Yeast DNA polymerase zeta is an efficient extender of primer ends opposite from 7,8-dihydro-8-Oxoguanine and O6-methylguanine

Contributing factors to the oxidation-induced mutational landscape in human cells

8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) is a common oxidative DNA lesion that causes G > T substitutions. Determinants of local and regional differences in 8-oxoG-induced mutability across genomes are currently unknown. Here, we show DNA oxidation induces G > T substitutions and insertion/deletion (INDEL) mutations in human cells and cancers. Potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced 8-oxoGs occur with similar sequence preferences as their derived substitutions, indicating that the reactivity of specific oxidants dictates mutation sequence specificity. While 8-oxoG occurs uniformly across chromatin, 8-oxoG-induced mutations are elevated in compact genomic regions, within nucleosomes, and at inward facing guanines within strongly positioned nucleosomes. Cryo-electron microscopy structures of OGG1-nucleosome complexes indicate that these effects originate from OGG1's ability to flip outward positioned 8-oxoG lesions into the catalytic pocket while inward facing lesions are occluded by the histone octamer. Mutation spectra from human cells with DNA repair deficiencies reveals contributions of a DNA repair network limiting 8-oxoG mutagenesis, where OGG1- and MUTYH-mediated base excision repair is supplemented by the replication-associated factors Pol η and HMCES. Transcriptional asymmetry of KBrO3-induced mutations in OGG1- and Pol η-deficient cells also demonstrates transcription-coupled repair can prevent 8-oxoG-induced mutation. Thus, oxidant chemistry, chromatin structures, and DNA repair processes combine to dictate the oxidative mutational landscape in human genomes.

DNA mismatch repair controls the mutagenicity of Polymerase ζ-dependent translesion synthesis at methylated guanines

By replicating damaged nucleotides, error-prone DNA translesion synthesis (TLS) enables the completion of replication, albeit at the expense of fidelity. TLS of helix-distorting DNA lesions, that usually have reduced capacity of basepairing, comprises insertion opposite the lesion followed by extension, the latter in particular by polymerase ζ (Pol ζ). However, little is known about involvement of Pol ζ in TLS of non- or poorly-distorting, but miscoding, lesions such as O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6-medG). Using purified Pol ζ we describe that the enzyme can misincorporate thymidine opposite O6-medG and efficiently extend from terminal mismatches, suggesting its involvement in the mutagenicity of O6-medG. Surprisingly, O6-medG lesions induced by the methylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) appeared more, rather than less, mutagenic in Pol ζ-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) than in wild type MEFs. This suggested that in vivo Pol ζ participates in non-mutagenic TLS of O6-medG. However, we found that the Pol ζ-dependent misinsertions at O6-medG lesions are efficiently corrected by DNA mismatch repair (MMR), which masks the error-proneness of Pol ζ. We also found that the MNNG-induced mutational signature is determined by the adduct spectrum, and modulated by MMR. The signature mimicked single base substitution signature 11 in the catalogue of somatic mutations in cancer, associated with treatment with the methylating drug temozolomide. Our results unravel the individual roles of the major contributors to methylating drug-induced mutagenesis. Moreover, these results warrant caution as to the classification of TLS as mutagenic or error-free based on in vitro data or on the analysis of mutations induced in MMR-proficient cells.

Rev1 overexpression accelerates N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced thymic lymphoma by increasing mutagenesis

Rev1 has two important functions in the translesion synthesis pathway, including dCMP transferase activity, and acts as a scaffolding protein for other polymerases involved in translesion synthesis. However, the role of Rev1 in mutagenesis and tumorigenesis in vivo remains unclear. We previously generated Rev1-overexpressing (Rev1-Tg) mice and reported that they exhibited a significantly increased incidence of intestinal adenoma and thymic lymphoma (TL) after N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) treatment. In this study, we investigated mutagenesis of MNU-induced TL tumorigenesis in wild-type (WT) and Rev1-Tg mice using diverse approaches, including whole-exome sequencing (WES). In Rev1-Tg TLs, the mutation frequency was higher than that in WT TL in most cases. However, no difference in the number of nonsynonymous mutations in the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) genes was observed, and mutations involved in Notch1 and MAPK signaling were similarly detected in both TLs. Mutational signature analysis of WT and Rev1-Tg TLs revealed cosine similarity with COSMIC mutational SBS5 (aging-related) and SBS11 (alkylation-related). Interestingly, the total number of mutations, but not the genotypes of WT and Rev1-Tg, was positively correlated with the relative contribution of SBS5 in individual TLs, suggesting that genetic instability could be accelerated in Rev1-Tg TLs. Finally, we demonstrated that preleukemic cells could be detected earlier in Rev1-Tg mice than in WT mice, following MNU treatment. In conclusion, Rev1 overexpression accelerates mutagenesis and increases the incidence of MNU-induced TL by shortening the latency period, which may be associated with more frequent DNA damage-induced genetic instability.

