The importance of intercalation in the covalent binding of benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide to DNA

The primary mode of non-covalent interaction of the strong carcinogen, benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide, with DNA is through intercalation. It has variously been suggested that intercalative complexes may be prerequisite for either covalent binding or DNA-catalysed hydrolysis of the epoxide or both. Geacintov [Geacintov, N. E. (1986). Carcinogenesis 7, 589.] has recently argued that intercalation is important in covalent binding and presented theoretical constructs consistent with this proposal. A more general theoretical model is presented here which includes the possibilities that either catalysis of hydrolysis or covalent binding of benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide DNA can occur (a) in an intercalation complex, or (b) without formation of a detectable, physically bound complex. It is shown that a variety of possible mechanisms formulated under this general theory lead to equations for overall reaction rates and covalent binding fractions which are all of the same form with respect to DNA concentration dependence. A consequence of this is that experimental studies of the dependence of hydrolysis rates and covalent binding fractions on DNA concentration do not distinguish between the various possible mechanisms. These findings are discussed in relation to the interactions of benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide with chromatin in cells.     

Acid lability of the hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside linkages in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-modified deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA containing bound radioactive 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was isolated from mouse fetal cell cultures exposed to this carcinogen. The carcinogen-deoxyriboside adducts within the DNA were found to be sensitive to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Adducts derived from reaction of a syn-dihydrodiol epoxide with deoxyadenosine residues in DNA were the most sensitive to acid and were hydrolyzed to yield a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrotetraol of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene under mild conditions. The structure of this tetraol was established by synthesis and mass spectrometry. Although definitive structures cannot be assigned at present to the nucleic acid adducts of this potent carcinogen, the present findings confirm and extend earlier work assigning partial structures to the major adducts.     

Mechanisms of reaction of benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide with DNA in aqueous solutions

The physical and chemical reaction pathways of the metabolite model compound benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) in aqueous (double-stranded) DNA solutions was investigated as a function of temperature (0-30 degrees C), pH (7.0-9.5), sodium chloride concentration (0-1.5M) and DNA concentration in order to clarify the relationships between the multiple reaction mechanisms of this diol epoxide in the presence of nucleic acids. The reaction pathways are (1) noncovalent intercalative complex formation with DNA, characterized by the equilibrium constant K, and Xb the fraction of molecules physically bound; (2) accelerated hydrolysis of BPDE bound to DNA; (3) covalent binding to DNA; and (4) hydrolysis of free BPDE(kh). The DNA-induced hydrolysis of BPDE to tetraols and the covalent binding to DNA are parallel pseudo-first-order reactions. Following the rapid (millisecond time scale) noncovalent complex formation between BPDE and DNA, a much slower (approximately minutes) H+-dependent (either specific or general acid catalysis) formation of a DNA-bound triol carbonium ion (rate constant k3) occurs. At pH 7.0 the activation energy of k3 is 8.7 +/- 0.9 kcal/mol, which is lower than the activation energy of hydrolysis of free BPDE in buffer solution (14.2 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol), and which thus partially accounts for the acceleration of hydrolysis of BPDE upon complexation with DNA. The formation of the triol carbonium ion is followed by a rapid reaction with either water to form tetraols (rate constant kT), or covalent binding to DNA (kc). The fraction of BPDE molecules which undergo covalent binding is fcov approximately equal to kc/(kc + kT) = 0.10 and is independent of the overall BPDE reaction rate constant k = kh(1 - Xb) + k3Xb if Xb----1.0, or is independent of Xb as long as k3Xb much greater than kh(1 - Xb). Thus, at Xb = 0.9, fcov is independent of pH (7.0-9.5) even though k exhibits a 70-fold variation in this pH range and k----kh above pH 9 (k3 = kh). Similarly, fcov is independent of temperature (0-30 degrees C), while k varies by a factor of approx. 3. In the range of 0-1.5 M NaCl, fcov decreases from 0.10 to 0.04. These variations are attributed to a combination of salt-induced variations in the factors k3, Xb and the ratio kc/kT.     

