嗜热古菌Archaeoglobus fulgidus RecJ核酸酶的表达纯化及酶学特征

[目的]克隆表达嗜热古菌Archaeoglobus fulgidus(A.fulgidus)来源的RecJ核酸酶基因(ORF编号AF_0699,NCBI数据库基因登陆号为AF_RS03550),对该重组蛋白的核酸酶活性及酶学特征进行鉴定和分析.[方法]将A.fulgidus RecJ(AfuRecJ)核酸酶在大肠杆菌中...     

古菌蛋白激酶的研究进展

磷酸化是蛋白质翻译后修饰(post-translational modification)的主要方式,可由蛋白激酶、磷酸转移酶、磷酸化酶等多种方式催化进行。其中,由蛋白激酶(protein kinases)/磷酸酶(protein phosphatases)介导的可逆的蛋白磷酸化是细胞中信号转导的重要机制,在DNA复制、转录、蛋白质翻译、DNA损伤修复等生命过程中起广泛的调节作用。目前,古菌中蛋白激酶的研究尚属于初期阶段。虽然磷酸化蛋白质组学研究表明,古菌中存在大量的磷酸化蛋白质,但是我们对其具体催化作用的酶及调控机制尚不清楚。本文总结了古菌中已报道的蛋白激酶所参与的生命过程,包括古菌的DNA代谢、细胞代谢、细胞周期和运动机制等四个方面,并对今后的研究提出展望。     

极端嗜热古菌尿嘧啶DNA糖苷酶的研究进展

高温会加快碱基脱氨基反应形成损伤碱基的速率,进一步对脱氨基的碱基进行复制会导致突变。因此,极端嗜热古菌基因组的稳定性面临着其生存高温环境的挑战。胞嘧啶脱氨基形成尿嘧啶,是常见的脱碱基类型,复制DNA中尿嘧啶会造成GC→AT的突变。尿嘧啶DNA糖苷酶(Uracil DNA glycosylase,UDG)是修复DNA中尿嘧啶的关键酶。基于识别底物的特异性,UDG分为6个家族,广泛分布在细菌、古菌、真核生物以及一些病毒中。基因组序列显示,极端嗜热古菌至少编码一种UDG。目前,对于细菌和真核生物的UDG已进行了大量的研究,但是关于极端嗜热古菌UDG的研究相对较少,尚处于初期阶段。本文综述了极端嗜热古菌UDG的研究进展,并对今后的研究提出了展望。     

极端嗜热古菌8oxoG DNA糖苷酶的研究进展

7,8二氢-8-氧鸟嘌呤(7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine,8oxoG)是一种常见的DNA损伤碱基.由于8oxoG能够与腺嘌呤配对,在DNA中的8oxoG被修复之前进行复制,DNA将会产生GC→TA的突变,从而造成基因组的不稳定.目前,碱基切除修复(Base excision repair,BER)是修...     

极端嗜热古菌DNA修复核酸内切酶的研究进展

极端嗜热古菌由于生活在高温环境,其基因组DNA面临着严重的挑战,因此,它们如何维持其基因组稳定是本研究领域最为关注的科学问题之一。极端嗜热古菌具有与常温微生物相似的自发突变频率,暗示着它们比常温微生物具有更加有效的DNA修复体系进行修复高温所造成的基因组DNA损伤。目前,极端嗜热古菌DNA修复的分子机制尚不清楚。核酸内切酶在DNA修复途径中发挥着重要的作用。基因组序列显示极端嗜热古菌编码多种DNA修复核酸内切酶,但是其研究尚处于初期阶段。本文综述了极端嗜热古菌DNA修复核酸内切酶Nuc S、Endo V、Endo Q、XPF和Hjc的研究进展,并对今后的研究提出了展望。     

嗜盐古菌噬菌体研究进展

嗜盐古菌噬菌体是噬菌体的一个重要分支,在群体生态学以及生命的起源与进化历程中扮演重要的角色.综述了嗜盐古菌噬菌体的形态多样性、研究方法、起源与进化几方面的研究报道,指出目前研究中存在的问题,对未来研究进行了展望.     

超嗜热古菌基因组的热稳定性

超嗜热古菌能够生活在80℃以上的高温环境中,它们的耐热性已经成为当前研究的热点之一。以往对超嗜热菌的认识多集中于蛋白质的耐热性,而很少有关于基因组热稳定性的综述文章。综述了当前对超嗜热古菌的基因组稳定性以及DNA损伤识别机制的研究进展,以期更好地了解超嗜热古菌的耐热机制。     