Two independent DNA repair pathways cause mutagenesis in template switching deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Upon DNA replication stress, cells utilize the postreplication repair pathway to repair single-stranded DNA and maintain genome integrity. Postreplication repair is divided into 2 branches: error-prone translesion synthesis, signaled by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoubiquitination, and error-free template switching, signaled by PCNA polyubiquitination. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rad5 is involved in both branches of repair during DNA replication stress. When the PCNA polyubiquitination function of Rad5 s disrupted, Rad5 recruits translesion synthesis polymerases to stalled replication forks, resulting in mutagenic repair. Details of how mutagenic repair is carried out, as well as the relationship between Rad5-mediated mutagenic repair and the canonical PCNA-mediated mutagenic repair, remain to be understood. We find that Rad5-mediated mutagenic repair requires the translesion synthesis polymerase ζ but does not require other yeast translesion polymerase activities. Furthermore, we show that Rad5-mediated mutagenic repair is independent of PCNA binding by Rev1 and so is separable from canonical mutagenic repair. In the absence of error-free template switching, both modes of mutagenic repair contribute additively to replication stress response in a replication timing-independent manner. Cellular contexts where error-free template switching is compromised are not simply laboratory phenomena, as we find that a natural variant in RAD5 is defective in PCNA polyubiquitination and therefore defective in error-free repair, resulting in Rad5- and PCNA-mediated mutagenic repair. Our results highlight the importance of Rad5 in regulating spontaneous mutagenesis and genetic diversity in S. cerevisiae through different modes of postreplication repair.

8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine Replication in Mutational Hot Spot Sequences of the p53 Gene in Human Cells Is Less Mutagenic than That of the Corresponding Formamidopyrimidine

7,8-Dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OxodGuo) is a ubiquitous DNA damage formed by oxidation of 2'-deoxyguanosine. In this study, plasmid DNA containing 8-OxodGuo located in three mutational hot spots of human cancers, codons 248, 249, and 273 of the Tp53 tumor suppressor gene, was replicated in HEK 293T cells. 8-OxodGuo was only a weak block of replication, and the bypass was largely error-free. The mutations (1-5%) were primarily G → T transversions, and the mutation frequency was generally lower than that of the chemically related Fapy·dG. A unique 8-OxodGuo mutation spectrum was observed at each site, as reflected by replication in translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerase- or hPol λ-deficient cells. In codon 248 (CG*G) and 249 (AG*G), where G* denotes 8-OxodGuo, hPol η and hPol ζ carried out largely error-free bypass of the lesion, whereas hPol κ and hPol ι were involved mostly in error-prone TLS, resulting in G → T mutations. 8-OxodGuo bypass in codon 273 (CG*T) was unlike the other two sites, as hPol κ participated in the mostly error-free bypass of the lesion. Yet, in all three sites, including codon 273, simultaneous deficiency of hpol κ and hPol ι resulted in reduction of G → T transversions. This indicates a convincing role of these two TLS polymerases in error-prone bypass of 8-OxodGuo. Although the dominant mutation was G → T in each site, in codon 249, and to a lesser extent in codon 248, significant semi-targeted single-base deletions also occurred, which suggests that 8-OxodGuo can initiate slippage of a base near the lesion site. This study underscores the importance of sequence context in 8-OxodGuo mutagenesis in human cells. It also provides a more comprehensive comparison between 8-OxodGuo and the sister lesion, Fapy·dG. The greater mutagenicity of the latter in the same sequence contexts indicates that Fapy·dG is a biologically significant lesion and biomarker on par with 8-OxodGuo.

