Radiation damage to a DNA-binding protein. Combined circular dichroism and molecular dynamics simulation analysis

The E. coli lactose operon, the paradigm of gene expression regulation systems, is the best model for studying the effect of radiation on such systems. The operon function requires the binding of a protein, the repressor, to a specific DNA sequence, the operator. We have previously shown that upon irradiation the repressor loses its operator binding ability. The main radiation-induced lesions of the headpiece have been identified by mass spectrometry. All tyrosine residues are oxidized into 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). In the present study we report a detailed characterization of the headpiece radiation-induced modification. An original approach combining circular dichroism measurements and the analysis of molecular dynamics simulation of headpieces bearing DOPA-s instead of tyrosines has been applied. The CD measurements reveal an irreversible modification of the headpiece structure and stability. The molecular dynamics simulation shows a loss of stability shown by an increase in internal dynamics and allows the estimation of the modifications due to tyrosine oxidation for each structural element of the protein. The changes in headpiece structure and stability can explain at least in part the radiation-induced loss of binding ability of the repressor to the operator. This conclusion should hold for all proteins containing radiosensitive amino acids in their DNA-binding site.     

Radiation affects binding of Fpg repair protein to an abasic site containing DNA

During the base excision repair of certain DNA lesions, the formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) binds specifically to the DNA region containing an abasic (AP) site. Is this step affected by exposure to ionizing radiation? To answer this question, we studied a complex between a DNA duplex containing an analogue of an abasic site (the 1,3-propanediol site, Pr) and a mutated Lactococcus lactis Fpg (P1G-LlFpg) lacking strand cleavage activity. Upon irradiation of the complex, the ratio of bound/free partners decreased. When the partners were irradiated separately, the irradiated DNA still bound the unirradiated protein, whereas irradiated Fpg no longer bound unirradiated DNA. Thus irradiation hinders Fpg-DNA binding because of the damage to the protein. Using our radiolytic attack simulation procedure RADACK (Begusova et al., J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 19, 141-157, 2001), we reveal the potential hot spots for damage in the irradiated protein. Most of them are essential for the interaction of Fpg with DNA, which explains the radiation-induced loss of binding ability of Fpg. The doses necessary to destroy the complex are higher than those inactivating Fpg irradiated separately. As confirmed by our calculations, this can be explained by the partial protection of the protein by the bound DNA.     

Dimerization specificity of P22 and 434 repressors is determined by multiple polypeptide segments.

The repressor protein of bacteriophage P22 binds to DNA as a homodimer. This dimerization is absolutely required for DNA binding. Dimerization is mediated by interactions between amino acids in the carboxyl (C)-terminal domain. We have constructed a plasmid, p22CT-1, which directs the overproduction of just the C-terminal domain of the P22 repressor (P22CT-1). Addition of P22CT-1 to DNA-bound P22 repressor causes the dissociation of the complex. Cross-linking experiments show that P22CT-1 forms specific heterodimers with the intact P22 repressor protein, indicating that inhibition of P22 repressor DNA binding by P22CT-1 is mediated by the formation of DNA binding-inactive P22 repressor:P22CT-1 heterodimers. We have taken advantage of the highly conserved amino acid sequences within the C-terminal domains of the P22 and 434 repressors and have created chimeric proteins to help identify amino acid regions required for dimerization specificity. Our results indicate that the dimerization specificity region of these proteins is concentrated in three segments of amino acid sequence that are spread across the C-terminal domain of each of the two phage repressors. We also show that the set of amino acids that forms the cooperativity interface of the P22 repressor may be distinct from those that form its dimer interface. Furthermore, cooperativity studies of the wild-type and chimeric proteins suggest that the location of cooperativity interface in the 434 repressor may also be distinct from that of its dimerization interface. Interestingly, changes in the dimer interface decreases the ability of the 434 repressor to discriminate between its wild-type binding sites, O(R)1, O(R)2, and O(R)3. Since 434 repressor discrimination between these sites depends in large part on the ability of this protein to recognize sequence-specific differences in DNA structure and flexibility, this result indicates that the C-terminal domain is intimately involved in the recognition of sequence-dependent differences in DNA structure and flexibility.     

Activity changes in lac repressor with cysteine oxidation.

