Nucleoside diphosphate kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis cleaves single strand DNA within the human c-myc promoter in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction

The reason for secretion of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NdK), an enzyme involved in maintaining the cellular pool of nucleoside triphosphates in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is intriguing. We recently observed that NdK from M.tuberculosis (mNdK) localizes within nuclei of HeLa and COS-1 cells and also nicks chromosomal DNA in situ (A. K. Saini, K. Maithal, P. Chand, S. Chowdhury, R. Vohra, A. Goyal, G. P. Dubey, P. Chopra, R. Chandra, A. K. Tyagi, Y. Singh and V. Tandon (2004) J. Biol. Chem., 279, 50142–50149). In the current study, using a molecular beacon approach, we demonstrate that the mNdK catalyzes the cleavage of single strand DNA. It displays Michaelis–Menten kinetics with a k_cat/K_M of 9.65 (±0.88) × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. High affinity (K_d ≈ K_M of ~66 nM) and sequence-specific binding to the sense strand of the nuclease hypersensitive region in the c-myc promoter was observed. This is the first study demonstrating that the cleavage reaction is also enzyme-catalyzed in addition to the enzymatic kinase activity of multifunctional NdK. Using our approach, we demonstrate that GDP competitively inhibits the nuclease activity with a K_I of ~1.9 mM. Recent evidence implicates mNdK as a potent virulence factor in tuberculosis owing to its DNase-like activity. In this context, our results demonstrate a molecular mechanism that could be the basis for assessing in situ DNA damage by secretory mNdK.     

Posttranslational N-myristoylation is required for the anti-apoptotic activity of human tGelsolin, the C-terminal caspase cleavage product of human gelsolin

Protein N-myristoylation has been recognized as a cotranslational protein modification. Recently, it was demonstrated that protein N-myristoylation could occur posttranslationally, as in the case of the pro-apoptotic protein BID and cytoskeletal actin. Our previous study showed that the N-terminal nine residues of the C-terminal caspase cleavage product of human gelsolin, an actin-regulatory protein, efficiently direct the protein N-myristoylation. In this study, to analyze the posttranslational N-myristoylation of gelsolin during apoptosis, metabolic labeling of gelsolin and its caspase cleavage products expressed in COS-1 cells with [3H]myristic acid was performed. It was found that the C-terminal caspase cleavage product of human gelsolin (tGelsolin) was efficiently N-myristoylated. When COS-1 cells transiently transfected with gelsolin cDNA were treated with etoposide or staurosporine, apoptosis-inducing agents, N-myristoylated tGelsolin was generated, as demonstrated by in vivo metabolic labeling. The generation of posttranslationally N-myristoylated tGelsolin during apoptosis was also observed on endogenous gelsolin expressed in HeLa cells. Immunofluorescence staining and subcellular fractionation experiment revealed that exogenously expressed tGelsolin did not localize to mitochondria but rather was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm. To study the role of this modification in the anti-apoptotic activity of tGelsolin, we constructed the bicistronic expression plasmid tGelsolin-IRES-EGFP capable of overexpressing tGelsolin concomitantly with EGFP. Overexpression of N-myristoylated tGelsolin in COS-1 cells using this plasmid significantly inhibited etoposide-induced apoptosis, whereas overexpression of the non-myristoylated tGelsolinG2A mutant did not cause resistance to apoptosis. These results indicate that posttranslational N-myristoylation of tGelsolin does not direct mitochondrial targeting, but this modification is involved in the anti-apoptotic activity of tGelsolin.     