Translesion activity of PrimPol on DNA with cisplatin and DNA-protein cross-links

Human PrimPol belongs to the archaeo-eukaryotic primase superfamily of primases and is involved in de novo DNA synthesis downstream of blocking DNA lesions and non-B DNA structures. PrimPol possesses both DNA/RNA primase and DNA polymerase activities, and also bypasses a number of DNA lesions in vitro. In this work, we have analyzed translesion synthesis activity of PrimPol in vitro on DNA with an 1,2-intrastrand cisplatin cross-link (1,2-GG CisPt CL) or a model DNA–protein cross-link (DpCL). PrimPol was capable of the 1,2-GG CisPt CL bypass in the presence of Mn²⁺ ions and preferentially incorporated two complementary dCMPs opposite the lesion. Nucleotide incorporation was stimulated by PolDIP2, and yeast Pol ζ efficiently extended from the nucleotides inserted opposite the 1,2-GG CisPt CL in vitro. DpCLs significantly blocked the DNA polymerase activity and strand displacement synthesis of PrimPol. However, PrimPol was able to reach the DpCL site in single strand template DNA in the presence of both Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions despite the presence of the bulky protein obstacle.

Sequence context effects of replication of Fapy•dG in three mutational hot spot sequences of the p53 gene in human cells

Fapy•dG and 8-OxodGuo are formed in DNA from a common N7-dG radical intermediate by reaction with hydroxyl radical. Although cellular levels of Fapy•dG are often greater, its effects on replication are less well understood than those of 8-OxodGuo. In this study plasmid DNA containing Fapy•dG in three mutational hotspots of human cancers, codons 248, 249, and 273 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, was replicated in HEK 293T cells. TLS efficiencies for the Fapy•dG containing plasmids varied from 72 to 89%, and were further reduced in polymerase-deficient cells. The mutation frequency (MF) of Fapy•dG ranged from 7.3 to 11.6%, with G→T and G→A as major mutations in codons 248 and 249 compared to primarily G→T in codon 273. Increased MF in hPol ι-, hPol κ-, and hPol ζ-deficient cells suggested that these polymerases more frequently insert the correct nucleotide dC opposite Fapy•dG, whereas decreased G→A in codons 248 and 249 and reduction of all mutations in codon 273 in hPol λ-deficient cells indicated hPol λ's involvement in Fapy•dG mutagenesis. In vitro kinetic analysis using isolated translesion synthesis polymerases and hPol λ incompletely corroborated the mutagenesis experiments, indicating codependence on other proteins in the cellular milieu. In conclusion, Fapy•dG mutagenesis is dependent on the DNA sequence context, but its bypass by the TLS polymerases is largely error-free.

Error-prone bypass patch by a low-fidelity variant of DNA polymerase zeta in human cells

DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ) is a specialized Pol that is involved in translesion DNA synthesis (TLS), in particular, in the extension of primer DNA after bypassing DNA lesions. Previously, we established human cells that express a variant form of Pol ζ with an amino acid change of leucine 2618 to methionine (L2618M) in the catalytic subunit REV3L (DNA Repair, 45, 34-43, 2016). This amino acid change made the cells more sensitive to the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE). In this study, we embedded BPDE-N²-guanine at a defined position in the supF gene on the shuttle plasmid and introduced it to REV3 L2618M cells or the wild-type (WT) cells to examine how far Pol ζ L2618M extends the primer DNA after bypassing the lesion. The adduct induced primarily G to T and G to C at the adducted site in both cell lines, but generated additional sequence changes such as base substitutions, deletions and additions in the extension patch much more often in REV3 L2618M cells than in the WT cells. Mutations in the extension patch in REV3 L2618M cells occurred most often within 10 bps from the adducted site. Then, the number of mutations gradually decreased and no mutations were observed between 30 and 40 bps from the lesion. We concluded that human Pol ζ L2618M and perhaps WT Pol ζ extend the primer DNA up to approximately 30 bps from the lesion in vivo. The possibility of involvement of Pol ζ L2618M in the insertion step of TLS is discussed.

