Incomplete rejoining of DNA double-strand breaks in unstimulated normal human lymphocytes

We investigated the repair kinetics of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) and double-strand breaks (DSBs) in unstimulated normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL). SSBs and DSBs induced by gamma-irradiation (at 0 degree C) were assayed without radiolabel by alkaline and neutral filter elution, respectively. Incubation of irradiated cells at 37 degrees C for various lengths of time demonstrated that the percent DNA rejoined increased until it reached a plateau at approximately 60 min; this repair plateau underwent no substantial change when incubation continued for 20-24 h. The level of the plateau indicated how closely the elution profile of DNA from cells irradiated and incubated (experimental) resembled the elution profile of DNA from unirradiated cells (control). After 6 Gy and 60 min incubation, the alkaline elution profile of DNA from experimental cells from 5 donors was indistinguishable from that seen in DNA from control cells, suggesting that rejoining of SSBs was complete. In contrast after 100 Gy and 60 min incubation the neutral elution profile of DNA from cells from the same donors demonstrated that, compared to DNA from control cells, rejoining of DSBs was approximately two-thirds complete. In the range of 2-8 Gy, 85-104% of SSBs were rejoined after 60 min incubation; in the range of 30-120 Gy, 46-80% of DSBs were rejoined after 60 min incubation. These unexpected results stand in contrast to our previous studies with confluent normal human diploid fibroblasts (HDF), in which rejoining of both SSBs and DSBs was greater than 90% complete by 60 min repair incubation and 100% complete after 18-24 h.     

Elaboration of cellular DNA breaks by hydroperoxides.

Cellular damage produced by ionizing radiation and peroxides, hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) and the organic peroxides tert-butyl (tBuOOH) or cumene hydroperoxide (CuOOH) were compared. DNA breaks, toxicity, malondialdehyde production, and the rate of peroxide disappearance were measured in a human adenocarcinoma cell line (A549). The alkaline and neutral filter elution assays were used to quantitate the kinetics of single and double strand break formation and repair (SSB and DSB), respectively. Peroxides, at 0.01-1.0 mM, produce multiphasic dose response curves for both toxicity and DNA SSBs. Radiation, 1-6 Gy, produced a shouldered survival curve, and both DNA SSB and DSBs produced in cells x-rayed on ice were nearly linear with dose. The peroxides produced more SSBs than radiation at equitoxic doses. X-ray induced DNA single strand breaks were rejoined rapidly by cells at 37 degrees C with approximately 80% of initial damage repaired in 20 min. Peroxide induced SSBs were maximal after 15 min at 37 degrees C. Rejoining proceeded thereafter, but at a rate less than for x-ray induced strand breaks. Significant DNA DSBs could not be achieved by peroxides even at concentrations 50-fold higher than required to produce SSBs. HOOH treatment of DNA on filters following cell lysis and proteolysis produced SSBs. CuOOH and tBuOOH produced no SSBs in lysed cell DNA. None of the peroxides produced DSBs when incubated with lysed cell DNA. Malondialdehyde was released from cells incubated with organic hydroperoxides, but not HOOH, nor up to 40 Gy of x-rays. HOOH was metabolized three times faster than the organic peroxides. The overall results demonstrate the necessity for a metabolically active cell environment to elaborate maximal DNA strand breaks and cell death at hydroperoxide concentrations of 10(-4) or greater, but prevent strand breaks and stimulate cell growth at 10(-5) M.     

Age and gender effects on DNA strand break repair in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Exogenous and endogenous damage to DNA is constantly challenging the stability of our genome. This DNA damage increase the frequency of errors in DNA replication, thus causing point mutations or chromosomal rearrangements and has been implicated in aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, efficient DNA repair is vital for the maintenance of genome stability. The general notion has been that DNA repair capacity decreases with age although there are conflicting results. Here, we focused on potential age‐associated changes in DNA damage response and the capacities of repairing DNA single‐strand breaks (SSBs) and double‐strand breaks (DSBs) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Of these lesions, DSBs are the least frequent but the most dangerous for cells. We have measured the level of endogenous SSBs, SSB repair capacity, γ‐H2AX response, and DSB repair capacity in a study population consisting of 216 individuals from a population‐based sample of twins aged 40–77 years. Age in this range did not seem to have any effect on the SSB parameters. However, γ‐H2AX response and DSB repair capacity decreased with increasing age, although the associations did not reach statistical significance after adjustment for batch effect across multiple experiments. No gender differences were observed for any of the parameters analyzed. Our findings suggest that in PBMCs, the repair of SSBs is maintained until old age, whereas the response to and the repair of DSBs decrease.     

