An interplay of the base excision repair and mismatch repair pathways in active DNA demethylation

Urinary Measurement of Epigenetic DNA Modifications and 8-oxodG as Possible Noninvasive Markers of Colon Cancer Evolution

The active DNA demethylation mechanism involves 5-methylcytosine (5-mCyt) enzymatic oxidation with the subsequent formation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmCyt), which can be further oxidized to 5-formylcytosine (5-fCyt) and 5-carboxylcytosine (5-caCyt). The products of active DNA demethylation are released into the bloodstream and eventually also appear in urine. We used online two-dimensional ultraperformance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (2D-UPLC-MS/MS) to compare DNA methylation marks and 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous condition in urine. The study included four groups of subjects: healthy controls, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), persons with adenomatous polyps (AD), and individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC). We have found that the level of 5-fCyt in urine was significantly lower for CRC and polyp groups than in the control group. The level of 5-hmCyt was significantly higher only in the CRC group compared to the control (2.3 vs. 2.1 nmol/mmol creatinine). Interestingly, we have found highly statistically significant correlation of 5-hydroxymethyluracil with 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxycytidine, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, and 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine in the CRC patients' group.

Dynamic changes in genomic 5-hydroxymethyluracil and N6-methyladenine levels in the Drosophila melanogaster life cycle and in response to different temperature conditions

In this study, the level of DNA modifications was investigated in three developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster (larvae, pupae, imago) and in an in vitro model (Schneider 2 cells). Analysis was carried out using two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Our method made it possible, for the first time, to analyze a broad spectrum of DNA modifications in the three stages of Drosophila. Each stage was characterized by a specific modification pattern, and the levels of these compounds fluctuated throughout the D. melanogaster life cycle. The level of DNA modification was also compared between insects bred at 25 °C (optimal temperature) and at 18 °C, and the groups differed significantly. The profound changes in N6-methyladenine and 5-hydroxymethyluracil levels during the Drosophila life cycle and as a result of breeding temperature changes indicate that these DNA modifications can play important regulatory roles in response to environmental changes and/or biological conditions. Moreover, the supplementation of Schneider 2 cells with 1 mM L-ascorbic acid caused a time-dependent increase in the level of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine. These data suggest that a certain pool of this compound may arise from the enzymatic activity of the dTET protein.

The mismatch-repair proteins MSH2 and MSH6 interact with the imprinting control regions through the ZFP57-KAP1 complex

Background

Imprinting Control Regions (ICRs) are CpG-rich sequences acquiring differential methylation in the female and male germline and maintaining it in a parental origin-specific manner in somatic cells. Despite their expected high mutation rate due to spontaneous deamination of methylated cytosines, ICRs show conservation of CpG-richness and CpG-containing transcription factor binding sites in mammalian species. However, little is known about the mechanisms contributing to the maintenance of a high density of methyl CpGs at these loci.

Results

To gain functional insights into the mechanisms for maintaining CpG methylation, we sought to identify the proteins binding the methylated allele of the ICRs by determining the interactors of ZFP57 that recognizes a methylated hexanucleotide motif of these DNA regions in mouse ESCs. By using a tagged approach coupled to LC–MS/MS analysis, we identified several proteins, including factors involved in mRNA processing/splicing, chromosome organization, transcription and DNA repair processes. The presence of the post-replicative mismatch-repair (MMR) complex components MSH2 and MSH6 among the identified ZFP57 interactors prompted us to investigate their DNA binding profile by chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing. We demonstrated that MSH2 was enriched at gene promoters overlapping unmethylated CpG islands and at repeats. We also found that both MSH2 and MSH6 interacted with the methylated allele of the ICRs, where their binding to DNA was mediated by the ZFP57/KAP1 complex.

Conclusions

Our findings show that the MMR complex is concentrated on gene promoters and repeats in mouse ESCs, suggesting that maintaining the integrity of these regions is a primary function of highly proliferating cells. Furthermore, the demonstration that MSH2/MSH6 are recruited to the methylated allele of the ICRs through interaction with ZFP57/KAP1 suggests a role of the MMR complex in the maintenance of the integrity of these regulatory regions and evolution of genomic imprinting in mammalian species.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-022-00462-7.

A combinatorial system to examine the enzymatic repair of multiply damaged DNA substrates

DNA damage drives genetic mutations that underlie the development of cancer in humans. Multiple pathways have been described in mammalian cells which can repair this damage. However, most work to date has focused upon single lesions in DNA. We present here a combinatorial system which allows assembly of duplexes containing single or multiple types of damage by ligating together six oligonucleotides containing damaged or modified bases. The combinatorial system has dual fluorescent labels allowing examination of both strands simultaneously, in order to study interactions or competition between different DNA repair pathways. Using this system, we demonstrate how repair of oxidative damage in one DNA strand can convert a mispaired T:G deamination intermediate into a T:A mutation. We also demonstrate that slow repair of a T:G mispair, relative to a U:G mispair, by the human methyl-binding domain 4 DNA glycosylase provides a competitive advantage to competing repair pathways, and could explain why CpG dinucleotides are hotspots for C to T mutations in human tumors. Data is also presented that suggests repair of closely spaced lesions in opposing strands can be repaired by a combination of short and long-patch base excision repair and simultaneous repair of multiply damage sites can potentially lead to lethal double strand breaks.

