Substrate specificity of ultraviolet DNA endonuclease (UVDE/Uve1p) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Genomic Instability Evolutionary Footprints on Human Health: Driving Forces or Side Effects?

In this work, we propose a comprehensive perspective on genomic instability comprising not only the accumulation of mutations but also telomeric shortening, epigenetic alterations and other mechanisms that could contribute to genomic information conservation or corruption. First, we present mechanisms playing a role in genomic instability across the kingdoms of life. Then, we explore the impact of genomic instability on the human being across its evolutionary history and on present-day human health, with a particular focus on aging and complex disorders. Finally, we discuss the role of non-coding RNAs, highlighting future approaches for a better living and an expanded healthy lifespan.

Genome-wide maps of rare and atypical UV photoproducts reveal distinct patterns of damage formation and mutagenesis in yeast chromatin

Ultraviolet (UV) light induces different classes of mutagenic photoproducts in DNA, namely cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs), and atypical thymine-adenine photoproducts (TA-PPs). CPD formation is modulated by nucleosomes and transcription factors (TFs), which has important ramifications for Ultraviolet (UV) mutagenesis. How chromatin affects the formation of 6-4PPs and TA-PPs is unclear. Here, we use UV damage endonuclease-sequencing (UVDE-seq) to map these UV photoproducts across the yeast genome. Our results indicate that nucleosomes, the fundamental building block of chromatin, have opposing effects on photoproduct formation. Nucleosomes induce CPDs and 6-4PPs at outward rotational settings in nucleosomal DNA but suppress TA-PPs at these settings. Our data also indicate that DNA binding by different classes of yeast TFs causes lesion-specific hotspots of 6-4PPs or TA-PPs. For example, DNA binding by the TF Rap1 generally suppresses CPD and 6-4PP formation but induces a TA-PP hotspot. Finally, we show that 6-4PP formation is strongly induced at the binding sites of TATA-binding protein (TBP), which is correlated with higher mutation rates in UV-exposed yeast. These results indicate that the formation of 6-4PPs and TA-PPs is modulated by chromatin differently than CPDs and that this may have important implications for UV mutagenesis.

DNA Repair in Haploid Context

DNA repair is a well-covered topic as alteration of genetic integrity underlies many pathological conditions and important transgenerational consequences. Surprisingly, the ploidy status is rarely considered although the presence of homologous chromosomes dramatically impacts the repair capacities of cells. This is especially important for the haploid gametes as they must transfer genetic information to the offspring. An understanding of the different mechanisms monitoring genetic integrity in this context is, therefore, essential as differences in repair pathways exist that differentiate the gamete’s role in transgenerational inheritance. Hence, the oocyte must have the most reliable repair capacity while sperm, produced in large numbers and from many differentiation steps, are expected to carry de novo variations. This review describes the main DNA repair pathways with a special emphasis on ploidy. Differences between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are especially useful to this aim as they can maintain a diploid and haploid life cycle respectively.

Evolutionary Origins of DNA Repair Pathways: Role of Oxygen Catastrophe in the Emergence of DNA Glycosylases

It was proposed that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) evolved under high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment, similar to those found in deep-sea vents and on volcanic slopes. Therefore, spontaneous DNA decay, such as base loss and cytosine deamination, was the major factor affecting LUCA’s genome integrity. Cosmic radiation due to Earth’s weak magnetic field and alkylating metabolic radicals added to these threats. Here, we propose that ancient forms of life had only two distinct repair mechanisms: versatile apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases to cope with both AP sites and deaminated residues, and enzymes catalyzing the direct reversal of UV and alkylation damage. The absence of uracil–DNA N-glycosylases in some Archaea, together with the presence of an AP endonuclease, which can cleave uracil-containing DNA, suggests that the AP endonuclease-initiated nucleotide incision repair (NIR) pathway evolved independently from DNA glycosylase-mediated base excision repair. NIR may be a relic that appeared in an early thermophilic ancestor to counteract spontaneous DNA damage. We hypothesize that a rise in the oxygen level in the Earth’s atmosphere ~2 Ga triggered the narrow specialization of AP endonucleases and DNA glycosylases to cope efficiently with a widened array of oxidative base damage and complex DNA lesions.

Role of Base Excision Repair Pathway in the Processing of Complex DNA Damage Generated by Oxidative Stress and Anticancer Drugs

Chemical alterations in DNA induced by genotoxic factors can have a complex nature such as bulky DNA adducts, interstrand DNA cross-links (ICLs), and clustered DNA lesions (including double-strand breaks, DSB). Complex DNA damage (CDD) has a complex character/structure as compared to singular lesions like randomly distributed abasic sites, deaminated, alkylated, and oxidized DNA bases. CDD is thought to be critical since they are more challenging to repair than singular lesions. Although CDD naturally constitutes a relatively minor fraction of the overall DNA damage induced by free radicals, DNA cross-linking agents, and ionizing radiation, if left unrepaired, these lesions cause a number of serious consequences, such as gross chromosomal rearrangements and genome instability. If not tightly controlled, the repair of ICLs and clustered bi-stranded oxidized bases via DNA excision repair will either inhibit initial steps of repair or produce persistent chromosomal breaks and consequently be lethal for the cells. Biochemical and genetic evidences indicate that the removal of CDD requires concurrent involvement of a number of distinct DNA repair pathways including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-mediated DNA strand break repair, base excision repair (BER), nucleotide incision repair (NIR), global genome and transcription coupled nucleotide excision repair (GG-NER and TC-NER, respectively), mismatch repair (MMR), homologous recombination (HR), non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) pathways. In this review, we describe the role of DNA glycosylase-mediated BER pathway in the removal of complex DNA lesions.

