Caenorhabditis elegans EXO-3 contributes to longevity and reproduction: differential roles in somatic cells and germ cells

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are the major DNA damage generated continuously even under normal conditions, and inhibit DNA replication/transcription. AP endonucleases are ubiquitous enzymes required for the repair of AP sites and 3' blocking ends, but their physiological roles in multicellular organisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated how an AP endonuclease functions in a multicellular organism (Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)). EXO-3 is one of the AP endonucleases in C. elegans. Using an exo-3 mutant worm, we found that deletion of the exo-3 gene caused shortened lifespan in an ung-1-dependent manner. UNG-1 is a uracil DNA glycosylase in C. elegans, and the present finding suggested that UNG-1 is the major producer of AP sites that affects lifespan, and EXO-3 contributes to longevity by completing the repair of uracil. Next we found that the exo-3 gene was abundantly expressed in the gonads, and AP sites in the gonad were efficiently repaired, suggesting that EXO-3 functioned particularly in the gonad. Deletion of the exo-3 gene resulted in a significant decrease in self-brood size. This was rescued by deficiency of NTH-1, which is a bifunctional DNA glycosylase in C. elegans that recognizes oxidative base damage. This result suggested that the major substrate of EXO-3 in the gonad was 3' blocking end generated by NTH-1, and that EXO-3 played an important role in reproduction. A contribution of EXO-3 to reproduction was also suggested by our finding here that the decrease of self-brood size of the exo-3 mutant became more marked when worms were treated with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3). This study demonstrated differential roles of EXO-3 in somatic cells and germ cells.

Homeostatic Regulation of Base Excision Repair by a p53-Induced Phosphatase: Linking Stress Response Pathways with DNA Repair Proteins

The p53 protein plays a central role in the integration of cellular stress responses. If the cell incurs DNA damage, p53-induced cell cycle arrest is accompanied by p53-facilitated DNA repair. In particular, p53 has been demonstrated to promote both nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER). Once these repair processes are completed, p53 activity declines and the cell can reenter the cell cycle. A critical mediator of this p53 negative regulatory feedback loop is Mdm2, a p53 transcriptional target whose protein mediates p53 proteolytic degradation. Another such p53 transcriptional target that may function in a p53 negative regulation is the PPM1D phosphatase. PPM1D may inhibit p53 activity through inactivating dephosphorylation of the p38 MAP kinase. We have recently shown that PPM1D suppresses BER in part through dephosphorylation of a key BER effector, the nuclear isoform of uracil DNA glycosylase, or UNG2. This finding further links p53 signaling to DNA repair pathways and illustrates a mechanism by which activated DNA repair systems are returned to a deactivated, homeostatic state.

Structural and biophysical analysis of interactions between cod and human uracil-DNA N-glycosylase (UNG) and UNG inhibitor (Ugi)

Uracil-DNA N-glycosylase from Atlantic cod (cUNG) shows cold-adapted features such as high catalytic efficiency, a low temperature optimum for activity and reduced thermal stability compared with its mesophilic homologue human UNG (hUNG). In order to understand the role of the enzyme-substrate interaction related to the cold-adapted properties, the structure of cUNG in complex with a bacteriophage encoded natural UNG inhibitor (Ugi) has been determined. The interaction has also been analyzed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The crystal structure of cUNG-Ugi was determined to a resolution of 1.9 Å with eight complexes in the asymmetric unit related through noncrystallographic symmetry. A comparison of the cUNG-Ugi complex with previously determined structures of UNG-Ugi shows that they are very similar, and confirmed the nucleotide-mimicking properties of Ugi. Biophysically, the interaction between cUNG and Ugi is very strong and shows a binding constant (Kb) which is one order of magnitude larger than that for hUNG-Ugi. The binding of both cUNG and hUNG to Ugi was shown to be favoured by both enthalpic and entropic forces; however, the binding of cUNG to Ugi is mainly dominated by enthalpy, while the entropic term is dominant for hUNG. The observed differences in the binding properties may be explained by an overall greater positive electrostatic surface potential in the protein-Ugi interface of cUNG and the slightly more hydrophobic surface of hUNG.

