Exogenous dTMP utilization by a novel tup mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The rate and extent of entry of dTMP were measured in strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae carrying two new tup mutations (tup5 and tup7) and most of the other tup mutations which have been reported previously by others. The tup7 mutation allowed dramatically greater accumulation of dTMP than any of the other mutations tested. Specific labeling of DNA by [CH3-3H]dTMP, fate of the dTMP pool inside of the cells, and degradation of the dTMP in the culture medium were investigated in strains carrying the tup7 mutation. The extracellular dTMP was not appreciably degraded, and that accumulated intracellularly was readily phosphorylated to dTDP and dTTP. Under optimum labeling conditions, 60 to 80% of the total thymidylate residues in newly synthesized DNA were derived from the exogenously provided dTMP, even in the absence of a block in de novo dTMP biosynthesis. An apparent Km for entry of 2 mM dTMP was found. The tup7 mutation increased permeability to dTMP (and some other 5'-mononucleotides), but did not affect uptake of nucleosides and purine and pyrimidine bases. Uptake of dTMP could be almost completely inhibited by moderate concentrations of Pi. These findings and other observations suggest that entry of dTMP in strains carrying the tup7 mutation is mediated by a permease whose function in normal cells is the transport of Pi.     

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae That Incorporate Deoxythymidine-5′-Monophosphate Into Deoxyribonucleic Acid In Vivo

Spontaneous mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae able to incorporate deoxythymidine-5′-monophosphate (dTMP) into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) have been selected based on their ability to grow in the presence of aminopterin and sulfanilamide if dTMP is present. Essentially all mutants (called tup) selected in this way required dTMP for growth in the presence of the two drugs, but none required dTMP in the absence of the drugs. Neither thymine nor thymidine would satisfy this requirement. Equimolar amounts of ³²P- and ³H-base-labeled dTMP were incorporated by the mutants into alkali-stable, deoxyribonuclease-sensitive material. In the presence of aminopterin and sulfanilamide, this incorporation was sufficient to account for a substantial proportion of the thymine residues in the cellular DNA, whereas in the absence of the drugs only about 40% as much of the thymine residues originated from the medium. Of 29 mutants examined, all were recessive and 17 showed 2:2 segregation in crosses with a wild-type strain. The lesions in these mutants fell into four complementation groups: one (tup1) occurs on chromosome III; another (tup3) is on chromosome II; and a third (tup4) was centromere linked. Strains of the genotype α tup1 mated with lower than normal efficiency with a strains, but with higher than normal efficiency with α strains. Strains of genotype a/α tup1/tup1 failed to sporulate, whereas homozygous diploids for tup2, tup3, or tup4 sporulated normally, as did a/α tup1/+ strains.     

Mutations in the PHO80 Gene Confer Permeability to 5''-Mononucleotides in SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Yeast mutants permeable to dTMP (tup) were selected and two new complementation groups (tup5 and tup7) were identified. Assay of the levels of both acid and alkaline phosphatase in cells grown under either repressing (5 mM PO4(-3) or derepressing (0.03 mM PO4(-3) conditions indicated that, in general, tup mutations cause cells to be defective in their regulation of phosphatase synthesis. In addition, three of the tup mutations (tup1, tup4 and tup7) displayed markedly elevated rates of inorganic phosphate transport. The tup7 locus was found to be tightly centromere-linked on the right arm of chromosome XV, and was shown to be allelic with the pho80 regulatory locus on the basis of both genetic and biochemical criteria. Analysis of other mutations known to affect phosphatase levels (pho) indicated that some also conferred permeability to dTMP. Possible allelic relationships between tup genes and certain of these pho mutations are discussed. Regardless of the culture conditions, wild-type strains were not permeable to dTMP; in contrast, it was found in the course of this work that normal yeast cells were permeable to dUMP and that dUMP permeability was regulated by the concentration of inorganic phosphate present in the medium used to grow the cells. Thus, permeability to 5'-mononucleotides appears to be under coordinate control with phosphatase synthesis.     

Isolation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain deficient in deoxycytidylate deaminase activity and partial characterization of the enzyme.