Gadd45 in DNA Demethylation and DNA Repair

Growth arrest and DNA damage 45 (Gadd45) family genes, Gadd45A, Gadd45B, and GADD45 G are implicated as stress sensors that are rapidly induced upon genotoxic/physiological stress. They are involved in regulation of various cellular functions such as DNA repair, senescence, and cell cycle control. Gadd45 family of genes serve as tumor suppressors in response to different stimuli and defects in Gadd45 pathway can give rise to oncogenesis. More recently, Gadd45 has been shown to promote gene activation by demethylation and this function is important for transcriptional regulation and differentiation during development. Gadd45 serves as an adaptor for DNA repair factors to promote removal of 5-methylcytosine from DNA at gene specific loci. Therefore, Gadd45 serves as a powerful link between DNA repair and epigenetic gene regulation.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Power of Active DNA Demethylation Pathway Intermediates in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by genomic instability, which may arise from the global hypomethylation of the DNA. The active DNA demethylation process may be linked with aberrant methylation and can be involved in leukemogenesis. The levels of 5-methylcytosine oxidation products were analyzed in minimally invasive material: the cellular DNA from peripheral blood cells and urine of patients with AML and MDS along with the control group, using isotope-dilution two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used for the assessment of the ability to discriminate patients’ groups from the control group, and AML from MDS. The most diagnostically useful for discriminating AML patients from the control group was the urinary excretion of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (AUC = 0.918, sensitivity: 85%, and specificity: 97%), and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2′-deoxyuridine (0.873, 74%, and 92%), while for MDS patients 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2′-deoxycytidine in DNA (0.905, 82%, and 98%) and urinary 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (0.746, 66%, and 92%). Multi-factor models of classification trees allowed the correct classification of patients with AML and MDS in 95.7% and 94.7% of cases. The highest prognostic value of the analyzed parameters in predicting the transformation of MDS into AML was observed for 5-carboxy-2′-deoxycytidine (0.823, 80%, and 97%) and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2′-deoxyuridine (0.872, 100%, and 75%) in DNA. The presented research proves that the intermediates of the active DNA demethylation pathway determined in the completely non-invasive (urine) or minimally invasive (blood) material can be useful in supporting the diagnostic process of patients with MDS and AML. The possibility of an early identification of a group of MDS patients with an increased risk of transformation into AML is of particular importance.

The threat of programmed DNA damage to neuronal genome integrity and plasticity

The neuronal genome is particularly sensitive to loss or attenuation of DNA repair, and many neurological diseases ensue when DNA repair is impaired. It is well-established that the neuronal genome is subjected to stochastic DNA damage, most likely because of extensive oxidative stress in the brain. However, recent studies have identified unexpected high levels of 'programmed' DNA breakage in neurons, which we propose arise during physiological DNA metabolic processes intrinsic to neuronal development, differentiation and maintenance. The role of programmed DNA breaks in normal neuronal physiology and disease remains relatively unexplored thus far. However, bulk and single-cell sequencing analyses of neurodegenerative diseases have revealed age-related somatic mutational signatures that are enriched in regulatory regions of the genome. Here, we explore a paradigm of DNA repair in neurons, in which the genome is safeguarded from erroneous impacts of programmed genome breakage intrinsic to normal neuronal function.

Effect of DNA Methylation on the 3'→5' Exonuclease Activity of Major Human Abasic Site Endonuclease APEX1

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases are the key enzymes in the DNA base excision repair, as they hydrolyze the phosphodiester bond in the AP site formed after removal of the damaged base. Major human AP endonuclease APEX1 also possesses the 3'-phosphodiesterase and 3'→5' exonuclease activities. The biological role of the latter has not been established yet; it is assumed that it corrects DNA synthesis errors during DNA repair. If DNA is damaged at the 3'-side of 5-methylcytosine (mC) residue, the 3'→5' exonuclease activity can change the epigenetic methylation status of the CpG dinucleotide. It remains unclear whether the 3'→5' exonuclease activity of APEX1 contributes to the active epigenetic demethylation or, on the contrary, is limited in the case of methylated CpG dinucleotides in order to preserve the epigenetic status upon repair of accidental DNA damage. Here, we report the results of the first systematic study on the efficiency of removal of 3'-terminal nucleotides from the substrates modeling DNA repair intermediates in the CpG dinucleotides. The best substrates for the 3'→5' exonuclease activity of APEX1 were oligonucleotides with the 3'-terminal bases non-complementary to the template, while the worst substrates contained mC. The presence of mC in the complementary strand significantly reduced the reaction rate even for the non-complementary 3'-ends. Therefore, the efficiency of the 3'→5' exonuclease reaction catalyzed by APEX1 is limited in the case of the methylated CpG dinucleotides, which likely reflects the need to preserve the epigenetic status during DNA repair.

Triticale Green Plant Regeneration Is Due to DNA Methylation and Sequence Changes Affecting Distinct Sequence Contexts in the Presence of Copper Ions in Induction Medium

Metal ions in the induction medium are essential ingredients allowing green plant regeneration. For instance, Cu(II) and Ag(I) ions may affect the mitochondrial electron transport chain, influencing the Yang cycle and synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, the prominent donor of the methylation group for all cellular compounds, including cytosines. If the ion concentrations are not balanced, they can interfere with the proper flow of electrons in the respiratory chain and ATP production. Under oxidative stress, methylated cytosines might be subjected to mutations impacting green plant regeneration efficiency. Varying Cu(II) and Ag(I) concentrations in the induction medium and time of anther culture, nine trials of anther culture-derived regenerants of triticale were derived. The methylation-sensitive AFLP approach quantitative characteristics of tissue culture-induced variation, including sequence variation, DNA demethylation, and DNA de novo methylation for all symmetric-CG, CHG, and asymmetric-CHH sequence contexts, were evaluated for all trials. In addition, the implementation of mediation analysis allowed evaluating relationships between factors influencing green plant regeneration efficiency. It was demonstrated that Cu(II) ions mediated relationships between: (1) de novo methylation in the CHH context and sequence variation in the CHH, (2) sequence variation in CHH and green plant regeneration efficiency, (3) de novo methylation in CHH sequences and green plant regeneration, (4) between sequence variation in the CHG context, and green plant regeneration efficiency. Cu(II) ions were not a mediator between de novo methylation in the CG context and green plant regeneration. The latter relationship was mediated by sequence variation in the CG context. On the other hand, we failed to identify any mediating action of Ag(I) ions or the moderating role of time. Furthermore, demethylation in any sequence context seems not to participate in any relationships leading to green plant regeneration, sequence variation, and the involvement of Cu(II) or Ag(I) as mediators.