The effect of Pot1 binding on the repair of thymine analogs in a telomeric DNA sequence

Telomeric DNA can form duplex regions or single-stranded loops that bind multiple proteins, preventing it from being processed as a DNA repair intermediate. The bases within these regions are susceptible to damage; however, mechanisms for the repair of telomere damage are as yet poorly understood. We have examined the effect of three thymine (T) analogs including uracil (U), 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5hmU) on DNA-protein interactions and DNA repair within the GGTTAC telomeric sequence. The replacement of T with U or 5FU interferes with Pot1 (Pot1pN protein of Schizosaccharomyces pombe) binding. Surprisingly, 5hmU substitution only modestly diminishes Pot1 binding suggesting that hydrophobicity of the T-methyl group likely plays a minor role in protein binding. In the GGTTAC sequence, all three analogs can be cleaved by DNA glycosylases; however, glycosylase activity is blocked if Pot1 binds. An abasic site at the G or T positions is cleaved by the endonuclease APE1 when in a duplex but not when single-stranded. Abasic site formation thermally destabilizes the duplex that could push a damaged DNA segment into a single-stranded loop. The inability to enzymatically cleave abasic sites in single-stranded telomere regions would block completion of the base excision repair cycle potentially causing telomere attrition.

[An effective scheme to produce recombinant uracil-DNA glycosylase of Escherichia coli for PCR diagnostics]

An effective scheme has been developed to produce recombinant uracil-DNA glycosylase of Escherichia coli K12 intended to be used for PCR diagnostics, making it possible to achieve a high yield of the end product using a two-stage purification. The gene encoding this enzyme was cloned into the pCWori vector within the same reading frame with six residues of histidine in the C-erminal sequence. Using this vector and the E. coli DH5alpha, a host-vector expression system has been developed and conditions for protein synthesis have been optimized. To purify the protein, metal affinity chromatography with further dialysis was used to remove imidazole. The enzyme yield was no less than 60 mg of the end protein per 1 L of the culture medium. The concordance between amino acid sequences of the recombinant and native enzymes was proved by peptide mass fingerprinting and mass spectrometry. A rapid test to determine the activity of the enzyme preparation was suggested. It was found that the activity of 1.0 mg of the recombinant protein is no less than 3 x 10(3) units. The recombinant enzyme was most stable at pH 8.0 and an ionic strength of the solution equal to 200 mM; it lost its activity completely for 10 min at 60 degrees C. Storage during 1 h at 20 degrees C resulted in the loss of no more than 30% of activity. In the enzyme preparation, the activity of DNase was absent. The free energy of the unfolding of the protein globule of the recombinant uracil-DNA glycosylase is 23.1 +/- 0.2 kJ/mol. The data obtained indicate that the recombinant enzyme may be recommended for use in PCR diagnostics to prevent the appearance of false positive results caused by pollution of the reaction mixture by products of the preceding reactions.

The pH optimum of native uracil-DNA glycosylase of Archaeoglobus fulgidus compared to recombinant enzyme indicates adaption to cytosolic pH

Uracil-DNA glycosylase of Archaeoglobus fulgidus (Afung) in cell extracts exhibited maximal activity around pH 6.2 as compared to pH 4.8 for the purified recombinant enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli. Native Afung thus seems to be adapted to the intracellular pH of A. fulgidus, determined to be 7.0±0.1. Both recombinant and native Afung exhibited a broad temperature optimum for activity around 80°C, reflecting the A. fulgidus optimal growth temperature of 83°C. Adaption to the neutral conditions in the A. fulgidus cytoplasm might be due to covalent modifications or accessory factors, or due to a different folding when expressed in the native host.