DNA末端构型调控RecJ核酸外切酶活性

目的 核酸酶介导的DNA双链末端切割对同源重组修复至关重要。然而,DNA末端构型对RecJ 5’-3’核酸外切酶活性的调控尚不清楚。本研究旨在探究DNA3’端和5’端构型对RecJ核酸外切酶活性的影响及其机制。方法 为探究DNA3’端构型对RecJ核酸外切酶活性的影响,使用含有Mg²⁺的体系,对具有不同3’突出末端长度（9 nt与18 nt）和3’突出末端修饰（磷酸化和硫代磷酸酯修饰）的单链DNA分别进行RecJ核酸酶活性检测。为揭示DNA 3’端构型对RecJ外切酶活性的调控机制,在Mg²⁺缺失的体系中,使RecJ与底物结合后进行凝胶迁移实验（EMSA）。为探索其他调控因子与DNA3’端构型对RecJ的协同作用,分别检测5’端磷酸化修饰和单链DNA结合蛋白（SSB）对DNA3’突出末端修饰的影响。结果 DNA3’端构型包括突出末端的长度和修饰（磷酸化和硫代磷酸酯修饰）均会抑制RecJ外切酶活性。DNA 3’端磷酸化和硫代磷酸酯修饰通过重塑RecJ-DNA的结合模式抑制RecJ外切酶活性。DNA 5’端磷酸化修饰可增强RecJ对具有不同3’端...     

古菌中蛋白甲基化修饰的研究进展

蛋白甲基化修饰是翻译后修饰的主要方式之一,越来越多的报道证实古菌中存在这类蛋白修饰。目前古菌中一些甲基转移酶已经鉴定出来,但对其作用机制还不太清楚。本文对目前古菌中已经发现的蛋白质甲基转移酶和甲基化修饰可能的作用进行了总结。古菌中蛋白的甲基化修饰能够提高蛋白稳定性、影响侧链构象变化及与其他分子的相互作用,涉及DNA损伤修复和应激反应等途径。最后,本文对今后古菌中蛋白甲基化修饰的研究方向进行了展望。     

超嗜热古菌Sulfolobus tokodaii RadA蛋白的克隆表达及其辐射可诱导性

RecA/Rad51/RadA家族蛋白是细胞内重要的重组修复蛋白,在功能上非常保守。研究发现在细菌、真核生物、甲烷古菌和嗜盐古菌细胞内RecA/Rad51/RadA均可以受紫外线辐射诱导转录。而对极端嗜热古菌中的RadA辐射可诱导性仍存在争议。通过体外表达极端嗜热古菌Sulfolobus tokodaii的RadA蛋白,制备抗体,利用免疫学方法并结合RT-PCR分析,对嗜热古菌S.tokodaii中RadA的辐射诱导进行了研究。经过100J/m2和200J/m2UV辐照处理,radA基因的转录分别上调了2倍和3倍,同时RadA蛋白的表达分别上升了1.5倍和1倍。实验结果表明S.tokodaii中RadA可以被紫外线辐射诱导表达,证实了极端嗜热古菌S.tokodaii细胞中存在DNA损伤诱导反应的观点。     

Mechanisms of single-stranded DNA-binding protein functioning in cellular DNA metabolism

This review deals with analysis of mechanisms involved in coordination of DNA replication and repair by SSB proteins; characteristics of eukaryotic, prokaryotic, and archaeal SSB proteins are considered, which made it possible to distinguish general mechanisms specific for functioning of proteins from organisms of different life domains. Mechanisms of SSB protein interactions with DNA during metabolism of the latter are studied; structural organization of the SSB protein complexes with DNA, as well as structural and functional peculiarities of different SSB proteins are analyzed.     

DNA连接酶同工酶的研究进展

DNA连接酶是生物体内重要的酶,其所催化的反应在DNA的复制和修复过程中起重要作用. DNA连接酶分为两大类：一类是利用ATP的能量催化两个核苷酸链之间形成磷酸二酯键的依赖ATP的DNA连接酶,另一类是利用NAD⁺的能量催化两个核苷酸链之间形成磷酸二酯键的依赖NAD^＋的DNA连接酶.研究发现,细菌的DNA连接酶都是依赖NAD^＋的, 且有非常相似的序列和相近的分子质量,其酶分子分为两个功能区：N端区与NAD^＋结合形成酶-腺苷酸中间物;C端区催化两条DNA链的连接.所有真核生物的DNA连接酶都是利用ATP提供能量,且一种真核生物含有多种DNA连接酶,不同的DNA连接酶催化不同的DNA修复和复制过程：DNA连接酶Ⅰ的作用是将岗畸片段连接起来形成完整的DNA链以及进行碱基切除修复(BER);DNA连接酶Ⅲ主要是在DNA修复中起作用,即催化单核苷酸碱基切除修复.DNA连接酶Ⅱ可能是DNA连接酶Ⅲ的一个片段.     