Mechanism of UV-Induced Apoptosis in Human Leukemia Cells: Roles of Ca/Mg-Dependent Endonuclease, Caspase-3, and Stress-Activated Protein Kinases

Ultraviolet light (UV) induced rapid apoptosis of U937 leukemia cells, concurrent with DNA fragmentation and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) by activated caspase-3. Thein vitroreconstitution of intact HeLa S3 nuclei and apoptotic U937 cytosolic extract (CE) revealed that (i) Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-dependent, Zn²⁺-sensitive endonuclease activated in the apoptotic CE induced DNA ladder in HeLa nuclei at pH 6.8–7.4, (ii) activated caspase-3 cleaved PARP in HeLa nuclei, and (iii) when the apoptotic CE was treated with the caspase-3 inhibitor (1 μM Ac-DEVD-CHO) or the caspase-1 inhibitor (10 μM Ac-YVAD-CHO), the former, but not the latter, caused a 50% inhibition of DNA fragmentation and the complete inhibition of PARP cleavage in HeLa nuclei. Similarly, Ac-DEVD-CHO (100 μM) inhibited apoptosis and DNA ladder by 50% and PARP cleavage completely in UV-irradiated U937 cells, but Ac-YVAD-CHO (100 μM) did not. Thus, UV-induced apoptosis of U937 cells involves the Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-dependent endonuclease pathway and the caspase-3–PARP cleavage–Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-dependent endonuclease pathway. The former pathway produced directly 50% of apoptotic DNA ladder, and the latter involved activated caspase-3 and PARP cleavage, followed by formation of the remaining 50% DNA ladder by the activated endonuclease. In UV-irradiated B-cell lines, further, p53-dependent increase of Bax resulted in a greater caspase-3 activation compared to its absence. However, UV-induced activation of JNK1 and p38 was not affected by the caspase-1 and -3 inhibitors in U937 cells, so that caspases-1 and -3 do not function upstream of JNK1 and p38.     

Role of DNAS1L3 in Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal and high molecular mass fragments

Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent endonucleases have been implicated in DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. We have demonstrated that particular nucleases of this type are inhibited by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and suggested that subsequent cleavage of PARP by caspase-3 might release these nucleases from poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation-induced inhibition. Hence, we purified and partially sequenced such a nuclease isolated from bovine seminal plasma and identified human, rat and mouse homologs of this enzyme. The extent of sequence homology among these nucleases indicates that these four proteins are orthologous members of the family of DNase I-related enzymes. We demonstrate that the activation of the human homolog previously specified as DNAS1L3 can induce Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent DNA fragmentation in vitro and in vivo. RT-PCR analysis failed to detect DNAS1L3 mRNA in HeLa cells and nuclei isolated from these cells did not exhibit internucleosomal DNA fragmentation when incubated in the presence of Ca2+and Mg2+. However, nuclei isolated from HeLa cells that had been stably transfected with DNAS1L3 cDNA underwent such DNA fragmentation in the presence of both ions. The Ca2+ionophore ionomycin also induced internucleosomal DNA degradation in transfected but not in control HeLa cells. Transverse alternating field electrophoresis revealed that in nuclei from transfected HeLa cells, but not in those from control cells, DNA was cleaved into fragments of >1000 kb in the presence of Mg2+; addition of Ca2+in the presence of Mg2+resulted in processing of the >1000 kb fragments into 50 kb and oligonucleosomal fragments. These results demonstrate that DNAS1L3 is necessary for Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent cleavage of DNA into both oligonucleosomal and high molecular mass fragments in specific cell types.     

Human papillomavirus type 16 minor capsid protein l2 N-terminal region containing a common neutralization epitope binds to the cell surface and enters the cytoplasm