Evolutionary diversity and novelty of DNA repair genes in asexual Bdelloid rotifers

Background

Bdelloid rotifers are the oldest, most diverse and successful animal taxon for which males, hermaphrodites, and traditional meiosis are unknown. Their degenerate tetraploid genome, with 2–4 copies of most loci, includes thousands of genes acquired from all domains of life by horizontal transfer. Many bdelloid species thrive in ephemerally aquatic habitats by surviving desiccation at any life stage with no loss of fecundity or lifespan. Their unique genomic diversity and the intense selective pressure of desiccation provide an exceptional opportunity to study the evolution of diversity and novelty in genes involved in DNA repair.

Results

We used genomic data and RNA-Seq of the desiccation process in the bdelloid Adineta vaga to characterize DNA damage reversal, translesion synthesis, and the major DNA repair pathways: base, nucleotide, and alternate excision repair, mismatch repair (MMR), and double strand break repair by homologous recombination (HR) and classical non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). We identify multiple horizontally transferred DNA damage response genes otherwise unknown in animals (AlkD, Fpg, LigK UVDE), and the presence of genes often considered vertebrate specific, particularly in the NHEJ complex and X family polymerases. While 75–100% of genes involved in MMR and HR are present in 0–2 copies, genes involved in NHEJ, which are present in only a single copy in nearly all other animals, are retained in 3–8 copies. We present structural predictions and expression evidence of neo- or sub-functionalization of multiple copy genes involved in NHEJ and other repair processes.

Conclusion

The horizontally-acquired genes and duplicated genes in BER and NHEJ suggest resilience to oxidative damage is conferred in part by increased DNA damage recognition and efficient end repair capabilities. The pattern of gene loss and retention in MMR and HR may facilitate recombination and gene conversion between divergent sequences, thus providing at least some of the benefits of sex. The unique retention and divergence of duplicates genes in NHEJ may be facilitated by the lack of efficient selection in the absence of meiotic recombination and independent assortment, and may contribute to the evolutionary success of bdelloids.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1288-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Modulation of UVB-induced Carcinogenesis by Activation of Alternative DNA Repair Pathways

The molecular basis for ultraviolet (UV) light-induced nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers centers on cumulative genomic instability caused by inefficient DNA repair of dipyrimidine photoproducts. Inefficient DNA repair and subsequent translesion replication past these DNA lesions generate distinct molecular signatures of tandem CC to TT and C to T transitions at dipyrimidine sites. Since previous efforts to develop experimental strategies to enhance the repair capacity of basal keratinocytes have been limited, we have engineered the N-terminally truncated form (Δ228) UV endonuclease (UVDE) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe to include a TAT cell-penetrating peptide sequence with or without a nuclear localization signal (NLS): UVDE-TAT and UVDE-NLS-TAT. Further, a NLS was engineered onto a pyrimidine dimer glycosylase from Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus-1 (cv-pdg-NLS). Purified enzymes were encapsulated into liposomes and topically delivered to the dorsal surface of SKH1 hairless mice in a UVB-induced carcinogenesis study. Total tumor burden was significantly reduced in mice receiving either UVDE-TAT or UVDE-NLS-TAT versus control empty liposomes and time to death was significantly reduced with the UVDE-NLS-TAT. These data suggest that efficient delivery of exogenous enzymes for the initiation of repair of UVB-induced DNA damage may protect from UVB induction of squamous and basal cell carcinomas.

Facile preparation of a fluorescent probe to detect the cellular ability of nucleotide excision repair

We previously developed a method to detect the cellular ability of nucleotide excision repair, which functions to remove UV-induced lesions in DNA, using a plasmid-type fluorescent probe. A drawback to the popular use of this method was that the oligonucleotide containing the (6-4) photoproduct, which was used as a primer in the plasmid preparation, must be synthesized chemically. In this study, we prepared the probe using a post-synthetically UV-irradiated oligonucleotide as the primer. Transfection of cells demonstrated that this probe detected the repair ability of the cells in the same manner as the original probe.

Nkx2.1 regulates the generation of telencephalic astrocytes during embryonic development

The homeodomain transcription factor Nkx2.1 (NK2 homeobox 1) controls cell differentiation of telencephalic GABAergic interneurons and oligodendrocytes. Here we show that Nkx2.1 also regulates astrogliogenesis of the telencephalon from embryonic day (E) 14.5 to E16.5. Moreover we identify the different mechanisms by which Nkx2.1 controls the telencephalic astrogliogenesis. In Nkx2.1 knockout (Nkx2.1^−/−) mice a drastic loss of astrocytes is observed that is not related to cell death. Further, in vivo analysis using BrdU incorporation reveals that Nkx2.1 affects the proliferation of the ventral neural stem cells that generate early astrocytes. Also, in vitro neurosphere assays showed reduced generation of astroglia upon loss of Nkx2.1, which could be due to decreased precursor proliferation and possibly defects in glial specification/differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and in vitro co-transfection studies with an Nkx2.1-expressing plasmid indicate that Nkx2.1 binds to the promoter of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), primarily expressed in astrocytes, to regulate its expression. Hence, Nkx2.1 controls astroglial production spatiotemporally in embryos by regulating proliferation of the contributing Nkx2.1-positive precursors.

DNA base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair synergistically contribute to survival of stationary-phase cells of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Defects of genome maintenance may causally contribute to aging. In general, base excision repair (BER) is involved in the repair of subtle base lesions and AP sites, and bulky helix-distorting lesions are restored by nucleotide excision repair (NER). Here, we measured the chronological lifespan (CLS) of BER- and NER-deficient mutants of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and observed the aging process of cells. The CLS of the nth1 (gene for DNA glycosylase/AP lyase) mutant and the rad16 (a homolog of human XPF) mutant were slightly shorter than that of the wild-type (WT) strain. However, survival of the nth1Δ rad16Δ double mutant was significantly reduced after entry into the stationary phase. Deletion of rad16 in an AP endonuclease mutant apn2Δ also accelerated chronological aging. These results indicate that BER and NER synergistically contribute to genome maintenance in non-dividing cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in cells during the stationary phase, and nth1Δ rad16Δ cells produced more ROS than WT cells. High mutation frequencies and nuclear DNA fragmentation were observed in nth1Δ rad16Δ stationary-phase cells concurrent with apoptotic-like cell death. Calorie restriction significantly reduced the level of ROS in the stationary phase and extended the CLS of nth1Δ rad16Δ cells. Therefore, ROS production critically affects the survival of the DNA repair mutant during chronological aging.