Deficiency of replication-independent DNA mismatch repair drives a 5-methylcytosine deamination mutational signature in cancer

Multiple mutational signatures have been associated with DNA mismatch repair (MMR)–deficient cancers, but the mechanisms underlying their origin remain unclear. Here, using mutation data from cancer genomes, we identify a previously unknown function of MMR that is able to protect genomes from 5-methylcytosine (5mC) deamination–induced somatic mutations in a replication-independent manner. Cancers with deficiency of MMR proteins MSH2/MSH6 (MutSα) exhibit mutational signature contributions distinct from those that are deficient in MLH1/PMS2 (MutLα). This disparity arises from unrepaired 5mC deamination–induced mismatches rather than replicative DNA polymerase errors. In cancers with biallelic loss of MBD4 DNA glycosylase, repair of 5mC deamination damage is strongly associated with H3K36me3 chromatin, implicating MutSα as the essential factor in its repair. We thus uncover a noncanonical role of MMR in the protection against 5mC deamination–induced mutation in human cancers.

The urinary excretion of epigenetically modified DNA as a marker of pediatric ALL status and chemotherapy response

The active DNA demethylation process may be linked to aberrant methylation and may be involved in leukemogenesis. We investigated the role of epigenetic DNA modifications in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) diagnostics and therapy monitoring. We analyzed the levels of 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-mdC) oxidation products in the cellular DNA and urine of children with ALL (at diagnosis and during chemotherapy, n = 55) using two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (2D UPLC–MS/MS). Moreover, the expression of Ten Eleven Translocation enzymes (TETs) at the mRNA and protein levels was determined. Additionally, the ascorbate level in the blood plasma was analyzed. Before treatment, the ALL patients had profoundly higher levels of the analyzed modified DNA in their urine than the controls. After chemotherapy, we observed a statistically significant decrease in active demethylation products in urine, with a final level similar to the level characteristic of healthy children. The level of 5-hmdC in the DNA of the leukocytes in blood of the patient group was significantly lower than that of the control group. Our data suggest that urinary excretion of epigenetic DNA modification may be a marker of pediatric ALL status and a reliable marker of chemotherapy response.

The role of RNA m5C modification in cancer metastasis

Epigenetic modification plays a crucial regulatory role in the biological processes of eukaryotic cells. The recent characterization of DNA and RNA methylation is still ongoing. Tumor metastasis has long been an unconquerable feature in the fight against cancer. As an inevitable component of the epigenetic regulatory network, 5-methylcytosine is associated with multifarious cellular processes and systemic diseases, including cell migration and cancer metastasis. Recently, gratifying progress has been achieved in determining the molecular interactions between m⁵C writers (DNMTs and NSUNs), demethylases (TETs), readers (YTHDF2, ALYREF and YBX1) and RNAs. However, the underlying mechanism of RNA m⁵C methylation in cell mobility and metastasis remains unclear. The functions of m⁵C writers and readers are believed to regulate gene expression at the post-transcription level and are involved in cellular metabolism and movement. In this review, we emphatically summarize the recent updates on m⁵C components and related regulatory networks. The content will be focused on writers and readers of the RNA m⁵C modification and potential mechanisms in diseases. We will discuss relevant upstream and downstream interacting molecules and their associations with cell migration and metastasis.

Epigenetic Regulation of Genomic Stability by Vitamin C

DNA methylation plays an important role in the maintenance of genomic stability. Ten-eleven translocation proteins (TETs) are a family of iron (Fe²⁺) and α-KG -dependent dioxygenases that regulate DNA methylation levels by oxidizing 5-methylcystosine (5mC) to generate 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). These oxidized methylcytosines promote passive demethylation upon DNA replication, or active DNA demethylation, by triggering base excision repair and replacement of 5fC and 5caC with an unmethylated cytosine. Several studies over the last decade have shown that loss of TET function leads to DNA hypermethylation and increased genomic instability. Vitamin C, a cofactor of TET enzymes, increases 5hmC formation and promotes DNA demethylation, suggesting that this essential vitamin, in addition to its antioxidant properties, can also directly influence genomic stability. This review will highlight the functional role of DNA methylation, TET activity and vitamin C, in the crosstalk between DNA methylation and DNA repair.

Genomic Uracil and Aberrant Profile of Demethylation Intermediates in Epigenetics and Hematologic Malignancies

DNA of all living cells undergoes continuous structural and chemical alterations resulting from fundamental cellular metabolic processes and reactivity of normal cellular metabolites and constituents. Examples include enzymatically oxidized bases, aberrantly methylated bases, and deaminated bases, the latter largely uracil from deaminated cytosine. In addition, the non-canonical DNA base uracil may result from misincorporated dUMP. Furthermore, uracil generated by deamination of cytosine in DNA is not always damage as it is also an intermediate in normal somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class shift recombination (CSR) at the Ig locus of B-cells in adaptive immunity. Many of the modifications alter base-pairing properties and may thus cause replicative and transcriptional mutagenesis. The best known and most studied epigenetic mark in DNA is 5-methylcytosine (5mC), generated by a methyltransferase that uses SAM as methyl donor, usually in CpG contexts. Oxidation products of 5mC are now thought to be intermediates in active demethylation as well as epigenetic marks in their own rights. The aim of this review is to describe the endogenous processes that surround the generation and removal of the most common types of DNA nucleobase modifications, namely, uracil and certain epigenetic modifications, together with their role in the development of hematological malignances. We also discuss what dictates whether the presence of an altered nucleobase is defined as damage or a natural modification.