DNA damage detection by an archaeal single-stranded DNA-binding protein

Archaeal DNA repair pathways are not well defined; in particular, there are no convincing candidate proteins for detection of DNA mismatches or the bulky lesions removed by excision repair pathways. Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) play a central role in DNA replication, recombination and repair. The crenarchaeal SSB is a monomer with a single oligonucleotide-binding fold for single-stranded DNA binding coupled to a flexible C-terminal tail reminiscent of bacterial SSB that mediates interactions with other proteins. We demonstrate that Sulfolobus solfataricus SSB can melt DNA containing a mismatch or DNA lesion specifically in vitro. We suggest that a potential role for SSB in archaea is the detection of DNA damage due to local destabilisation of the DNA double helix, followed by recruitment of specific repair proteins. Proteins interacting specifically with a single-stranded DNA:SSB complex include several known or putative DNA repair proteins and DNA helicases.     

hMSH5 Facilitates the Repair of Camptothecin-induced Double-strand Breaks through an Interaction with FANCJ

Replication stress from stalled or collapsed replication forks is a major challenge to genomic integrity. The anticancer agent camptothecin (CPT) is a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor that causes fork collapse and double-strand breaks amid DNA replication. Here we report that hMSH5 promotes cell survival in response to CPT-induced DNA damage. Cells deficient in hMSH5 show elevated CPT-induced γ-H2AX and RPA2 foci with concomitant reduction of Rad51 foci, indicative of impaired homologous recombination. In addition, CPT-treated hMSH5-deficient cells exhibit aberrant activation of Chk1 and Chk2 kinases and therefore abnormal cell cycle progression. Furthermore, the hMSH5-FANCJ chromatin recruitment underlies the effects of hMSH5 on homologous recombination and Chk1 activation. Intriguingly, FANCJ depletion desensitizes hMSH5-deficient cells to CPT-elicited cell killing. Collectively, our data point to the existence of a functional interplay between hMSH5 and FANCJ in double-strand break repair induced by replication stress.     

Identification of temperature-sensitive dnaD mutants of Staphylococcus aureus that are defective in chromosomal DNA replication

The DnaD protein in Gram-positive bacteria is thought to be essential for the initiation step in DNA replication. In the present study, we characterized two Staphylococcus aureus mutants whose temperature-sensitive growth phenotype could be complemented by a plasmid carrying the dnaD gene. These mutants each had a single amino acid substitution in the DnaD protein and showed decreased DNA synthesis at restrictive temperature. Analyses of the origin to terminus ratio by Southern blotting, and of origin numbers per cell by flow cytometry, revealed that, at the restrictive temperature, one mutant continued ongoing DNA replication but failed to initiate DNA replication. The other mutant, in contrast, could not complete ongoing DNA replication and proceeded to degrade the chromosome. However, if protein synthesis was inhibited, the second mutant could complete DNA replication. These results suggest that DnaD protein is necessary not only for the initiation step, but also to avoid replication fork blockage. Moreover, both mutants were sensitive to mitomycin C, a drug that induces DNA damage, suggesting that the DnaD protein is also involved in DNA repair.Communicated by H. Ikeda     

The MMS22L–TONSL heterodimer directly promotes RAD51‐dependent recombination upon replication stress

Homologous recombination (HR) is a key pathway that repairs DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) and helps to restart stalled or collapsed replication forks. How HR supports replication upon genotoxic stress is not understood. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we show that the MMS22L–TONSL heterodimer localizes to replication forks under unperturbed conditions and its recruitment is increased during replication stress in human cells. MMS22L–TONSL associates with replication protein A (RPA)‐coated ssDNA, and the MMS22L subunit directly interacts with the strand exchange protein RAD51. MMS22L is required for proper RAD51 assembly at DNA damage sites in vivo, and HR‐mediated repair of stalled forks is abrogated in cells expressing a MMS22L mutant deficient in RAD51 interaction. Similar to the recombination mediator BRCA2, recombinant MMS22L–TONSL limits the assembly of RAD51 on dsDNA, which stimulates RAD51‐ssDNA nucleoprotein filament formation and RAD51‐dependent strand exchange activity in vitro. Thus, by specifically regulating RAD51 activity at uncoupled replication forks, MMS22L–TONSL stabilizes perturbed replication forks by promoting replication fork reversal and stimulating their HR‐mediated restart in vivo.     

Coordination of multiple enzyme activities by a single PCNA in archaeal Okazaki fragment maturation

Chromosomal DNA replication requires one daughter strand-the lagging strand-to be synthesised as a series of discontinuous, RNA-primed Okazaki fragments, which must subsequently be matured into a single covalent DNA strand. Here, we describe the reconstitution of Okazaki fragment maturation in vitro using proteins derived from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. Six proteins are necessary and sufficient for coupled DNA synthesis, RNA primer removal and DNA ligation. PolB1, Fen1 and Lig1 provide the required catalytic activities, with coordination of their activities dependent upon the DNA sliding clamp, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). S. solfataricus PCNA is a heterotrimer, with each subunit having a distinct specificity for binding PolB1, Fen1 or Lig1. Our data demonstrate that the most efficient coupling of activities occurs when a single PCNA ring organises PolB1, Fen1 and Lig1 into a complex.