Next-generation DNA damage sequencing

Cellular DNA is constantly chemically altered by exogenous and endogenous agents. As all processes of life depend on the transmission of the genetic information, multiple biological processes exist to ensure genome integrity. Chemically damaged DNA has been linked to cancer and aging, therefore it is of great interest to map DNA damage formation and repair to elucidate the distribution of damage on a genome-wide scale. While the low abundance and inability to enzymatically amplify DNA damage are obstacles to genome-wide sequencing, new developments in the last few years have enabled high-resolution mapping of damaged bases. Recently, a number of DNA damage sequencing library construction strategies coupled to new data analysis pipelines allowed the mapping of specific DNA damage formation and repair at high and single nucleotide resolution. Strikingly, these advancements revealed that the distribution of DNA damage is heavily influenced by chromatin states and the binding of transcription factors. In the last seven years, these novel approaches have revealed new genomic maps of DNA damage distribution in a variety of organisms as generated by diverse chemical and physical DNA insults; oxidative stress, chemotherapeutic drugs, environmental pollutants, and sun exposure. Preferred sequences for damage formation and repair have been elucidated, thus making it possible to identify persistent weak spots in the genome as locations predicted to be vulnerable for mutation. As such, sequencing DNA damage will have an immense impact on our ability to elucidate mechanisms of disease initiation, and to evaluate and predict the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs.

A Unique B-Family DNA Polymerase Facilitating Error-Prone DNA Damage Tolerance in Crenarchaeota

Sulfolobus islandicus codes for four DNA polymerases: three are of the B-family (Dpo1, Dpo2, and Dpo3), and one is of the Y-family (Dpo4). Western analysis revealed that among the four polymerases, only Dpo2 exhibited DNA damage-inducible expression. To investigate how these DNA polymerases could contribute to DNA damage tolerance in S. islandicus, we conducted genetic analysis of their encoding genes in this archaeon. Plasmid-borne gene expression revealed that Dpo2 increases cell survival upon DNA damage at the expense of mutagenesis. Gene deletion studies showed although dpo1 is essential, the remaining three genes are dispensable. Furthermore, although Dpo4 functions in housekeeping translesion DNA synthesis (TLS), Dpo2, a B-family DNA polymerase once predicted to be inactive, functions as a damage-inducible TLS enzyme solely responsible for targeted mutagenesis, facilitating GC to AT/TA conversions in the process. Together, our data indicate that Dpo2 is the main DNA polymerase responsible for DNA damage tolerance and is the primary source of targeted mutagenesis. Given that crenarchaea encoding a Dpo2 also have a low-GC composition genome, the Dpo2-dependent DNA repair pathway may be conserved in this archaeal lineage.

A Multifunctional Protein PolDIP2 in DNA Translesion Synthesis

Polymerase δ-interacting protein 2 (PolDIP2) is involved in the multiple protein-protein interactions and plays roles in many cellular processes including regulation of the nuclear redox environment, organization of the mitotic spindle and chromosome segregation, pre-mRNA processing, mitochondrial morphology and functions, cell migration and cellular adhesion. PolDIP2 is also a binding partner of high-fidelity DNA polymerase delta, PCNA and a number of translesion and repair DNA polymerases. The growing evidence suggests that PolDIP2 is a general regulatory protein in DNA damage response. However PolDIP2 functions in DNA translesion synthesis and repair are not fully understood. In this review, we address the functional interaction of PolDIP2 with human DNA polymerases and discuss the possible functions in DNA damage response.

Structure and function relationships in mammalian DNA polymerases

DNA polymerases are vital for the synthesis of new DNA strands. Since the discovery of DNA polymerase I in Escherichia coli, a diverse library of mammalian DNA polymerases involved in DNA replication, DNA repair, antibody generation, and cell checkpoint signaling has emerged. While the unique functions of these DNA polymerases are differentiated by their association with accessory factors and/or the presence of distinctive catalytic domains, atomic resolution structures of DNA polymerases in complex with their DNA substrates have revealed mechanistic subtleties that contribute to their specialization. In this review, the structure and function of all 15 mammalian DNA polymerases from families B, Y, X, and A will be reviewed and discussed with special emphasis on the insights gleaned from recently published atomic resolution structures.