Activation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated by DNA strand break-inducing agents correlates closely with the number of DNA double strand breaks

The protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is activated when cells are exposed to ionizing radiation (IR). It has been assumed that ATM is specifically activated by the few induced DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), although little direct evidence for this assumption has been presented. DSBs constitute only a few percent of the IR-induced DNA damage, whereas the more frequent single strand DNA breaks (SSBs) and base damage account for over 98% of the overall DNA damage. It is therefore unclear whether DSBs are the only IR-induced DNA lesions that activate ATM. To test directly whether or not DSBs are responsible for ATM activation, we exposed cells to drugs and radiation that produce different numbers of DSBs and SSBs. We determined the resulting ATM activation by measuring the amount of phosphorylated Chk2 and the numbers of SSBs and DSBs in the same cells after short incubation periods. We found a strong correlation between the number of DSBs and ATM activation but no correlation with the number of SSBs. In fact, hydrogen peroxide, which, similar to IR, induces DNA damage through hydroxyl radicals but fails to induce DSBs, did not activate ATM. In contrast, we found that calicheamicin-induced strand breaks activated ATM more efficiently than IR and that ATM activation correlated with the relative DSB induction by these agents. Our data indicate that ATM is specifically activated by IR-induced DSBs, with little or no contribution from SSBs and other types of DNA damage. These findings have implications for how ATM might recognize DSBs in cells.     

Monte Carlo simulation of strand-break induction on plasmid DNA in aqueous solution by monoenergetic electrons

The radiation-induced process of strand breaks on pBR322 plasmid DNA in aqueous solution for different energy electrons was studied by Monte Carlo simulation. Assumptions of induction mechanisms of single- and double-strand breaks (SSBs and DSBs) used in the simulation are that SSB is induced by OH or H reaction with DNA and that DSB is induced by two SSBs on the opposite strands within 10 bp. Dose-response relationships of SSBs and DSBs were demonstrated for monoenergetic electrons of 100 eV, 10 keV, 1 keV and 1 MeV, and the yields of SSB and DSB were calculated. The dose-response relationships of SSBs and DSBs can be fitted by linear and linear-quadratic functions, respectively. The ratio of quadratic to linear components of DSB induction changes due to the electron energy. A high contribution of the linear component is observed for 1 keV electrons in the dose range below 160 Gy. The yields of SSBs and DSBs for all examined electron energies lie well within the experimental data when the probability of strand-break induction by OH and H is assumed to be around 0.1-0.2. The yield of SSBs has a minimum at 1 keV, while the yield of DSBs has a maximum at 1 keV in the examined energies. The strand breaks are formed most densely for 1 keV electrons.     

Radiation induced DNA DSBs: Contribution from stalled replication forks?

When cells are exposed to radiation serious lesions are introduced into the DNA including double strand breaks (DSBs), single strand breaks (SSBs), base modifications and clustered damage sites (a specific feature of ionizing radiation induced DNA damage). Radiation induced DNA damage has the potential to initiate events that can lead ultimately to mutations and the onset of cancer and therefore understanding the cellular responses to DNA lesions is of particular importance. Using γH2AX as a marker for DSB formation and RAD51 as a marker of homologous recombination (HR) which is recruited in the processing of frank DSBs or DSBs arising from stalled replication forks, we have investigated the contribution of SSBs and non-DSB DNA damage to the induction of DSBs in mammalian cells by ionizing radiation during the cell cycle. V79-4 cells and human HF19 fibroblast cells have been either irradiated with 0–20 Gy of γ radiation or, for comparison, treated with a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which is known to induce SSBs but not DSBs. Inhibition of the repair of oxidative DNA lesions by poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor leads to an increase in radiation induced γH2AX and RAD51 foci which we propose is due to these lesions colliding with replication forks forming replication induced DSBs. It was confirmed that DSBs are not induced in G₁ phase cells by treatment with hydrogen peroxide but treatment does lead to DSB induction, specifically in S phase cells. We therefore suggest that radiation induced SSBs and non-DSB DNA damage contribute to the formation of replication induced DSBs, detected as RAD51 foci.     