A mutant of uracil DNA glycosylase that distinguishes between cytosine and 5-methylcytosine

We demonstrate that a mutant of uracil DNA glycosylase (N123D:L191A) distinguishes between cytosine and methylcytosine. Uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) efficiently removes uracil from DNA in a reaction in which the base is flipped into the enzyme’s active site. Uracil is selected over cytosine by a pattern of specific hydrogen bonds, and thymine is excluded by steric clash of its 5-methyl group with Y66. The N123D mutation generates an enzyme that excises cytosine. This N123D:L191A mutant excises C when it is mispaired with A or opposite an abasic site, but not when it is paired with G. In contrast no cleavage is observed with any substrates that contain 5-methylcytosine. This enzyme may offer a new approach for discriminating between cytosine and 5-methylcytosine.

Regulatory mechanisms of RNA function: emerging roles of DNA repair enzymes

The acquisition of an appropriate set of chemical modifications is required in order to establish correct structure of RNA molecules, and essential for their function. Modification of RNA bases affects RNA maturation, RNA processing, RNA quality control, and protein translation. Some RNA modifications are directly involved in the regulation of these processes. RNA epigenetics is emerging as a mechanism to achieve dynamic regulation of RNA function. Other modifications may prevent or be a signal for degradation. All types of RNA species are subject to processing or degradation, and numerous cellular mechanisms are involved. Unexpectedly, several studies during the last decade have established a connection between DNA and RNA surveillance mechanisms in eukaryotes. Several proteins that respond to DNA damage, either to process or to signal the presence of damaged DNA, have been shown to participate in RNA quality control, turnover or processing. Some enzymes that repair DNA damage may also process modified RNA substrates. In this review, we give an overview of the DNA repair proteins that function in RNA metabolism. We also discuss the roles of two base excision repair enzymes, SMUG1 and APE1, in RNA quality control.

Structure of the uracil complex of Vaccinia virus uracil DNA glycosylase

Poxvirus uracil DNA glycosylases are the most diverse members of the family I uracil DNA glycosylases (UNGs). The crystal structure of the uracil complex of Vaccinia virus uracil DNA glycosylase (D4) was determined at 2.03 Å resolution. One uracil molecule was located in the active-site pocket in each of the 12 noncrystallographic symmetry-related D4 subunits. Although the UNGs of the poxviruses (including D4) feature significant differences in the characteristic motifs designated for uracil recognition and in the base-excision mechanism, the architecture of the active-site pocket in D4 is very similar to that in UNGs of other organisms. Overall, the interactions of the bound uracil with the active-site residues are also similar to the interactions previously observed in the structures of human and Escherichia coli UNG.

Automated quantification of the subcellular localization of multicompartment proteins via Q-SCAn

In eukaryotic cells, proteins can occupy multiple intracellular compartments and even move between compartments to fulfill critical biological functions or respond to cellular signals. Examples include transcription factors that reside in the cytoplasm but are mobilized to the nucleus as well as dual-purpose DNA repair proteins that are charged with simultaneously maintaining the integrity of both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. While numerous methods exist to study protein localization and dynamics, automated methods to quantify the relative amounts of proteins that occupy multiple subcellular compartments have not been extensively developed. To address this need, we present a rapid, automated method termed quantitative subcellular compartmentalization analysis (Q-SCAn). To develop this method, we exploited the facile molecular biology of the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Individual subcellular compartments are defined by a fluorescent marker protein and the intensity of a target GFP-tagged protein is then quantified within each compartment. To validate Q-SCAn, we analyzed relocalization of the transcription factor Yap1 following oxidative stress and then extended the approach to multicompartment localization by examining two DNA repair proteins critical for the base excision repair pathway, Ntg1 and Ung1. Our findings demonstrate the utility of Q-SCAn for quantitative analysis of the subcellular distribution of multicompartment proteins.