REV7 confers radioresistance of esophagus squamous cell carcinoma by recruiting PRDX2

Radiotherapy has been widely used for the clinical management of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, radioresistance remains a serious concern that prevents the efficacy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) radiotherapy. REV7, the structural subunit of eukaryotic DNA polymerase ζ, has multiple functions in bypassing DNA damage and modulating mitotic arrest in human cell lines. However, the expression and molecular function of REV7 in ESCC progression remains unclear. In this study, we first examined the expression of REV7 in clinical ESCC samples, and we found higher expression of REV7 in ESCC tissues compared to matched adjacent or normal tissues. Knockdown of REV7 resulted in decreased colony formation and increased apoptosis in irradiated Eca‐109 and TE‐1 cells coupled with decreased tumor weight in a xenograft nude mouse model postirradiation. Conversely, overexpression of REV7 resulted in radioresistance in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, silencing of REV7 induced increased reactive oxygen species levels postirradiation. Proteomic analysis of REV7‐interacting proteins revealed that REV7 interacted with peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), a well‐known antioxidant protein. Existence of REV7‐PRDX2 complex and its augmentation postirradiation were further validated by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. REV7 knockdown significantly disrupted the presence of nuclear PRDX2 postirradiation, which resulted in oxidative stress. REV7‐PRDX2 complex also assembled onto DNA double‐strand breaks, whereas REV7 knockdown evidently increased double‐strand breaks that were unmerged by PRDX2. Taken together, the present study sheds light on REV7‐modulated radiosensitivity through interacting with PRDX2, which provides a novel target for ESCC radiotherapy.

Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions at the DNA Terminus Promote Extension from Methylguanine Lesions by Human Extender DNA Polymerase ζ

Chemically induced DNA lesions can become DNA replication substrates that are bypassed by low-fidelity DNA polymerases. Following nucleotide misinsertion opposite a DNA lesion, the extension step can contribute to preserving such errors and lead to genomic instability and cancer. DNA polymerase ζ, a B-family polymerase, is proficient as an extender polymerase that catalyzes elongation; however, the chemical factors that impact its DNA replication are not understood. This study addresses the question of how DNA polymerase ζ achieves extension by examining the ability of recombinant human DNA polymerase ζ to extend from a series of methylated guanine lesions. The influence of H-bonding was examined by placing structurally altered nucleoside analogues and canonical bases opposite G, O⁶-MeG, N¹-MeG, and N²-MeG. We determined that terminal base pairs with the highest proclivity for H-bonding were most efficiently extended in both primer extension assays and steady-state kinetic analysis. In contrast, when no H-bonding was possible at the DNA terminus, the least efficient steady-state kinetics were observed. To evaluate H-bonding protein minor groove interactions that may underlie this phenomenon, we performed computational modeling with Escherichia coli DNA polymerase II, a homologue for DNA polymerase ζ. The modeling data together with the primer extension assays demonstrate the importance of having a carbonyl group on the primer strand that can interact with a lysine residue found to be conserved in many B-family polymerases, including human Pol ζ. These data provide a model whereby interbase H-bonding interactions at the DNA terminus promote lesion bypass and extension by human DNA polymerase ζ.

The importance of an interaction network for proper DNA polymerase ζ heterotetramer activity

Precisely controlled mechanisms have been evolved to rescue impeded DNA replication resulting from encountered obstacles and involve a set of low-fidelity translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases. Studies in recent years have brought new insights into those TLS polymerases, especially concerning the structure and subunit composition of DNA polymerase zeta (Pol ζ). Pol ζ is predominantly involved in induced mutagenesis as well as the bypass of noncanonical DNA structures, and it is proficient in extending from terminal mismatched nucleotides incorporated by major replicative DNA polymerases. Two active forms of Pol ζ, heterodimeric (Pol ζ2) and heterotetrameric (Pol ζ4) ones, have been identified and studied. Here, in the light of recent publications regarding induced and spontaneous mutagenesis and diverse interactions within Pol ζ holoenzyme, combined with Pol ζ binding to the TLS polymerase Rev1p, we discuss the subunit composition of Pol ζ in various cellular physiological conditions. Available data show that it is the heterotetrameric form of Pol ζ that is involved both during spontaneous and induced mutagenesis, and underline the importance of interactions within Pol ζ when an increased Pol ζ recruitment occurs. Understanding Pol ζ function in the bypass of DNA obstacles would give a significant insight into cellular tolerance of DNA damage, genetic instability and the onset of cancer progression.