Reaction of enzyme-bound 5-deazaflavin with peroxides. Pyrimidine ring contraction via an epoxide intermediate

Reaction of peroxides with 5-deazaflavin bound to glucose oxidase, lactate oxidase, or D-amino acid oxidase results in the formation of 5-deazaflavin 4a, 5-epoxide. The reaction of D-amino acid oxidase with m-chloroperoxybenzoate is an exception since the reagent reacts rapidly with the protein moiety to form m-chlorobenzoate which then binds noncovalently near the unmodified coenzyme. Epoxide bound to glucose oxidase is converted to deazaFAD X X in a reaction similar to that observed previously with oxynitrilase and glycolate oxidase. With lactate oxidase the epoxide is quite stable in the absence of light. With D-amino acid oxidase, denaturation of the protein is accompanied by the release of the epoxide into solution where it decomposes in a manner similar to that observed with model epoxide compounds at neutral pH. Reaction of deazaFAD X X with phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase yields deazariboflavin X X. The same compound has been formed in model studies by exposing 5-deazariboflavin 4a,5-epoxide to alkaline conditions. Structural studies indicate that this reaction involves contraction of the pyrimidine ring to yield 4-ribityl-6,7-dimethyloxazolo[ 4,5-b ]quinolin-2(4H)-one. Model reaction studies are consistent with a mechanism initiated by alkaline hydrolysis of the pyrimidine ring at position 4 followed by two additional steps which proceed at neutral pH. A similar mechanism for the enzyme reactions appears likely since analogous intermediates are detected in the glycolate oxidase and the model reactions. The results suggest that position 4 of the coenzyme in oxynitrilase, glycolate oxidase, and glucose oxidase must be accessible to solvent and that the protein moiety must facilitate the initial hydrolysis of the pyrimidine ring since the enzyme reactions occur at neutral pH. Failure to observe formation of deazaFMN X X with lactate oxidase is attributed, at least in part, to the inaccessibility of the pyrimidine ring to solvent.     

Metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by isolated hepatocytes and factors affecting covalent binding of benzo(a)pyrene metabolites to DNA in hepatocyte and microsomal systems

Covalent binding of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) metabolites to DNA was investigated in hepatocytes and liver microsomes (MC-microsomes) isolated from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. The major DNA adducts formed during BP metabolism in both hepatocytes and incubations of calf thymus DNA with MC-microsomes were adducts of anti and syn isomers of trans-7,8,-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (diol-epoxides) and of epoxide derivatives of BP-9-phenol (phenol-oxides). Diol-epoxide adducts predominated over phenol-oxide adducts in hepatocytes, while the reverse was found in microsomal incubations. In hepatocytes, both diol-epoxide and phenol-oxide adducts increased with increasing BP concentration; the ratio of diol-epoxide adduct to phenol-oxide adduct decreased from 6:1 to 3:1 between 30 and 100 μm BP. In microsomal incubations, decreases in DNA concentration or addition of the hepatocyte L15 medium produced larger decreases in phenol-oxide adducts than in diol-epoxide adducts. The effects of the inhibitors salicylamide, diethylmaleate, and 3,3,3,-trichloropropene oxide on formation of BP-DNA adducts are interpreted in terms of changes in precursor formation and metabolism and reductions in hepatocyte glutathione levels. Addition of 1.5 mg/ml exogenous DNA to hepatocyte incubations produced no change in covalent binding to cellular DNA, even though extracellular BP-DNA adducts accounted for 97% of the total adducts formed. Both the relative amounts of diol-epoxide and phenol-oxide adducts and the total adducts per milligram of DNA were indistinguishable with respect to extracellular and intracellular DNA. Modification of extracellular DNA by diol-epoxides was at least as efficient as modification of calf thymus DNA in incubations with MC-microsomes. It is concluded that BP diol-epoxides and phenol-oxides can leave the cell or enter the nucleus with equal facility but are more effective in binding to DNA in the cell in which they are generated.     