Alkaline step elution analysis of gamma-ray induced DNA strand breaks and repair in diploid yeast

Gamma-ray induction of DNA strand breaks and their repair was analysed in the diploid yeast strain D7 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) by means of the alkaline step elution technique. A dose-dependent increase of DNA strand breakage was observed in the dose range 25-2000 Gy corresponding to 100 and 0.01 per cent survival. When, after exposure to gamma-irradiation, the cells were incubated for 2 h in liquid growth medium, the elution profiles reached the pattern of unirradiated controls, thus indicating the restoration of cellular DNA due to repair. The alkaline step elution analysis is found to be a useful and reproducible technique for studying the induction of DNA strand breaks and repair in yeast. In comparison with other current methods, such as alkaline sucrose gradients and DNA unwinding, this method appears to be more rapid, versatile and easier to handle.     

The semi-quantitative comparison of oxidative stress mediated DNA single and double strand breaks using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated end labeling combined with a slot blot technique

The accumulation of DNA damages by environmental stresses is represented by the steady state level of single strand breaks (SSBs) and double strand breaks (DSBs). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) mediated end labeling is suitable in detecting DSBs, but is unsuitable for SSBs due to its catalyzing characteristics. However, the sensitivity of TdT to detect SSBs may be significantly improved by first denaturing the double strands and expose all the DNA nicks as potential substrates for TdT. By coupling DNA denaturation to slot blot southern hybridization, the authors demonstrate the sensitive detection of SSBs as well as DSBs in 20 ng DNA samples derived from a retinal pigment epithelial cell line treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The signal intensity of denatured and TdT-treated DNA in slot blot hybridization correlated to the amount of SSBs calculated in an S1 nuclease digestion assay. The signal ratio between denatured and non-denatured DNA likely approximates the SSBs/DSBs ratio in genomic DNA. The combination of DNA denaturing, TdT treatment and slot blot hybridization could be a useful method to assess oxidative stress-induced DNA strand damages.     

Induction by gamma irradiation of double-strand breaks of Escherichia coli chromosomes and their role in cell lethality

Viscoelastometric measurements of DNA from gamma-irradiated bacteria were used to identify the induction of double-strand breaks ( DSBs ) in the chromosome of Escherichia coli. It is shown by means of inhibitors of repair endonucleases and different repair mutants that most DSBs in DNA of E. coli, gamma-irradiated in buffer, arise from enzymatic incision of primary gamma-damages; therefore, previous conclusions regarding DSB repair must be reconsidered. Based on these results, much of the reparable damage is single-strand breaks, and this damage can initiate formation of gaps and ultimately, when repair is insufficient, generation of enzymatically caused DSBs . After extensive repair, the first residual DSB in the E. coli chromosome is generated at approximately 160 Gray (Gy), which corresponds to the D37 dose. We propose that DSBs induced directly by gamma-irradiation are not repaired in wild-type strains. In a recently isolated gamma-resistant strain, E. coli Gamr444 , the dose required for observation of DSB after postirradiation incubation is 1,000 Gy, which corresponds to the D37 of the strain. The resistance is proposed to be due to an ability to repair genuine DSBs .     

Effects of DNA double-strand and single-strand breaks on intrachromosomal recombination events in cell-cycle-arrested yeast cells.