Exosome-Mediated Telomere Instability in Human Breast Epithelial Cancer Cells after X Irradiation

In directly irradiating cells, telomere metabolism is altered and similar effects have been observed in nontargeted cells. Exosomes and their cargo play dominant roles in communicating radiation-induced bystander effects with end points related to DNA damage. Here we report novel evidence that exosomes are also responsible for inducing telomere-related bystander effects. Breast epithelial cancer cells were exposed to either 2 Gy X rays, or exposed to irradiated cell conditioned media (ICCM), or exosomes purified from ICCM. Compared to control cells, telomerase activity decreased in the 2 Gy irradiated cells and both bystander samples after one population doubling. At the first population doubling, telomere length was shorter in the 2 Gy irradiated sample but not in the bystander samples. By 24 population doublings telomerase activity recovered to control levels in all samples; however, the 2 Gy irradiated sample continued to demonstrate short telomeres and both bystander samples acquired shorter telomeres. RNase treatment of exosomes prevented the bystander effects on telomerase and telomere length that were observed at 1 population doubling and 24 population doublings, respectively. Thermal denaturation by boiling eliminated the reduction of telomere length in bystander samples, suggesting that the protein fraction of exosomes also contributes to the telomeric effect. RNase treatment plus boiling abrogated all telomere-related effects in directly irradiated and bystander cell populations. These findings suggest that both proteins and RNAs of exosomes can induce alterations in telomeric metabolism, which can instigate genomic instability in epithelial cancer cells after X-ray irradiation.

Dewar valence isomers, the third type of environmentally relevant DNA photoproducts induced by solar radiation

UV-induced DNA damage is the main initiating event in solar carcinogenesis. UV radiation is known to induce pyrimidine dimers in DNA, including cyclobutane dimers and (6-4) photoproducts which have been extensively studied. In contrast, much less attention has been paid to Dewar valence isomers, the photoisomerisation product of (6-4) photoproducts. Yet, the available data show that Dewar isomers can be produced by exposure to sunlight and may lead to mutations. Dewars are thus environmentally and biologically relevant. The present review summarizes currently available information on the formation, mutagenic properties and repair of this class of UV-induced DNA damage.

Immuno-capture of UVDE generated 3'-OH ends at UV photoproducts

A strategy amenable to the genome-wide study of DNA damage and repair kinetics is described. The ultraviolet damage endonuclease (UVDE) generates 3'-OH ends at the two major UV induced DNA lesions, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6,4 pyrimidine-pyrimidone dimers (6,4 PPs), allowing for their capture after biotin end-labeling. qPCR amplification of biotinylated DNA enables parallel measuring of DNA damage in several loci, which can then be combined with high-throughput screening of cell survival to test genotoxic reagents. Alternatively, a library of captured sequences could be generated for a genome wide study of damage sites and large-scale assessment of repair kinetics in different regions of the genome, using next-generation sequencing. The assay is suitable to study any DNA lesion that can be converted into 3'-OH by UVDE, or other enzymes. Toward these goals, we compared UVDE with the classical T4 endonuclease V (T4V) assay. We showed that there is a linear correlation between UV dose, 3'-OH formation and capture by immunoprecipitation, together with its potential application for in vivo studies.

Genomic approaches to DNA repair and mutagenesis

DNA damage is a constant threat to cells, causing cytotoxicity as well as inducing genetic alterations. The steady-state abundance of DNA lesions in a cell is minimized by a variety of DNA repair mechanisms, including DNA strand break repair, mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, and ribonucleotide excision repair. The efficiencies and mechanisms by which these pathways remove damage from chromosomes have been primarily characterized by investigating the processing of lesions at defined genomic loci, among bulk genomic DNA, on episomal DNA constructs, or using in vitro substrates. However, the structure of a chromosome is heterogeneous, consisting of heavily protein-bound heterochromatic regions, open regulatory regions, actively transcribed genes, and even areas of transient single stranded DNA. Consequently, DNA repair pathways function in a much more diverse set of chromosomal contexts than can be readily assessed using previous methods. Recent efforts to develop whole genome maps of DNA damage, repair processes, and even mutations promise to greatly expand our understanding of DNA repair and mutagenesis. Here we review the current efforts to utilize whole genome maps of DNA damage and mutation to understand how different chromosomal contexts affect DNA excision repair pathways.

High resolution mapping of modified DNA nucleobases using excision repair enzymes

The incorporation and creation of modified nucleobases in DNA have profound effects on genome function. We describe methods for mapping positions and local content of modified DNA nucleobases in genomic DNA. We combined in vitro nucleobase excision with massively parallel DNA sequencing (Excision-seq) to determine the locations of modified nucleobases in genomic DNA. We applied the Excision-seq method to map uracil in E. coli and budding yeast and discovered significant variation in uracil content, wherein uracil is excluded from the earliest and latest replicating regions of the genome, possibly driven by changes in nucleotide pool composition. We also used Excision-seq to identify sites of pyrimidine dimer formation induced by UV light exposure, where the method could distinguish between sites of cyclobutane and 6-4 photoproduct formation. These UV mapping data enabled analysis of local sequence bias around pyrimidine dimers and suggested a preference for an adenosine downstream from 6-4 photoproducts. The Excision-seq method is broadly applicable for high precision, genome-wide mapping of modified nucleobases with cognate repair enzymes.