The uncoupling of respiration in plant mitochondria: keeping reactive oxygen and nitrogen species under control

Plant mitochondrial respiration involves the operation of various alternative pathways. These pathways participate, both directly and indirectly, in the maintenance of mitochondrial functions though they do not contribute to energy production, being uncoupled from the generation of an electrochemical gradient across the mitochondrial membrane and thus from ATP production. Recent findings suggest that uncoupled respiration is involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, regulation, and homeostasis. Here we discuss specific roles and possible functions of uncoupled mitochondrial respiration in ROS and NO metabolism. The mechanisms of expression and regulation of the NDA-, NDB- and NDC-type non-coupled NADH and NADPH dehydrogenases, the alternative oxidase (AOX), and the uncoupling protein (UCP) are examined in relation to their involvement in the establishment of the stable far-from-equilibrium state of plant metabolism. The role of uncoupled respiration in controlling the levels of ROS and NO as well as inducing signaling events is considered. Secondary functions of uncoupled respiration include its role in protection from stress factors and roles in biosynthesis and catabolism. It is concluded that uncoupled mitochondrial respiration plays an important role in providing rapid adaptation of plants to changing environmental factors via regulation of ROS and NO.

Active turnover of genomic methylcytosine in pluripotent cells

Epigenetic plasticity underpins cell potency, but the extent to which active turnover of DNA methylation contributes to such plasticity is not known, and the underlying pathways are poorly understood. Here we use metabolic labeling with stable isotopes and mass spectrometry to quantitatively address the global turnover of genomic 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (mdC), 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxycytidine (hmdC) and 5-formyl-2'-deoxycytidine (fdC) across mouse pluripotent cell states. High rates of mdC/hmdC oxidation and fdC turnover characterize a formative-like pluripotent state. In primed pluripotent cells, the global mdC turnover rate is about 3-6% faster than can be explained by passive dilution through DNA synthesis. While this active component is largely dependent on ten-eleven translocation (Tet)-mediated mdC oxidation, we unveil additional oxidation-independent mdC turnover, possibly through DNA repair. This process accelerates upon acquisition of primed pluripotency and returns to low levels in lineage-committed cells. Thus, in pluripotent cells, active mdC turnover involves both mdC oxidation-dependent and oxidation-independent processes.

MSH2 knock-down shows CTG repeat stability and concomitant upstream demethylation at the DMPK locus in myotonic dystrophy type 1 human embryonic stem cells

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by expansion of a CTG repeat in the DMPK gene, where expansion size and somatic mosaicism correlates with disease severity and age of onset. While it is known that the mismatch repair protein MSH2 contributes to the unstable nature of the repeat, its role on other disease-related features, such as CpG methylation upstream of the repeat, is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of an MSH2 knock-down (MSH2KD) on both CTG repeat dynamics and CpG methylation pattern in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) carrying the DM1 mutation. Repeat size in MSH2 wild-type (MSH2WT) and MSH2KD DM1 hESC was determined by PacBio sequencing and CpG methylation by bisulfite massive parallel sequencing. We found stabilization of the CTG repeat concurrent with a gradual loss of methylation upstream of the repeat in MSH2KD cells, while the repeat continued to expand and upstream methylation remained unchanged in MSH2WT control lines. Repeat instability was re-established and biased towards expansions upon MSH2 transgenic re-expression in MSH2KD lines while upstream methylation was not consistently re-established. We hypothesize that the hypermethylation at the mutant DM1 locus is promoted by the MMR machinery and sustained by a constant DNA repair response, establishing a potential mechanistic link between CTG repeat instability and upstream CpG methylation. Our work represents a first step towards understanding how epigenetic alterations and repair pathways connect and contribute to the DM1 pathology.

Epigenetic, transcriptional and phenotypic responses in Daphnia magna exposed to low-level ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation is known to induce oxidative stress and DNA damage as well as epigenetic effects in aquatic organisms. Epigenetic changes can be part of the adaptive responses to protect organisms from radiation-induced damage, or act as drivers of toxicity pathways leading to adverse effects. To investigate the potential roles of epigenetic mechanisms in low-dose ionizing radiation-induced stress responses, an ecologically relevant crustacean, adult Daphnia magna were chronically exposed to low and medium level external ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation ranging from 0.4, 1, 4, 10, and 40 mGy/h for seven days. Biological effects at the molecular (global DNA methylation, histone modification, gene expression), cellular (reactive oxygen species formation), tissue/organ (ovary, gut and epidermal histology) and organismal (fecundity) levels were investigated using a suite of effect assessment tools. The results showed an increase in global DNA methylation associated with loci-specific alterations of histone H3K9 methylation and acetylation, and downregulation of genes involved in DNA methylation, one-carbon metabolism, antioxidant defense, DNA repair, apoptosis, calcium signaling and endocrine regulation of development and reproduction. Temporal changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation were also observed with an apparent transition from ROS suppression to induction from 2 to 7 days after gamma exposure. The cumulative fecundity, however, was not significantly changed by the gamma exposure. On the basis of the new experimental evidence and existing knowledge, a hypothetical model was proposed to provide in-depth mechanistic understanding of the roles of epigenetic mechanisms in low dose ionizing radiation induced stress responses in D. magna.