Reactions of benzo]pa]pyrene diol-epoxides with DNA and nucleosomes in aqueous solutions

The rate of solvolysis of benzo[$\text{a}$]pyrene diol-epoxide in aqueous solutions can be followed by fluorescence spectroscopy. When DNA was present the rat of breakdown of benzo[$\text{a}$]pyrene diol-epoxide was substantially enhanced, while at the same time fluorescence intensity was decreased. This decrease, however, was due to noncovalently bound tetraols and does not seem to be a function of the covalent adducts formed. Nucleosomal core particles, reacted under identical conditions, showed very little quenching of the pyrene-like chromophore. When increasing amounts of cysteine were present the covalent binding could be prevented in both free DNA and nucleosomal DNA. Analysis of the distribution of the carcinogen to nucleosomal DNA showed that the covalently bound carcinogen was located at or within 10 bases of the 5′-OH region of the nucleosomal DNA.     

The attachment of polyuridylic acid to reticulocyte ribosomes

The attachment of polyuridylic acid to reticulocyte ribosomes was studied by using polyadenylic acid, which inhibits the attachment reaction only, while permitting translation of polyuridylic acid bound to ribosomes. After addition of polyadenylic acid the amount of polyphenylalanine synthesized under standard conditions was taken as a measure of the bound polyuridylic acid. In this way certain parameters of the attachment reaction and the subsequent translation of attached polyuridylic acid were defined: (1) polyuridylic acid-ribosome interaction at 37 degrees requires only Mg(2+) at an optimum concentration of 8mm; (2) K(+) (required for translation) is a non-competitive inhibitor of the attachment reaction; (3) optimum polyphenylalanine synthesis directed by attached polyuridylic acid occurs at 5mm-Mg(2+) concentration; (4) from kinetic studies single ribosomes appear to participate in the attachment reaction.     

Structural effects in reactivity and adduct formation of polycyclic aromatic epoxide and diol epoxide derivatives with DNA: comparison between 1-oxiranylpyrene and benzo[a]pyrenediol epoxide

Reaction of 1-oxiranylpyrene (1-OP) with DNA and the structures of the covalent and noncovalent complexes formed were studied in aqueous media (5 mM phosphate buffer with 0.1 M NaCl, pH 7) by utilizing the techniques of absorption, fluorescence and linear dichroism spectroscopy in order to gain an understanding of possible structure-activity relationships for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon epoxides in tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis, and the results were compared with those obtained for the highly active benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BaPDE). Like BaPDE, 1-OP undergoes acid-catalyzed hydrolysis with the pseudo-first-order rate constant k = 4.6 X 10(-4) s-1 in the absence of DNA, which is about 10 times slower than in the case of BaPDE. In DNA solutions, this hydrolysis is catalyzed by a rapid formation of a physically bound complex of 1-OP-DNA, which subsequently undergoes either (1) hydrolysis to a diol derivative or (2) formation of a covalent adduct of 1-OP-DNA. The same value of the noncovalent binding constant (K = 4000 M-1 is obtained for both 1-OP and for BaPDE, which suggests that the pi-electron interaction between the pyrenyl moiety and the nucleic acid bases is the dominant factor in the formation of the physical complexes and that the two extra OH groups in BaPDE do not play a significant role in determining the value of the physical binding constant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Excision repair by human fibroblasts of DNA damaged by r-7, t-8-dihyroxy-t-9,10-oxy-7,8,9,10- tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene

Benzo(a)pyrene diol-epoxide I (r-7,t-8,dihydroxy-t-9,10 oxy-7,8,9,10 tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene) was used to treat either human adenovirus 5 or cultures of human fibroblasts. The survival of diol-epoxide I treated adenovirus was greater when infecting fibroblasts from normal persons than when infecting fibroblasts from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). One diol-epoxide I molecule bound per viral genome correlated with one lethal hit as measured using XP fibroblasts.