Scaffold functions of 14-3-3 adaptors in B cell immunoglobulin class switch DNA recombination

Class switch DNA recombination (CSR) of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus crucially diversifies antibody biological effector functions. CSR involves the induction of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) expression and AID targeting to switch (S) regions by 14-3-3 adaptors. 14-3-3 adaptors specifically bind to 5'-AGCT-3' repeats, which make up for the core of all IgH locus S regions. They selectively target the upstream and downstream S regions that are set to undergo S-S DNA recombination. We hypothesized that 14-3-3 adaptors function as scaffolds to stabilize CSR enzymatic elements on S regions. Here we demonstrate that all seven 14-3-3β, 14-3-3ε, 14-3-3γ, 14-3-3η, 14-3-3σ, 14-3-3τ and 14-3-3ζ adaptors directly interacted with AID, PKA-Cα (catalytic subunit) and PKA-RIα (regulatory inhibitory subunit) and uracil DNA glycosylase (Ung). 14-3-3 adaptors, however, did not interact with AID C-terminal truncation mutant AIDΔ(180-198) or AIDF193A and AIDL196A point-mutants (which have been shown not to bind to S region DNA and fail to mediate CSR). 14-3-3 adaptors colocalized with AID and replication protein A (RPA) in B cells undergoing CSR. 14-3-3 and AID binding to S region DNA was disrupted by viral protein R (Vpr), an accessory protein of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), which inhibited CSR without altering AID expression or germline IH-CH transcription. Accordingly, we demonstrated that 14-3-3 directly interact with Vpr, which in turn, also interact with AID, PKA-Cα and Ung. Altogether, our findings suggest that 14-3-3 adaptors play important scaffold functions and nucleate the assembly of multiple CSR factors on S regions. They also show that such assembly can be disrupted by a viral protein, thereby allowing us to hypothesize that small molecule compounds that specifically block 14-3-3 interactions with AID, PKA and/or Ung can be used to inhibit unwanted CSR.

Human APOBEC3A isoforms translocate to the nucleus and induce DNA double strand breaks leading to cell stress and death

Human APOBEC3 enzymes deaminate single stranded DNA. At least five can deaminate mitochondrial DNA in the cytoplasm, while three can deaminate viral DNA in the nucleus. However, only one, APOBEC3A, can hypermutate genomic DNA. We analysed the distribution and function of the two APOBEC3A isoforms p1 and p2 in transfected cell lines. Both can translocate to the nucleus and hypermutate CMYC DNA and induce DNA double strand breaks as visualized by the detection of ©H2AX or Chk2. APOBEC3A induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest and triggered several members of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Activation of purified human CD4+ T lymphocytes with PHA, IL2 and interferon α resulted in C->T hypermutation of genomic DNA and double stranded breaks suggesting a role for APOBEC3A in pro-inflammatory conditions. As chronic inflammation underlies many diseases including numerous cancers, it is possible that APOBEC3A induction may generate many of the lesions typical of a cancer genome.

Persistent damage induces mitochondrial DNA degradation

Considerable progress has been made recently toward understanding the processes of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and repair. However, a paucity of information still exists regarding the physiological effects of persistent mtDNA damage. This is due, in part, to experimental difficulties associated with targeting mtDNA for damage, while sparing nuclear DNA. Here, we characterize two systems designed for targeted mtDNA damage based on the inducible (Tet-ON) mitochondrial expression of the bacterial enzyme, exonuclease III, and the human enzyme, uracil-N-glyosylase containing the Y147A mutation. In both systems, damage was accompanied by degradation of mtDNA, which was detectable by 6h after induction of mutant uracil-N-glycosylase and by 12h after induction of exoIII. Unexpectedly, increases in the steady-state levels of single-strand lesions, which led to degradation, were small in absolute terms indicating that both abasic sites and single-strand gaps may be poorly tolerated in mtDNA. mtDNA degradation was accompanied by the loss of expression of mtDNA-encoded COX2. After withdrawal of the inducer, recovery from mtDNA depletion occurred faster in the system expressing exonuclease III, but in both systems reduced mtDNA levels persisted longer than 144h after doxycycline withdrawal. mtDNA degradation was followed by reduction and loss of respiration, decreased membrane potential, reduced cell viability, reduced intrinsic reactive oxygen species production, slowed proliferation, and changes in mitochondrial morphology (fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, rounding and "foaming" of the mitochondria). The mutagenic effects of abasic sites in mtDNA were low, which indicates that damaged mtDNA molecules may be degraded if not rapidly repaired. This study establishes, for the first time, that mtDNA degradation can be a direct and immediate consequence of persistent mtDNA damage and that increased ROS production is not an invariant consequence of mtDNA damage.