The first step of papillomavirus infection is believed to be binding of major capsid protein L1 to the cell surface without involvement of minor capsid protein L2, but the viral infectivity can be neutralized either by anti-L1 or anti-L2 antibody. To understand the role of L2 in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, we examined a segment of HPV type 16 (HPV16) L2, which contains a neutralization epitope common to HPV6, for its involvement in adsorption and penetration of the capsids. Preincubation of monkey COS-1 cells with a synthetic peptide having amino acids (aa) 108 to 120 of HPV16 L2 reduced the susceptibility of COS-1 cells to infection with HPV16 pseudovirions. Confocal microscopy showed that the green fluorescence protein (GFP) fused with the L2 peptide was found to bind to the surface of a HeLa cell, an HPV18-positive human cancer cell line, at 4 degrees C and to enter the cytoplasm after subsequent incubation at 37 degrees C. Flow cytometry showed that fused GFP did not bind to HeLa cells that had been treated with trypsin. Besides COS-1 and HeLa cells, some human and rodent cell lines were detected by flow cytometry to be susceptible to binding with fused GFP, showing a tendency of epithelial cells toward higher susceptibility. Substitutions at aa 108 to 111 inhibited fused GFP from binding to HeLa cells and reduced the infectivity in COS-1 cells of the in vitro-constructed pseudovirions. The results suggest that L2 plays an important role in enhancing HPV infection through interaction between the N-terminal region and a cellular surface protein, facilitating penetration of the virions and determining part of the tropism of HPVs.     

Bcl-2 blocks apoptosis caused by pierisin-1, a guanine-specific ADP-ribosylating toxin from the cabbage butterfly

Pierisin-1, a 98-kDa protein that induces apoptosis in mammalian cell lines, is capable of being incorporated into cells where it ADP-ribosylates guanine residues in DNA. To investigate the apoptotic pathway induced by this unique protein, the bcl-2 gene was transfected into HeLa cells. Cy2-fluorescent pierisin-1 was incorporated into the resultant cells expressing Bcl-2 protein and ADP-ribosylated dG was detected to almost the same extent as in parent cells. However, bcl-2-transfected HeLa cells did not display apoptotic morphological changes, PARP cleavage, and DNA fragmentation, indicating acquisition of resistance. In parent HeLa cells, activation of caspase-9 and release of cytochrome c were observed after 8h treatment with 0.5ng/ml pierisin-1. Caspase substrate assays revealed further cleavage of Ac-DEVD-pNA, Ac-VDVAD-pNA, and Ac-VEID-pNA, suggesting activation of caspase-2, -3, and -6 in pierisin-1-treated HeLa cells. The caspase-3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO, was also found to inhibit apoptosis. In contrast, this caspase activation was not observed in bcl-2-transfected HeLa cells. Our results thus indicate that pierisin-1-induced apoptosis is mediated primarily via a mitochondrial pathway involving Bcl-2 and caspases.     

Non-apoptogenic killing of hela cervical carcinoma cells after short exposure to the alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)

We examined the action of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) on HeLa cells and compared it with that of cisplatin (CP). MNNG directly killed a substantial number of cells within 1 hour and resulted in strong DNA-damage as evidenced by Comet measurements. Despite appearance of DNA lesions, p53 protein was not activated. Analysis of HeLa cells treated with MNNG for 1h, 3h and 6h by flow cytometry and by Hoechst staining did not reveal any sub-G(1) cell population and chromatin condensation/fragmentation characteristic for apoptosis, respectively. Also, no biochemical changes typical for apoptosis such as activation of caspase-3 or release of cytochrome C from mitochondria were detected. Inactivation of PARP-1 reduced the direct cytotoxicity exerted by MNNG. Our results showing that despite appearance of severe DNA lesions after short exposure of HeLa cells to MNNG neither activation of p53 response nor induction of apoptosis occurred implicate that generation of strong DNA damage is not sufficient to stabilize p53 protein in HeLa cells. Our data unequivocally show that the conscientious determination of the type of cell death induced by genotoxic agents is necessary. The assessment of the changes based on at least a few independent criteria is required to discriminate between apoptosis and necrosis. Since the alkylating agents generate DNA strand breaks, the recruitment of methods based on determination of DNA cleavage such as DNA ladder or TUNEL assay for evaluation of apoptosis is not adequate.     

Cloning and expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 4B cDNA: sequence determination identifies a common RNA recognition motif.

Eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation factor 4B (eIF-4B) is an 80,000 dalton polypeptide which is essential for the binding of mRNA to ribosomes. A highly purified preparation of eIF-4B from HeLa cells was subjected to enzymatic cleavage and amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Degenerate oligonucleotide probes were used to isolate a 3851 bp cDNA encoding eIF-4B from a human cDNA library. The DNA encodes a protein comprising 611 residues with a mass of 69,843 daltons. The amino-terminal domain of eIF-4B contains a consensus RNA binding domain present in a number of other RNA binding proteins. Expression of eIF-4B in transfected COS-1 cells yielded a polypeptide which reacted with anti-eIF-4B antiserum and comigrated with purified eIF-4B. Expression of eIF-4B in COS-1 cells resulted in a general inhibition of translation, possibly due to a 50-fold eIF-4B overproduction.     

Purification and characterization of HeLa endonuclease R. A G-specific mammalian endonuclease

We previously reported a double-stranded endonuclease from HeLa cells, endonuclease R (endo R), which specifically cleaves duplex DNA at sites rich in G.C base pairs. In this report we describe the purification of endo R to near homogeneity by conventional and affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of the active form of endo R is approximately 115-125 kDa. SDS-gel electrophoresis reveals a major protein species of 100 kDa. The enzyme requires Mg2+ as a cofactor and is equally active on closed circular and linear duplex DNA substrates that contain G-rich sequences. A 50% reduction in cleavage activity is observed with Ca2+ ions and no double-stranded cleavage occurs with Zn2+. Use of Mn2+ causes an altered specificity at low concentrations of enzyme or divalent metal ion and nonspecific degradation of the substrate at higher concentrations. Endo R is strongly inhibited by sodium or potassium chloride and exhibits a wide pH optimum of 6.0-9.0. The pI of the enzyme is between 6.5 and 7.0. A 2-fold stimulation is observed with the addition of dGTP or dATP but specific cleavage is inhibited by ATP at an equivalent concentration. Cleavage activity is competitively inhibited 10-fold more efficiently by single-stranded poly(dG)12 than by other DNA competitors. The ends of endo R cleavage products contain 5'-phosphate and 3'-hydroxyl groups, and a significant portion of these products were substrates for T4 DNA ligase. Endo R appears to be a previously uncharacterized mammalian endonuclease.     

Pentalysine-grafted ROMP polymers for DNA complexation and delivery

Amphiphilic graft polymers, containing oligolysine groups pendent to a hydrophobic polycyclooctene backbone, were used to form polyplexes with plasmid DNA pZsGreen1-N1. These poly(cyclooctene- graft-pentalysine) structures were found to be effective transfection reagents for COS-1 and HeLa cells. In the case of polymer 1e (average degree of polymerization of 206), protein expression levels 48 h post-transfection were found to be comparable to, or better than, commercial transfection reagents jetPEI and SuperFect. With HeLa cells, GFP expression levels were better than Lipofectamine 2000. Of particular interest was the excellent cell viability seen in experiments with polyplexes formed from the pentalysine-grafted polymers. In the example of the highest molecular weight graft copolymer, polymer 1e, cell viability relative to untreated cells was 99% with COS-1 cells and 92% with HeLa cells in contrast to the commercial reagents, which gave 67-80% with COS-1 cells and 17-52% with HeLa cells. The effectiveness of these polyolefin- graft-pentalysine structures as DNA delivery vehicles is attributed to their amphiphilic nature and branched architecture.     

The DNA polymerases associated with the adenovirus type 2 replication complex: effect of 2''-3''-dideoxythymidine-5''-triphosphate on viral DNA synthesis.

