E. coli DNA polymerase. A study of the mechanism of primer binding using oligothymidylate analogs with ethylated internucleotide phosphate groups

The following individual diastereomers of oligothymidylate ethyl esters (the alkyl phosphodiester group is asymmetric with R or S configuration) have been prepared: d[(Tr)8Tp'(Et)T] (I), d[(Tp)8Tp'(Et)T] (II), d[(Tp)8Tp'(Et)TpT] (III), d[(Tp)8Tp' X (Et)TpT] (IV). A totally esterified analogue d[[(Tp(Et)7]T] (V) was obtained as a diastereomeric mixture. All oligothymidylate derivatives revealed substrate activity as primers of DNA polymerase with poly(dA) as a template. The values of the maximal reaction rates were equal to 14; 2,6; 68; 24 and 0,1% for oligothymidylates (I)-(V) with respect to Vm value (100%) for (Tp)9T. Km values of oligothymidylates (I)-(V), 2,7; 2,5; 0,51; 7,2 microM, were obtained in relation to Km for d[(Tp)9T] (0,4 microM). Diastereomers (I) and (II) were not destroyed by Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I which has only 3'----5' exonuclease activity. However, these derivatives were hydrolyzed by complete DNA polymerase I due to its 5'----3' exonuclease activity, the reaction rate being 3-10 times lower than in case of d[(Tp)9T]. The data suggest an essential contribution to the primer binding from the positive enzyme group interaction with the 3'-end negatively charged phosphate group of oligonucleotide, together with the primer complementary interaction with the template. At least two phosphodiester groups of the oligonucleotide primer are essential for the reaction of polymerization following the correct binding.     

Oligodeoxynucleoside phosphoramidates (P-NH2): synthesis and thermal stability of duplexes with DNA and RNA targets.

Syntheses of non ionic oligodeoxynucleoside phosphoramidates (P-NH2) and mixed phosphoramidate- phosphodiester oligomers were accomplished on automated solid supported DNA synthesizer using both H-phosphonate and phosphoramidite chemistries, in combination with t-butylphenoxyacetyl for N-protection of nucleoside bases, an oxalyl anchored solid support and a final treatment with methanolic ammonia. Thermal stabilities of the hybrids formed between these new analogues and their DNA and RNA complementary strands were determined and compared with those of the corresponding unmodified oligonucleotides, as well as of the phosphorothioate and methylphosphonate derivatives. Dodecathymidines containing P-NH2 links form less stable duplexes with DNA targets, d(C2A12C2) (deltaTm/modification -1.4 degrees C) and poly dA (deltaTm/modification -1.1 degrees C) than the corresponding phosphodiester and methylphosphonate analogues, but the hybrids are slightly more stable than the one obtained with phosphorothioate derivative. The destabilization is more pronounced with poly rA as the target (deltaTm/modification -3 degrees C) and could be compared with that found with the dodecathymidine methylphosphonate. The modification is less destabilizing in an heteropolymer-RNA duplex (deltaTm/modification -2 degrees C). As expected, the P-NH2 modifications are highly resistant towards the action of various nucleases. It is also demonstrated that an all P-NH2 oligothymidine does not elicit Escherichia coli RNase H hydrolysis of the poly rA target but that the modification may be exploited in chimeric oligonucleotides combining P-NH2 sections with a central phosphodiester section.     

RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus: effectiveness of interaction with oligothymidylate primers of various length]

Optimal conditions for the reaction of polymerization catalyzed by RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase from AMV on poly(A)- and poly(dA)-templates with d(pT)n-primers were established. Optimal concentrations of the components and pH of the reaction mixtures were found out to differ significantly. dTTP was shown to be both a nucleotide substrate and a minimal primer of the polymerization. The Km values for d(pT)2-primer (Km = 0.11 mM and 0.54 for poly(A) and poly(dA)-templates, respectively) and longer oligothymidylates were estimated. The lengthening of d(pT)n (n = 2-10) by one mononucleotide unit led to a 3-fold and 2-fold decrease of Km value for poly(A) and poly(dA), respectively. Further lengthening of the primer (n = 10-25) did not affect Km for the primers. The maximal rates of polymerization did not depend on primer length. The activation reaction (Ea = 12 kcal/mol) of polymerization on poly(A) was considerably lower than that on poly(dA) (Ea = 50 kcal/mol). In both cases a highly processive polymerization was observed. It was suggested that the synthesis had been more effective on poly(A)-template due to a more effective formation of the complex enzyme primer template.     

