Rice proteins that bind single-stranded G-rich telomere DNA

In this work, we have identified and characterized proteins in rice nuclear extracts that specifically bind the single-stranded G-rich telomere sequence. Three types of specific DNA-protein complexes (I, II, and III) were identified by gel retardation assays using synthetic telomere substrates consisting of two or more single-stranded TTTAGGG repeats and rice nuclear extracts. Since each complex has a unique biochemical property and differs in electrophoretic mobility, at least three different proteins interact with the G-rich telomere sequences. These proteins are called rice G-rich telomere binding protein (RGBP) and none of them show binding affinity to double-stranded telomere repeats or single-stranded C-rich sequence. Changing one or two G's to C's in the TTTAGGG repeats abolishes binding activity. RGBPs have a greatly reduced affinity for human and Tetrahymena telomeric sequence and do not efficiently bind the cognate G-rich telomere RNA sequence UUUAGGG. Like other telomere binding proteins, RGBPs are resistant to high salt concentrations. RNase sensitivity of the DNA-protein interactions was tested to investigate whether an RNA component mediates the telomeric DNA-protein interaction. In this assay, we observed a novel complex (complex III) in gel retardation assays which did not alter the mobilities or the band intensities of the two pre-existing complexes (I and II). The complex III, in addition to binding to telomeric sequences, has a binding affinity to rice nuclear RNA, whereas two other complexes have a binding affinity to only single-stranded G-rich telomere DNA. Taken together, these studies suggest that RGBPs are new types of telomere-binding proteins that bind in vitro to single-stranded G-rich telomere DNA in the angiosperms.     

Single-strand DNA binding of actinomycin D with a chromophore 2-amino to 2-hydroxyl substitution

A modified actinomycin D was prepared with a hydroxyl group that replaced the amino group at the chromophore 2-position, a substitution known to strongly reduce affinity for double-stranded DNA. Interactions of the modified drug on single-stranded DNAs of the defined sequence were investigated. Competition assays showed that 2-hydroxyactinomycin D has low affinity for two oligonucleotides that have high affinities (K(a) = 5-10 x 10(6) M(-1) oligomer) for 7-aminoactinomycin D and actinomycin D. Primer extension inhibition assays performed on several single-stranded DNA templates totaling around 1000 nt in length detected a single high affinity site for 2-hydroxyactinomycin D, while many high affinity binding sites of unmodified actinomycin D were found on the same templates. The sequence selectivity of 2-hydroxyactinomycin D binding is unusually high and approximates the selectivity of restriction endonucleases. Binding appears to require a complex structure, including residues well removed from the polymerase pause site.     

Structure and DNA binding characteristics of the three‐Cys2His2 domain of mouse testis zinc finger protein

The C‐terminal three‐Cys₂His₂ zinc‐finger domain (TZD) of mouse testis zinc‐finger protein binds to the 5′‐TGTACAGTGT‐3′ at the Aie1 (aurora‐C) promoter with high specificity. Interestingly, the primary sequence of TZD is unique, possessing two distinct linkers, TGEKP and GAAP, and distinct residues at presumed DNA binding sites at each finger, especially finger 3. A K_d value of ～10^?8 M was obtained from surface plasmon resonance analysis for the TZD‐DNA complex. NMR structure of the free TZD showed that each zinc finger forms a typical ββα fold. On binding to DNA, chemical shift perturbations and the R₂ transverse relaxation rate in finger 3 are significantly smaller than those in fingers 1 and 2, which indicates that the DNA binding affinity in finger 3 is weaker. Furthermore, the shift perturbations between TZD in complex with the cognate DNA and its serial mutants revealed that both ADE7 and CYT8, underlined in 5′‐ATATGTACAGTGTTAT‐3′, are critical in specific binding, and the DNA binding in finger 3 is sequence independent. Remarkably, the shift perturbations in finger 3 on the linker mutation of TZD (GAAP mutated to TGEKP) were barely detected, which further indicates that finger 3 does not play a critical role in DNA sequence‐specific recognition. The complex model showed that residues important for DNA binding are mainly located on positions ?1, 2, 3, and 6 of α‐helices in fingers 1 and 2. The DNA sequence and nonsequence‐specific bindings occurring simultaneously in TZD provide valuable information for better understanding of protein–DNA recognition. Proteins 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Preferential binding of human XPA to the mitomycin C-DNA interstrand crosslink and modulation by arsenic and cadmium

