Search for apoptotic nucleases in yeast: role of Tat-D nuclease in apoptotic DNA degradation

DNA fragmentation/degradation is an important step for apoptosis. However, in unicellular organisms such as yeast, this process has rarely been investigated. In the current study, we revealed eight apoptotic nuclease candidates in Saccharyomyces cerevisiae, analogous to the Caenorhabditis elegans apoptotic nucleases. One of them is Tat-D. Sequence comparison indicates that Tat-D is conserved across kingdoms, implicating that it is evolutionarily and functionally indispensable. In order to better understand the biochemical and biological functions of Tat-D, we have overexpressed, purified, and characterized the S. cerevisiae Tat-D (scTat-D). Our biochemical assays revealed that scTat-D is an endo-/exonuclease. It incises the double-stranded DNA without obvious specificity via its endonuclease activity and excises the DNA from the 3'- to 5'-end by its exonuclease activity. The enzyme activities are metal-dependent with Mg(2+) as an optimal metal ion and an optimal pH around 5. We have also identified three amino acid residues, His(185), Asp(325), and Glu(327), important for its catalysis. In addition, our study demonstrated that knock-out of TAT-D in S. cerevisiae increases the TUNEL-positive cells and cell survival in response to hydrogen hyperoxide treatment, whereas overexpression of Tat-D facilitates cell death. These results suggest a role of Tat-D in yeast apoptosis.     

Reactive oxygen species induce signals that lead to apoptotic DNA degradation in primary CD4+ T cells

Reactive oxygen species are toxic to cells but they may also have active roles in transducing apoptotic events. To study the role of reactive oxygen species in growth factor depletion induced apoptosis of human primary CD4+ T cells, we used a synthetic manganese porphyrin superoxide dismutase mimetic to detoxify superoxide anions formed during apoptosis. Apoptosis of primary CD4+ T cells was characterized by generation of superoxide anions, plasma membrane phosphatidyl-serine translocation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase 3, condensation of chromatin, as well as DNA degradation. The detoxification of superoxide anions did not influence plasma membrane phosphatidyl-serine translocation, or chromatin condensation, and only marginally inhibited the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the formation of DNA strand breaks. In contrast, the detoxification of superoxide anions significantly reduced caspase 3 activity and almost completely inhibited the apoptotic decrease in total cellular DNA content as measured by propidium iodide staining. Our results indicate that reactive oxygen anions induce signals leading to efficient DNA degradation after the initial formation of DNA strand breaks. Thus, reactive oxygen anions have active roles in signaling that lead to the apoptotic events.     

Utilization of an in vitro assay to evaluate chromatin degradation by candidate apoptotic nucleases

Apoptosis is commonly associated with the catabolism of the genome in the dying cell. The chromatin degradation occurs in essentially two forms: (1) internucleosomal DNA cleavage to generate oligonucleosomal-length fragments (180-200 bp and multiples thereof), and (2) cleavage of higher order chromatin structures to generate approximately 30-50 Kb fragments. To investigate this component of apoptosis and identify the nuclease(s) responsible, we have developed and utilized an in vitro assay that recapitulates the genomic destruction seen during apoptosis in vivo and allows the simultaneous analysis of both forms of DNA degradation from the same sample. Using this assay we evaluated the digestion patterns of several candidate apoptotic nucleases: DNase I, DNase II, and cyclophilin (NUC18) as well as the bacterial enzyme micrococcal nuclease (not thought to be involved in apoptosis). Chromatin degraded by DNase I formed a smear of DNA on conventional static-field agarose gels and approximately amp;30 - 50 Kb DNA fragments on pulsed field gels. In contrast, DNase II, at a physiologically relevant pH, had no effect on the integrity of HeLa chromatin in either analysis. Similar to DNase I, cyclophilin C produced only approximately 30-50 Kb DNA fragments but did not generate internucleosomal fragments. In contrast, micrococcal nuclease generated both oligonucleosomal and approximately 30-50 Kb DNA fragments. Nuclear extracts from glucocorticoid-treated apoptotic thymocytes generated oligonucleosomal DNA fragments and the larger approximately 30-50 Kb DNA fragments, fully recapitulating both types of apoptotic DNA degradation. Previously, differential sensitivity of nucleases to inhibition by Zn2+ was used to argue that two distinct enzymes mediate approximately 30-50 Kb DNA cleavage and internucleosomal DNA degradation. While, the nuclease activity present in thymocyte nuclear extracts was differentially sensitive to inhibition by Zn2+ during short term incubations it was not during prolonged digestions, suggesting that differences in DNA detection are likely to account for previous results. Together our studies show that none of the nucleases commonly associated with apoptosis could fully recapitulate the DNA degradation seen in vivo.     