The effect of antibiotics on the T4 polynucleotide ligase catalyzed template dependent polymerization of oligodeoxythymidylates.

The poly(dA) dependent T4 polynucleotide ligase catalyzed polymerization of oligodeoxythymidylates is dependent upon duplex stability. The antibiotics ethidium bromide, netropsin and Hoechst 33258 stabilize the duplex poly(dA) . P(dT)n (n = 6-10) to thermal denaturation. Ethidium bromide to DNA ratio of 1.25 and netropsin or Hoechst 33258 to DNA ratio of 0.1 the Tm of d(pT) 10 . poly (dA) was increased by 10 degrees and 25 degrees C respectively. The T4 polynucleotide ligase activity was not inhibited under these conditions and temperature optimum of joining of d(pT) 10 . poly(dA) was increased 5 degrees to 10 degrees by the binding of the antibiotics. Duplexes containing shorter oligodeoxythymidylates required lower concentrations of the antibiotics netropsin or Hoechst 33258 to show no inhibition of T4 polynucleotide ligase. The temperature optima of joining the duplexes d(pT)6 . POLY(DA) and d(pT) 8 . poly(dA) were increased by 5 degrees C upon binding of the antibiotics. Polyacrylamide gel analysis of the T4 polynucleotide ligase catalyzed joining of the oligodeoxythymidylates showed that the presence of antibiotics affected the product distribution of the polymerized oligomers.     

Sequence dependent effects in methylphosphonate deoxyribonucleotide double and triple helical complexes.

Deoxyribooligonucleotides containing 19 repeating bases of A, T or U were prepared with normal phosphodiester (dA19, dT19, dU19) or methylphosphonate (dA*19, dT*19, dU*19) linkages. Complexes of these strands have been investigated at 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios (purine:pyrimidine) by thermal melting and gel electrophoresis. There are dramatic sequence dependent differences in stabilities of complexes containing methylphosphonate strands. Duplexes of dA*19 with dT19 or dU19 have sharp melting curves, increased Tm values, and slopes of Tm versus log (sodium ion activity) plots reduced by about one half relative to their unmodified 'parent' duplexes. Duplexes of dA19 with either dT*19 or dU*19, however, have broader melting curves, reduced Tm values at most salt concentrations and slopes of less than one tenth the values for the unmodified duplexes. Duplex stabilization due to reduced phosphate charge repulsion is offset in the pyrimidine methylphosphonate complexes by steric and other substituent effects. Triple helical complexes with dA19 + 2dT19 and dA19 + 2dU19, which can be detected by biphasic melting curves and gel electrophoresis, are stable at increased Na+ or Mg+2 concentrations. Surprisingly, however, no triple helix forms, even at very high salt concentrations, when any normal strand(s) is replaced by a methylphosphonate strand. Since triple helical complexes with methylphosphonates have been reported for shorter oligomers, inhibition with larger oligomers may vary due to their length and extent of substitution.     

Oligothymidylates covalently linked to an acridine derivative and with modified phosphodiester backbone: circular dichroism studies of their interactions with complementary sequences.