Uracil DNA glycosylase counteracts APOBEC3G-induced hypermutation of hepatitis B viral genomes: excision repair of covalently closed circular DNA

The covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays an essential role in chronic hepatitis. The cellular repair system is proposed to convert cytoplasmic nucleocapsid (NC) DNA (partially double-stranded DNA) into cccDNA in the nucleus. Recently, antiviral cytidine deaminases, AID/APOBEC proteins, were shown to generate uracil residues in the NC-DNA through deamination, resulting in cytidine-to-uracil (C-to-U) hypermutation of the viral genome. We investigated whether uracil residues in hepadnavirus DNA were excised by uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG), a host factor for base excision repair (BER). When UNG activity was inhibited by the expression of the UNG inhibitory protein (UGI), hypermutation of NC-DNA induced by either APOBEC3G or interferon treatment was enhanced in a human hepatocyte cell line. To assess the effect of UNG on the cccDNA viral intermediate, we used the duck HBV (DHBV) replication model. Sequence analyses of DHBV DNAs showed that cccDNA accumulated G-to-A or C-to-T mutations in APOBEC3G-expressing cells, and this was extensively enhanced by UNG inhibition. The cccDNA hypermutation generated many premature stop codons in the P gene. UNG inhibition also enhanced the APOBEC3G-mediated suppression of viral replication, including reduction of NC-DNA, pre-C mRNA, and secreted viral particle-associated DNA in prolonged culture. Enhancement of APOBEC3G-mediated suppression by UNG inhibition was not observed when the catalytic site of APOBEC3G was mutated. Transfection experiments of recloned cccDNAs revealed that the combination of UNG inhibition and APOBEC3G expression reduced the replication ability of cccDNA. Taken together, these data indicate that UNG excises uracil residues from the viral genome during or after cccDNA formation in the nucleus and imply that BER pathway activities decrease the antiviral effect of APOBEC3-mediated hypermutation.

Antifolate response in replication arrest mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

AIM

Thymidine deprivation is a common cancer treatment. This study examines the role of replication arrest and uracil DNA repair in response to thymidine deprivation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Strains of S. cerevisiae deficient in various replication and DNA repair functions were tested for sensitivity to thymidine deprivation induced by the antifolate aminopterin. Cell survival and DNA content were assayed following drug treatment.

RESULTS

Most arrest mutants were more sensitive to aminopterin than was the parental strain. Inactivation of uracil glycosylase in arrest mutants led to a partial reduction in toxicity for some double-mutants. DNA content during exposure to aminopterin was similar in parental and single mutants. However, cells deficient in both arrest and uracil glycosylase functions exhibited continued DNA synthesis, suggesting that uracil glycosylase activity contributes to replication arrest during thymidine deprivation.

CONCLUSION

Replication arrest and uracil DNA repair are important and overlapping determinants of cellular response to thymidine deprivation.