Different sublines of Jurkat cells respond with varying susceptibility of internucleosomal DNA degradation to different mediators of apoptosis

The ability of two different Jurkat sublines, termed standard and JM, to form DNA ladders was investigated after various apoptotic stimuli. Exposure to a broad spectrum of drugs interfering with signal transduction or cellular metabolism revealed distinct differences between both Jurkat sublines with regard to the pattern of DNA degradation. In standard Jurkat cells, internucleosomal DNA cleavage occurred only after treatment with the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine. In contrast, the JM subline responded with internucleosomal DNA fragmentation to exposure to gemcitabine, cycloheximide or staurosporine. All drugs induced the formation of DNA fragments of about 50 kb in both sublines, as revealed by pulse field electrophoresis, except H2O2, which caused unspecific DNA degradation. The staurosporine-induced DNA ladder formation was accompanied by an increase in caspase-3 activity in both lines which, however, was considerably lower in Jurkat JM cells after gemcitabine or cycloheximide exposure. When the analysis of internucleosomal DNA degradation was carried out after mycoplasma infection, both Jurkat lines responded with DNA ladder formation after exposure to all drugs used (here only shown for the standard subline). Employing the zymogram technique, nuclease activities of 47 kDa and 54 kDa were detected in culture supernatants, cell homogenates and nuclear extracts only when mycoplasma-infected, whereas the samples obtained from mycoplasma-free sublines were nuclease-negative using this technique, indicating that these endonucleases were of mycoplasmal origin. After drug exposure, the mycoplasmal nucleases must have gained access to the cytoplasm and nuclei of their host cells by an unknown mechanism.     

DNA degradation during radiation death of cultured cells

The method of flow cytofluorometry was used to study postirradiation changes in plasma membrane permeability and DNA content of the Burkitt's lymphoma cells (Raji line). At a dose of 10 Gy, the increase in membrane permeability preceded the appearance of cells with diminished DNA content. The synchronization of cells in phase G2 was associated with a virtually complete radiation arrest of mitoses. The postirradiation electrophoretic analysis of DNA of the Burkitt's lymphoma cells and of Syrian and Chinese hamster fibroblasts showed that the DNA degradation is unordered and results perhaps from activation of hydrolases in the dead cells.     

A new astrocytic cell line which is able to induce a blood-brain barrier property in cultured brain capillary endothelial cells

Astrocytes, a member of the glial cell family in the central nervous system, are assumed to play a crucial role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vertebrates. It was shown that astrocytes induce BBB-properties in brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) in vitro. We now established an astroglial cell line of non-tumoral origin. The cloned cell line (A7) shows a highly increased proliferation rate and expresses the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. Furthermore, the clone A7 expresses S-100-protein and vimentin, which are also expressed by primary cultured astrocytes. This cell line therefore shows general astrocytic features. In addition, we were able to show that A7 cells re-induce the BBB-related marker enzyme alkaline phosphatase in BCEC, when these two cell types are co-cultured. Thus we have a cell line which can be readily cultured in large quantities, shows common astrocyte properties and is able to influence BCEC with respect to a BBB-related feature. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Investigating the effects of the presence of foreign DNA on DNA methylation and DNA repair events in cultured eukaryotic cells

Methylation of DNA in eukaryotic cells, global as well as gene-specific, is affected by endogenous and endogenous factors. In this paper, it is reported that deviations in DNA methylation and expression of genes involved in DNA repair and the cell cycle are affected in 143B cultured cells containing an expression vector. Global DNA methylation analysis with cytosine-extension assay revealed a decreased global DNA methylation in the presence of the expression vector. Less promoter-specific methylation, as measured by bisulfite-MS PCR, was observed for MGMT and p16INK4a in vector-containing cells. Comet assay investigations revealed a negative effect on the DNA repair capacity of both BER and NER in Complex III compromised cells. This was reflected in the down-regulation of hOGG1 and ERCC1 expression. The results presented in this paper support the existence of a strong relationship between impaired mitochondrial function and deviations in DNA methylation and extend this relationship to impaired DNA repair.     