The Xeroderma Pigmentosum A (XPA) protein is involved in the DNA damage recognition and repair complex formation steps of nucleotide excision repair (NER), and has been shown to preferentially bind to various forms of DNA damage including bulky lesions. DNA interstrand crosslinks are of particular interest as a form of DNA damage, since these lesions involve both strands of duplex DNA and present special challenges to the repair machinery, and mitomycin C (MMC) is one of several useful cancer chemotherapy drugs that induce these lesions. Purified XPA and the minimal DNA-binding domain of XPA are both fully capable of preferentially binding to MMC-DNA interstrand crosslinks in the absence of other proteins from the NER complex. Circular dichroism (CD) and gel shift assays were used to investigate XPA-DNA binding and to assess changes in secondary structure induced as a consequence of the interaction of XPA with model MMC-crosslinked and unmodified DNAs. These studies revealed that while XPA demonstrates only a modest increase in affinity for adducted DNA, it adopts a different conformation when bound to MMC-damaged DNA than when bound to undamaged DNA. This change in conformation may be more important in recruiting other proteins into a competent NER complex at damaged sites than preferential binding per se. Arsenic had little effect on XPA binding even at toxic concentrations, whereas cadmium reduced XPA binding to DNA to 10-15% that of Zn-XPA, and zinc addition could only partially restore activity. In addition, there was little or no change in conformation when Cd-XPA bound MMC-crosslinked DNA even though it demonstrated preferential binding, which may contribute to the mechanism by which cadmium can act as a co-mutagen and co-carcinogen.     

Glucocorticoid receptor-steroid complex binding to DNA. Competition between DNA and DNA-cellulose.

The binding of the glucocorticoid receptor-steroid complex from a line of rat hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells to DNA has been examined. An equilibrium competition assay involving a constant, low total amount of double-stranded DNA was developed to compare the complex binding ability of DNA free in solution and bound to cellulose. This binding ability is lowered by a factor of five when DNA is associated with cellulose. Similar studies with HTC cell, calf-thymus, and Escherichia coli DNA revealed no difference in the relative number or affinity of binding sites for receptor-steroid complex in each DNA. The synthetic DNA molecules poly[d(A-T)-d(A-T)] and poly[d(G-C)-d(G-C)] bound complexes equally well but less than the three "natural" DNA molecules. This appears to be due to differences in acceptor site affinity and suggests that nucleotide complexity and/or sequence influences the affinity of HTC cell receptor-glucocorticoid complexes for DNA.     

Linkage structures strongly influence the binding cooperativity of DNA intercalators conjugated to triplex forming oligonucleotides.

Conjugation of DNA intercalators to triple helix forming oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN's) can enhance ODN binding properties and consequently their potential ability to modulate gene expression. To test the hypothesis that linkage structure could strongly influence the binding enhancement of intercalator conjugation with triplex forming ODN's, we have used a model system to investigate binding avidity of short oligomers conjugated to DNA intercalators through various linkages. Using a dA10.T10 target sequence imbedded in a 20 bp duplex, binding avidities of a T10 ODN joined to the DNA intercalator 6,9-diamino, 3-methoxy acridine (DAMA) by 8 different 5' linkages were measured using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Although unmodified T10 has a very limited capacity for stable binding under these conditions (apparent Kd > 250 microM at 4 degrees C), conjugation to DAMA using flexible linkers of certain lengths and chemical compositions greatly enhanced binding (Kd of 1 microM at 4 degrees C). Other linkers, however, modestly enhanced binding or had no effect on binding at all. Thus, the length, flexibility, and chemical composition of linker structures all substantially influence intercalator conjugated oligodeoxynucleotide binding avidity.     

Characterization of binding-induced changes in dynamics suggests a model for sequence-nonspecific binding of ssDNA by replication protein A

Single-stranded-DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) are required for numerous genetic processes ranging from DNA synthesis to the repair of DNA damage, each of which requires binding with high affinity to ssDNA of variable base composition. To gain insight into the mechanism of sequence-nonspecific binding of ssDNA, NMR chemical shift and (15)N relaxation experiments were performed on an isolated ssDNA-binding domain (RPA70A) from the human SSB replication protein A. The backbone (13)C, (15)N, and (1)H resonances of RPA70A were assigned for the free protein and the d-CTTCA complex. The binding-induced changes in backbone chemical shifts were used to map out the ssDNA-binding site. Comparison to results obtained for the complex with d-C(5) showed that the basic mode of binding is independent of the ssDNA sequence, but that there are differences in the binding surfaces. Amide nitrogen relaxation rates (R(1) and R(2)) and (1)H-(15)N NOE values were measured for RPA70A in the absence and presence of d-CTTCA. Analysis of the data using the Model-Free formalism and spectral density mapping approaches showed that the structural changes in the binding site are accompanied by some significant changes in flexibility of the primary DNA-binding loops on multiple timescales. On the basis of these results and comparisons to related proteins, we propose that the mechanism of sequence-nonspecific binding of ssDNA involves dynamic remodeling of the binding surface.     

Characterization of DNA sequence-common and sequence-specific proteins binding to cis-acting sites for cleavage of the terminal a sequence of the herpes simplex virus 1 genome.