Condensation of DNA--a putative obstruction for repair process in abasic clustered DNA damage

Clustered DNA damages are defined as two or more closely located DNA damage lesions that may be present within a few helical turns of the DNA double strand. These damages are potential signatures of ionizing radiation and are often found to be repair resistant. Types of damaged lesions frequently found inside clustered DNA damage sites include oxidized bases, abasic sites, nucleotide dimers, strand breaks or their complex combinations. In this study, we used a bistranded two-lesion abasic cluster DNA damage model to access the repair process of DNA in condensate form. Oligomer DNA duplexes (47 bp) were designed to have two deoxyuridine in the middle of the sequences, three bases apart in opposite strands. The deoxyuridine residues were converted into abasic sites by treatment with UDG enzyme creating an abasic clustered damage site in a precise position in each of the single strand of the DNA duplex. This oligomer duplex having compatible cohesive ends was ligated to pUC19 plasmid, linearized with HindIII restriction endonuclease. The plasmid-oligomer conjugate was transformed into condensates by treating them with spermidine. The efficiency of strand cleavage action of ApeI enzyme on the abasic sites was determined by denaturing PAGE after timed incubation of the oligomer duplex and the oligomer-plasmid conjugate in presence and absence of spermidine. The efficiency of double strand breaks was determined similarly by native PAGE. Quantitative gel analysis revealed that rate of abasic site cleavage is reduced in the DNA condensates as compared to the oligomer DNA duplex or the linear ligated oligomer-plasmid conjugates. Generation of double strand break is significantly reduced also, suggesting that their creation is not proportionate to the number of abasic sites cleaved in the condensate model. All these suggest that the ApeI enzyme have difficulty to access the abasic sites located deep into the condensates leading to repair refractivity of the damages. In addition, we found that presence of a polyamine such as spermidine has no notable effect in the incision activity of ApeI enzyme in linear oligomer DNA duplexes in our experimental concentration.

SMUG1 but not UNG DNA glycosylase contributes to the cellular response to recovery from 5-fluorouracil induced replication stress

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely utilized cancer chemotherapeutic that causes DNA damage via two mechanisms. Its active metabolite inhibits thymidylate synthase, which deprives cells of TTP and causes the introduction of uracil in DNA. Also, 5-FU is directly incorporated into DNA. Both uracil and 5-FU in DNA are recognized by uracil-DNA glycosylases (UDGs), which initiate base excision repair. UNG and SMUG1 are the two human UDGs most likely to combat the genomic incorporation of uracil and 5-FU during replication. In this study, we examined the roles of UNG and SMUG1 in the initial cellular response to 5-FU and compared continuous exposure to a 24h exposure followed by incubation in drug-free media, which mimics what occurs clinically. Loss of UNG did not alter cellular sensitivity to 5-FU in two human cell lines, despite its predominant biochemical activity for uracil and 5-FU in DNA. Loss of SMUG1 corresponded with >2-fold increase in sensitivity to 5-FU, but only with a 24h treatment followed by recovery. There was no difference between SMUG1 proficient and depleted cells following continuous exposure. We observed that 5-FU treatment induced an enhanced S-phase arrest and CHK1 activation plus an increase in the formation of strand breaks and alkali-labile sites in all sublines. However, SMUG1-depleted cells showed a prolonged S-phase arrest, a transient increase in DNA double-strand breaks following 5-FU treatment and an altered phosphorylation of CHK1 following removal of drug. Collectively, the results suggest that SMUG1 has a role in the resumption of replication following 5-FU treatment.

Expanding targets of DNAzyme-based sensors through deactivation and activation of DNAzymes by single uracil removal: sensitive fluorescent assay of uracil-DNA glycosylase

Although deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) have been widely used as biosensors for the detection of their cofactors and the targets of related aptazymes, it is desirable to expand their range of analytes to take advantage of the DNAzyme-based signal amplification for more sensitive detections. In this study, the activity of uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG) was successfully detected and quantified by deoxyuridine-modified DNAzymes that underwent UNG-dependent deactivation or activation. In one design, the indispensable thymidine T2.1 in the 8-17 DNAzyme was replaced with a deoxyuridine, resulting in minimal change of the DNAzyme's activity. Since UNG is capable of removing uracils from single- or double-stranded DNAs, the modified DNAzyme was deactivated when the uracil at the indispensable thymidine site was eliminated by UNG. In another design, introducing a deoxyuridine to the 3' position of the deoxycytidine C13 in the catalytic core of the same DNAzyme caused significant decrease of the activity. The removal of the interfering deoxyuridine by UNG, however, activated the DNAzyme. By monitoring the activity change of the DNAzymes through the fluorescence enhancement from the DNAzyme-catalyzed cleavage of DNA substrates labeled by a fluorophore and quencher pair, the UNG activity was measured based on UNG-dependent deactivation and activation of the DNAzymes. This method was found to be able to detect UNG activity as low as 0.0034 U/mL. Such a method can be applied to the detection of other nucleotide-modifying enzymes and expand the analyte range of DNAzyme-based biosensors.