The effects of prior covalent cysteine modification or nonspecific DNA presence on the reaction of lac repressor protein with N-bromosuccinimide have been investigated. At low excesses, N-bromosuccinimide oxidation causes loss of operator DNA binding activity with simultaneous retention of inducer and nonspecific DNA binding activities. Cysteine and methionine are oxidized under the conditions utilized. Covalent modification of the cysteines of repressor prior to reaction decreased the observed loss of operator DNA binding capacity; the presence of nonspecific DNA partially prevented oxidation of the cysteines by N-bromosuccinimide, and concurrent protection of operator binding ability was observed. Methionine oxidation was observed in the cases where protection of the operator DNA binding capacity of repressor was seen. The region surrounding cysteine 107 was found to be influential in maintaining intact operator DNA binding function in repressor. This observation provides chemical evidence for the contribution of the core region of repressor in determining specificity of the protein in binding the lac operator. The protection from oxidation of cysteine residues in the core region by the presence of nonspecific DNA suggests that this binding influences the core region of the protein.     

Radiation abolishes inducer binding to lactose repressor

The lactose operon functions under the control of the repressor-operator system. Binding of the repressor to the operator prevents the expression of the structural genes. This interaction can be destroyed by the binding of an inducer to the repressor. If ionizing radiations damage the partners, a dramatic dysfunction of the regulation system may be expected. We showed previously that gamma irradiation hinders repressor-operator binding through protein damage. Here we show that irradiation of the repressor abolishes the binding of the gratuitous inducer isopropyl-1-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) to the repressor. The observed lack of release of the repressor from the complex results from the loss of the ability of the inducer to bind to the repressor due to the destruction of the IPTG binding site. Fluorescence measurements show that both tryptophan residues located in or near the IPTG binding site are damaged. Since tryptophan damage is strongly correlated with the loss of IPTG binding ability, we conclude that it plays a critical role in the effect. A model was built that takes into account the kinetic analysis of damage production and the observed protection of its binding site by IPTG. This model satisfactorily accounts for the experimental results and allows us to understand the radiation-induced effects.     

Temperature-sensitive mutations in the bacteriophage Mu c repressor locate a 63-amino-acid DNA-binding domain.

Phage Mu's c gene product is a cooperative regulatory protein that binds to a large, complex, tripartite 184-bp operator. To probe the mechanism of repressor action, we isolated and characterized 13 phage mutants that cause Mu to undergo lytic development when cells are shifted from 30 to 42 degrees C. This collection contained only four mutations in the repressor gene, and all were clustered near the N terminus. The cts62 substitution of R47----Q caused weakened specific DNA recognition and altered cooperativity in vitro. A functional repressor with only 63 amino acids of Mu repressor fused to a C-terminal fragment of beta-galactosidase was constructed. This chimeric protein was an efficient repressor, as it bound specifically to Mu operator DNA in vitro and its expression conferred Mu immunity in vivo. A DNA looping model is proposed to explain regulation of the tripartite operator site and the highly cooperative nature of repressor binding.     

Mechanism of the radioprotective effect of cysteamine

The radioprotective effect of cysteamine combined with the modification of the chromatin state by sodium butyrate has been studied using V-79 and CHEL lines of Chinese hamster cells and HeLa cells. Sodium butyrate enhances the chromatin sensitivity to nucleases and removes the radioprotective effect of cysteamine as measured by the yield of cells with chromosome aberrations. As is indicated by changes in the intensity of fluorescence of the DNA-ethidium bromide complex, measured by laser flow cytometry, the protective agent decreases the binding of the dye with both irradiated and nonirradiated DNA whereas ionizing radiation and sodium butyrate increase thereof. It is concluded that the radioprotective effect of cysteamine depends in its ability to reduce the susceptibility of DNA to nucleases.     

Formation and stability of complex organic compounds in space environments.

Complex organic compounds have been found in extraterrestrial bodies such as meteorites and comets. We confirmed the formation of complex organic compounds that contained amino acid precursors from a mixture of carbon monoxide (or methanol), ammonia and water by radiation or UV. Molecular weights of the complex organics were several thousands. Stability of the complex precursors was studied. When free amino acids were irradiated with gamma rays or synchrotron radiation, they easily decomposed. The complex precursors were, however, much more stable than free amino acid against irradiation. We propose to examine the formation and alteration of amino acid precursors in space by using exposed facility of ISS.     

Studies on the function mechanism of a Formosan grey mullet protamine-mugiline beta M6: interaction of the M6 and M6 fragments with DNA.

The interaction of three peptide segments of one component of Formosan grey mullet protamine (mugiline beta M6), obtained by chemical and enzymatic cleavage, with DNA was studied by spectroscopic measurement, thermal denaturation and circular dichroism. The data obtained were then compared with those of whole M6 and other fish protamines such as salmine of salmon and clupeine of herring. M6-B-I, which lacks C-terminal 11 amino acids in M6, showed significantly different properties. It showed remarkably high DNA aggregating ability which was due to a conformational change of DNA from B to A form. The conformational change of DNA induced by the binding of M6-B-I was reproduced by the carboxypeptidase B digestion of DNA-M6 complex. From these results, the arginine-rich, C-terminal domain of the M6 molecule was estimated to be essential for natural DNA binding.     