The terminal 500-base-pair alpha sequence of the herpes simplex virus 1 genome contains signals for cleavage (Pac1 and Pac2) of unit-length DNA molecules from concatemers in unique stretches of sequences designated Ub and Uc, respectively, and a cis site for cleavage designated DR1. We report that nuclear extracts from infected cells contain factors which form two DNA-virus-specific protein complexes with components of the a sequence. Purification of the factors forming the V2 complex yielded a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 82,000 binding to DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner. Addition of Mg2+ to the purified protein-DNA probe mixture resulted in exonucleolytic degradation of the DNA. The protein was identified as the virus-specific DNase with monoclonal antibody specific for the viral enzyme. The purification of the proteins forming the V4 complex yielded two proteins with molecular weights of greater than 250,000 and 140,000 corresponding to infected cell protein 1 and to an as yet unidentified protein, respectively. These proteins formed two DNA sequence-common bands with a number of DNA probes and one sequence-specific band with probes containing both Pac2 and DR1 but not with probes containing either site alone or Pac1 and DR1. Since the DNA probe containing Pac2 and DR1 inserted into viral genome or into amplicons induced specific cleavage of the DR1 sequence whereas the nonreactive probes failed to induce the cleavage, the formation of this sequence-specific DNA-protein complex is significant and may reflect a DNA-protein interaction essential for cleavage. The possible role of the proteins identified in this study for the cleavage-packaging of viral DNA into capsids is presented.     

Conservation of binding site specificity of three yeast DNA binding proteins.

Sequence specific binding of protein extracts from 13 different yeast species to three oligonucleotide probes and two points mutants derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA binding proteins were tested using mobility shift assays. The probes were high affinity binding sites for GRF1/RAP1/ABF1 and CP1/CPF1. Most yeasts in the genus Saccharomyces showed specific binding to all three probes and also displayed similar sequence requirements when challenged by molar excesses of mutant probes. The affinities for the probes varied amongst the other yeasts tested, but in general, CPF1 binding activity was the most widespread, while the other two were more limited.     

Magnesium is required for specific DNA binding of the CREB B-ZIP domain

We have examined binding of the CREB B-ZIP protein domain to double-stranded DNA containing a consensus CRE sequence (5′-TGACGTCA-3′), the related PAR, C/EBP and AP-1 sequences and the unrelated SP1 sequence. DNA binding was assayed in the presence or absence of MgCl₂ and/or KCl using two methods: circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The CD assay allows us to measure equilibrium binding in solution. Thermal denaturation in 150 mM KCl indicates that the CREB B-ZIP domain binds all the DNA sequences, with highest affinity for the CRE site, followed by the PAR (5′-TAACGTTA-3′), C/EBP (5′-TTGCGCAA-3′) and AP-1 (5′-TGAGTCA-3′) sites. The addition of 10 mM MgCl₂ diminished DNA binding to the CRE and PAR DNA sequences and abolished binding to the C/EBP and AP-1 DNA sequences, resulting in more sequence-specific DNA binding. Using ‘standard’ EMSA conditions (0.25× TBE), CREB bound all the DNA sequences examined. The CREB–CRE complex had an apparent K_d of ~300 pM, PAR of ~1 nM, C/EBP and AP-1 of ~3 nM and SP1 of ~30 nM. The addition of 10 mM MgCl₂ to the polyacrylamide gel dramatically altered sequence-specific DNA binding. CREB binding affinity for CRE DNA decreased 3-fold, but binding to the other DNA sequences decreased >1000-fold. In the EMSA, addition of 150 mM KCl to the gels had an effect similar to MgCl₂. The magnesium concentration needed to prevent non-specific electrostatic interactions between CREB and DNA in solution is in the physiological range and thus changes in magnesium concentration may be a cellular signal that regulates gene expression.     

Sequence requirement for specific interaction of an enhancer binding protein (EBP1) with DNA.

Short DNA sequence motifs have been identified in viral and cellular enhancers which represent the binding sites for a variety of trans- acting factors. One such HeLa cell factor, EBP1, has been purified and shown to bind to sequences in the SV40 enhancer. The PRDII element in the human beta-interferon gene regulatory element (IRE) shows strong sequence similarity to the EBP1 binding site in the SV40 enhancer. We demonstrate here that EBP1 binds to its sites in the SV40 enhancer and IRE in a similar manner, making base specific contacts over one complete turn of the DNA double helix. Mutational analysis of the EBP1 sites in the IRE and SV40 enhancer has identified the DNA sequence requirements necessary for specific EBP1/DNA complex formation. In addition, 34 DNA sequences related to the EBP1 binding site were analysed for their ability to bind EBP1. Sequences constituting high affinity binding sites possess the sequence 5'-GG(N)6CC-3'. Single base pair changes in the region between the conserved Gs and Cs can generally be tolerated although it is clear that these intervening bases contribute to binding affinity. Mutations in the recognition site which could lead to gross structural changes in the DNA abolish EBP1 binding.     