Systematic analysis of the binding behaviour of UHRF1 towards different methyl- and carboxylcytosine modification patterns at CpG dyads

The multi-domain protein UHRF1 is essential for DNA methylation maintenance and binds DNA via a base-flipping mechanism with a preference for hemi-methylated CpG sites. We investigated its binding to hemi- and symmetrically modified DNA containing either 5-methylcytosine (mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), 5-formylcytosine (fC), or 5-carboxylcytosine (caC). Our experimental results indicate that UHRF1 binds symmetrically carboxylated and hybrid methylated/carboxylated CpG dyads in addition to its previously reported substrates. Complementary molecular dynamics simulations provide a possible mechanistic explanation of how the protein could differentiate between modification patterns. First, we observe different local binding modes in the nucleotide binding pocket as well as the protein's NKR finger. Second, both DNA modification sites are coupled through key residues within the NKR finger, suggesting a communication pathway affecting protein-DNA binding for carboxylcytosine modifications. Our results suggest a possible additional function of the hemi-methylation reader UHRF1 through binding of carboxylated CpG sites. This opens the possibility of new biological roles of UHRF1 beyond DNA methylation maintenance and of oxidised methylcytosine derivates in epigenetic regulation.

Cytosine Methylation Affects the Mutability of Neighboring Nucleotides in Germline and Soma

Methylated cytosines deaminate at higher rates than unmethylated cytosines, and the lesions they produce are repaired less efficiently. As a result, methylated cytosines are mutational hotspots. Here, combining rare polymorphism and base-resolution methylation data in humans, Arabidopsis thaliana, and rice (Oryza sativa), we present evidence that methylation state affects mutation dynamics not only at the focal cytosine but also at neighboring nucleotides. In humans, contrary to prior suggestions, we find that nucleotides in the close vicinity (±3 bp) of methylated cytosines mutate less frequently. Reduced mutability around methylated CpGs is also observed in cancer genomes, considering single nucleotide variants alongside tissue-of-origin-matched methylation data. In contrast, methylation is associated with increased neighborhood mutation risk in A. thaliana and rice. The difference in neighborhood mutation risk is less pronounced further away from the focal CpG and modulated by regional GC content. Our results are consistent with a model where altered risk at neighboring bases is linked to lesion formation at the focal CpG and subsequent long-patch repair. Our findings indicate that cytosine methylation has a broader mutational footprint than is commonly assumed.

Role of PARP-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in the Crosstalk Between DNA Strand Breaks and Epigenetic Regulation

Covalent linkage of ADP-ribose units to proteins catalyzed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) plays important signaling functions in a plethora of cellular processes including DNA damage response, chromatin organization, and gene transcription. Poly- and mono-ADP-ribosylation of target macromolecules are often responsible both for the initiation and for coordination of these processes in mammalian cells. Currently, the number of cellular targets for ADP-ribosylation is rapidly expanding, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the broad substrate specificity of PARPs present enormous interest. In this review, the roles of PARP-mediated modifications of protein and nucleic acids, the readers of ADP-ribosylated structures, and the origin and function of programmed DNA strand breaks in PARP activation, transcription regulation, and DNA demethylation are discussed.

A universal fluorescence-based toolkit for real-time quantification of DNA and RNA nuclease activity

DNA and RNA nucleases play a critical role in a growing number of cellular processes ranging from DNA repair to immune surveillance. Nevertheless, many nucleases have unknown or poorly characterized activities. Elucidating nuclease substrate specificities and co-factors can support a more definitive understanding of cellular mechanisms in physiology and disease. Using fluorescence-based methods, we present a quick, safe, cost-effective, and real-time versatile nuclease assay, which uniquely studies nuclease enzyme kinetics. In conjunction with a substrate library we can now analyse nuclease catalytic rates, directionality, and substrate preferences. The assay is sensitive enough to detect kinetics of repair enzymes when confronted with DNA mismatches or DNA methylation sites. We have also extended our analysis to study the kinetics of human single-strand DNA nuclease TREX2, DNA polymerases, RNA, and RNA:DNA nucleases. These nucleases are involved in DNA repair, immune regulation, and have been associated with various diseases, including cancer and immune disorders.

Methylation-Demethylation Dynamics: Implications of Changes in Acute Kidney Injury

Over the years, the epigenetic landscape has grown increasingly complex. Until recently, methylation of DNA and histones was considered one of the most important epigenetic modifications. However, with the discovery of enzymes involved in the demethylation process, several exciting prospects have emerged that focus on the dynamic regulation of methylation and its crucial role in development and disease. An interplay of the methylation-demethylation machinery controls the process of gene expression. Since acute kidney injury (AKI), a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease and death, is characterised by aberrant expression of genes, understanding the dynamics of methylation and demethylation will provide new insights into the intricacies of the disease. Research on epigenetics in AKI has only made its mark in the recent years but has provided compelling evidence that implicates the involvement of methylation and demethylation changes in its pathophysiology. In this review, we explore the role of methylation and demethylation machinery in cellular epigenetic control and further discuss the contribution of methylomic changes and histone modifications to the pathophysiology of AKI.

Characteristic profiles of DNA epigenetic modifications in colon cancer and its predisposing conditions-benign adenomas and inflammatory bowel disease

Background

Active demethylation of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5-mdC) in DNA occurs by oxidation to 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC) and further oxidation to 5-formyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5-fdC) and 5-carboxy-2'-deoxycytidine (5-cadC), and is carried out by enzymes of the ten-eleven translocation family (TETs 1, 2, 3). Decreased level of epigenetic DNA modifications in cancer tissue may be a consequence of reduced activity/expression of TET proteins. To determine the role of epigenetic DNA modifications in colon cancer development, we analyzed their levels in normal colon and various colonic pathologies. Moreover, we determined the expressions of TETs at mRNA and protein level.The study included material from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), benign polyps (AD), and colorectal cancer (CRC). The levels of epigenetic DNA modifications and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in examined tissues were determined by means of isotope-dilution automated online two-dimensional ultraperformance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (2D-UPLC-MS/MS). The expressions of TET mRNA were measured with RT-qPCR, and the expressions of TET proteins were determined immunohistochemically.

