UvrABC nuclease complex repairs thymine glycol, an oxidative DNA base damage

The UvrABC nuclease complex recognizes a wide spectrum of DNA lesions including pyrimidine dimers, bulky chemical adducts and O6-methylguanine. In this study we have demonstrated that the UvrABC complex is also able to incise PM2 DNA containing the oxidative DNA lesion, thymine glycol. However, DNA containing dihydrothymine, a lesion with a similar structure to thymine glycol, was not incised. The UvrABC complex was also able to incise DNA containing reduced apurinic sites or apurinic sites modified with O-alkyl hydroxylamines, but not DNA containing apurinic sites or urea residues. In vivo, in the absence of base-excision repair, nucleotide excision repair was operable on phi X-174 RF transfecting DNA containing thymine glycols. The level of the repair was found to be directly related to the level of the UvrABC complex. Thus, UvrABC-mediated nucleotide excision repair appears to play a role in the repair of thymine glycol, an oxidative DNA-base lesion that is produced by ionizing radiation or formed during oxidative respiration.     

Nucleotide excision repair 3' endonuclease XPG stimulates the activity of base excision repairenzyme thymine glycol DNA glycosylase.

An ionizing radiation-induced DNA lesion, thymine glycol, is removed from DNA by a thymine glycol DNA glycosylase with an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) lyase activity encoded by the Escherichia coli endonuclease III ( nth ) gene and its homolog in humans. Cells from Cockayne syndrome patients with mutations in the XPG gene show approximately 2-fold reduced global repair of thymine glycol. Hence, I decided to investigate the molecular mechanism of the effect of XPG protein observed in vivo on thymine glycol removal by studying the interactions of XPG protein and human endonuclease III (HsNTH) protein in vitro and the effect of XPG protein on the activity of HsNTH protein on a substrate containing thymine glycol. The XPG protein stimulates the binding of HsNTH protein to its substrate and increases its glycosylase/AP lyase activity by a factor of approximately 2 through direct interaction between the two proteins. These results provide in vitro evidence for a second function of XPG protein in DNA repair and a mechanistic basis for its stimulatory activity on HsNTH protein.     

Thermodynamic cooperativity and kinetic proofreading in DNA damage recognition and repair

In humans UV-induced cyclobutane thymine dimers are excised by the joint action of six repair factors, RPA, XPA, XPC, TFIIH, XPG, and XPF.ERCC1. Yet, in vitro assays show that none of these six factors is capable of detectably discriminating thymine dimer-containing DNA from undamaged DNA. We show how two elementary principles in macromolecular recognition, (1). cooperativity and (2). kinetic proofreading, are utilized to confer specificity to the repair system where none exists at the individual repair factor level and enable human cells to excise thymine dimers with a physiologically relevant specificity and at a biologically acceptable rate.     

Thermodynamic Cooperativity and Kinetic Proofreading in DNA Damage Recognition and Repair

In humans UV-induced cyclobutane thymine dimers are excised by the joint action of six repair factors, RPA, XPA, XPC, TFIIH, XPG, and XPF?ERCC1. Yet, in vitro assays show that none of these six factors is capable of detectably discriminating thymine dimer-containing DNA from undamaged DNA. We show how two elementary principles in macromolecular recognition, (1) cooperativity and (2) kinetic proofreading, are utilized to confer specificity to the repair system where none exists at the individual repair factor level and enable human cells to excise thymine dimers with a physiologically relevant specificity and at a biologically acceptable rate.     

The kinetics of thymine dimer excision in ultraviolet-irradiated human cells

We have investigated the kinetics of the loss of thymine dimers from the acid-insoluble fraction of several ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated cultured human cell lines. Our results show that UV fluences between 10 and 40 J/m2 produce an average of 21-85 x 10(5) thymine dimers per cell and an eventual maximal loss per cell of 12-20 x 10(5) thymine dimers. The time for half-maximal loss of dimers ranged from 12-22 h after UV irradiation. In contrast, the time for half-maximal repair synthesis of DNA measured by autoradiography was 4.5 h. This figure agrees well with reported half-maximal repair synthesis times, which range from 0.5 to 3.6 h based on our analysis. The discrepancy in the kinetics of the loss of thymine dimers from DNA and repair synthesis is discussed in terms of possible molecular mechanisms of thymine dimer excision in vivo and in terms of possible experimental artifacts.     

A mammalian cell line deficient in activity of the DNA repair enzyme 5-hydroxymethyluracil-DNA glycosylase is resistant to the toxic effects of the thymidine analog 5-hydroxymethyl-2''-deoxyuridine.