Intrachromosomal recombination between repeated elements can result in deletion (DEL recombination) events. We investigated the inducibility of such intrachromosomal recombination events at different stages of the cell cycle and the nature of the primary DNA lesions capable of initiating these events. Two genetic systems were constructed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that select for DEL recombination events between duplicated alleles of CDC28 and TUB2. We determined effects of double-strand breaks (DSBs) and single-strand breaks (SSBs) between the duplicated alleles on DEL recombination when induced in dividing cells or cells arrested in G1 or G2. Site-specific DSBs and SSBs were produced by overexpression of the I-Sce I endonuclease and the gene II protein (gIIp), respectively. I-Sce I-induced DSBs caused an increase in DEL recombination frequencies in both dividing and cell-cycle-arrested cells, indicating that G1- and G2-arrested cells are capable of completing DSB repair. In contrast, gIIp-induced SSBs caused an increase in DEL recombination frequency only in dividing cells. To further examine these phenomena we used both gamma-irradiation, inducing DSBs as its most relevant lesion, and UV, inducing other forms of DNA damage. UV irradiation did not increase DEL recombination frequencies in G1 or G2, whereas gamma-rays increased DEL recombination frequencies in both phases. Both forms of radiation, however, induced DEL recombination in dividing cells. The results suggest that DSBs but not SSBs induce DEL recombination, probably via the single-strand annealing pathway. Further, DSBs in dividing cells may result from the replication of a UV or SSB-damaged template. Alternatively, UV induced events may occur by replication slippage after DNA polymerase pausing in front of the damage.     

DNA single-strand breaks,double-strand breaks,and crosslinks in rat testicular germ cells: Measurements of their formation and repair by alkaline and neutral filter elution

This work describes a neutral and alkaline elution method for measuring DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs), DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), and DNA-DNA crosslinks in rat testicular germ cells after treatments in vivo or in vitro with both chemical mutagens and gamma-irradiation. The methods depend upon the isolation of testicular germ cells by collagenase and trypsin digestion, followed by filtration and centrifugation. ¹³⁷Cs irradiation induced both DNA SSBs and DSBs in germ cells held on ice in vitro. Irradiation of the whole animal indicated that both types of DNA breaks are induced in vivo and can be repaired. A number of germ cell mutagens induced either DNA SSBs, DSBs, or cross-links after in vivo and in vitro dosing. These chemicals included methyl methane sulfonate, ethyl methane sulfonate, ethyl nitrosurea, dibromochlorpropane, ethylene dibromide, triethylene melamine, and mitomycin C. These results suggest that the blood-testes barrier is relatively ineffective for these mutagens, which may explain in part their in vivo mutagenic potency.This assay should be a useful screen for detecting chemical attack upon male germ-cell DNA and thus, it should help in the assessment of the mutagenic risk of chemicals. In addition, this approach can be used to study the processes of SSB, DSB, and crosslink repair in DNA of male germ cells, either from all stages or specific stages of development.Abbreviations DBCP dibromochlorpropane - DSB(s) DNA double-strand break(s) - EDB ethylene dibromide - EMS ethyl methane sulfonate - ENU ethyl nitrosurea - MC mitomycin C - MMS methyl methane sulfonate - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - SSB (s) DNA single-strand break(s) - TEM triethylene melamine - UDS unscheduled DNA synthesis     

Spontaneous homologous recombination is induced by collapsed replication forks that are caused by endogenous DNA single-strand breaks