Frameshift mutations in the bacteriophage Mu repressor gene can confer a trans-dominant virulent phenotype to the phage.

Virulent mutations in the bacteriophage Mu repressor gene were isolated and characterized. Recombination and DNA sequence analysis have revealed that virulence is due to unusual frameshift mutations which change several C-terminal amino acids. The vir mutations are in the same repressor region as the sts amber mutations which, by eliminating several C-terminal amino acids, suppress thermosensitivity of repressor binding to the operators by its N-terminal domain (J. L. Vogel, N. P. Higgins, L. Desmet, V. Geuskens, and A. Toussaint, unpublished data). Vir repressors bind Mu operators very poorly. Thus the Mu repressor C terminus, either by itself or in conjunction with other phage or host proteins, tunes the DNA-binding properties at the repressor N terminus.     

Vibrio cholerae fur mutations associated with loss of repressor activity: implications for the structural-functional relationships of fur.

We used the Vibrio cholerae Fur protein as a model of iron-sensitive repressor proteins in gram-negative bacteria. Utilizing manganese mutagenesis, we isolated twelve independent mutations in V. cholerae fur that resulted in partial or complete loss of Fur repressor function. The mutant fur genes were recovered by PCR and sequenced; 11 of the 12 contained point mutations (two of which were identical), and one contained a 7-bp insertion that resulted in premature truncation of Fur. All of the mutants, except that containing the prematurely truncated Fur, produced protein by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis, although several had substantially smaller amounts of Fur and two made an immunoreactive protein that migrated more rapidly on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Nine of the 11 point mutations altered amino acids that are identical in all of the fur genes sequenced so far, suggesting that these amino acids may play important structural or functional roles in Fur activity. Eight of the point mutations occurred in the amino-terminal half of Fur, which is thought to mediate DNA binding; most of these mutations occurred in conserved amino acids that have been previously suggested to play a role in the interaction between adjacent alpha-helices of the protein. Three of the point mutations occurred in the carboxy-terminal half of Fur, which is thought to bind iron. One mutation at histidine-90 was associated with complete loss of Fur function; this amino acid is within a motif previously suggested as being involved in iron binding by Fur. The fur allele mutant at histidine-90 interfered with iron regulation by wild-type fur in the same cell when the mutant allele was present at higher copy number; wild-type fur was dominant over all other fur mutant alleles studied. These results are analyzed with respect to previous models of the structure and function of Fur as an iron-sensitive repressor.     

Genetic studies of the lac repressor. XIII. Extensive amino acid replacements generated by the use of natural and synthetic nonsense suppressors

We have altered the amino acid sequence of the lac repressor one residue at a time by utilizing a collection of nonsense suppressors that permit the insertion of 13 different amino acids in response to the amber (UAG) codon, as well as an additional amino acid in response to the UGA codon. We used this collection to suppress nonsense mutations at 141 positions in the lacI gene, which encodes the 360 amino acid long lac repressor, including 53 new nonsense mutations which we constructed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. This method has generated over 1600 single amino acid substitutions in the lac repressor. We have cataloged the effects of these replacements and have interpreted the results with the objective of gaining a better understanding of lac repressor structure, and protein structure in general. The DNA binding domain of the repressor, involving the amino-terminal 59 amino acids, is extremely sensitive to substitution, with 70% of the replacements resulting in the I- phenotype. However, the remaining 301 amino acid core of the repressor is strikingly tolerant of substitutions, with only 30% of the amino acids introduced causing the I- phenotype. This analysis reveals the location of sites in the protein involved in inducer binding, tighter binding to operator and thermal stability, and permits a virtual genetic image reconstruction of the lac repressor protein.     