An adenovirus (Ad) DNA replication complex extracted from infected HeLa nuclei could be purified free of the bulk of intracellular DNA polymerase activity by sedimetation in neutral sucrose gradients. However, the replication complex still retained some alpha and gamma DNA-polymerase activity. Since this complex is inhibited by 2', 3' dideoxythymidine-5'-triphosphate (ddTTP), an inhibitor of DNA polymerase gamma, a functional role for this enzyme in Ad DNA replication is suggested. Similar inhibition by ddTTP in intact Ad infected nuclei and comparable inhibition of Ad DNA synthesis in whole cells by dideoxythymidine (ddThy) are consistent with a role for DNA polymerase gamma. Uninfected HeLa nuclei or whole cells are not similarly inhibited by ddTTP or DDThy respectively. Such data does not rule out an additional functional role for other DNA polymerases, and recent experiments from this laboratory (1) suggest that DNA polymerase alpha is also involved in Ad DNA synthesis.     

Interaction of DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) with DNA reveals an unprecedented mechanism for nuclease inhibition and suggests that DFF can be activated in a DNA-bound state

DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) is a complex of the DNase DFF40 (CAD) and its chaperone/inhibitor DFF45 (ICAD-L) that can be activated during apoptosis to induce DNA fragmentation. Here, we demonstrate that DFF directly binds to DNA in vitro without promoting DNA cleavage. DNA binding by DFF is mediated by the nuclease subunit, which can also form stable DNA complexes after release from DFF. Recombinant and reconstituted DFF is catalytically inactive yet proficient in DNA binding, demonstrating that the nuclease subunit in DFF is inhibited in DNA cleavage but not in DNA binding, revealing an unprecedented mode of nuclease inhibition. Activation of DFF in the presence of naked DNA or isolated nuclei stimulates DNA degradation by released DFF40 (CAD). In transfected HeLa cells transiently expressed DFF associates with chromatin, suggesting that DFF could be activated during apoptosis in a DNA-bound state.     

Synthesis of herpes simplex virus, vaccinia virus, and adenovirus DNA in isolated HeLa cell nuclei. I. Effect of viral-specific antisera and phosphonoacetic acid.

Purified nuclei, isolated from appropriately infected HeLa cells, are shown to synthesize large amounts of either herpes simplex virus (HSV) or vaccinia virus DNA in vitro. The rate of synthesis of DNA by nuclei from infected cells is up to 30 times higher than the synthesis of host DNA in vitro by nuclei isolated from uninfected HeLa cells. Thus HSV nuclei obtained from HSV-infected cells make DNA in vitro at a rate comparable to that seen in the intact, infected cell. Molecular hybridization studies showed that 80% of the DNA sequences synthesized in vitro by nuclei from herpesvirus-infected cells are herpesvirus specific. Vaccinia virus nuclei from vaccinia virus-infected cells, also produce comparable percentages of vaccinia virus-specific DNA sequences. Adenovirus nuclei from adenovirus 2-infected HeLa cells, which also synthesize viral DNA in vitro, have been included in this study. Synthesis of DNA by HSV or vaccinia virus nuclei is markedly inhibited by the corresponding viral-specific antisera. These antisera inhibit in a similar fashion the purified herpesvirus-induced or vaccinia virus-induced DNA polymerase isolated from infected cells. Phosphonoacetic acid, reported to be a specific inhibitor of herpesvirus formation and the herpesvirus-induced DNA polymerase, is equally effective as an inhibitor of HSV DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei in vitro. However, we also find phosphonoacetic acid to be an effective inhibitor of vaccinia virus nuclear DNA synthesis and the purified vaccinia virus-induced DNA polymerase. In addition, this compound shows significant inhibition of DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei obtained from adenovirus-infected or uninfected cells and is a potent inhibitor of HeLa cell DNA polymerase alpha.     