Homologous recombination is vital to repair fatal DNA damage during DNA replication. However, very little is known about the substrates or repair pathways for homologous recombination in mammalian cells. Here, we have compared the recombination products produced spontaneously with those produced following induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) with the I-SceI restriction endonuclease or after stalling or collapsing replication forks following treatment with thymidine or camptothecin, respectively. We show that each lesion produces different spectra of recombinants, suggesting differential use of homologous recombination pathways in repair of these lesions. The spontaneous spectrum most resembled the spectra produced at collapsed replication forks formed when a replication fork runs into camptothecin-stabilized DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) within the topoisomerase I cleavage complex. We found that camptothecin-induced DSBs and the resulting recombination repair require replication, showing that a collapsed fork is the substrate for camptothecin-induced recombination. An SSB repair-defective cell line, EM9 with an XRCC1 mutation, has an increased number of spontaneous gammaH2Ax and RAD51 foci, suggesting that endogenous SSBs collapse replication forks, triggering recombination repair. Furthermore, we show that gammaH2Ax, DSBs, and RAD51 foci are synergistically induced in EM9 cells with camptothecin, suggesting that lack of SSB repair in EM9 causes more collapsed forks and more recombination repair. Furthermore, our results suggest that two-ended DSBs are rare substrates for spontaneous homologous recombination in a mammalian fibroblast cell line. Interestingly, all spectra showed evidence of multiple homologous recombination events in 8 to 16% of clones. However, there was no increase in homologous recombination genomewide in these clones nor were the events dependent on each other; rather, we suggest that a first homologous recombination event frequently triggers a second event at the same locus in mammalian cells.     

3-氨基苯酰胺对氧化应激诱导的HeLa细胞端粒DNA链断裂重连接作用的影响

端粒是位于真核细胞染色体末端的DNA-蛋白质复合体,在维持染色体稳定上起着重要的作用,并且与细胞的衰老和凋亡有着密切的关系.在各种DNA损伤中,单链断裂(single-strand breaks, SSBs)是最常见的类型之一,既可直接通过内源活性氧或离子化辐射产生,也可间接地在DNA代谢或碱基切除修复期间产生.已知多聚(ADP-核糖)聚合酶［poly(ADPribose) polymerase, PARP］在SSBs修复中起着极为重要的作用.本实验观察了PARP抑制剂3-氨基苯酰胺(3-aminobenzamide, 3-AB)对氧化应激诱导的HeLa细胞端粒DNA链断裂重连接的效应以及对过氧化氢(H2O2)抑制HeLa细胞增殖的影响.结果表明3-AB能够显著地抑制氧化应激诱导的HeLa细胞端粒DNA链断裂后的重连接作用,并能增强H2O2对HeLa细胞增殖的抑制作用,提示PARP参与了端粒DNA链断裂损伤的修复过程.     

Biochemical and cytogenetical characterization of Chinese hamster ovary X-ray-sensitive mutant cells xrs 5 and xrs 6. VI. The correlation between UV-induced DNA lesions and chromosomal aberrations, and their modulations with inhibitors of DNA repair synthesis

The role of UV-induced DNA lesions and their repair in the formation of chromosomal aberrations in the xrs mutant cell lines xrs 5 and xrs 6 and their wild-type counterpart, CHO-K1 cells, were studied. The extent of induction of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) due to UV irradiation in the presence or absence of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) and hydroxyurea (HU) was determined using the alkaline and neutral elution methods. Results of these experiments were compared with the frequencies of induced chromosomal aberrations in UV-irradiated G1 cells treated under similar conditions. Xrs 6 cells showed a defect in their ability to perform the incision step of nucleotide repair after UV irradiation. Accumulation of breaks 2 h after UV irradiation in xrs 6 cells in the presence of HU and ara-C remained at the level of incision breaks estimated after 20 min, which was about 35% of that found in wild-type CHO-K1 cells. In UV-irradiated CHO-K1 and xrs 5 cells, more incision breaks were present after 2 h compared with 20 min post-treatment with ara-C, a further increase was evident when HU was added to the combined treatment. The level of incision breaks induced under these conditions in xrs 5 was about 80% of that observed in CHO-K1 cells. UV irradiation itself did not induce any detectable DNA strand breaks. Accumulation of SSBs in UV-irradiated cells post-treated with ara-C and HU coincides with the increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. These data suggest that accumulated SSBs when converted to DSBs in G1 give rise to chromosome-type aberrations, whereas strand breaks persisting until S-phase result in chromatid-type aberrations. Xrs 6 appeared to be the first ionizing-radiation-sensitive mutant with a partial defect in the incision step of DNA repair of UV-induced damage.     