Results

IBD was characterized by the highest level of 8-oxodG among all analyzed tissues, as well as by a decrease in 5-hmdC and 5-mdC levels (at a midrange between normal colon and CRC). AD had the lowest levels of 5-hmdC and 5-mdC of all examined tissues and showed an increase in 8-oxodG and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (5-hmdU) levels. CRC was characterized by lower levels of 5-hmdC and 5-mdC, the lowest level of 5-fdC among all analyzed tissues, and relatively high content of 5-cadC. The expression of TET1 mRNA in CRC and AD was significantly weaker than in IBD and normal colon. Furthermore, CRC and AD showed significantly lower levels of TET2 and AID mRNA than normal colonic tissue.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a complex relationship between aberrant pattern of DNA epigenetic modification and cancer development does not depend solely on the transcriptional status of TET proteins, but also on the characteristics of premalignant/malignant cells. This study showed for the first time that the examined colonic pathologies had their unique epigenetic marks, distinguishing them from each other, as well as from normal colonic tissue. A decrease in 5-fdC level may be a characteristic feature of largely undifferentiated cancer cells.

Mutational signatures of DNA mismatch repair deficiency in C. elegans and human cancers

Throughout their lifetime, cells are subject to extrinsic and intrinsic mutational processes leaving behind characteristic signatures in the genome. DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency leads to hypermutation and is found in different cancer types. Although it is possible to associate mutational signatures extracted from human cancers with possible mutational processes, the exact causation is often unknown. Here, we use C. elegans genome sequencing of pms-2 and mlh-1 knockouts to reveal the mutational patterns linked to C. elegans MMR deficiency and their dependency on endogenous replication errors and errors caused by deletion of the polymerase ε subunit pole-4 Signature extraction from 215 human colorectal and 289 gastric adenocarcinomas revealed three MMR-associated signatures, one of which closely resembles the C. elegans MMR spectrum and strongly discriminates microsatellite stable and unstable tumors (AUC = 98%). A characteristic difference between human and C. elegans MMR deficiency is the lack of elevated levels of NCG > NTG mutations in C. elegans, likely caused by the absence of cytosine (CpG) methylation in worms. The other two human MMR signatures may reflect the interaction between MMR deficiency and other mutagenic processes, but their exact cause remains unknown. In summary, combining information from genetically defined models and cancer samples allows for better aligning mutational signatures to causal mutagenic processes.

The relationship between the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and DNA mismatch repair in cervical cancer and its clinical significance

Background

According to recent clinical observations, deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) is capable of improving antitumor effects of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, suggesting that dMMR may act as a prognostic indicator of PD-1/PD-L1 antibody drugs. In this study, we examined the dMMR and PD-1/PD-L1 expression, as well as explored the correlation of dMMR status with PD-1/PD-L1 expression in cervical cancer patients, in order to optimize cervical cancer patient selection for PD-1/PD-L1 antibody drug treatment, which is helpful to avoid adverse effects and keep costs manageable.

Methods

Sixty-six tissue samples from patients with squamous cell carcinoma were collected, and data of their clinical characteristics were also gathered. Based on these samples, the expression levels of MLH1, MSH2, and PD-L1 in cancer cells were tested by immunohistochemical assay (IHC). Moreover, PD-1/PD-L1 expression in tumor-invading lymphocytes (TILs) was detected by IHC as well. Six single-nucleotide-repeat markers of microsatellite instability (MSI), including NR-27, MONO-27, BAT-25, NR-24, NR-21, and BAT-26, were tested by capillary electrophoresis sequencer analysis. According to expression of MLH1, MSH2 and the MSI test, all 66 cases were divided into dMMR or proficient DNA mismatch repair (pMMR) groups. The comparisons of dMMR and PD-L1 in cancer cells and of PD-1/PD-L1 in TILs were conducted categorized by age, childbearing history, history of abortion, ethnicity, and cancer cell differentiation subgroup. Furthermore, PD-L1 levels in cancer cells and PD-1/PD-L1 in TILs were analyzed and compared in both dMMR and pMMR subgroups.

Results

Of the patient samples, 25.8% were associated with dMMR. PD-L1 in cancer cells, PD-L1 in TILs, and PD-1 in TILs took up 59.1%, 47.0%, and 60.6%, respectively. The data indicated that both dMMR and PD-L1 overexpression resulted from lower cancer differentiation, more incidences of childbearing, and a history of abortion. Abortion could significantly increase PD-1 expression levels in TILs. Additionally, more incidence of childbearing or older age (35–55 years) was able to upregulate PD-L1 expression in TILs. Statistical difference of PD-L1 in cancer cells could be observed between dMMR and pMMR subgroups. In the dMMR group, PD-L1 in cancer cells and PD-1 in TILs had no correlation (r_s=0.161, p=0.537), but in the pMMR group, they had good correlation (r_s=0.645, p<0.001).

Conclusion

According to prior studies and our own experiments, PD-L1 in both cancer cells and TILs and PD-1 in TILs are widely observed in cervical cancer patients, indicating that there may be potential to apply PD-1/PD-L1 antibody drugs in cervical cancer. dMMR patients are associated with higher PD-L1 expression compared with pMMR ones, which suggested that PD-1/PD-L1 antibody drugs may work well in dMMR cervical cancer patients. Moreover, in patients with more incidences of childbearing or abortion, dMMR may be a molecular detection target for clinical application of PD-1/PD-L1 antibody drugs.

Methylation-Demethylation Dynamics: Implications of Changes in Acute Kidney Injury

Over the years, the epigenetic landscape has grown increasingly complex. Until recently, methylation of DNA and histones was considered one of the most important epigenetic modifications. However, with the discovery of enzymes involved in the demethylation process, several exciting prospects have emerged that focus on the dynamic regulation of methylation and its crucial role in development and disease. An interplay of the methylation-demethylation machinery controls the process of gene expression. Since acute kidney injury (AKI), a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease and death, is characterised by aberrant expression of genes, understanding the dynamics of methylation and demethylation will provide new insights into the intricacies of the disease. Research on epigenetics in AKI has only made its mark in the recent years but has provided compelling evidence that implicates the involvement of methylation and demethylation changes in its pathophysiology. In this review, we explore the role of methylation and demethylation machinery in cellular epigenetic control and further discuss the contribution of methylomic changes and histone modifications to the pathophysiology of AKI.