Oligothymidylates involving alternating alkyl phosphotriester-phosphodiester or methylphosphonate-phosphodiester backbones and covalently linked to an acridine derivative have been studied using circular dichroism. Two isomers with the same diastereoisomeric configuration for all the phosphotriesters (ethyl triester and neopentyl triester) or the methylphosphonate linkages were studied. These six compounds were compared to the parent oligonucleotide with unmodified phosphodiester bonds. Intramolecular interactions between the acridine and the bases of the oligonucleotides were revealed by the induced circular dichroism of the acridine dye. Binding to poly(rA) and poly(dA) induced large changes in the circular dichroism signal. All oligothymidylates formed double-stranded complexes with poly(rA). Substitution of phosphotriesters and methylphosphonates to phosphates allowed both double- and triple-stranded structures to be formed with with poly(dA). The double-stranded structures formed with poly(rA) and poly(dA) were characterized by different environments of the acridine dye. The circular dichroism spectra of the complexes with poly(dA) and the thermal stabilities of the complexes formed with both poly(rA) and poly(dA) were drastically dependent of the diastereoisomeric configuration of the phosphate modification. For the complexes formed with the pseudoequatorial stereoisomer the modification of the phosphate groups increased the stability of the complexes as compared with the oligothymidylate containing only phosphodiester linkages whereas it decreased it for pseudoaxial modifications.     

Distamycin paradoxically stimulates the copying of oligo(dA).poly(dT) by DNA polymerases

Distamycin A, a polypeptide antibiotic, binds to dA.dT-rich regions in the minor groove of B-DNA. By virtue of its nonintercalating binding, distamycin acts as a potent inhibitor of the synthesis of DNA both in vivo and in vitro. Here we report that distamycin paradoxically stimulates Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (pol I), its large (Klenow) fragment, and bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase to copy oligo(dA).poly(dT) in vitro. It is found that distamycin increases the maximum velocity (Vmax) of the extension of the oligo(dA) primer by pol I without affecting the Michaelis constant (Km) of the primer. Gel electrophoresis of the extended primer indicates that the antibiotic specifically increases the rate of addition of the first three dAMP residues. Lastly, in the presence of both distamycin and the oligo(dT)-binding protein factor D, which increases the processivity of pol I, a synergistic stimulation of polymerization is attained. Taken together, these results suggest that distamycin stimulates synthesis by increasing the rate of initiation of oligo(dA) extension. The stimulatory effect of distamycin is inversely related to the stability of the primer-template complex. Thus, maximum stimulation is exerted at elevated temperatures and with shorter oligo(dA) primers. That distamycin increases the thermal stability of [32P](dA)9.poly(dT) is directly demonstrated by electrophoretic separation of the hybrid from dissociated [32P](dA)9 primer. It is proposed that by binding to the short primer-template duplex, distamycin stabilizes the oligo(dA).poly(dT) complex and, therefore, increases the rate of productive initiations of synthesis at the primer terminus.     

Interactions of oligonucleotide analogs containing methylphosphonate internucleotide linkages and 2'-O-methylribonucleosides.

The interactions of oligonucleotide analogs, 12-mers, which contain deoxyribo- or 2'-O-methylribose sugars and methylphosphonate internucleotide linkages with complementary 12-mer DNA and RNA targets and the effect of chirality of the methylphosphonate linkage on oligomer-target interactions was studied. Oligomers containing a single Rp or Sp methylphosphonate linkage (type 1) or oligomers containing a single phosphodiester linkage at the 5'-end followed by 10 contiguous methylphosphonate linkages of random chirality (type 2) were prepared. The deoxyribo- and 2'-O-methylribo- type 1 12-mers formed stable duplexes with both the RNA and DNA as determined by UV melting experiments. The melting temperatures, Tms, of the 2'-O-methylribo-12-mer/RNA duplexes (49-53 degrees C) were higher than those of the deoxyribo-12mer/RNA duplexes (31-36 degrees C). The Tms of the duplexes formed by the Rp isomers of these oligomers were approximately 3-5 degrees C higher than those formed by the corresponding Sp isomers. The deoxyribo type 2 12-mer formed a stable duplex, Tm 34 degrees C, with the DNA target and a much less stable duplex with the RNA target, Tm < 5 degrees C. In contrast, the 2'-O-methylribo type 2 12-mer formed a stable duplex with the RNA target, Tm 20 degrees C, and a duplex of lower stability with the DNA target, Tm < 5 degrees C. These results show that the previously observed greater stability of oligo-2'-O-methylribonucleotide/RNA duplexes versus oligodeoxyribonucleotide/RNA duplexes extends to oligomers containing methylphosphonate linkages and that the configuration of the methylphosphonate linkage strongly influences the stability of the duplexes.     