Radiation-induced oxidative damage to the DNA-binding domain of the lactose repressor

Understanding the cellular effects of radiation-induced oxidation requires the unravelling of key molecular events, particularly damage to proteins with important cellular functions. The Escherichia coli lactose operon is a classical model of gene regulation systems. Its functional mechanism involves the specific binding of a protein, the repressor, to a specific DNA sequence, the operator. We have shown previously that upon irradiation with gamma-rays in solution, the repressor loses its ability to bind the operator. Water radiolysis generates hydroxyl radicals (OH* radicals) which attack the protein. Damage of the repressor DNA-binding domain, called the headpiece, is most likely to be responsible of this loss of function. Using CD, fluorescence spectroscopy and a combination of proteolytic cleavage with MS, we have examined the state of the irradiated headpiece. CD measurements revealed a dose-dependent conformational change involving metastable intermediate states. Fluorescence measurements showed a gradual degradation of tyrosine residues. MS was used to count the number of oxidations in different regions of the headpiece and to narrow down the parts of the sequence bearing oxidized residues. By calculating the relative probabilities of reaction of each amino acid with OH. radicals, we can predict the most probable oxidation targets. By comparing the experimental results with the predictions we conclude that Tyr7, Tyr12, Tyr17, Met42 and Tyr47 are the most likely hotspots of oxidation. The loss of repressor function is thus correlated with chemical modifications and conformational changes of the headpiece.     

Structure of wild-type and mutant repressors and of the control region of the rbt operon of Klebsiella aerogenes.

Pentitol metabolism in Klebsiella aerogenes is encoded by continuous ribitol (rbt) and D-arabitol (dal) operons transcribed in bipolar fashion and sandwiched between long stretches of homologous DNA. The operons are separated by a central control region (2.2 kb) which encodes both the repressors and all the control sequences. The rbt repressor (270 amino acids) shows homology to the Escherichia coli lac repressor and other DNA-binding proteins. It is transcribed from the strand opposite the rbt operon and the intervening control region (254-bp) contains features which reflect the complex regulation. A rbt-constitutive mutant strain used in previous studies of experimental enzyme evolution encodes a truncated rbt-peptide of 133 residues due to a frameshift mutation.     

Alanine screening mutagenesis establishes the critical inactivating damage of irradiated E. coli lactose repressor

The function of the E. coli lactose operon requires the binding of lactose repressor to operator DNA. We have previously shown that γ rradiation destabilizes the repressor-operator complex because the repressor loses its DNA-binding ability. It was suggested that the observed oxidation of the four tyrosines (Y7, Y12, Y17, Y47) and the concomitant structural changes of the irradiated DNA-binding domains (headpieces) could be responsible for the inactivation. To pinpoint the tyrosine whose oxidation has the strongest effect, four headpieces containing the product of tyrosine oxidation, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), were simulated by molecular dynamics. We have observed that replacing Y47 by DOPA triggers the largest change of structure and stability of the headpiece and have concluded that Y47 oxidation is the greatest contributor to the decrease of repressor binding to DNA. To experimentally verify this conclusion, we applied the alanine screening mutagenesis approach. Tetrameric mutated repressors bearing an alanine instead of each one of the tyrosines were prepared and their binding to operator DNA was checked. Their binding ability is quite similar to that of the wild-type repressor, except for the Y47A mutant whose binding is strongly reduced. Circular dichroism determinations revealed small reductions of the proportion of α helices and of the melting temperature for Y7A, Y12A and Y17A headpieces, but much larger ones were revealed for Y47A headpiece. These results established the critical role of Y47 oxidation in modifying the structure and stability of the headpiece, and in reduction of the binding ability of the whole lactose repressor.     

Substitutions at histidine 74 and aspartate 278 alter ligand binding and allostery in lactose repressor protein

In the inducer-bound structure of the lac repressor protein, the side chains of H74 and D278 are positioned to form an ion pair between monomers that appears to be disrupted upon operator binding (Lewis, M., Chang, G., Horton, N. C., Kercher, M. A., Pace, H. C., Schumacher, M. A., Brennan, R. G., and Lu, P. (1996) Science 271, 1247-1254). A series of single substitutions at H74 and D278 and a double mutant, H74D-D278H, were generated to determine the influence of this interaction on ligand binding and allostery in lac repressor. Introduction of apolar amino acids at H74 resulted in distinct effects on ligand binding. Alanine and leucine substitutions decreased operator binding, while tryptophan and phenylalanine increased affinity for operator DNA. Introduction of a negatively charged residue at position 74 in H74D had minimal effects, and "inverting" the side chains in H74D/D278H did not significantly alter inducer or operator binding at neutral pH. In contrast, all substitutions of D278 increased affinity for operator DNA and diminished inducer binding. These observations can be interpreted in the context of the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model. If a salt bridge were essential for stabilizing or destabilizing the inducer-bound conformation, a mutation at either residue that interrupts this interaction should have a similar effect on allostery. Because the type and degree of alteration in ligand binding properties depended on the nature of the substitution at these residues, the individual roles played by H74 and D278 in lac repressor allostery appear more important than their direct contact across the monomer-monomer interface.