Normal fibroblasts blocked in semi-conservative DNA synthesis incorporated into their DNA more [³H]thymidine in response to diol-epoxide I treatment than did XP fibroblasts, and also excised more diol-epoxide I from their DNA. All of the effects described above were similar to those obtained when the inactivating agent was ultraviolet light rather than benzo(a)pyrene diol-epoxide I.     

Inhibition of translation in L-cell lysates by free polyadenylic acid: differences in sensitivity among different mRNAs and possible involvement of an initiation factor

Free polyadenylic acid specifically inhibits in vitro translation of naturally polyadenylated mRNAs in L-cell lysates. The polynucleotide affects the initiation of protein synthesis but has no apparent effect on elongation of polypeptide chains. Reovirus mRNA, naturally devoid of a poly(A) tail, is much less sensitive to this inhibition than are naturally polyadenylated mRNAs. Reovirus mRNA that was polyadenylated in vitro is not more sensitive than normal reovirus mRNA. The degree of inhibition of translation varies for the different reovirus mRNA species. The addition of proteins contained in a high salt wash of ribosomes can mitigate the inhibition of translation of naturally polyadenylated mRNAs by free polyadenylic acid. Altogether these results suggest that the inhibition by polyadenylic acid may be mediated by its interaction with a cellular (initiation) factor. The various sensitivities exhibited by different mRNAs may indicate differences in requirement for this factor.     

The DNA restriction endonuclease of Escherichia coli B. I. Studies of the DNA translocation and the ATPase activities

Electron microscopic examination of DNA intermediates formed by the restriction endonuclease of Escherichia coli B revealed supercoiled loops that are presumably formed during an ATP-dependent DNA translocation process in which the enzyme remains bound to the recognition site while tracking along the DNA helix to a cleavage site. The rate of DNA translocation during this process is at least 5000 base pairs/min at 37 degrees C. Even after all cleavages have been completed, complexes are seen that contain terminal loops or loop plus tail structures. During this later phase of the reaction, ATP is hydrolyzed at a rate which is dependent upon the size of the largest possible loop (or loop plus tail); this ATP hydrolysis can be terminated by one double-strand cleavage within the loop region between the recognition site and the terminus. To explain these results, it is hypothesized that after cleavage the enzyme cycles between a tracking (and possibly back-tracking) mode which is fueled by ATP hydrolysis and a relatively long static period in which ATP hydrolysis does not occur. While tracking, the enzyme would be bound both to the recognition site and to a distal site but, while static, the enzyme would be bound only at the recognition site of nonlooped molecules. This post-nuclease phase of the reaction is hypothesized to reflect a reaction whereby the enzyme initially scans DNA molecules before making a strand cleavage.     

Inhibition of recA protein promoted ATP hydrolysis. 1. ATP gamma S and ADP are antagonistic inhibitors

ADP and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) inhibit recA protein promoted ATP hydrolysis by fundamentally different mechanisms. In both cases, at least two modes of inhibition are observed. For ADP, the first mode is competitive inhibition. The second mode is manifested by dissociation of recA protein from DNA. These are readily distinguished in a comparison of ATP hydrolyses that are activated by (a) DNA and (b) high (approximately 2 M) salt concentrations. Competitive inhibition with a significant degree of cooperativity is observed under both sets of conditions, although the DNA-dependent activity is more sensitive to ADP than the high-salt reaction. The reaction in the presence of poly(deoxythymidylic acid) or duplex DNA ceases when about 60% of the available ATP is hydrolyzed, reflecting an ADP-mediated dissociation of recA protein from the DNA that is governed by the ADP/ATP ratio. In contrast, ATP hydrolysis proceeds nearly to completion at high salt concentrations. At high concentrations of ATP and ATP gamma S, ATP gamma S also acts as a competitive inhibitor. At low concentrations of ATP gamma S and ATP, however, ATP gamma S activates ATP hydrolysis. These patterns are observed for recA-mediated ATP hydrolysis with either high salt concentrations or a poly(deoxythymidylic acid) [poly(dT)] cofactor, although the activation is observed at much lower ATP and ATP gamma S concentrations when poly(dT) is used. ATP gamma S can also relieve the inhibitory effect of ADP under some conditions. ATP gamma S and ADP are antagonistic inhibitors, reinforcing the idea that they stabilize different conformations of the protein and suggesting that these conformations are mutually exclusive. The ATP gamma S (ATP) conformation is active in ATP hydrolysis. The ADP conformation is inactive.     