We isolated a mutant mammalian cell line lacking activity for the DNA repair enzyme 5-hydroxymethyluracil-DNA glycosylase (HmUra-DNA glycosylase). The mutant was isolated through its resistance to the thymidine analog 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (HmdUrd). The mutant incorporates HmdUrd into DNA to the same extent as the parent line but, lacking the repair enzyme, does not remove it. The phenotype of the mutant demonstrates that the toxicity of HmdUrd does not result from substitution of thymine in DNA by HmUra but rather from the removal via base excision of large numbers of HmUra residues in DNA. This finding elucidates a novel mechanism of toxicity for a xenobiotic nucleoside. Furthermore, the isolation of this line supports our hypothesis that the enzymatic repairability of HmUra derives not from its formation opposite adenine via the oxidation of thymine, but rather from its formation opposite guanine as a product of the oxidation and subsequent deamination of 5-methylcytosine.     

Effects of temperature on the photoreactivation of ultraviolet-b–induced dna damage in Palmaria palmata (Rhodophyta)

The accumulation of DNA damage (thymine dimers and 6-4 photoproducts) induced by ultraviolet-B radiation was studied in Palmaria palmata (L.) O. Kuntze under different light and temperature conditions, using specific monoclonal antibodies and subsequent chemiluminescent detection. Both types of damage were repaired much faster under ultraviolet-A radiation (UVAR) plus photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) than in darkness, which indicates photoreactivating activity. At 12° C, all thymine dimers were repaired after 2 h irradiation with UVAR plus PAR, whereas 6-4 photoproducts were almost completely repaired after 4 h. After 19 h of darkness, almost complete repair of 6-4 photoproducts was found, and 67% of the thymine dimers were repaired. In a second set of experiments, repair of DNA damage under UVAR plus PAR was compared at three different temperatures (0, 12, and 25° C). Again, thymine dimers were repaired faster than 6-4 photoproducts at all three temperatures. At 0° C, significant repair of thymine dimers was found but not of 6-4 photoproducts. Significant repair of both thymine dimers and 6-4 photoproducts occurred at 12 and 25° C. Optimal repair efficiency was found at 25° C for thymine dimers but at 12° C for 6-4 photoproducts, which suggests that the two photorepair processes have different temperature characteristics.     

Role of DNA replication and repair in thymineless death in Escherichia coli

Inhibition of DNA replication with hydroxyurea during thymine starvation of Escherichia coli shows that active DNA synthesis is not required for thymineless death (TLD). Hydroxyurea experiments and thymine starvation of lexA3 and uvrA DNA repair mutants rule out unbalanced growth, the SOS response, and nucleotide excision repair as explanations for TLD.     

Inhibition of enzymic incision of thymine dimers by covalently bound 2-[N-[(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)acetyl]amino]fluorene in deoxyribonucleic acid

The effects of DNA adducts of the carcinogen 2-[N-(acetoxyacetyl)amino]fluorene on enzymic incision of thymine dimers was investigated. Escherichia coli DNA labeled with [3H]thymidine was reacted with the carcinogen. Thymine dimers were then introduced into the modified DNA by irradiation with monochromatic 254-nm light in the presence of the photosensitizer silver nitrate. This DNA containing both types of damages, mainly 2-[N-[(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)acetyl]fluorene and thymine dimers, was then used as substrate for pyrimidine dimer-DNA glycosylase, purified from E. coli infected by bacteriophage T4. Activity was assayed by measuring release of free labeled thymine after photoreversal of the enzyme-reacted DNA by 254-nm light. The Vmax of the enzyme was decreased when it was reacted with the extensively arylamidated substrate. This inhibition of incision of pyrimidine dimers was increased with the number of carcinogen-DNA adducts, although no enzymic activity against modified guanines was present. Therefore, carcinogen-modified purine moieties can interfere with initiation of excision repair of ultraviolet-induced pyrimidine dimers. This suggests an indirect pathway by which modified DNA bases can be mutagenic.     

Repair of the mutagenic DNA oxidation product, 5-formyluracil

The oxidation of the thymine methyl group can generate 5-formyluracil (FoU). Template FoU residues are known to miscode, generating base substitution mutations. The repair of the FoU lesion is therefore important in minimizing mutations induced by DNA oxidation. We have studied the repair of FoU in synthetic oligonucleotides when paired with A and G. In E. coli cell extract, the repair of FoU is four orders of magnitude lower than the repair of U and is similar for both FoU:A and FoU:G base pairs. In HeLa nuclear extract, the repair of FoU:A is similarly four orders of magnitude lower than the repair of uracil, although the FoU:G lesion is repaired 10 times more efficiently than FoU:A. The FoU:G lesion is shown to be repaired by E. coli mismatch uracil DNA glycosylase (Mug), thermophile mismatch thymine DNA glycosylase (Tdg), mouse mismatch thymine DNA glycosylase (mTDG) and human methyl-CpG-binding thymine DNA glycosylase (MBD4), whereas the FoU:A lesion is repaired only by Mug and mTDG. The repair of FoU relative to the other pyrimidines examined here in human cell extract differs from the substrate preferences of the known glycosylases, suggesting that additional, and as yet unidentified glycosylases exist in human cells to repair the FoU lesion. Indeed, as observed in HeLa nuclear extract, the repair of mispaired FoU derived from misincorporation of dGMP across from template FoU could promote rather than minimize mutagenesis. The pathways by which this important lesion is repaired in human cells are as yet unexplained, and are likely to be complex.     