Haploid genome reactivation and recovery by cell hybridization

DNA replication in haploid spermatid nuclei has been induced by hybridization of mouse early spermatids to proliferating HeLa cells. Use of polyethylene glycol rather than inactivated Sendai virus as the cell fusion agent was found to be essential to the production of large numbers of heterokaryons containing spermatid nuclei. DNA replication was detected in the heterokaryons by autoradiography. Density of silver grains over spermatid nuclei closely approximated the grain density over labelled HeLa nuclei in the same heterokaryons. Mouse centromeric heterochromatin appeared to be labelled last during the spermatid DNA synthetic period. On the average, HeLa nuclei in heterokaryons began DNA synthesis before spermatid nuclei. Results indicated, however, that DNA synthesis by HeLa nuclei might not be a prerequisite for spermatid DNA synthesis. These experiments demonstrate induction of DNA synthesis in spermatid nuclei, the first major step toward reactivation and recovery of their haploid genome by cell hybridization.     

siRNA抑制c—myc基因的表达对宫颈癌细胞增殖的影响

目的：利用siRNA（small interference RNA）技术研究C-myc基因的对宫颈癌HeLa细胞增殖的影响。方法：依据Promega公司在网上提供的设计软件,设计针对C-myc基因的siRNA,合成DNA模板,体外转录合成siRNA。通过阳离子聚合物jet—SITM—ENDO将合成的siRNA转染入HeLa细胞,以未转染细胞以及错义序列siRNA—scr转染细胞为对照。用细胞计数法检测siRNA对HeLa细胞增殖的影响。流式细胞法检测细胞周期及蛋白表达的变化,RT—PCR法比较转染前后C-myc mRNA表达水平的变化。结果：细胞计数法结果显示,转染24h后c-myc基因siRNA明显抑制MCF-7细胞增殖,转染48h后,抑制效率稳定。c-myc基因siRNA转染后能有效地抑制HeLa细胞的增殖,阻滞细胞周期于G0／G1期,siRNA转染组c-myc mRNA、蛋白的表达量明显低于空白对照组、错义序列组。结论：体外转录合成的siRNA可有效降低HeLa细胞c-myc基因的表达,抑制细胞增殖。     

siRNA介导的NFBD1表达沉默对HeLa细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

NFBD1,也称MDC1,是1个参与细胞内DNA损伤后细胞应答反应的重要分子．为探讨NFBD1在细胞增殖和凋亡中的作用及其作为分子靶点用于肿瘤治疗的潜在价值,本研究采用siRNA技术抑制NFBD1的表达,并观察了其对人宫颈癌细胞HeLa细胞增殖和细胞凋亡的影响．半定量RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹分析结果表明,筛选到的短链NFBD1 siRNA能有效抑制内源NFBD1的表达,抑制程度约100％．细胞生长曲线分析结果表明,siRNA介导的NFBD1表达沉默导致HeLa细胞生长增殖的显著抑制．FACS分析结果表明,NFBD1表达抑制导致sub-G₁峰的出现,同时蛋白质印迹分析观察到了caspase 3和PARP（poly-ADP-ribose polymerase）的剪接激活,表明NFBD1表达抑制诱发了细胞凋亡．在该凋亡过程中,P-53及其下游靶分子Bax和Puma的表达水平均没有发生明显变化,但Noxa的表达在mRNA和蛋白质水平上均显著上调,强烈提示该凋亡过程很可能是1个不依赖P53的凋亡途径,且Noxa的转录激活在该凋亡过程中可能起着重要作用．这些结果表明,NFBD1参与细胞生长增殖和凋亡的调节,是一个潜在的肿瘤治疗新靶点．     

Adenovirus type 2 DNA replication. I. Evidence for discontinuous DNA synthesis.

Isolated nuclei from adenovirus type 2-infected HeLa cells catalyze the incorporation of all four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates into viral DNA. The observed DNA synthesis occurs via a transient formation of DNA fragments with a sedimentation coefficient of 10S. The fragments are precursors to unit-length viral DNA, they are self-complementary to an extent of at least 70%, and they are distributed along most of the viral chromosome. In addition, accumulation of 10S DNA fragments is observed either in intact, virus-infected HeLa cells under conditions where viral DNA synthesis is inhibited by hydroxyurea or in isolated nuclei from virus-infected HeLa cells at low concentrations of deoxyribonucleotides. Under these suboptimal conditions for DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei, ribonucleoside triphosphates determine the size distribution of DNA intermediates. The evidence presented suggests that a ribonucleoside-dependent initiation step as well at two DNA polymerase catalyzed reactions are involved in the discontinuous replication of adenovirus type 2 DNA.     

