76% of the activity of DNA polymerase I. In addition to its utility in distinguishing cellular DNA polymerases, the rat antiserum should be useful reagent for testing of novel DNA polymerases isolated in small quantities from human tumors for contamination with DNA polymerase I. This enzyme is present in abundance in proliferating tissue and often confuses the biochemical characterization of these novel enzymes.     

Late induction of human DNA ligase I after UV-C irradiation.

We have studied the regulation of DNA ligase I gene expression in UV-C irradiated human primary fibroblasts. An increase of approximately 6-fold both in DNA ligase I messenger and activity levels was observed 24 h after UV treatment, when nucleotide excision repair (NER) is no longer operating. DNA ligase I induction is serum-independent and is controlled mainly by the steady-state level of its mRNA. The activation is a function of the UV dose and occurs at lower doses in cells showing UV hypersensitivity. No increase in replicative DNA polymerase alpha activity was found, indicating that UV induction of DNA ligase I occurs through a pathway that differs from the one causing activation of the replication machinery. These data suggest that DNA ligase I induction could be linked to the repair of DNA damage not removed by NER.