The cutting edges in DNA repair, licensing, and fidelity: DNA and RNA repair nucleases sculpt DNA to measure twice, cut once

To avoid genome instability, DNA repair nucleases must precisely target the correct damaged substrate before they are licensed to incise. Damage identification is a challenge for all DNA damage response proteins, but especially for nucleases that cut the DNA and necessarily create a cleaved DNA repair intermediate, likely more toxic than the initial damage. How do these enzymes achieve exquisite specificity without specific sequence recognition or, in some cases, without a non-canonical DNA nucleotide? Combined structural, biochemical, and biological analyses of repair nucleases are revealing their molecular tools for damage verification and safeguarding against inadvertent incision. Surprisingly, these enzymes also often act on RNA, which deserves more attention. Here, we review protein-DNA structures for nucleases involved in replication, base excision repair, mismatch repair, double strand break repair (DSBR), and telomere maintenance: apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), Endonuclease IV (Nfo), tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase (TDP2), UV Damage endonuclease (UVDE), very short patch repair endonuclease (Vsr), Endonuclease V (Nfi), Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), exonuclease 1 (Exo1), RNase T and Meiotic recombination 11 (Mre11). DNA and RNA structure-sensing nucleases are essential to life with roles in DNA replication, repair, and transcription. Increasingly these enzymes are employed as advanced tools for synthetic biology and as targets for cancer prognosis and interventions. Currently their structural biology is most fully illuminated for DNA repair, which is also essential to life. How DNA repair enzymes maintain genome fidelity is one of the DNA double helix secrets missed by James Watson and Francis Crick, that is only now being illuminated though structural biology and mutational analyses. Structures reveal motifs for repair nucleases and mechanisms whereby these enzymes follow the old carpenter adage: measure twice, cut once. Furthermore, to measure twice these nucleases act as molecular level transformers that typically reshape the DNA and sometimes themselves to achieve extraordinary specificity and efficiency.

Assessment of DNA damage induced by terrestrial UV irradiation of dried bloodstains: forensic implications

Few publications have detailed the nature of DNA damage in contemporary (i.e. non-ancient) dried biological stains. The chief concern, from a forensic standpoint, is that the damage can inhibit polymerase-mediated primer extension, ultimately resulting in DNA typing failure. In the work described here, we analyzed the effects of UVA and UVB irradiation on cell-free solubilized DNA, cell-free dehydrated DNA and dehydrated cellular DNA (from bloodstains). After UV exposure ranging from 25 J cm(-2) to 1236 J cm(-2), we assayed for the presence of bipyrimidine photoproducts (BPPPs), oxidative lesions and strand breaks, correlating the damage with the inhibition of STR profiling. Subsequent to irradiation with either UVA and UVB, the incidence of BPPPs, oxidative products and strand breaks were observed in decreasing quantities as follows: cell-free solubilized DNA>cell-free dehydrated DNA>bloodstain DNA. UVA irradiation did not result in even the partial loss of a STR profile in any sample tested. Somewhat different results were observed after genetic analysis of UVB exposed samples, in that the ability to produce a complete STR profile was affected earliest in bloodstain DNA, next in cell-free solubilized DNA and not at all in cell-free dehydrated DNA. Therefore, it is likely that other types of damage contributed to allele-drop-out in these samples but remained undetected by our assays, whereby the endonucleases did not react with the lesions or the presence of the lesions was masked by strand breaks. Under the conditions of the study, strand breaks appeared to be the predominant types of damage that ultimately resulted in DNA typing failure from physiological stains, although some evidence suggested oxidative damage may have played a role as well.

Alternative excision repair pathways

Alternative excision repair (AER) is a category of excision repair initiated by a single nick, made by an endonuclease, near the site of DNA damage, and followed by excision of the damaged DNA, repair synthesis, and ligation. The ultraviolet (UV) damage endonuclease in fungi and bacteria introduces a nick immediately 5' to various types of UV damage and initiates its excision repair that is independent of nucleotide excision repair (NER). Endo IV-type apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases from Escherichia coli and yeast and human Exo III-type AP endonuclease APEX1 introduce a nick directly and immediately 5' to various types of oxidative base damage besides the AP site, initiating excision repair. Another endonuclease, endonuclease V from bacteria to humans, binds deaminated bases and cleaves the phosphodiester bond located 1 nucleotide 3' of the base, leading to excision repair. A single-strand break in DNA is one of the most frequent types of DNA damage within cells and is repaired efficiently. AER makes use of such repair capability of single-strand breaks, removes DNA damage, and has an important role in complementing BER and NER.

UV damage endonuclease employs a novel dual-dinucleotide flipping mechanism to recognize different DNA lesions

Repairing damaged DNA is essential for an organism’s survival. UV damage endonuclease (UVDE) is a DNA-repair enzyme that can recognize and incise different types of damaged DNA. We present the structure of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius UVDE on its own and in a pre-catalytic complex with UV-damaged DNA containing a 6-4 photoproduct showing a novel ‘dual dinucleotide flip’ mechanism for recognition of damaged dipyrimidines: the two purines opposite to the damaged pyrimidine bases are flipped into a dipurine-specific pocket, while the damaged bases are also flipped into another cleft.