Functional impacts of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine, and 5-carboxycytosine at a single hemi-modified CpG dinucleotide in a gene promoter

Enzymatic oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) in the CpG dinucleotides to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5-fC) and 5-carboxycytosine (5-caC) has central role in the process of active DNA demethylation and epigenetic reprogramming in mammals. However, it is not known whether the 5-mC oxidation products have autonomous epigenetic or regulatory functions in the genome. We used an artificial upstream promoter constituted of one cAMP response element (CRE) to measure the impact of 5-mC in a hemi-methylated CpG on the promoter activity and further explored the consequences of 5-hmC, 5-fC, and 5-caC in the same system. All modifications induced mild impairment of the CREB transcription factor binding to the consensus 5'-TGACGTCA-3' CRE sequence. The decrease of the gene expression by 5-mC or 5-hmC was proportional to the impairment of CREB binding and had a steady character over at least 48 h. In contrast, promoters containing single 5-fC or 5-caC underwent further progressive loss of activity, up to an almost complete repression. This decline was dependent on the thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG). The results thus indicate that 5-fC and 5-caC can provide a signal for perpetuation and enhancement of the repressed transcriptional state by a mechanism that requires base excision repair.

Nei-like 1 (NEIL1) excises 5-carboxylcytosine directly and stimulates TDG-mediated 5-formyl and 5-carboxylcytosine excision

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) and Nei-like 1 (NEIL1) have both been implicated in the base excision repair step of active DNA demethylation. The robust glycosylase activity of TDG on DNA substrates containing 5-formylcytosine (5fC) or 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) is universally accepted, but the mode of action of NEIL1 is still debated. Based on genetic experiments, it has been suggested that NEIL1 acts redundantly with TDG and excises 5fC and 5caC directly. However, this result has been disputed, and it was suggested instead that NEIL1 is recruited by the monofunctional TDG for the 2′-deoxyribose excision step. Using purified human NEIL1 and its catalytically impaired P2T and E3Q variants as controls, we detect NEIL1 activity on 5caC, but not a 5fC containing dsDNA substrate. We confirm direct NEIL1 TDG binding and NEIL1 mediated 2′-deoxyribose excision downstream of TDG glycosylase activity. NEIL1 acts not only downstream of TDG, but also enhances TDG activity on 5fC or 5caC containing DNA. NEIL1 mediated enhancement of the TDG glycosylase activity is substrate specific and does not occur for dsDNA with a T/G mismatch.

5-hydroxymethylcytosine in DNA repair: A new player or a red herring?

Active DNA demethylation performed by ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes produces 5-hydroxymethylcytosines, 5-formylcytosines, and 5-carboxylcytosines. Recent observations suggest that 5-hydroxymethylcytosine is a stable epigenetic mark rather than merely an intermediate of DNA demethylation. However, the clear functional role of this new epigenetic player is elusive. The contribution of 5-hydroxymethylation to DNA repair is being discussed currently. Recently, Jiang and colleagues have demonstrated that DNA damage response-activated ATR kinase phosphorylates TET3 in mammalian cells and promotes DNA demethylation and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine accumulation. Moreover, TET3 catalytic activity is important for proper DNA repair and cell survival. Here, we discuss recent studies on the potential role of 5-hydroxymethylation in DNA repair and genome integrity maintenance.

DNA repair and erasure of 5-methylcytosine in vertebrates

DNA methylation plays important roles in development and disease. Yet, only recently has the dynamic nature of this epigenetic mark via oxidation and DNA repair-mediated demethylation been recognized. A major conceptual challenge to the model that DNA methylation is reversible is the risk of genomic instability, which may come with widespread DNA repair activity. Here, we focus on recent advances in mechanisms of TET-TDG mediated demethylation and cellular strategies that avoid genomic instability. We highlight the recently discovered involvement of NEIL DNA glycosylases, which cooperate with TDG in oxidative demethylation to accelerate substrate turnover and promote the organized handover of harmful repair intermediates to maintain genome stability.

How does inflammation drive mutagenesis in colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health challenge worldwide. Factors thought to be important in CRC etiology include diet, microbiome, exercise, obesity, a history of colon inflammation and family history. Interventions, including the use of non-steroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anti-inflammatory agents, have been shown to decrease incidence in some settings. However, our current understanding of the mechanistic details that drive CRC are insufficient to sort out the complex and interacting factors responsible for cancer-initiating events. It has been known for some time that the development of CRC involves mutations in key genes such as p53 and APC, and the sequence in which these mutations occur can determine tumor presentation. Observed recurrent mutations are dominated by C to T transitions at CpG sites, implicating the deamination of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) as a key initiating event in cancer-driving mutations. While it has been widely assumed that inflammation-mediated oxidation drives mutations in CRC, oxidative damage to DNA induces primarily G to T transversions, not C to T transitions. In this review, we discuss this unresolved conundrum, and specifically, we elucidate how the known nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER) pathways, which are partially redundant and potentially competing, might provide a critical link between oxidative DNA damage and C to T mutations. Studies using recently developed next-generation DNA sequencing technologies have revealed the genetic heterogeneity in human tissues including tumors, as well as the presence of DNA damage. The capacity to follow DNA damage, repair and mutagenesis in human tissues using these emerging technologies could provide a mechanistic basis for understanding the role of oxidative damage in CRC tumor initiation. The application of these technologies could identify mechanism-based biomarkers useful in earlier diagnosis and aid in the development of cancer prevention strategies.