Deoxycytidylate deaminase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been partially characterized. The yeast enzyme was found to exhibit properties similar to those of dCMP deaminases isolated from higher eucaryotes. A mutant strain completely deficient in dCMP deaminase activity was isolated by selection for resistance to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidylate followed by screening for cross sensitivity to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate, a potent inhibitor of the yeast thymidylate synthetase. We have designated this new allele dcd1 . A strain exhibiting an auxotrophic requirement for dUMP was isolated after mutagenesis of a dcd1 tup7 haploid. Genetic analysis revealed that this auxotrophic phenotype resulted from a combination of the dcd1 allele and a second, unlinked, nuclear mutation that we designated dmp1 . This allele, which by itself conveys no readily discernible phenotype, presumably impairs efficient synthesis of dUMP from UDP. The auxotrophic requirement of dcd1 dmp1 tup7 strains also can be satisfied by exogenous dTMP but not deoxyuridine.     

Disruption of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial folylpolyglutamate synthetase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Similar to other eukaryotes, yeasts have parallel pathways of one-carbon metabolism in the cytoplasm and mitochondria and have folylpolyglutamate synthetase activity in both compartments. The gene encoding folylpolyglutamate synthetase is MET7 (also referred to as MET23) on chromosome XV and appears to encode both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms of the enzyme. In order to determine the metabolic roles of both forms of folylpolyglutamate synthetase, we disrupted the met7 gene and determined that the strain is a methionine auxotroph and an adenine and thymidine auxotroph when grown in the presence of sulfanilamide. The met7 mutant becomes petite under normal growth conditions but can be maintained with a grande phenotype if the strain is tup and all media are supplemented with dTMP. A met7 gly1 strain is auxotrophic for glycine when grown on glucose but prototrophic when grown on glycerol. A met7 ser1 strain cannot use glycine to suppress the serine auxotrophy of the ser1 phenotype. A met7 shm2 strain is nonviable. In order to disrupt just the mitochondrial folylpolyglutamate synthetase activity, we constructed mutants with an inactivated chromosomal MET7 gene complemented by genes that express only cytoplasmic folylpolyglutamate synthetase, including the Lactobacillus casei folC gene and the yeast MET7 gene with its mitochondrial leader sequence deleted (MET7Deltam). All the genes providing cytoplasmic folylpolyglutamate synthetase complemented the methionine auxotrophy as well as the synthetic lethality of the shm2 strain and the synthetic glycine auxotrophy of the gly1 strain. The strains lacking the mitochondrial folylpolyglutamate synthetase had longer doubling times than the isogenic wild-type strains but retained the function of the mitochondrial folate-dependent enzymes to produce formate, serine, and glycine. Mutants complemented by the bacterial folC gene or by the MET7Deltam gene on a 2mu plasmid remained grande without the tup mutation and supplementation and dTMP. Mutants complemented by the MET7Deltam gene integrated in single copy became petites under those conditions, indicating a deficiency in dTMP production but this is likely due to lower expression of cytoplasmic folylpolyglutamate synthetase by the MET7Deltam gene.     

Leishmania donovani: characteristics of adenosine and inosine transporters in promastigotes of two different strains

The nucleoside transport characteristics of two strains of Leishmania donovani promastigotes were studied. Strain S1, growing in fully defined medium, and strain S2 (MHOM/ET/67/HA3) both transported adenosine and inosine, but only strain S1 transported uridine and thymidine. Competition studies in the presence of 100 microM of unlabeled adenosine, inosine, guanosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, tubercidin, formycin B, 3'-deoxyinosine as well as uridine, thymidine and cytidine, with either 1 microM [3H]adenosine or [3H]inosine as permeant, were carried out. The inhibition profile with [3H]inosine as permeant was essentially identical in S1 and S2 promastigotes, indicating that the same inosine transporter was present in both strains. However, with [3H] adenosine as permeant, significant differences were noted between the two strains. Thus, only adenosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, tubercidin, uridine, and thymidine were strongly inhibitory in S1 promastigotes, while essentially all nucleosides tested were effective in S2 promastigotes. This indicates that adenosine transport in S2 promastigotes seems to involve a transporter differing from that described for S1 promastigotes.     