NaF and mononucleotides as inhibitors of 3'-5'-exonuclease activity and stimulators of polymerase activity of E. coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment

It has been shown that, in the absence of dATP in the poly(dT).oligo(dA) template-primer complex, the rate of primer cleavage by the E. coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment equals 4% of polymerization rate, while in the presence of dATP it equals as much as 50-60%. NaF and NMP taken separately inhibit exonuclease cleavage of oligo(dA) both with and without dATP. The addition of NaF (5-10 mM) or NMP (5-20 mM) increases the absolute increment of polymerization rate 5-9-fold relative to the absolute decrement of the rate of nuclease hydrolysis of primer. This proves the assumption that not more than 10-20% of primer molecules, interacting with the exonuclease center of polymerase, are cleaved by the enzyme. Presumably, NaF and nucleotides disturb the coupling of the 3'-end of oligonucleotide primer to the exonuclease center of the enzyme. As the primers mostly form complexes with the polymerizing center, the reaction of polymerization is activated.     

Reactive oligonucleotide derivatives containing methylphosphonate groups. V. Increased effectiveness of complementary addressed modification of target DNA by alkylating derivatives of methylphosphonate analogs of octathymidylate containing N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenazinium residues

Efficiency of the intracomplex alkylation of octadecadeoxyribonucleotide d(pC5A8C5) (target) by Rp- and Sp-individual diastereomers of the methylphosphonate octathymidylate 4-(N-methyl-N-2-chloroethylamino)benzyl phosphoramide (-pNHCH2RCl) derivatives bearing an additional N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenazinium residue (phn), viz. ClRCH2NHpTp.(TpTp)3TpNH(CH2)2NHPhn (I) and PhnNH(CH2)2NHpTp(TpTp)3TpNHCH2RCl (II) (p = -OP(O) (CH3)O-), has been investigated. Stabilisation of the complementary complex formed by the target oligonucleotide and methylphosphonate oligonucleotide derivatives by the Phn group considerably rose the efficiency of the intracomplex alkylation of the target as compared with alkylation by reagents without Phn. RP-isomeric derivatives of (I) and (II) proved to be the most effective alkylating reagents. Specificity of alkylation of nucleic acid target by reagents (I) and (II) is studied.     

Comparison of initiating abilities of primers of different length in polymerization reactions catalyzed by DNA polymerases from thermoacidophilic archaebacteria

Optimal conditions for polymerization reaction catalyzed on poly(dA) and poly(dT) templates by DNA polymerases from thermoacidophilic archaebacteria--DNA polymerase A from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and DNA polymerase B from Thermoplasma acidophilum--have been established. Values of Km and Vmax (60 degrees C) for a set of primers d(pA)n and d(pT)n have been estimated. Minimal primers for both enzymes are dNMP. Lengthening of primers by each mononucleotide increases their affinity about 2.16-fold. Linear dependence of log Km and of log vmax on the number of mononucleotide links in primers (n) has breaking point at n = 10. The value of Vmax is about 20% of that for decanucleotide. The affinity of the primer d(pA)9p(rib*) with a deoxyribosylurea residue at the 3'-end does not differ essentially from that of d(pA)9. Substitution of the 3'-terminal nucleotide of a complementary primer for a noncomplementary nucleotide, e.g., substitution of 3'-terminal A for C in d(pA)10 in the reaction catalyzed on poly(dT), decreases the affinity of a primer by one order of magnitude.     

The adenovirus DNA binding protein and adenovirus DNA polymerase interact to catalyze elongation of primed DNA templates