Urinary Measurement of Epigenetic DNA Modifications: A Non-Invasive Assessment of the Whole-Body Epigenetic Status in Healthy Subjects and Colorectal Cancer Patients

Active mechanism of DNA demethylation can be responsible for the activation of previously silenced genes. Products of 5-methylcytosine oxidation are released into the bloodstream and eventually excreted with urine. Therefore, whole-body epigenetic status can be assessed non-invasively on the basis of the urinary excretion of a broad spectrum of epigenetic modifications: 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmCyt), 5-formylcytosine (5-fCyt), 5-carboxycytosine (5-caCyt), and 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5-hmUra). We have developed a specific and sensitive, isotope-dilution, automated, online, two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography system with tandem mass spectrometry (2D UPLC-MS/MS) to measure 5-hmCyt, 5-fCyt, 5-caCyt, and their deoxynucleosides in the same urine sample. Human urine contains all of the modifications except from 5-formyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5-fdC) and 5-carboxy-2'-deoxycytidine (5-cadC). A highly significant difference in the urinary excretion of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC) was found between healthy subjects and colorectal cancer patients (3.5 vs. 7.8 nmol mmol-1 creatinine, respectively), as well as strong correlations between the majority of analyzed compounds.

Vitamin C enhances substantially formation of 5-hydroxymethyluracil in cellular DNA

The most plausible mechanism behind active demethylation of 5-methylcytosine involves TET proteins which participate in oxidation of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine; the latter is further oxidized to 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxycytosine. 5-Hydroxymethyluracil can be also generated from thymine in a TET-catalyzed process. Ascorbate was previously demonstrated to enhance generation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in cultured cells. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of the abovementioned TET-mediated oxidation products of 5-methylcytosine and thymine after addition of ascorbate, using an isotope-dilution automated online two-dimensional ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Intracellular concentration of ascorbate was determined by means of ultra-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Irrespective of its concentration in culture medium (10-100µM) and inside the cell, ascorbate stimulated a moderate (2- to 3-fold) albeit persistent (up to 96-h) increase in the level of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. However, exposure of cells to higher concentrations of ascorbate (100µM or 1mM) stimulated a substantial increase in 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxycytosine levels. Moreover, for the first time we demonstrated a spectacular (up to 18.5-fold) increase in 5-hydroxymethyluracil content what, in turn, suggests that TET enzymes contributed to the presence of the modification in cellular DNA. These findings suggest that physiological concentrations of ascorbate in human serum (10-100µM) are sufficient to maintain a stable level of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in cellular DNA. However, markedly higher concentrations of ascorbate (ca. 100µM in the cell milieu or ca. 1mM inside the cell) were needed to obtain a sustained increase in 5-formylcytosine, 5-carboxycytosine and 5-hydroxymethyluracil levels. Such feedback to elevated concentrations of ascorbate may reflect adaptation of the cell to environmental conditions.

DNA demethylation pathways: Additional players and regulators

DNA demethylation can occur passively by "dilution" of methylation marks by DNA replication, or actively and independently of DNA replication. Direct conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to cytosine (C), as originally proposed, does not occur. Instead, active DNA methylation involves oxidation of the methylated base by ten-eleven translocations (TETs), or deamination of the methylated or a nearby base by activation induced deaminase (AID). The modified nucleotide, possibly together with surrounding nucleotides, is then replaced by the BER pathway. Recent data clarify the roles and the regulation of well-known enzymes in this process. They identify base excision repair (BER) glycosylases that may cooperate with or replace thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) in the base excision step, and suggest possible involvement of DNA damage repair pathways other than BER in active DNA demethylation. Here, we review these new developments.

OGG1 is essential in oxidative stress induced DNA demethylation

DNA demethylation is an essential cellular activity to regulate gene expression; however, the mechanism that triggers DNA demethylation remains unknown. Furthermore, DNA demethylation was recently demonstrated to be induced by oxidative stress without a clear molecular mechanism. In this manuscript, we demonstrated that 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1) is the essential protein involved in oxidative stress-induced DNA demethylation. Oxidative stress induced the formation of 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG). We found that OGG1, the 8-oxoG binding protein, promotes DNA demethylation by interacting and recruiting TET1 to the 8-oxoG lesion. Downregulation of OGG1 makes cells resistant to oxidative stress-induced DNA demethylation, while over-expression of OGG1 renders cells susceptible to DNA demethylation by oxidative stress. These data not only illustrate the importance of base excision repair (BER) in DNA demethylation but also reveal how the DNA demethylation signal is transferred to downstream DNA demethylation enzymes.

Active DNA demethylation by DNA repair: Facts and uncertainties

Pathways that control and modulate DNA methylation patterning in mammalian cells were poorly understood for a long time, although their importance in establishing and maintaining cell type-specific gene expression was well recognized. The discovery of proteins capable of converting 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to putative substrates for DNA repair introduced a novel and exciting conceptual framework for the investigation and ultimate discovery of molecular mechanisms of DNA demethylation. Against the prevailing notion that DNA methylation is a static epigenetic mark, it turned out to be dynamic and distinct mechanisms appear to have evolved to effect global and locus-specific DNA demethylation. There is compelling evidence that DNA repair, in particular base excision repair, contributes significantly to the turnover of 5mC in cells. By actively demethylating DNA, DNA repair supports the developmental establishment as well as the maintenance of DNA methylation landscapes and gene expression patterns. Yet, while the biochemical pathways are relatively well-established and reviewed, the biological context, function and regulation of DNA repair-mediated active DNA demethylation remains uncertain. In this review, we will thus summarize and critically discuss the evidence that associates active DNA demethylation by DNA repair with specific functional contexts including the DNA methylation erasure in the early embryo, the control of pluripotency and cellular differentiation, the maintenance of cell identity, and the nuclear reprogramming.