Gel filtration of a complex of DNA polymerase and DNA precursor-synthesizing enzymes from a human lymphoblastoid cell line

A multienzyme complex containing at least DNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.7), thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21), dTMP kinase (EC 2.7.4.9) nucleoside diphosphokinase (EC 2.7.4.6) and thymidylate synthetase was separated from the corresponding free enzymes of DNA precursor synthesis by gel filtration of a gently lysed preparation of HPB-ALL cells (a human lymphoblastoid cell line). The isolated incorporated the distal DNA precursors [3H]thymidine or [3H]dTMP into an added DNA template at rates comparable to those observed using the immediate precursor [3H]dTTP. Measurement of the apparent overall concentrations of [3H]dTTP produced during incorporation of [3H]thymidine and of [3H]dTMP were so low as to suggest that these precursors were channelled into DNA by the operation of a kinetically linked complex of precursor-synthesizing enzymes and of DNA polymerase. The DNA polymerase inhibitor 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine triphosphate reduced incorporation of distal precursors into DNA. However [3H]dTTP did not accumulate in the reaction mixture. This suggested that the DNA polymerase regulated the flow of substrates through the complex. The results in this paper constitute direct evidence for the existence of multienzyme complexes of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells.     

A single channel for nitrate uptake, nitrite export and nitrite uptake by Escherichia coli NarU and a role for NirC in nitrite export and uptake

Two related polytopic membrane proteins of the major facilitator family, NarK and NarU, catalyse nitrate uptake, nitrite export and nitrite uptake across the Escherichia coli cytoplasmic membrane by an unknown mechanism. A 12-helix model of NarU was constructed based upon six alkaline phosphatase and beta-galactosidase fusions to NarK and the predicted hydropathy for the NarK family. Fifteen residues conserved in the NarK-NarU protein family were substituted by site-directed mutagenesis, including four residues that are essential for nitrate uptake by Aspergillus nidulans: arginines Arg(87) and Arg(303) in helices 2 and 8, and two glycines in a nitrate signature motif. Despite the wide range of substitutions studied, in no case did mutation result in loss of one biochemical function without simultaneous loss of all other functions. A NarU+ NirC+ strain grew more rapidly and accumulated nitrite more rapidly than the isogenic NarU+ NirC(-) strain. Only the NirC+ strain consumed nitrite rapidly during the later stages of growth. Under conditions in which the rate of nitrite reduction was limited by the rate of nitrite uptake, NirC+ strains reduced nitrite up to 10 times more rapidly than isogenic NarU+ strains, indicating that both nitrite efflux and nitrite uptake are largely dependent on NirC. Isotope tracer experiments with [15N]nitrate and [14N]nitrite revealed that [15N]nitrite accumulated in the extracellular medium even when there was a net rate of nitrite uptake and reduction. We propose that NarU functions as a single channel for nitrate uptake and nitrite expulsion, either as a nitrate-nitrite antiporter, or more likely as a nitrate/H+ or nitrite/H+ channel.     

Strategies for the measurement of the inhibitory effects of thymidine analogs on the activity of thymidylate synthase in intact murine leukemia L1210 cells

Two strategies have been pursued to monitor the inhibition of thymidylate (dTMP) synthase (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate:dUMP C-methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.45) by thymidine (dThd) analogs in intact murine leukemia L1210 cells. The first method was based on the determination of tritium release from 2'-deoxy[5-3H]uridine [( 5-3H]dUrd) or 2'-deoxy[5-3H]cytidine [( 5-3H]dCyd); the second method was based on an estimation of the amount of dCyd incorporated into DNA as dTMP. The validity of these procedures was assessed by evaluating the inhibition of thymidylate synthase in murine leukemia L1210 cells by a series of 18 dThd analogs. There was a strong correlation between the inhibitory effects of the dThd analogs on the proliferation of L1210 cells on the one hand, and (i) their inhibitory effects on tritium release from [5-3H]dCyd (r = 0.926) and (ii) their inhibitory effects on the incorporation of dCyd into DNA dTMP (r = 0.921), on the other hand. Evaluation of tritium release from [5-3H]dCyd proved to be the most convenient method that has been described so far to measure thymidylate synthase activity and to follow the inhibitory effects of thymidylate synthase inhibitors in intact L1210 cells, since this method is rapid and very sensitive, and since it proved superior to the evaluation of tritium release from [5-3H]dUrd because it circumvents possible interactions of the inhibitors with thymidine kinase activity.     