The adenovirus-encoded 140-kDa DNA polymerase (Ad Pol) and the 59-kDa DNA binding protein (Ad DBP) are both required for the replication of viral DNA in vivo and in vitro. Previous studies demonstrated that, when poly(dT).oligo(dA) was used as a template-primer, both proteins were required for poly(dA) synthesis. In this report, the interaction between the Ad Pol and Ad DBP was further investigated using poly(dT).oligo(dA) as well as a linear duplex molecule containing 3' poly(dT) tails. DNA synthesis with the tailed template required Ad Pol, Ad DBP, and an oligo(dA) primer hydrogen bonded to the poly(dT) tails. Incorporation was stimulated 8-10-fold by ATP; however, no evidence of ATP hydrolysis to ADP was observed. Synthesis was initiated at either end of the tailed molecule and proceeded through the duplex region to the end of the molecule. This ability to translocate through duplex DNA and to synthesize long poly(dA) chains suggests that the Ad Pol.Ad DBP complex can act efficiently in the elongation reactions involved in the replication of Ad DNA (both type I and type II). During the replication reaction, substantial hydrolysis of deoxynucleoside triphosphates to the corresponding deoxynucleoside monophosphates occurred. This reaction required DNA synthesis and most likely reflects an idling reaction similar to that observed with other DNA polymerases containing 3'----5' exonuclease activity in which the polymerase first incorporates and then hydrolyzes a dNMP.     

Rate-limiting steps in the DNA polymerase I reaction pathway

The initial rates of incorporation of dTTP and thymidine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (dTTP alpha S) into poly(dA) X oligo(dT) during template-directed synthesis by the large fragment of DNA polymerase I have been measured by using a rapid-quench technique. The rates were initially equal, indicating a nonrate-limiting chemical step. However, the rate of thionucleotide incorporation steadily diminished to 10% of its initial value as the number of consecutive dTMP alpha S residues in the primer strand increased. This anomalous behavior can be attributed to the helix instability inherent in phosphorothioate-containing duplexes. Positional isotope exchange experiments employing the labeled substrate [alpha-18O2]dATP have revealed negligible alpha, beta-bridging----beta-nonbridging isotope exchange in template-directed reactions of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (Pol I) both in the presence and in the absence of added inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), suggesting rapid PPi release following the chemical step. These observations are consistent with a rate-limiting step that is tentatively assigned to a conformational change of the E X DNA X dNTP complex immediately preceding the chemical step. In addition, the substrate analogue (Sp)-dATP alpha S has been employed to examine the mechanism of the PPi exchange reaction catalyzed by Pol I. The net retention of configuration at the alpha-P is interpreted in terms of two consecutive inversion reactions, namely, 3'-hydroxyl attack, followed by PPi attack on the newly formed primer terminus. Kinetic analysis has revealed that while alpha-phosphorothioate substitution has no effect upon the initial rate of polymerization, it does attenuate the PPi exchange reaction by a factor of 15-18 fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA-polymerase. II. The role of internucleotide phosphate groups of a template in its binding with the enzyme

The affinity of different ligands (phosphate, nucleoside monophosphates, oligonucleotides) to the template binding site of DNA polymerase alpha from human placenta was estimated. To this goal, dependences of rate of the enzyme inactivation by the affinity reagent d(pT)2pC[Pt2+(NH3)2OH](pT)7 on the concentration of these ligands as competitive inhibitors were determined. Minimal ligands capable to bind with the template site of DNA polymerase alpha were shown to be triethylphosphate (Kd 600 microM) and phosphate (Kd 53 microM). Ligand affinity increases by the factor 1.71 per added monomer unit from phosphate to d(pT) and then for oligothymidylates d(Tp)nT (n 1 to 14). The partial ethylation of phosphodiester groups does not change the efficiency of the oligothymidylate binding with the enzyme. However, the complete ethylation of these groups lowers affinity of the oligothymidylates to the enzyme by 7-9 times. The decrease is comparable with the change of Pt2+-decathymidylate affinity to the enzyme caused by Mn2+-ions. The data obtained led to suggestion that an electrostatic contact (most likely, Me2+-dependent) of phosphodiester group with the enzyme takes place. The type of contact is confirmed by Gibbs' energy change 1.1-1.4 kcal/mole. Formation of a hydrogen bond with the oxygen atom of P = O group of the same phosphate is also assumed (delta G =--4.4 . . .--4.5 kcal/mole). The other internucleotide phosphates and all bases of oligonucleotides form neither hydrogen bonds nor electrostatic contacts with the template binding site. Gibbs' energy changes by 0.32 kcal/mole when the template is lengthened by one unit. We suppose that this value characterizes the energy gain in the transition of oligonucleotide template from aquous medium to the hydrophobic environement of the enzyme active site. Comparison of Km values of oligothymidylates and their partially or completely ethylated analogues as templates in the reaction of DNA polymerization catalysed by DNA polymerase alpha from human placenta and Klenow's fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I suggests a similar mechanism of template recognition by both enzymes.     

