A Fluorescence-based Exonuclease Assay to Characterize DmWRNexo,Orthologue of Human Progeroid WRN Exonuclease,and Its Application to Other Nucleases

WRN exonuclease is involved in resolving DNA damage that occurs either during DNA replication or following exposure to endogenous or exogenous genotoxins. It is likely to play a role in preventing accumulation of recombinogenic intermediates that would otherwise accumulate at transiently stalled replication forks, consistent with a hyper-recombinant phenotype of cells lacking WRN. In humans, the exonuclease domain comprises an N-terminal portion of a much larger protein that also possesses helicase activity, together with additional sites important for DNA and protein interaction. By contrast, in Drosophila, the exonuclease activity of WRN (DmWRNexo) is encoded by a distinct genetic locus from the presumptive helicase, allowing biochemical (and genetic) dissection of the role of the exonuclease activity in genome stability mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate a fluorescent method to determine WRN exonuclease activity using purified recombinant DmWRNexo and end-labeled fluorescent oligonucleotides. This system allows greater reproducibility than radioactive assays as the substrate oligonucleotides remain stable for months, and provides a safer and relatively rapid method for detailed analysis of nuclease activity, permitting determination of nuclease polarity, processivity, and substrate preferences.     

Oligonucleotides Incorporating 7-(Aminoalkyn-1-yl)-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines: Duplex Stability and Phosphodiester Hydrolysis by Exonucleases

Abstract

Self-complementary {[5′-d(G-C)₄]₂} and non-selfcomplementary oligonucleotides [5′-d(TAG GTC AAT ACT) ? 3′-d(ATC CAG TTA TGA)] containing 7-(ω-aminoalkyn-1-yl)-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines (1a–c) (1) and 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine instead of dG were studied regarding their thermal stability as well as their phosphodiester hydrolysis by either 3′ → 5′- or 5′ → 3′ – phosphodi esterase studied by MALDI-TOF MS.     

Synthesis,Biophysical, and Biochemical Properties of PNA-DNA Chimeras

Abstract

Three PNA-DNA chimeric dimer synthons (tT, upT and uhT, see Sch. 1) have been synthesized in solution and used to make T₂₀-analogue chimeras applying standard solid-phase DNA synthesis protocol. Duplex forming ability of chimeras with dA₂₀ and their hydrolyses by 3′- and 5′-exonucleases (snake venom and bovine spleen phosphodiesterase, respectively) have been investigated.