Specific DNA cleavage and binding by vaccinia virus DNA topoisomerase I

Cleavage of a defined linear duplex DNA by vaccinia virus DNA topoisomerase I was found to occur nonrandomly and infrequently. Approximately 12 sites of strand scission were detected within the 5372 nucleotides of pUC19 DNA. These sites could be classified as having higher or lower affinity for topoisomerase based on the following criteria. Higher affinity sites were cleaved at low enzyme concentration, were less sensitive to competition, and were most refractory to religation promoted by salt, divalent cations, and elevated temperature. Cleavage at lower affinity sites required higher enzyme concentration and was more sensitive to competition and induced religation. Cleavage site selection correlated with a pentameric sequence motif (C/T)CCTT immediately preceding the site of strand scission. Noncovalent DNA binding by topoisomerase predominated over covalent adduct formation, as revealed by nitrocellulose filter-binding studies. The noncovalent binding affinity of vaccinia topoisomerase for particular subsegments of pUC19 DNA correlated with the strength and/or the number of DNA cleavage sites contained therein. Thus, cleavage site selection is likely to be dictated by specific noncovalent DNA-protein interactions. This was supported by the demonstration that a mutant vaccinia topoisomerase (containing a Tyr----Phe substitution at the active site) that was catalytically inert and did not form the covalent intermediate, nevertheless bound DNA with similar affinity and site selectivity as the wild-type enzyme. Noncovalent binding is therefore independent of competence in transesterification. It is construed that the vaccinia topoisomerase is considerably more stringent in its cleavage and binding specificity for duplex DNA than are the cellular type I enzymes.     

Recognition of specific nucleotide bases and cooperative DNA binding by the trans-acting nitrogen regulatory protein NIT2 of Neurospora crassa.

The NIT2 nitrogen regulatory protein of Neurospora is a DNA binding protein which contains a single Cys2/Cys2 type finger motif followed immediately by a highly basic region. Several different approaches were employed to identify nucleotides which appear to be in contact with NIT2 in the DNA-protein complex. Methylation interference and missing contact analyses with the promoter DNA fragment of the L-amino acid oxidase gene showed that all three purines in both of two GATA core sequences and the single adenine residue in each of the complementary TATC sequences were in intimate contact with NIT2. Modification or loss of the three purine residues located between the two GATA core sequences also significantly reduced NIT2 binding, whereas alteration of purines which flank the binding element showed only minor effects. Chemical modification of all six thymine bases in the two GATA and TATC complement core sequences also strongly affected NIT2 binding. High affinity NIT2 binding sites appear to contain at least two GATA core sequences, with single GATA sequences acting only as weak binding sites. Mobility shift experiments with the DNA fragment upstream of nit-3, the structural gene for nitrate reductase, revealed two DNA-NIT2 protein complexes. In complex I, which is formed first, NIT2 was bound to a pair of GATA sites located at -180. In complex II, the paired GATA sites at -180 plus a single GATA site at -290 were all occupied by NIT2. A DNA fragment containing only the single -290 GATA element bound NIT2 very weakly. The affinity of this single GATA for NIT2 was ten to twenty times greater when it was situated on the same DNA fragment with the distant paired GATA elements than when alone.     

Mg2+ confers DNA binding specificity to the EcoRV restriction endonuclease.

The EcoRV mutant D90A which carries an amino acid substitution in its active center does not cleave DNA. Therefore, it is possible to perform DNA binding experiments with the EcoRV-D90A mutant both in the absence and in the presence of Mg2+. Like wild-type EcoRV [Taylor et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 8743-8753], it does not show a pronounced specificity for binding to its recognition site in the absence of Mg2+ as judged by the appearance of multiple shifted bands in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay with a 377-bp DNA fragment carrying a single EcoRV recognition sequence. In the presence of Mg2+, however, only one band corresponding to a 1:1 complex appears even with a high excess of protein over DNA. This complex most likely is the specific one, because its formation is suppressed much more effectively by a 13-bp oligodeoxynucleotide with an EcoRV site than by a corresponding oligodeoxynucleotide without an EcoRV site. The preferential interaction of the EcoRV-D90A mutant with specific DNA in the presence of Mg2+ was also demonstrated directly: a 20-bp oligodeoxynucleotide with an EcoRV site is bound with KAss = 4 x 10(8) M-1, while a corresponding oligodeoxynucleotide without an EcoRV site is bound with KAss less than or equal to 1 x 10(5) M-1. From these data it appears that Mg2+ confers DNA binding specificity to this mutant by lowering the affinity to nonspecific sites and raising the affinity to specific sites as compared to binding in the absence of Mg2+. It is concluded that this is also true for wild-type EcoRV.