Model RNA-directed DNA synthesis by avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase and its associated RNase H.

A model RNA template-primer system is described for the study of RNA-directed double-stranded DNA synthesis by purified avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase and its associated RNase H. In the presence of complementary RNA primer, oligo(rI), and the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates dGTP, dTTP, and dATP, 3'-(rC)30-40-poly(rA) directs the sequential synthesis of poly(dT) and poly(dA) from a specific site at the 3' end of the RNA template. With this model RNA template-primer, optimal conditions for double-stranded DNA synthesis are described. Analysis of the kinetics of DNA synthesis shows that initially there is rapid synthesis of poly(dT). After a brief time lag, poly(dA) synthesis and the DNA polymerase-associated RNase H activity are initiated. While poly(rA) is directing the synthesis of poly(dT), the requirements for DNA synthesis indicate that the newly synthesized poly(dT) is acting as template for poly(dA) synthesis. Furthermore, selective inhibitor studies using NaF show that activation of RNase H is not just a time-related event, but is required for synthesis of the anti-complementary strand of DNA. To determine the specific role of RNase H in this synthetic sequence, the primer for poly(dA) synthesis was investigated. By use of formamide--poly-acrylamide slab gel electrophoresis, it is shown that poly(dT) is not acting as both template and primer for poly(dA) synthesis since no poly(dT)-poly(dA) covalent linkages are observed in radioactive poly(dA) product. Identification of 2',3'-[32P]AMP on paper chromatograms of alkali-treated poly(dA) product synthesized with [alpha-32P]dATP as substrate demonstrates the presence of rAMP-dAMP phosphodiester linkages in the poly(dA) product. Therefore, a new functional role of RNase H is demonstrated in the RNA-directed synthesis of double-stranded DNA. Not only is RNase H responsible for the degradation of poly(rA) following formation of a poly(rA)-poly(dT) hybrid but also the poly(rA)fragments generated are serving as primers for initiation of synthesis of the second strand of the double-stranded DNA.     

A memory effect in DNA replication

A study of the polymerization/excision ratio in the replication of poly(dA), primed with oligo(dT), was carried out with E. coli DNA polymerase I, at various primer and enzyme concentrations. The variations in this ratio suggest that 1) the DNA polymerase is able to switch between two states of low and high exonuclease activities and 2) after dissociating from the template, the DNA polymerase drifts towards the low exonuclease state. The recovery of the high exonuclease state would require several successive incorporations.     

Mammalian cyclin/PCNA (DNA polymerase delta auxiliary protein) stimulates processive DNA synthesis by yeast DNA polymerase III.

Human cyclin/PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) is structurally, functionally, and immunologically homologous to the calf thymus auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase delta. This auxiliary protein has been investigated as a stimulatory factor for the nuclear DNA polymerases from S. cerevisiae. Calf cyclin/PCNA enhances by more than ten-fold the ability of DNA polymerase III to replicate templates with high template/primer ratios, e.g. poly(dA).oligo(dT) (40:1). The degree of stimulation increases with the template/primer ratio. At a high template/primer ratio, i.e. low primer density, cyclin/PCNA greatly increases processive DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase III. At low template/primer ratios (e.g. poly(dA).oligo(dT) (2.5:1), where addition of cyclin/PCNA only minimally increases the processivity of DNA polymerase III, a several-fold stimulation of total DNA synthesis is still observed. This indicates that cyclin/PCNA may also increase productive binding of DNA polymerase III to the template-primer and stabilize the template-primer-polymerase complex. The activity of yeast DNA polymerases I and II is not affected by addition of cyclin/PCNA. These results strengthen the hypothesis that yeast DNA polymerase III is functionally analogous to the mammalian DNA polymerase delta.