Rev1 recruits ung to switch regions and enhances du glycosylation for immunoglobulin class switch DNA recombination

By diversifying the biological effector functions of antibodies, class switch DNA recombination (CSR) plays a critical role in the maturation of the immune response. It is initiated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID)-mediated deoxycytosine deamination, yielding deoxyuridine (dU), and dU glycosylation by uracil DNA glycosylase (Ung) in antibody switch (S) region DNA. Here we showed that the translesion DNA synthesis polymerase Rev1 directly interacted with Ung and targeted in an AID-dependent and Ung-independent fashion the S regions undergoing CSR. Rev1(-/-)Ung(+/+) B cells reduced Ung recruitment to S regions, DNA-dU glycosylation, and CSR. Together with an S region spectrum of mutations similar to that of Rev1(+/+)Ung(-/-) B cells, this suggests that Rev1 operates in the same pathway as Ung, as emphasized by further decreased CSR in Rev1(-/-)Msh2(-/-) B cells. Rescue of CSR in Rev1(-/-) B cells by a catalytically inactive Rev1 mutant shows that the important role of Rev1 in CSR is mediated by Rev1's scaffolding function, not its enzymatic function.

Strikingly different properties of uracil-DNA glycosylases UNG2 and SMUG1 may explain divergent roles in processing of genomic uracil

Genomic uracil resulting from spontaneously deaminated cytosine generates mutagenic U:G mismatches that are usually corrected by error-free base excision repair (BER). However, in B-cells, activation-induced cytosine deaminase (AID) generates U:G mismatches in hot-spot sequences at Ig loci. These are subject to mutagenic processing during somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR). Uracil N-glycosylases UNG2 and SMUG1 (single strand-selective monofunctional uracil-DNA glycosylase 1) initiate error-free BER in most DNA contexts, but UNG2 is also involved in mutagenic processing of AID-induced uracil during the antibody diversification process, the regulation of which is not understood. AID is strictly single strand-specific. Here we show that in the presence of Mg2+ and monovalent salts, human and mouse SMUG1 are essentially double strand-specific, whereas UNG2 efficiently removes uracil from both single and double stranded DNA under all tested conditions. Furthermore, SMUG1 and UNG2 display widely different sequence preferences. Interestingly, uracil in a hot-spot sequence for AID is 200-fold more efficiently removed from single stranded DNA by UNG2 than by SMUG1. This may explain why SMUG1, which is not excluded from Ig loci, is unable to replace UNG2 in antibody diversification. We suggest a model for mutagenic processing in which replication protein A (RPA) recruits UNG2 to sites of deamination and keeps DNA in a single stranded conformation, thus avoiding error-free BER of the deaminated cytosine.

The chromatin remodeling factor SMARCB1 forms a complex with human cytomegalovirus proteins UL114 and UL44

BACKGROUND

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) uracil DNA glycosylase, UL114, is required for efficient viral DNA replication. Presumably, UL114 functions as a structural partner to other factors of the DNA-replication machinery and not as a DNA repair protein. UL114 binds UL44 (HCMV processivity factor) and UL54 (HCMV-DNA-polymerase). In the present study we have searched for cellular partners of UL114.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