Identification and characterization of glucocorticoid-regulated nuclease(s) in lymphoid cells undergoing apoptosis

Apoptosis is a physiological process by which selected cells are deleted from a population in response to specific regulatory signals. A hallmark of apoptosis is the internucleosomal degradation of DNA prior to cell death. We are studying glucocorticoid-induced lymphocytolysis as a model system for apoptosis within the immune system. In rat thymocytes, the internucleosomal DNA cleavage which occurs following glucocorticoid treatment is both time- and dose-dependent, and is blocked by the glucocorticoid antagonist RU 486, indicating that this effect is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. Similar experiments using glucocorticoid-responsive (wt) and glucocorticoid-resistant (nt⁻) S49.1 lymphoma cell lines confirm that internucleosomal DNA degradation and cell death are glucocorticoid receptor-mediated events and thus reflect the direct effects of glucocorticoids on lymphocytes. In an effort to identify the nuclease(s) responsible for the DNA degradation, we have developed two assays to detect nucleases whose activity is altered by glucocorticoid treatment. The first assay involves electrophoresing extracts of nuclear protein from control and glucocorticoid-treated lymphoid cells into SDS-polyacrylamide gels containing [³²P]DNA within the gel matrix. This assay is used to estimate the molecular mass of the nuclease, based on the observed in situ nuclease activity. The second assay uses HeLa nuclei as a substrate to detect internucleosomal cleavage activity present in nuclear extracts of control and glucocorticoid-treated lymphoid cells. Using these assays we have identified a novel Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-dependent nuclease with an apparent molecular weight of 18 kDa in both S49 wt cells and rat thymocytes treated with glucocorticoids. Furthermore, nuclear extracts of glucocorticoid-treated, but not control, rat thymocytes and S49 wt cells were capable of cleaving HeLa chromatin at internucleosomal sites. In an effort to determine the identity of the nuclease capable of internucleosomal cleavage of DNA, nuclear extracts from dex-treated rat thymocytes were fractionated by gel filtration chromatography under non-denaturing conditions, and the fractions were analyzed using the [³²P]DNA SDS-PAGE and HeLa nuclei assays. When analyzed under native conditions, the 18 kDa nuclease described previously appears to exist as a 25 kDa protein which may be part of a high molecular weight complex. Interestingly, only the 25 kDa form of the protein was associated with internucleosomal DNA cleavage activity where as the high molecular weight form of the enzyme was devoid of this activity.     

Effect of DNA on poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase and the degradation of histone H1-poly (ADP-ribose) complex from HeLa cell nuclei.

A poly(ADP-ribose)-H1 histone complex has been isolated from HeLa cell nuclei incubated with NAD. The rate of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase catalyzed hydrolysis of the polymer in the complex is only 1/9 that of free poly(ADP-ribose), indicating that the polymer is in a protected environment within the complex. Comparison of the rate of hydrolysis of free poly(ADP-ribose) in the presence or absence of H1 to that in the complex synthesized de novo indicates a specific mode of packaging of the complex. This is further indicated by the fact that alkaline dissociation of the complex followed by neutralization markedly exposes the associated poly(ADP-ribose) to the glycohydrolase. The complex also partially unfolds when it binds to DNA as evidenced by a 2-fold increase in the rate of glycolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose). This effect of DNA is not due to a stimulation of the glycohydrolase per se since hydrolysis of free polymer by the enzyme is strongly inhibited by DNA, especially single-stranded DNA. Inhibition of glycohydrolase by DNA results from the binding of the enzyme to DNA and conditions which decrease this binding (increased ionic strength or addition of histone H1 which competes for DNA binding) relieve the DNA inhibition.