Isolation of the thymidylate synthetase gene (TMP1) by complementation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The structural gene (TMP1) for yeast thymidylate synthetase (thymidylate synthase; EC 2.1.1.45) was isolated from a chimeric plasmid bank by genetic complementation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Retransformation of the dTMP auxotroph GY712 and a temperature-sensitive mutant (cdc21) with purified plasmid (pTL1) yielded Tmp+ transformants at high frequency. In addition, the plasmid was tested for the ability to complement a bacterial thyA mutant that lacks functional thymidylate synthetase. Although it was not possible to select Thy+ transformants directly, it was found that all pTL1 transformants were phenotypically Thy+ after several generations of growth in nonselective conditions. Thus, yeast thymidylate synthetase is biologically active in Escherichia coli. Thymidylate synthetase was assayed in yeast cell lysates by high-pressure liquid chromatography to monitor the conversion of [6-3H]dUMP to [6-3H]dTMP. In protein extracts from the thymidylate auxotroph (tmp1-6) enzymatic conversion of dUMP to dTMP was barely detectable. Lysates of pTL1 transformants of this strain, however, had thymidylate synthetase activity that was comparable to that of the wild-type strain.     

Reversible permeabilization of lymphocytes destroys the incorporation of deoxythymidine but not of deoxycytidine

The total uptake, phosphorylation and incorporation of thymidine (dThd) and deoxycytidine (dCyd) were compared in intact and reversibly permeabilized human tonsillar lymphocytes. The total uptake of [3H]dThd was lower than that of [5-3H]dCyd, but almost all of [3H]dThd was incorporated into DNA. However, the main part of [5-3H]dCyd taken up by the lymphocytes was found in the pool as phosphorylated nucleoside (55%), and only a smaller part (13%) was incorporated into DNA. Phosphorylated nucleosides were determined by DEAE-cellulose sheets in the ethanol-soluble fraction of the cells. The reversible permeabilization of lymphocytes by Dextran T-150 destroys totally the [3H]dThd incorporation, while [5-3H]dCyd incorporation decreased only to 60% of intact cells. During permeabilization the phosphorylation of both nucleosides increased severalfold. After permeabilization all [3H]dThd was in dTMP form, while [5-3H]dCyd was also found in dCDP (3%) and dCTP (38%) form. In the meanwhile, 22% of thymidine kinase, 63% of deoxycytidine kinase and 98% of DNA polymerase activity were measured in permeabilized cells as compared to intact cells. The results suggest different relationships between the lymphocyte plasma membrane and the salvage pathways of the two pyrimidine nucleosides.     

A mutant killer plasmid whose replication depends on a chromosomal "superkiller" mutation

Yeast strains carrying a 1.5 x 10(6) molecular weight linear double-stranded RNA in virus-like particles (M dsRNA, the killer plasmid or virus) secrete a toxin that is lethal to strains not carrying this plasmid. Recessive mutations in any of four chromosomal genes (called ski1-ski4) result in increased production of toxin activity. We report here a mutation of the killer plasmid (called [KIL-sd] for ski-dependent) that makes the killer plasmid dependent for its replication on the presence of a chromosomal mutation in any ski gene. Thus, the [KIL-sd] plasmid is lost from SKI(+) strains. When the wild-type killer plasmid, [KIL-k], is introduced into a ski2-2 [KIL-o] strain, the killer plasmid changes to a [KIL-sd] plasmid. This may represent a specific form of mutagenesis or selective replication in the ski2-2 strain of [KIL-sd] variants (mutants) in the normal [KIL-k] population. The ski2-1 and ski2-3 mutations do not convert [KIL-k] to [KIL-sd], but ski2-3 does allow maintenance of the [KIL-sd] plasmid. The [KIL-sd] plasmid thus lacks a plasmid site or product needed for replication in wild-type cells.     