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 modulates DNA repair capacity and prevents formation of DNA double strand breaks

Although poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) has no enzymatic activity involved in DNA damage processing by the base excision repair (BER) pathway, PARP-1 deficient cells are genetically unstable and sensitive to DNA-damaging agents. To explain this paradox, we investigated the impact of PARP-1 on BER in mammalian cells. We reduced cellular PARP-1 protein levels using siRNA, then introduced DNA damage by hydrogen peroxide treatment and examined the repair response. We find that PARP-1 is not involved in recruitment of the major BER proteins to sites of DNA damage. However, we find that PARP-1 protects excessive DNA single strand breaks (SSBs) from converting into DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) thus preserving them for subsequent repair by BER enzymes. This suggests that PARP-1 plays an important role in BER by extending the ability of BER enzymes to process DNA single strand breaks arising directly after mutagen stress or during processing of DNA lesions following extensive DNA damage.     

The oxidative DNA damage response: A review of research undertaken with Tsinghua and Xiangya students at the University of Pittsburgh

Endogenous stress and exogenous toxicants (chemicals and UV light) alter genetic information either directly or indirectly through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby driving genomic instability in cells and promoting tumorigenesis. All living cells try to faithfully preserve and transmit their genomic information from one generation to the next using DNA repair mechanisms to repair oxidative DNA damage to prevent cancer or premature aging. Oxidative DNA damage comprises a mixture of DNA lesions including base damage, DNA single strand breaks (SSBs), and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). This review summarizes some of the studies on DNA damage response at a defined genome locus that are performed by students from the Tsinghua University School of Medicine and the School of Medicine of Central South University (Xiangya Hospital) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. A summary of their work highlights the continuous contribution of the students to a particular research program and exemplifies the achievements of this China-U.S. collaborative training program.     

衰老过程中大白鼠脾细胞的DNA单链断裂与重接能力的变化

 DNA被紫外线损伤后,由DNA切除修复酶切除嘧啶二聚体,随之以另一条正常的DNA链为模板修复合成DNA片段,最后由DNA连接酶将新合成的DNA片与原有的DNA链连接。本文用荧光法测定DNA修复过程中DNA单链的断裂及重接能力与衰老的关系。结果表明,不同年龄大鼠脾细胞均具有修复DNA单链断裂的能力,DNA单链断裂重接的能力与年龄有相关性,断乳鼠及青年鼠的脾细胞当保温至30min时,即开始了DNA链的重接,保温90min后则恢复到原有水平;而老年鼠脾细胞保温至90min时才开始DNA链的重接,保温150min,尚未恢复到原有水平。还发现,断乳鼠及老年鼠脾细胞的单链DNA含量高于青年鼠。     

Early Detection of DNA Strand Breaks in the Brain After Transient Focal Ischemia: Implications for the Role of DNA Damage in Apoptosis and Neuronal Cell Death

Abstract: Using in situ DNA polymerase I-mediated biotin-dATP nick-translation (PANT) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL), we investigated the evolution of DNA strand breaks, a marker of DNA damage, in rat brain after 1 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion and various durations of reperfusion. DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) detected by PANT were present in neurons after as little as 1 min of reperfusion. Numbers of neurons containing an SSB increased progressively in the ischemic core but decreased in the ischemic penumbra after 1 h of reperfusion. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) detected by TUNEL were first seen in neurons after 1 h of reperfusion, and their numbers then increased progressively in the ischemic core, with a regional distribution similar to that of SSBs. However, the number of SSB-containing cells was greater than that of DSB-containing cells at all time points tested. SSB-containing cells detected within the first hour of reperfusion were exclusively neuronal and exhibited normal nuclear morphology. At 16–72 h of reperfusion, many SSB- and DSB-containing cells, including both neurons and astrocytes, showed morphological changes consistent with apoptosis. Gel electrophoresis of DNA isolated from the ischemic core showed DNA fragmentation at 24 h, when both SSBs and DSBs were present, but not at 1 h, when few DSBs were detected. These results suggest that damage to nuclear DNA is an early event after neuronal ischemia and that the accumulation of unrepaired DNA SSBs may contribute to delayed ischemic neuronal death, perhaps by triggering apoptosis.