Preparatory extraction of 5'-oligoribonucleotides using ribonuclease from cobra venom]

Cobra (Naja oxiana) venom ribonuclease, which catalyses hydrolysis of polyribonucleotides to 5'-oligonucleotides, was used to obtain preparatively isoplit oligonucleotide fractions, containing 2-30 nucleotides. The yield of hydrolysis products varied depending on the degree of hydrolysis. Hydrolysis rates of different polynucleotides were studied. Hydrolysis rate of polyadenylic acid was 20 times as high as that for polyuridylic acid. Quantitative ratios of isoplit fractions did not vary significantly under similar degree of hydrolysis of polyadenylic and polyuridilic acids. Chromatography on QAE-Sepahdex in ammonium bicarbonate concentration gradient containing 15% dioxan was used to separate enzymatic hydrolysates of polynucleotides, which permitted to bring the fraction isolation to simple evaporation.     

Effect of methylation on the conformer stability and reactivity of the bay-region diol-epoxides of chrysene

The relative stabilities of conformers of the bay-region tetrahydroepoxide of methylated chrysene have been calculated. From these calculations on tetrahydroepoxides, one infers that substitution of a methyl group in the same bay-region as the epoxide should destabilize both syn-diaxial and anti-diequatorial bay-region diol-epoxide diastereomers with respect to the syn-diequatorial and anti-diaxial diastereomers. The results of these calculations, together with recent experimental observations, suggest that the enhanced in vivo binding to DNA of the isomer having the methyl group and the epoxide in the same bay-region (1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide of 5-MeC) might be partially due to this destabilization of the syn-diaxial diastereomer. The carbocation delocalization energies associated with epoxide ring opening of the methylated bay-region tetrahydroepoxide isomers of chrysene are also given.     

High salt activation of recA protein ATPase in the absence of DNA

The recA protein of Escherichia coli is a DNA-dependent ATPase. In the absence of DNA, the rate of recA protein-promoted ATP hydrolysis drops 2000-fold, exhibiting an apparent kcat of approximately 0.015 min-1. This DNA-independent activity can be stimulated to levels approximating those observed with DNA by adding high concentrations (approximately 2M) of a wide variety of salts. The increase in ATP hydrolysis appears to require the minimal interaction of three to four ions with recA protein. The active species in ATP hydrolysis is an aggregate of recA protein. There appears to be little or no cooperativity with respect to ATP binding (Hill coefficient = 1.0). The salt-stimulated ATP hydrolysis reaction is dependent upon Mg2+ ions and is optimal between pH 7.0 and 8.0. In many respects, the high salt concentration appears to be functionally mimicking DNA in activating the recA protein ATPase.     

Pathway of ADP-stimulated ADP release and dissociation of tethered kinesin from microtubules. Implications for the extent of processivity

Kinesin binds to microtubules with half-site ADP release to form a tethered intermediate with one attached head without nucleotide and one tethered head that retains its bound ADP. For DKH405 containing amino acid residues 1-405 of Drosophila kinesin, release of the remaining ADP from the tethered head is slow (0.05 s(-1)), but release is accelerated by added ADP or ATP. The maximum rate of ADP-stimulated dissociation of tethered DKH405 from the microtubule is approximately 12 s(-1) as determined by turbidity. Parallel measurements of ADP-stimulated release of 2'(3')-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)-ADP (mantADP) from the tethered intermediate by fluorescence indicate that the reaction is biphasic with a fast phase that occurs at a rate that is similar to dissociation. The rate of the slow phase is dependent on the concentrations of salt and microtubules and is equal in each case to the rate for bimolecular stimulation of ADP release by microtubules as measured independently. These results are consistent with a scheme in which the fast phase, with approximately one-third of the total amplitude change, is due to ADP-stimulated release of mantADP from the tethered intermediate at approximately 6 s(-1). This direct release of mantADP continues until terminated by dissociation of DKH405 from the microtubule at approximately 12 s(-1). The majority of the amplitude change thus occurs through bimolecular recombination of DKH405.mantADP with microtubules following initial dissociation. Analysis of a simple scheme indicates that hydrolysis of ATP at the attached head before the tethered head can release its ADP and become tightly bound may be the principal limitation to processivity.     