Inhibiting DNA Polymerases as a Therapeutic Intervention against Cancer

Inhibiting DNA synthesis is an important therapeutic strategy that is widely used to treat a number of hyperproliferative diseases including viral infections, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. This chapter describes two major categories of therapeutic agents used to inhibit DNA synthesis. The first category includes purine and pyrmidine nucleoside analogs that directly inhibit DNA polymerase activity. The second category includes DNA damaging agents including cisplatin and chlorambucil that modify the composition and structure of the nucleic acid substrate to indirectly inhibit DNA synthesis. Special emphasis is placed on describing the molecular mechanisms of these inhibitory effects against chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA polymerases. Discussions are also provided on the mechanisms associated with resistance to these therapeutic agents. A primary focus is toward understanding the roles of specialized DNA polymerases that by-pass DNA lesions produced by DNA damaging agents. Finally, a section is provided that describes emerging areas in developing new therapeutic strategies targeting specialized DNA polymerases.

Yeast DNA polymerase ζ maintains consistent activity and mutagenicity across a wide range of physiological dNTP concentrations

In yeast, dNTP pools expand drastically during DNA damage response. We show that similar dNTP elevation occurs in strains, in which intrinsic replisome defects promote the participation of error-prone DNA polymerase ζ (Polζ) in replication of undamaged DNA. To understand the significance of dNTP pools increase for Polζ function, we studied the activity and fidelity of four-subunit Polζ (Polζ₄) and Polζ₄-Rev1 (Polζ₅) complexes in vitro at ‘normal S-phase’ and ‘damage-response’ dNTP concentrations. The presence of Rev1 inhibited the activity of Polζ and greatly increased the rate of all three ‘X-dCTP’ mispairs, which Polζ₄ alone made extremely inefficiently. Both Polζ₄ and Polζ₅ were most promiscuous at G nucleotides and frequently generated multiple closely spaced sequence changes. Surprisingly, the shift from ‘S-phase’ to ‘damage-response’ dNTP levels only minimally affected the activity, fidelity and error specificity of Polζ complexes. Moreover, Polζ-dependent mutagenesis triggered by replisome defects or UV irradiation in vivo was not decreased when dNTP synthesis was suppressed by hydroxyurea, indicating that Polζ function does not require high dNTP levels. The results support a model wherein dNTP elevation is needed to facilitate non-mutagenic tolerance pathways, while Polζ synthesis represents a unique mechanism of rescuing stalled replication when dNTP supply is low.

NGS-based analysis of base-substitution signatures created by yeast DNA polymerase eta and zeta on undamaged and abasic DNA templates in vitro

Translesion synthesis (TLS) is the mechanism in which DNA polymerases (TLS polymerases) bypass unrepaired template damage with high error rates. DNA polymerase η and ζ (Polη and Polζ) are major TLS polymerases that are conserved from yeast to humans. In this study, we quantified frequencies of base-substitutions by yeast Polη and Polζ on undamaged and abasic templates in vitro. For accurate quantification, we used a next generation sequencing (NGS)-based method where DNA products were directly analyzed by parallel sequencing. On undamaged templates, Polη and Polζ showed distinct base-substitution profiles, and the substitution frequencies were differently influenced by the template sequence. The base-substitution frequencies were influenced mainly by the adjacent bases both upstream and downstream of the substitution sites. Thus we present the base-substitution signatures of these polymerases in a three-base format. On templates containing abasic sites, Polη created deletions at the lesion in more than 50% of the TLS products, but the formation of the deletions was suppressed by the presence of Polζ. Polζ and Polη cooperatively facilitated the TLS reaction over an abasic site in vitro, suggesting that these two polymerases can cooperate in efficient and high fidelity TLS.

Overexpression of Rev1 promotes the development of carcinogen-induced intestinal adenomas via accumulation of point mutation and suppression of apoptosis proportionally to the Rev1 expression level

Cancer development often involves mutagenic replication of damaged DNA by the error-prone translesion synthesis (TLS) pathway. Aberrant activation of this pathway plays a role in tumorigenesis by promoting genetic mutations. Rev1 controls the function of the TLS pathway, and Rev1 expression levels are associated with DNA damage induced cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. However, it remains unclear whether deregulated Rev1 expression triggers or promotes tumorigenesis in vivo. In this study, we generated a novel Rev1-overexpressing transgenic (Tg) mouse and characterized its susceptibility to tumorigenesis. Using a small intestinal tumor model induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), we found that transgenic expression of Rev1 accelerated intestinal adenoma development in proportion to the Rev1 expression level; however, overexpression of Rev1 alone did not cause spontaneous development of intestinal adenomas. In Rev1 Tg mice, MNU-induced mutagenesis was elevated, whereas apoptosis was suppressed. The effects of hREV1 expression levels on the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of MNU were confirmed in the human cancer cell line HT1080. These data indicate that dysregulation of cellular Rev1 levels leads to the accumulation of mutations and suppression of cell death, which accelerates the tumorigenic activities of DNA-damaging agents.