5-Azacytidine is able to induce the conversion of teratocarcinoma-derived mesenchymal cells into epithelia cells.

The inhibitor of DNA-methylation, 5-azacytidine (5- AzaC ) induced the appearance of cytokeratin-containing cells in several mesenchymal cell lines such as teratocarcinoma-derived fibroblasts, preadipocytes and myoblasts, NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and human embryonic fibroblasts. At optimal 5- AzaC concentrations the proportion of such cells was in the range of 10(-1) compared with 10(-6) -10(-4) in non-treated cultures. Dose-response curves indicated that the induction of cytokeratin was the result of an interaction of the drug with few targets. Stable, mature, keratinocyte cell lines, as well as lines of myoblasts and astrocytes, could be isolated from a teratocarcinoma-derived preadipocyte line, showing that 5- AzaC is able to provoke a wide range of complete phenotypic conversions. In these cell lines, the intermediate filaments corresponded to the morphological phenotype. Altogether, the results suggest that 5- AzaC preferentially activates certain genes.     

Macrophages are involved in DNA degradation of apoptotic cells in murine thymus after administration of hydrocortisone

In the present study, we undertook kinetic analyses of DNA degradation and acid DNase activity in murine thymus after administration of hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone induced apoptosis in thymocytes, and a large number of cortical thymocytes became TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labelling)-positive (TUNEL+). F4/80+ macrophages infiltrated through the cortico-medullay junction into the cortical region, and thereafter engulfed apoptotic cells in the cortex of thymus. The distribution of acid DNase-active cells appeared to be similar to that of F4/80+ macrophages. Eighteen hours after the injection, although the foci of apoptotic cells were situated within massively distended F4/80+ macrophages, oligonucleosomal DNA fragments on an agarose gel were undetectable. Our results showed that macrophages were involved in the disappearance of oligonucleosomal DNA fragments in apoptotic thymocytes. Taken together, macrophages play a role in the hydrolysis of DNA in apoptotic cells upon their phagocytosis of the dead cells.     

Critical components of a DNA fusion vaccine able to induce protective cytotoxic T cells against a single epitope of a tumor antigen

DNA vaccines can activate immunity against tumor Ags expressed as MHC class I-associated peptides. However, priming of CD8(+) CTL against weak tumor Ags may require adjuvant molecules. We have used a pathogen-derived sequence from tetanus toxin (fragment C (FrC)) fused to tumor Ag sequences to promote Ab and CD4(+) T cell responses. For induction of CD8(+) T cell responses, the FrC sequence has been engineered to remove potentially competitive MHC class I-binding epitopes and to improve presentation of tumor epitopes. The colon carcinoma CT26 expresses an endogenous retroviral gene product, gp70, containing a known H2-L(d)-restricted epitope (AH1). A DNA vaccine encoding gp70 alone was a poor inducer of CTL, and performance was not significantly improved by fusion of full-length FrC. However, use of a minimized domain of FrC, with the AH1 sequence fused to the 3' position, led to rapid induction of high levels of CTL. IFN-gamma-producing epitope-specific CTL were detectable ex vivo and these killed CT26 targets in vitro. The single epitope vaccine was more effective than GM-CSF-transfected CT26 tumor cells in inducing an AH1-specific CTL response and equally effective in providing protection against tumor challenge. Levels of AH1-specific CTL in vivo were increased following injection of tumor cells, and CTL expanded in vitro were able to kill CT26 cells in tumor bearers. Pre-existing immunity to tetanus toxoid had no effect on the induction of AH1-specific CTL. These data demonstrate the power of epitope-specific CTL against tumor cells and illustrate a strategy for priming immunity via a dual component DNA vaccine.     

The Notch ligand Jagged-1 is able to induce maturation of monocyte-derived human dendritic cells

Notch receptors play a key role in several cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. This study investigated whether the activation of Notch signaling would affect the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). Direct stimulation of Notch signaling in DCs with a peptide ligand induced DC maturation, similar to LPS: DCs up-regulated maturation markers, produced IL-12, lost endocytosis capacity, and became able to activate allogeneic T cells. Furthermore, coculture of DCs with cells expressing Notch ligand Jagged-1 induced up-regulation of maturation markers, IL-12 production, T cell proliferative responses, and IFN-gamma production. Our data suggest that activation of Notch by Jagged-1 plays an important role in maturation of human DCs. Additionally, they reveal a novel role for Notch signaling in cell maturation events distal to the cell fate decision fork. These data may have important medical implications, since they provide new reagents to induce DC activity, which may be beneficial as adjuvants in situations where an immune response needs to be elicited, such as tumor immunotherapy.     