Formation of D loops by the UvsX protein of T4 bacteriophage: a comparison of the reaction catalyzed in the presence or absence of gene 32 protein

The UvsX protein of T4 bacteriophage will catalyze the formation of D loops between linear single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and homologous supercoiled double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in the absence of T4 gene 32 protein (gp32). This reaction requires one monomer of UvsX protein per three nucleotides of ssDNA so that the ssDNA is completely covered with UvsX protein. Under these conditions, high rates of ATP hydrolysis are observed, and one-third of the products are joined paranemically. The reaction proceeds through a mechanism that creates homology-independent coaggregates of UvsX protein, dsDNA, and ssDNA. When UvsX protein is added to only 1 monomer per 8 nucleotides, but with 1 monomer of gp32 per 12 nucleotides, the rate of ATP hydrolysis is depressed, but D-loop formation is enhanced. Nearly all of the product is bound in plectonemic joints, and no coaggregated intermediates are formed. Coaggregate formation at high concentrations of UvsX protein is not inhibited by the presence of gp32; gp32 simply allows for efficient formation of D loops at such low concentrations of UvsX protein that coaggregates are not constructed. Electron microscopic visualization of the joint structures in this reaction reveals that both gp32 and UvsX protein are bound to the ssDNA. The single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) protein of Escherichia coli will substitute only partially for gp32: in the presence of SSB protein, D-loop formation can be catalyzed at one UvsX protein monomer per eight nucleotides, and it is accomplished without the formation of coaggregates, but a major portion of the product is joined paranemically.     

Excision repair by human fibroblasts of DNA damaged by r-7, t-8-dihydroxy-t-9,10-OXY-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene

Benzo(a)pyrene diol-epoxide I (r-7,t-8,dihydroxy-t-9,10 oxy-7,8,9,10 tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene) was used to treat either human adenovirus 5 or cultures of human fibroblasts. The survival of diol-epoxide I treated adenovirus was greater when infecting fibroblasts from normal persons than when infecting fibroblasts from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). One diol-epoxide I molecule bound per viral genome correlated with one lethal hit as measured using XP fibroblasts.Normal fibroblasts blocked in semi-conservative DNA synthesis incorporated into their DNA more [³H]thymidine in response to diol-epoxide I treatment than did XP fibroblasts, and also excised more diol-epoxide I from their DNA. All of the effects described above were similar to those obtained when the inactivating agent was ultraviolet light rather than benzo(a)pyrene diol-epoxide I.     

A Parallel Quadruplex DNA Is Bound Tightly but Unfolded Slowly by Pif1 Helicase

DNA sequences that can form intramolecular quadruplex structures are found in promoters of proto-oncogenes. Many of these sequences readily fold into parallel quadruplexes. Here we characterize the ability of yeast Pif1 to bind and unfold a parallel quadruplex DNA substrate. We found that Pif1 binds more tightly to the parallel quadruplex DNA than single-stranded DNA or tailed duplexes. However, Pif1 unwinding of duplexes occurs at a much faster rate than unfolding of a parallel intramolecular quadruplex. Pif1 readily unfolds a parallel quadruplex DNA substrate in a multiturnover reaction and also generates some product under single cycle conditions. The rate of ATP hydrolysis by Pif1 is reduced when bound to a parallel quadruplex compared with single-stranded DNA. ATP hydrolysis occurs at a faster rate than quadruplex unfolding, indicating that some ATP hydrolysis events are non-productive during unfolding of intramolecular parallel quadruplex DNA. However, product eventually accumulates at a slow rate.