Preparation of high-specific-activity D-[3-3H]pantothenic acid

High-specific-activity D-[3-3H]pantothenic acid (5 Ci/mmol) was prepared from commercially available beta-[3-3H]alanine employing Escherichia coli strain DV1 (panD2 pan F1). This strain is defective in beta-alanine synthesis and pantothenate uptake, and under appropriate growth conditions converted 85 to 90% of the input beta-[3-3H]alanine to extracellular D-[3-3H]pantothenate. The radiolabeled vitamin was purified from the medium by thin-layer chromatography followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The overall yield of D-[3-3H]pantothenic acid was 30% and radiochemical purity was greater than 99%.     

DNA synthesis in toluene-treated bacteriophage-infected minicells or Bacillus subtilis.

Bateriophage (phi29, SPP1, or SPO1)-infected, toluene-treated minicells of Bacillus subtilis are capable of limited amounts of non-replicative DNA synthesis as measured by incorporation of [3H]dTTP into a trichloroacetic acid-precipitable form. The [3H]dTTP is covalently incorporated into small DNA fragments which result from the degradation of a small percentage of the infecting phage genomes (molecular weights in the range of 2 . 10(5)). Short exposure of the DNA molecules containing the incorporated [3H]dTMP to Escherichia coli exonuclease III results in over 90% of the E13H]dTMP being converted to a trichloroacetic acid-soluble form. The synthesis is totally dependent on host-cell enzymes and is not inhibited by the addition of chloramphenicol, rifampicin, nalidixic acid and mitomycin C and only slightly (approx. 20%) inhibited by the addition of 6-(p-hydroxyphenylazo)-uracil.     

Inhibition by aphidicolin and dideoxythymidine triphosphate of a multienzyme complex of DNA synthesis from human cells

A multienzyme complex consisting of DNA polymerase and several DNA precursor-synthesizing enzymes was solubilized by gentle lysis of cultured human cells. This complex channelled the distal precursor [3H]dTMP into DNA. The patterns of inhibition of the complex by aphidicolin and dideoxythymidine triphosphate (ddTTP) suggested that the complex contained the replicative DNA polymerase, polymerase alpha. Inhibition by ddTTP was competitive with dTTP. This was exploited to estimate the effective concentration of [3H]dTTP at the site of DNA synthesis during channelling of [3H]dTMP into DNA. The estimated concentration (about 50 microM) was so high as to suggest that the solubilized complex was able to functionally compartmentalize DNA precursors.     

Effect of artemisinin (qinghaosu) and chloroquine on drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum malaria: use of [2,8-3H]adenosine as an alternative to [G-3H]hypoxanthine in the assessment of in vitro antimalarial activity

Using [G-3H]hypoxanthine uptake as a radioactive indicator for the growth of malarial parasites, we measured the antimalarial activity of artemisinin (Qinghaosu, QHS) against FCMSU1/Sudan strain (chloroquine-sensitive strain) and FCB K+ strain (chloroquine-resistant strain) of Plasmodium falciparum in continuous culture in vitro. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for QHS against FCMSU1/Sudan strain and FCB K+ strain were 2.8 X 10(-8) and 3.0 X 10(-8) M, respectively. On the contrary, the response of the two strains to chloroquine was quite different. The IC50 for chloroquine against FCMSU1/Sudan strain was 5.6 ng/ml, whereas that for the FCB K+ strain was 65.6 ng/ml. Therefore, QHS did not appear to exhibit any cross-resistance with chloroquine. If [2,8-3H]adenosine was used as a radioactive precursor instead of [G-3H]hypoxanthine for the determination of antimalarial activity, virtually identical results were obtained. Therefore, [2,8-3H]adenosine can be used as an alternative to [G-3H]hypoxanthine for the assessment of antimalarial action.     