Induction of a G1-S checkpoint in fission yeast

Entry into S phase is carefully regulated and, in most organisms, under the control of a G(1)-S checkpoint. We have previously described a G(1)-S checkpoint in fission yeast that delays formation of the prereplicative complex at chromosomal replication origins after exposure to UV light (UVC). This checkpoint absolutely depends on the Gcn2 kinase. Here, we explore the signal for activation of the Gcn2-dependent G(1)-S checkpoint in fission yeast. If some form of DNA damage can activate the checkpoint, deficient DNA repair should affect the length of the checkpoint-induced delay. We find that the cell-cycle delay differs in repair-deficient mutants from that in wild-type cells. However, the duration of the delay depends not only on the repair capacity of the cells, but also on the nature of the repair deficiency. First, the delay is abolished in cells that are deficient in the early steps of repair. Second, the delay is prolonged in repair mutants that fail to complete repair after the incision stage. We conclude that the G(1)-S delay depends on damage to the DNA and that the activating signal derives not from the initial DNA damage, but from a repair intermediate(s). Surprisingly, we find that activation of Gcn2 does not depend on the processing of DNA damage and that activated Gcn2 alone is not sufficient to delay entry into S phase in UVC-irradiated cells. Thus, the G(1)-S delay depends on at least two different inputs.

Early Steps in the DNA Base Excision Repair Pathway of a Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

DNA base excision repair (BER) accounts for maintaining genomic integrity by removing damaged bases that are generated endogenously or induced by genotoxic agents. In this paper, we describe the roles of enzymes functioning in the early steps of BER in fission yeast. Although BER is an evolutionarily conserved process, some unique features of the yeast repair pathway were revealed by genetic and biochemical approaches. AP sites generated by monofunctional DNA glycosylases are incised mainly by AP lyase activity of Nth1p, a sole bifunctional glycosylase in yeast, to leave a blocked 3′ end. The major AP endonuclease Apn2p functions predominantly in removing the 3′ block. Finally, a DNA polymerase fills the gap, and a DNA ligase seals the nick (Nth1p-dependent or short patch BER). Apn1p backs up Apn2p. In long patch BER, Rad2p endonuclease removes flap DNA containing a lesion after DNA synthesis. A UV-specific endonuclease Uve1p engages in an alternative pathway by nicking DNA on the 5′ side of oxidative damage. Nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination are involved in repair of BER intermediates including the AP site and single-strand break with the 3′ block. Other enzymes working in 3′ end processing are also discussed.

Involvement of a carboxylated lysine in UV damage endonuclease

UV damage endonuclease is a DNA repair enzyme that can both recognize damage such as UV lesions and introduce a nick directly 5' to them. Recently, the crystal structure of the enzyme from Thermus thermophilus was solved. In the electron density map of this structure, unexplained density near the active site was observed at the tip of Lys229. Based on this finding, it was proposed that Lys229 is post-translationally modified. In this article, we give evidence that this modification is a carboxyl group. By combining activity assays and X-ray crystallography on several point mutants, we show that the carboxyl group assists in metal binding required for catalysis by donating negative charge to the metal-coordinating residue His231. Moreover, functional and structural analysis of the K229R mutant reveals that if His231 shifts away, an increased activity results on both damaged and undamaged DNA. Taken together, the results show that T. thermophilus ultraviolet damage endonuclease is carboxylated and the modified lysine is required for proper catalysis and preventing increased incision of undamaged DNA.

Damage recognition by UV damage endonuclease from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

UV damage endonuclease (UVDE) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe initiates repair of UV lesions and abasic sites by nicking the DNA 5' to the damaged site. In this paper we show that in addition UVDE incises DNA containing a single-strand nick or gap, but that the enzymatic activity on these substrates as well as on abasic sites strongly depends on the presence of a neighbouring pyrimidine residue. This indicates that, although UVDE may have been derived from an ancestral AP endonuclease its major substrate is a UV lesion and not an AP site. We propose that UVDE rotates two nucleotides into a pocket of the protein in order to bring the scissile bond close to the active site and that purine bases are excluded from this pocket. We also show that in the DNA complex residue Tyr-358 of UVDE penetrates the DNA helix causing unstacking of two residues opposite the lesion, thereby stabilizing the protein-DNA interaction, most likely by promoting bending of the DNA. In the absence of Tyr-358 the enzyme exhibits an increased catalytic activity on UV-induced lesions, but only at a lower pH of 6.5. At physiological conditions (pH 7.5) the mutant protein completely looses its catalytic activity although it can still bind to the DNA. We propose that in addition to stabilizing the bend in the DNA the hydrophobic side chain of Tyr-358 shields the active site from exposure to the solvent.

Rapid repair of UVA-induced oxidized purines and persistence of UVB-induced dipyrimidine lesions determine the mutagenicity of sunlight in mouse cells

Despite the predominance of ultraviolet A (UVA) relative to UVB in terrestrial sunlight, solar mutagenesis in humans and rodents is characterized by mutations specific for UVB. We have investigated the kinetics of repair of UVA- and UVB-induced DNA lesions in relation to mutagenicity in transgenic mouse fibroblasts irradiated with equilethal doses of UVA and UVB in comparison to simulated-sunlight UV (SSL). We have also analyzed mutagenesis-derived carcinogenesis in sunlight-associated human skin cancers by compiling the published data on mutation types found in crucial genes in nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Here, we demonstrate a resistance to repair of UVB-induced cis-syn cyclobutane pyrimidine-dimers (CPDs) together with rapid removal of UVA-induced oxidized purines in the genome overall and in the cII transgene of SSL-irradiated cells. The spectra of mutation induced by both UVB and SSL irradiation in this experimental system are characterized by significant increases in relative frequency of C-->T transitions at dipyrimidines, which are the established signature mutation of CPDs. This type of mutation is also the predominant mutation found in human nonmelanoma and melanoma tumor samples in the TP53, CDKN2, PTCH, and protein kinase genes. The prevailing role of UVB over UVA in solar mutagenesis in our test system can be ascribed to different kinetics of repair for lesions induced by the respective UV irradiation.