In a yeast two-hybrid screen SMARCB1, a factor of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, was found to be an interacting partner of UL114. This interaction was confirmed in vitro by co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that SMARCB1 along with BRG-1, BAF170 and BAF155, which are the core SWI/SNF components required for efficient chromatin remodeling, were present in virus replication foci 24-48 hours post infection (hpi). Furthermore a direct interaction was also demonstrated for SMARCB1 and UL44.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

The core SWI/SNF factors required for efficient chromatin remodeling are present in the HCMV replication foci throughout infection. The proteins UL44 and UL114 interact with SMARCB1 and may participate in the recruitment of the SWI/SNF complex to the chromatinized virus DNA. Thus, the presence of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex in replication foci and its association with UL114 and with UL44 might imply its involvement in different DNA transactions.

Primer extension mutagenesis powered by selective rolling circle amplification

Primer extension mutagenesis is a popular tool to create libraries for in vitro evolution experiments. Here we describe a further improvement of the method described by T.A. Kunkel using uracil-containing single-stranded DNA as the template for the primer extension by additional uracil-DNA glycosylase treatment and rolling circle amplification (RCA) steps. It is shown that removal of uracil bases from the template leads to selective amplification of the nascently synthesized circular DNA strand carrying the desired mutations by phi29 DNA polymerase. Selective RCA (sRCA) of the DNA heteroduplex formed in Kunkel's mutagenesis increases the mutagenesis efficiency from 50% close to 100% and the number of transformants 300-fold without notable diversity bias. We also observed that both the mutated and the wild-type DNA were present in at least one third of the cells transformed directly with Kunkel's heteroduplex. In contrast, the cells transformed with sRCA product contained only mutated DNA. In sRCA, the complex cell-based selection for the mutant strand is replaced with the more controllable enzyme-based selection and less DNA is needed for library creation. Construction of a gene library of ten billion members is demonstrated with the described method with 240 nanograms of DNA as starting material.

APOBEC3 proteins and genomic stability: the high cost of a good defense

The human APOBEC3 family of cytidine deaminases constitutes a cellular intrinsic defense mechanism that is effective against a range of viruses and retro-elements. While it is well established that these enzymes are powerful mutators of viral DNA, the possibility that their activity could threaten the integrity of the host genome has only recently begun to be investigated. Here, we discuss the implications of new evidence suggesting that APOBEC3 proteins can mediate the deamination of cellular DNA. The maintenance of genomic integrity in the face of this potential off-target activity must require high fidelity DNA repair and strict regulation of APOBEC3 gene expression and enzyme activity. Conversely, the ability of specific members of the APOBEC3 family to activate DNA damage signaling pathways might also reflect another way that these proteins contribute to the host immune response.

Characterization of family IV UDG from Aeropyrum pernix and its application in hot-start PCR by family B DNA polymerase

Recombinant uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) from Aeropyrum pernix (A. pernix) was expressed in E. coli. The biochemical characteristics of A. pernix UDG (ApeUDG) were studied using oligonucleotides carrying a deoxyuracil (dU) base. The optimal temperature range and pH value for dU removal by ApeUDG were 55-65°C and pH 9.0, respectively. The removal of dU was inhibited by the divalent ions of Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, and Mn, as well as a high concentration of NaCl. The opposite base in the complementary strand affected the dU removal by ApeUDG as follows: U/C≈U/G>U/T≈U/AP≈U/->U/U≈U/I>U/A. The phosphorothioate around dU strongly inhibited dU removal by ApeUDG. Based on the above biochemical characteristics and the conservation of amino acid residues, ApeUDG was determined to belong to the IV UDG family. ApeUDG increased the yield of PCR by Pfu DNA polymerase via the removal of dU in amplified DNA. Using the dU-carrying oligonucleotide as an inhibitor and ApeUDG as an activator of Pfu DNA polymerase, the yield of undesired DNA fragments, such as primer-dimer, was significantly decreased, and the yield of the PCR target fragment was increased. This strategy, which aims to amplify the target gene with high specificity and yield, can be applied to all family B DNA polymerases.