Functional genomic analysis of apoptotic DNA degradation in C. elegans

Chromosomal DNA degradation is critical for cell death execution and is a hallmark of apoptosis, yet little is known about how this process is executed. Using an RNAi-based functional genomic approach, we have identified seven additional cell death-related nucleases (crn genes), which along with two known nucleases (CPS-6 and NUC-1) comprise at least two independent pathways that contribute to cell killing, and likely signaling for phagocytosis, by degrading chromosomal DNA. Several crn genes have human homologs that are important for RNA processing, protein folding, DNA replication, and DNA damage repair, suggesting dual roles for CRN nucleases in cell survival and cell death. It should now be possible to systematically decipher the mechanisms of apoptotic DNA degradation.     

Protein kinase C delta activates topoisomerase IIalpha to induce apoptotic cell death in response to DNA damage

DNA topoisomerase II is an essential nuclear enzyme that modulates DNA processes by altering the topological state of double-stranded DNA. This enzyme is required for chromosome condensation and segregation; however, the regulatory mechanism of its activation is largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that topoisomerase IIalpha is activated in response to genotoxic stress. Concomitant with the activation, the expression of topoisomerase IIalpha is increased following DNA damage. The results also demonstrate that the proapoptotic kinase protein kinase C delta (PKCdelta) interacts with topoisomerase IIalpha. This association is in an S-phase-specific manner and is required for stabilization and catalytic activation of topoisomerase IIalpha in response to DNA damage. Conversely, inhibition of PKCdelta activity attenuates DNA damage-induced activation of topoisomerase IIalpha. Finally, aberrant activation of topoisomerase IIalpha by PKCdelta is associated with induction of apoptosis upon exposure to genotoxic agents. These findings indicate that PKCdelta regulates topoisomerase IIalpha and thereby cell fate in the genotoxic stress response.     

Attachment of Mycoplasma pulmonis to rat and mouse synovial cells cultured in vitro

The attachment of Mycoplasma pulmonis m53 organisms to mouse and rat synovial cells was examined by using the organisms and the synovial cells treated in various ways. M. pulmonis treated with trypsin attached to the synovial cells, but the organisms treated with pronase, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, or heat did not. These findings suggest that the sites for binding M. pulmonis to the mouse and rat synovial cells are of polypeptide nature. Treatment of M. pulmonis with sialic acid and treatment of the synovial cell sheets with neuraminidase did not affect the attachment. The synovial cell surface for receptors M. pulmonis organisms would be different from those on respiratory cells or erythrocytes for M. pneumoniae or M. gallisepticum. Even nonviable organisms and M. pulmonis membranes attached to the mouse or rat synovial cells. The nature of the receptor of mouse synovial cells would be different from that of rat cells, since rat cells were affected by treatment with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde, but mouse cells were not.     

Activation of PKC is sufficient to induce an apoptotic program in salivary gland acinar cells

Accumulating evidence suggests that specific isoforms of PKC may function to promote apoptosis. We show here that activation of the conventional and novel isoforms of PKC with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13- ester (TPA) induces apoptosis in salivary acinar cells as indicated by DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3. TPA-induced DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, and morphologic indicators of apoptosis, can be enhanced by pretreatment of cells with the calpain inhibitor, calpeptin, prior to the addition of TPA. Analysis of PKC isoform expression by immunoblot shows that TPA-induced downregulation of PKC alpha and PKC delta is delayed in cells pre-treated with calpeptin, and that this correlates with an increase of these isoforms in the membrane fraction of cells. TPA-induced apoptosis is accompanied by biphasic activation of the c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway and inactivation of the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Expression of constitutively activated PKC alpha or PKC delta, but not kinase negative mutants of these isoforms, or constitutively activated PKC epsilon, induces apoptosis in salivary acinar cells, suggesting a role for these isoforms in TPA-induced apoptosis. These studies demonstrate that activation of PKC is sufficient for initiation of an apoptotic program in salivary acinar cells. Cell Death and Differentiation (2000) 7, 1200 - 1209.