Crystal structure of the DNA repair enzyme ultraviolet damage endonuclease

The ultraviolet damage endonuclease (UVDE) performs the initial step in an alternative excision repair pathway of UV-induced DNA damage, nicking immediately adjacent to the 5' phosphate of the damaged nucleotides. Unique for a single-protein DNA repair endonuclease, it can detect different types of damage. Here we show that Thermus thermophilus UVDE shares some essential structural features with Endo IV, an enzyme from the base excision repair pathway that exclusively nicks at abasic sites. A comparison between the structures indicates how DNA is bound by UVDE, how UVDE may recognize damage, and which of its residues are involved in catalysis. Furthermore, the comparison suggests an elegant explanation of UVDE's potential to recognize different types of damage. Incision assays including point mutants of UVDE confirmed the relevance of these conclusions.

A novel human AP endonuclease with conserved zinc-finger-like motifs involved in DNA strand break responses

DNA damage causes genome instability and cell death, but many of the cellular responses to DNA damage still remain elusive. We here report a human protein, PALF (PNK and APTX-like FHA protein), with an FHA (forkhead-associated) domain and novel zinc-finger-like CYR (cysteine-tyrosine-arginine) motifs that are involved in responses to DNA damage. We found that the CYR motif is widely distributed among DNA repair proteins of higher eukaryotes, and that PALF, as well as a Drosophila protein with tandem CYR motifs, has endo- and exonuclease activities against abasic site and other types of base damage. PALF accumulates rapidly at single-strand breaks in a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1)-dependent manner in human cells. Indeed, PALF interacts directly with PARP1 and is required for its activation and for cellular resistance to methyl-methane sulfonate. PALF also interacts directly with KU86, LIGASEIV and phosphorylated XRCC4 proteins and possesses endo/exonuclease activity at protruding DNA ends. Various treatments that produce double-strand breaks induce formation of PALF foci, which fully coincide with gammaH2AX foci. Thus, PALF and the CYR motif may play important roles in DNA repair of higher eukaryotes.

The role of Schizosaccharomyces pombe DNA repair enzymes Apn1p and Uve1p in the base excision repair of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe the repair of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites is mainly initiated by AP lyase activity of DNA glycosylase Nth1p. In contrast, the major AP endonuclease Apn2p functions by removing 3'-alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde ends induced by Nth1p, rather than by incising the AP sites. S. pombe possesses other minor AP endonuclease activities derived from Apn1p and Uve1p. In this study, we investigated the function of these two enzymes in base excision repair (BER) for methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) damage using the nth1 and apn2 mutants. Deletion of apn1 or uve1 from nth1Delta cells did not affect sensitivity to MMS. Exogenous expression of Apn1p failed to suppress the MMS sensitivity of nth1Delta cells. Although Apn1p and Uve1p incised the oligonucleotide containing an AP site analogue, these enzymes could not initiate repair of the AP sites in vivo. Despite this, expression of Apn1p partially restored the MMS sensitivity of apn2Delta cells, indicating that the enzyme functions as a 3'-phosphodiesterase to remove 3'-blocked ends. Localization of Apn1p in the nucleus and cytoplasm hints at an additional function of the enzyme other than nuclear DNA repair. Heterologous expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of Apn1p completely restored the MMS resistance of the nth1Delta and apn2Delta cells. This result confirms a difference in the major pathway for processing the AP site between S. pombe and S. cerevisiae cells.

DNA repair functions that control sensitivity to topoisomerase-targeting drugs

DNA topoisomerases play critical roles in a wide range of cellular processes by altering DNA topology to facilitate replication, transcription, and chromosome segregation. Topoisomerases alter DNA topology by introducing transient DNA strand breaks that involve a covalent protein DNA intermediate. Many agents have been found to prevent the religation of DNA strand breaks induced by the enzymes, thereby converting the enzymes into DNA-damaging agents. Repair of the DNA damage induced by topoisomerases is significant in understanding drug resistance arising following treatment with topoisomerase-targeting drugs. We have used the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to identify DNA repair pathways that are important for cell survival following drug treatment. S. pombe strains carrying mutations in genes required for homologous recombination such as rad22A or rad32 (homologues of RAD52 and MRE11) are hypersensitive to drugs targeting either topoisomerase I or topoisomerase II. In contrast to results observed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. pombe strains defective in nucleotide excision repair are also hypersensitive to topoisomerase-targeting agents. The loss of DNA replication or DNA damage checkpoints also sensitizes cells to both topoisomerase I and topoisomerase II inhibitors. Finally, repair genes (such as the S. pombe rad8+ gene) with no obvious homologs in other systems also play important roles in causing sensitivity to topoisomerase drugs. Since the pattern of sensitivity is distinct from that seen with other systems (such as the S. cerevisiae system), our results highlight the usefulness of S. pombe in understanding how cells deal with the unique DNA damage induced by topoisomerases.

Fission yeast Uve1 and Apn2 function in distinct oxidative damage repair pathways in vivo

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the endonuclease Uve1 functions as the first step in an alternate UV photo-product repair pathway that is distinct from nucleotide excision repair (NER). Based upon the broad substrate specificity of Uve1 in vitro, and the observation that Uve1 mutants accumulate spontaneous mutations at an elevated rate in vivo, we and others have hypothesized that this protein might have a function in a mutation avoidance pathway other than UV photo-product repair. We show here that fission yeast Uve1 also functions in oxidative damage repair in vivo. We have determined the spectrum of spontaneous mutations that arise in uve1 null (uve1 degrees ) cells and have observed that both G-->T(C-->A) and T-->G(A-->C) transversions occur at an increased rate relative to wildtype cells. These mutations are indicative of unrepaired oxidative DNA damage and are very similar to the mutation spectrum observed in 8-oxoguanine glycosylase (OGG1) mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have generated an apn2 null (apn2 degrees ) strain and shown that it is mildly sensitive to H(2)O(2). Furthermore we have also shown that apn2 degrees cells have an elevated rate of spontaneous mutation that is similar to uve1 degrees. The phenotype of apn2 degrees uve1 degrees double mutants indicates that these genes define distinct spontaneous mutation avoidance pathways. While uve1 degrees cells show only a modest sensitivity to the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), both uve1 degrees and apn2 degrees cells also display a marked increased in mutation rate following exposure to H(2)O(2) doses. Collectively these data demonstrate that Uve1 is a component of multiple alternate repair pathways in fission yeast and suggest a possible role for Uve1 in a general alternate incision repair pathway in eukaryotes.