Compromised incision of oxidized pyrimidines in liver mitochondria of mice deficient in NTH1 and OGG1 glycosylases

Mitochondrial DNA is constantly exposed to high levels of endogenously produced reactive oxygen species, resulting in elevated levels of oxidative damaged DNA bases. A large spectrum of DNA base alterations can be detected after oxidative stress, and many of these are highly mutagenic. Thus, an efficient repair of these is necessary for survival. Some of the DNA repair pathways involved have been characterized, but others are not yet determined. A DNA repair activity for thymine glycol and other oxidized pyrimidines has been described in mammalian mitochondria, but the nature of the glycosylases involved in this pathway remains unclear. The generation of mouse strains lacking murine thymine glycol-DNA glycosylase (mNTH1) and/or murine 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase (mOGG1), the two major DNA N-glycosylase/apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) lyases involved in the repair of oxidative base damage in the nucleus, has provided very useful biological model systems for the study of the function of these and other glycosylases in mitochondrial DNA repair. In this study, mouse liver mitochondrial extracts were generated from mNTH1-, mOGG1-, and [mNTH1, mOGG1]-deficient mice to ascertain the role of each of these glycosylases in the repair of oxidized pyrimidine base damage. We also characterized for the first time the incision of various modified bases in mitochondrial extracts from a double-knock-out [mNTH1, mOGG1]-deficient mouse. We show that mNTH1 is responsible for the repair of thymine glycols in mitochondrial DNA, whereas other glycosylase/AP lyases also participate in removing other oxidized pyrimidines, such as 5-hydroxycytosine and 5-hydroxyuracil. We did not detect a backup glycosylase or glycosylase/AP lyase activity for thymine glycol in the mitochondrial mouse extracts.     

Excision repair of thymine glycols, urea residues, and apurinic sites in Escherichia coli

The genetic requirements for the excision repair of thymine glycols, urea residues, and apurinic (AP) sites were examined by measuring the survival in Escherichia coli mutants of phi X174 replicative form (RF) I transfecting DNA containing selectively introduced lesions. phi X RF I DNA containing thymine glycols was inactivated at a greater rate in mutants deficient in endonuclease III (nth) than in wild-type hosts, suggesting that endonuclease III is involved in the repair of thymine glycols in vivo. phi X RF I DNA containing thymine glycols was also inactivated at a greater rate in mutants that were deficient in both exonuclease III and endonuclease IV (xth nfo) than in wild-type hosts, suggesting that a class II AP endonuclease is required for the in vivo processing of thymine glycols. phi X duplex-transfecting DNA containing urea residues or AP sites was inactivated at a greater rate in xth nfo double mutants than in wild-type, but not single-mutant, hosts, suggesting that exonuclease III or endonuclease IV is required for the repair of these damages and that either activity can substitute for the other. These data are in agreement with the known in vitro substrate specificities of endonuclease III, exonuclease III, and endonuclease IV.     

The interplay of supercoiling and thymine dimers in DNA

Thymine dimers are a major mutagenic photoproduct induced by UV radiation. While they have been the subject of extensive theoretical and experimental investigations, questions of how DNA supercoiling affects local defect properties, or, conversely, how the presence of such defects changes global supercoiled structure, are largely unexplored. Here, we introduce a model of thymine dimers in the oxDNA forcefield, parametrized by comparison to melting experiments and structural measurements of the thymine dimer induced bend angle. We performed extensive molecular dynamics simulations of double-stranded DNA as a function of external twist and force. Compared to undamaged DNA, the presence of a thymine dimer lowers the supercoiling densities at which plectonemes and bubbles occur. For biologically relevant supercoiling densities and forces, thymine dimers can preferentially segregate to the tips of the plectonemes, where they enhance the probability of a localized tip-bubble. This mechanism increases the probability of highly bent and denatured states at the thymine dimer site, which may facilitate repair enzyme binding. Thymine dimer-induced tip-bubbles also pin plectonemes, which may help repair enzymes to locate damage. We hypothesize that the interplay of supercoiling and local defects plays an important role for a wider set of DNA damage repair systems.     