Mouse spleen cell responses to trichomonal antigens in experimental Trichomonas vaginalis infection

Subcutaneous inoculation of live T. vaginalis into mice caused splenomegaly, particularly when using strains of parasites with low pathogenicity. The proliferative responses of spleen cells from uninfected mice, as measured by [3H] TdR uptake, showed that trichomonal antigens, whether from strains with high or low pathogenicity, have no mitogenic activity. Spleen cells from mice infected with trichomonads of low pathogenicity showed a proliferative response to trichomonal antigens that was maximal after 4 days incubation. The proliferative response of spleen cells from mice infected with trichomonads of high pathogenicity continued for at least 6 days in the presence of the antigen. Moreover, in the latter case there was a significantly greater uptake of [3H] TdR when cells were incubated with antigens of a highly pathogenic strain. These results support the view that although many antigens are common to strains with differing levels of pathogenicity, some antigens are more closely associated with strains that are more highly pathogenic. The strong proliferative response to these antigens may then be related to the clinical presentation of infection with these strains.     

Cell position dependence of labelling thymidine nucleotides using the de novo and salvage pathways in the crypt of small intestine

About twice as much tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) is taken up by cells at the bottom of the crypt of the small intestine as by the rapidly cycling mid-crypt cells. However, the uptake of tritiated deoxyuridine ([3H]UdR) is even throughout the crypt. Exogenous thymidine is incorporated about four times and eight times more efficiently than deoxyuridine by the cells in the mid-crypt and cells at the bottom of the crypt, respectively. However all S phase cells in the crypt appear to be capable of using either precursors, i.e. either the de novo or salvage pathway. Since methotrexate (1 or 5 mg/kg) inhibits (at 5 mg/kg completely) the uptake of [3H]UdR, but has no effect on [3H]TdR uptake, the de novo and salvage pathways appear to be independent. Within the precision of the methods used in the experiments the 3 hr inhibition of the de novo pathway of deoxythymidylic acid (dTMP) synthesis by methotrexate does not produce any increase in utilization of the salvage pathway measured by incorporation of [3H]TdR into DNA. The increased efficiency of thymidine utilization by crypt base cells is not attributable to differences in accessibility of thymidine; differences in the rate of DNA synthesis or the size of the nuclei. It appears that crypt base cells (which include the putative stem cells) are efficient scavengers of [3H]TdR, and this might be related to the level of thymidine kinase activity within the cells, and/or to changes in the availability of endogenous thymidine (break-down products) which compete with exogenous [3H]TdR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Simple separation of tritiated water and [3H]deoxyuridine from [5-3H]deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate in the thymidylate synthase assay

A simple micromethod was developed for the accurate measurement of the activity of dTMP synthase in rat liver crude extracts. The reaction product of dTMP synthase activity assay, i.e., tritiated water, generated by the release of tritium from carbon-5 of [5-3H]deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (dUMP), was separated simply by 100% KOH absorption from [5-3H]deoxyuridine (dUrd), which is the side-product by dephosphorylation of [5-3H]deoxyuridine (dUrd), which is the side-product by dephosphorylation of [5-3H]dUMP during the enzyme reaction. Tritiated water was trapped in three droplets of 100% KOH deposited on the underside of the vessels' lids, while [3H]dUrd remained in the bottom of vessels after absorption of the substrate, [5-3H]dUMP, from the reaction mixture by charcoal treatment. Under standard assay conditions in the crude extract of rat liver, the specific activities of dTMP synthase and dUMP phosphatase were 0.092 +/- 0.002 and 0.351 +/- 0.013 nmol/h/mg protein, respectively. This method was also adapted for dTMP synthase assay in crude extracts of rat hepatoma 3924A. The major advantages of this procedure are the elimination of the phosphatase activity which interferes with the estimation of dTMP synthase activity in crude extracts, one-step separation of 3H2O, high sensitivity (with a limit of detection of 10 pmol of 3H2O production), high reproducibility (less than +/- 4.3%), and capability to measure activity in small amounts of sample (30-45 micrograms protein).