The major role of human AP-endonuclease homolog Apn2 in repair of abasic sites in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The abasic (AP) sites, the major mutagenic and cytotoxic genomic lesions, induced directly by oxidative stress and indirectly after excision of damaged bases by DNA glycosylases, are repaired by AP-endonucleases (APEs). Among two APEs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Apn1 provides the major APE activity, and Apn2, the ortholog of the mammalian APE, provides back-up activity. We have cloned apn1 and apn2 genes of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and have shown that inactivation of Apn2 and not Apn1 sensitizes this fission yeast to alkylation and oxidative damage-inducing agents, which is further enhanced by Apn1 inactivation. We also show that Uve1, present in S.pombe but not in S.cerevisiae, provides the back-up APE activity together with Apn1. We confirmed the presence of APE activity in recombinant Apn2 and in crude cell extracts. Thus S.pombe is distinct from S.cerevisiae, and is similar to mammalian cells in having Apn2 as the major APE.

A new Schizosaccharomyces pombe base excision repair mutant, nth1, reveals overlapping pathways for repair of DNA base damage

Endonuclease III (Nth) enzyme from Escherichia coli is involved in base excision repair of oxidised pyrimidine residues in DNA. The Schizosaccharomyces pombe Nth1 protein is a sequence and functional homologue of E. coli Nth, possessing both DNA glycosylase and apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) lyase activity. Here, we report the construction and characterization of the S. pombe nth1 mutant. The nth1 mutant exhibited no enhanced sensitivity to oxidising agents, UV or gamma-irradiation, but was hypersensitive to the alkylating agent methyl methanesulphonate (MMS). Analysis of base excision from DNA exposed to [3H]methyl-N-nitrosourea showed that the purified Nth1 enzyme did not remove alkylated bases such as 3-methyladenine and 7-methylguanine whereas methyl-formamidopyrimidine was excised efficiently. The repair of AP sites in S. pombe has previously been shown to be independent of Apn1-like AP endonuclease activity, and the main reason for the MMS sensitivity of nth1 cells appears to be their lack of AP lyase activity. The nth1 mutant also exhibited elevated frequencies of spontaneous mitotic intrachromosomal recombination, which is a phenotype shared by the MMS-hypersensitive DNA repair mutants rad2, rhp55 and NER repair mutants rad16, rhp14, rad13 and swi10. Epistasis analyses of nth1 and these DNA repair mutants suggest that several DNA damage repair/tolerance pathways participate in the processing of alkylation and spontaneous DNA damage in S. pombe.

Role of the DNA repair nucleases Rad13, Rad2 and Uve1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe in mismatch correction

Repair of mismatched DNA occurs mainly by the long-patch mismatch repair (MMR) pathway, requiring Msh2 and Pms1. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe mismatches can be repaired by a short-patch repair system, containing nucleotide excision repair (NER) factors. We studied mismatch correction efficiency in cells with inactivated DNA repair nucleases Rad13, Rad2 or Uve1 in MMR proficient and deficient background. Rad13 incises 3' of damaged DNA during NER. Rad2 has a function in the Uve1-dependent repair of DNA damages and in replication. Loss of Rad13 caused a strong reduction of short-patch processing of mismatches formed during meiotic recombination. Mitotic mutation rates were increased, but not to the same extent as in the NER mutant swi10, which is defective in 5' incision. The difference might be caused by an additional role of Rad13 in base excision repair or due to partial redundancy with other 3' endonucleases. Meiotic mismatch repair was not or only slightly affected in rad2 and uve1 mutants. In addition, inactivation of uve1 caused only weak effects on mutation avoidance. Mutation rates were elevated when rad2 was mutated, but not further increased in swi10 rad2 and rad13 rad2 double mutants, indicating an epistatic relationship. However, the mutation spectra of rad2 were different from that of swi10 and rad13. Thus, the function of Rad2 in mutation avoidance is rather independent of NER. rad13, swi10 and rad2, but not uve1 mutants were sensitive to the DNA-damaging agent methyl methane sulphonate. Cell survival was further reduced in the double mutants swi10 rad2, rad13 rad2 and, surprisingly, swi10 rad13. These data confirm that NER and Rad2 act in distinct damage repair pathways and further indicate that the function of Rad13 in repair of alkylated bases is partially independent of NER.

The nature of the 5'-terminus is a major determinant for DNA processing by Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rad2p, a FEN-1 family nuclease

The nuclease activity of FEN-1 is essential for both DNA replication and repair. Intermediate DNA products formed during these processes possess a variety of structures and termini. We have previously demonstrated that the 5'-->3' exonuclease activity of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe FEN-1 protein Rad2p requires a 5'-phosphoryl moiety to efficiently degrade a nick-containing substrate in a reconstituted alternative excision repair system. Here we report the effect of different 5'-terminal moieties of a variety of DNA substrates on Rad2p activity. We also show that Rad2p possesses a 5'-->3' single-stranded exonuclease activity, similar to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad27p and phage T5 5'-->3' exonuclease (also a FEN-1 homolog). FEN-1 nucleases have been associated with the base excision repair pathway, specifically processing cleaved abasic sites. Because several enzymes cleave abasic sites through different mechanisms resulting in different 5'-termini, we investigated the ability of Rad2p to process several different types of cleaved abasic sites. With varying efficiency, Rad2p degrades the products of an abasic site cleaved by Escherichia coli endonuclease III and endonuclease IV (prototype AP endonucleases) and S.POMBE: Uve1p. These results provide important insights into the roles of Rad2p in DNA repair processes in S.POMBE:

Repair of UV damage in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

This review is concerned with repair and tolerance of UV damage in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and with the differences between Sch. pombe and budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae in their response to UV irradiation. Sch. pombe is not as sensitive to ultra-violet radiation as Sac. cerevisiae nor are any of its mutants as sensitive as the most sensitive Sac. cerevisiae mutants. This can be explained in part by the fact that Sch. pombe, unlike budding yeast or mammalian cells, has an extra pathway (UVER) for excision of UV photoproducts in addition to nucleotide excision repair (NER). However, even in mutants lacking this additional pathway, there are significant differences between the two yeasts. Sch. pombe mutants that lack the alternative pathway are still more UV-resistant than wild-type Sac. cerevisiae; recombination mutants are significantly UV sensitive (unlike their Sac. cerevisiae equivalents); mutants lacking the second pathway are sensitized to UV by caffeine; and checkpoint mutants are relatively more sensitive than the budding yeast equivalents. In addition, Sch. pombe has no photolyase. Thus, the response to UV in the two yeasts has a number of significant differences, which are not accounted for entirely by the existence of two alternative excision repair pathways. The long G2 in Sch. pombe, its well-developed recombination pathways and efficient cell cycle checkpoints are all significant components in survival of UV damage.

The DNA damage spectrum produced by simulated sunlight

The mutagenic effects of ultraviolet and solar irradiation are thought to be due to the formation of DNA photoproducts, most notably cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts ((6-4)PPs). Experimental systems for determining the levels and sequence dependence of photoproduct formation in DNA have often used high doses of short-wave (UVC) irradiation. We have re-assessed this issue by using DNA sequencing technologies and different doses of UVC as well as more physiologically relevant doses of solar irradiation emitted from a solar UV simulator. It has been questioned whether hot alkali treatment can detect (6-4)PPs at all sequence positions. With high UVC doses, the sequence distribution of (6-4)PPs was virtually identical when hot alkali or UV damage endonuclease (UVDE) were used for detection, which appears to validate both methods. The (6-4)PPs form at 5'-TpC and 5'CpC sequences but very low levels are seen at all other dipyrimidines including 5'-TpT. Contrary to expectation, we find that (6-4) photoproducts form at almost undetectable levels under conditions of irradiation for up to five hours with the solar UV simulator. The same treatment produces high levels of CPDs. In addition, DNA glycosylases, which recognize oxidized and ring-opened bases, did not produce significant cleavage of sunlight-irradiated DNA. From these data, we conclude that cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers are at least 20 to 40 times more frequent than any other DNA photoproduct when DNA or cells are irradiated with simulated sunlight.

A novel SMC protein complex in Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains the Rad18 DNA repair protein

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, rad18 is an essential gene involved in the repair of DNA damage produced by ionizing radiation and in tolerance of UV-induced DNA damage. The Rad18 protein is a member of the SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) superfamily, and we show that, like the other SMC proteins in condensin and cohesin, Rad18 is a component of a high-molecular-weight complex. This complex contains at least six other proteins, the largest of which is Spr18, a novel SMC family member closely related to Rad18, and likely to be its heterodimeric partner. SMC proteins have ATP-binding domains at the N- and C-termini, and two extended coiled-coil domains separated by a hinge in the middle. We show that the N-terminal ATP-binding domain of Rad18 is essential for all functions, and overexpression of an N-terminal mutant has a dominant-negative effect. We have identified an important mutation (S1045A) near the C-terminus of Rad18 that separates its repair and essential roles. Potential models for the role of the Rad18-Spr18 complex during DNA repair are discussed.

Contribution of base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and DNA recombination to alkylation resistance of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

DNA damage is unavoidable, and organisms across the evolutionary spectrum possess DNA repair pathways that are critical for cell viability and genomic stability. To understand the role of base excision repair (BER) in protecting eukaryotic cells against alkylating agents, we generated Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains mutant for the mag1 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase gene. We report that S. pombe mag1 mutants have only a slightly increased sensitivity to methylation damage, suggesting that Mag1-initiated BER plays a surprisingly minor role in alkylation resistance in this organism. We go on to show that other DNA repair pathways play a larger role than BER in alkylation resistance. Mutations in genes involved in nucleotide excision repair (rad13) and recombinational repair (rhp51) are much more alkylation sensitive than mag1 mutants. In addition, S. pombe mutant for the flap endonuclease rad2 gene, whose precise function in DNA repair is unclear, were also more alkylation sensitive than mag1 mutants. Further, mag1 and rad13 interact synergistically for alkylation resistance, and mag1 and rhp51 display a surprisingly complex genetic interaction. A model for the role of BER in the generation of alkylation-induced DNA strand breaks in S. pombe is discussed.

A Uve1p-mediated mismatch repair pathway in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

UV damage endonuclease (Uve1p) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe was initially described as a DNA repair enzyme specific for the repair of UV light-induced photoproducts and proposed as the initial step in an alternative excision repair pathway. Here we present biochemical and genetic evidence demonstrating that Uve1p is also a mismatch repair endonuclease which recognizes and cleaves DNA 5' to the mispaired base in a strand-specific manner. The biochemical properties of the Uve1p-mediated mismatch endonuclease activity are similar to those of the Uve1p-mediated UV photoproduct endonuclease. Mutants lacking Uve1p display a spontaneous mutator phenotype, further confirming the notion that Uve1p plays a role in mismatch repair. These results suggest that Uve1p has a surprisingly broad substrate specificity and may function as a general type of DNA repair protein with the capacity to initiate mismatch repair in certain organisms.