The oxidative DNA lesion 8,5'-(S)-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine is repaired by the nucleotide excision repair pathway and blocks gene expression in mammalian cells

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients with inherited defects in nucleotide excision repair (NER) are unable to excise from their DNA bulky photoproducts induced by UV radiation and therefore develop accelerated actinic damage, including cancer, on sun-exposed tissue. Some XP patients also develop a characteristic neurodegeneration believed to result from their inability to repair neuronal DNA damaged by endogenous metabolites since the harmful UV radiation in sunlight does not reach neurons. Free radicals, which are abundant in neurons, induce DNA lesions that, if unrepaired, might cause the XP neurodegeneration. Searching for such a lesion, we developed a synthesis for 8,5'-(S)-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine (cyclo-dA), a free radical-induced bulky lesion, and incorporated it into DNA to test its repair in mammalian cell extracts and living cells. Using extracts of normal and mutant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to test for NER and adult rat brain extracts to test for base excision repair, we found that cyclo-dA is repaired by NER and not by base excision repair. We measured host cell reactivation, which reflects a cell's capacity for NER, by transfecting CHO and XP cells with DNA constructs containing a single cyclo-dA or a cyclobutane thymine dimer at a specific site on the transcribed strand of a luciferase reporter gene. We found that, like the cyclobutane thymine dimer, cyclo-dA is a strong block to gene expression in CHO and human cells. Cyclo-dA was repaired extremely poorly in NER-deficient CHO cells and in cells from patients in XP complementation group A with neurodegeneration. Based on these findings, we propose that cyclo-dA is a candidate for an endogenous DNA lesion that might contribute to neurodegeneration in XP.     

Human thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) and methyl-CpG-binding protein 4 (MBD4) excise thymine glycol (Tg) from a Tg:G mispair

The repair enzymes thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) and methyl-CpG-binding protein 4 (MBD4) remove thymines from T:G mismatches resulting from deamination of 5-methylcytosine. Thymine glycol, a common DNA lesion produced by oxidative stress, can arise from oxidation of thymine or from oxidative deamination of 5-methylcytosine, and is then present opposite adenine or opposite guanine, respectively. Here we have used oligonucleotides with thymine glycol incorporated into different sequence contexts and paired with adenine or guanine. We show that TDG and MBD4 can remove thymine glycol when present opposite guanine but not when paired with adenine. The efficiency of these enzymes for removal of thymine glycol is about half of that for removal of thymine in the same sequence context. The two proteins may have evolved to act specifically on DNA mismatches produced by deamination and by oxidation-coupled deamination of 5-methylcytosine. This repair pathway contributes to mutation avoidance at methylated CpG dinucleotides.     

Absolute action spectrum of E-FADH2 and E-FADH2-MTHF forms of Escherichia coli DNA photolyase

Escherichia coli DNA photolyase mediates photorepair of pyrimidine dimers occurring in UV-damaged DNA. The enzyme contains two chromophores, 1,5-dihydroflavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2) and 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolylpolyglutamate (MTHF). To define the roles of the two chromophores in the photochemical reaction(s) resulting in DNA repair and the effect of DNA structure on the photocatalytic step, we determined the absolute action spectra of the enzyme containing only FADH2 (E-FADH2) or both chromophores (E-FADH2-MTHF), with double- and single-stranded substrates and with substrates of different sequences in the immediate vicinity of the thymine dimer. We found that the shape of the action spectrum of E-FADH2 matches that of the absorption spectrum with a quantum yield phi (FADH2) = 0.69. The action spectrum of E-FADH2-MTHF is also in a fairly good agreement with the absorption spectrum with phi (FADH2-MTHF) = 0.59. From these values and from the previously established properties of the two chromophores, we propose that MTHF transfers energy to FADH2 with a quantum yield of phi epsilon T = 0.8 and that 1FADH2 singlet transfers an electron to or from the dimer with a quantum yield phi ET = 0.69. The chemical nature of the chromophores did not change after several catalytic cycles. The enzyme repaired a thymine dimer in five different sequence contexts with the same efficiency. Similarly, single- and double-stranded DNAs were repaired with the same overall quantum yield.     

Properties of antibodies to thymine glycol, a product of the radiolysis of DNA

Anti-thymine glycol antibodies were elicited by immunizing rabbits with thymine glycol monophosphate (TMP-glycol) conjugated by carbodiimide to BSA. The antibodies produced are specific for thymine glycol as measured by immunoprecipitation of TMP-glycol-RSA conjugates and hapten inhibition of reactivity with OsO4-treated DNA in an enzyme immunoassay. Using the enzyme immunoassay, the antibody is capable of detecting femtomole and picomole levels of thymine glycol in direct and competitive assays, respectively. This immunochemical assay is potentially suitable for measuring the production and repair of thymine glycol damage in cellular DNA.