Generation, repair and replication of guanine oxidation products

Guanine is the most readily oxidized of the four DNA bases, and guanine oxidation products cause G:C-T:A and G:C-C:G transversions through DNA replication. 8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) causes G:C-T:A transversions but not G:C-C:G transversions, and is more readily oxidized than guanine. This review covers four major findings. (i) 2,2,4-Triamino-5(2H)-oxazolone (Oz) is produced from guanine and 8-oxoG under various oxidative conditions. Guanine is incorporated opposite Oz by DNA polymerases, except REV1. (ii) Several enzymes exhibit incision activity towards Oz. (iii) Since the redox potential of GG is lower than that of G, contiguous GG sequences are more readily oxidized by a one-electron oxidant than a single guanine, and OzOz is produced from GG in double-stranded DNA. Unlike most DNA polymerases, DNA polymerase ζ efficiently extends the primer up to full-length across OzOz. (iv) In quadruplex DNA, 3′-guanine is mainly damaged by one-electron oxidation in quadruplex DNA, and this damage depends on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). The oxidation products in quadruplex DNA are different from those in single-stranded or double-stranded DNA.

Non-bulky Lesions in Human DNA: the Ways of Formation, Repair, and Replication

DNA damage is a major cause of replication interruption, mutations, and cell death. DNA damage is removed by several types of repair processes. The involvement of specialized DNA polymerases in replication provides an important mechanism that helps tolerate persistent DNA damage. Specialized DNA polymerases incorporate nucleotides opposite lesions with high efficiency but demonstrate low accuracy of DNA synthesis. In this review, we summarize the types and mechanisms of formation and repair of non-bulky DNA lesions, and we provide an overview of the role of specialized DNA polymerases in translesion DNA synthesis.

Repair of Oxidative DNA Damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Malfunction of enzymes that detoxify reactive oxygen species leads to oxidative attack on biomolecules including DNA and consequently activates various DNA repair pathways. The nature of DNA damage and the cell cycle stage at which DNA damage occurs determine the appropriate repair pathway to rectify the damage. Oxidized DNA bases are primarily repaired by base excision repair and nucleotide incision repair. Nucleotide excision repair acts on lesions that distort DNA helix, mismatch repair on mispaired bases, and homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining on double stranded breaks. Post-replication repair that overcomes replication blocks caused by DNA damage also plays a crucial role in protecting the cell from the deleterious effects of oxidative DNA damage. Mitochondrial DNA is also prone to oxidative damage and is efficiently repaired by the cellular DNA repair machinery. In this review, we discuss the DNA repair pathways in relation to the nature of oxidative DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Minor Groove 3-Deaza-Adenosine Analogues: Synthesis and Bypass in Translesion DNA Synthesis

Anticancer drugs that alkylate DNA in the minor groove may give rise to 3-alkyl-adenosine adducts that interfere with replication, inducing apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) by polymerase enzymes (Pols) with the capacity to bypass DNA adducts may contribute to damage tolerance and drug resistance. 3-Alkyl-adenosine adducts are unstable and depurinate, which is a barrier to addressing chemical and enzymatic aspects of how they impact the progress of DNA Pols. To characterize structure-based relationships of 3-adenine alkylation relevant to cancer drugs on duplex stability and DNA Pol-catalyzed DNA synthesis, we synthesized stable 3-deaza-3-alkyl-adenosine analogues, including 3-deaza-3-phenethyl-adenosine and 3-deaza-3-methoxynaphthylethyl-adenosine, and incorporated them into oligonucleotides. A moderate reduction of duplex stability was observed on the basis of thermal denaturation data. Replication studies using purified Y-family human DNA Pols hPol η, κ, and ι indicated that these enzymes can perform TLS over the modified bases. hPol η had higher misincorporation rates when synthesizing opposite the modified bases compared with adenine, whereas hPol κ and ι maintained high fidelity. These results provide insight into how alterations in chemical structure reduce bypass of minor-groove adducts, and provide novel chemical probes for evaluating minor-groove DNA alkylation.

Translesion Synthesis of 2'-Deoxyguanosine Lesions by Eukaryotic DNA Polymerases

With the discovery of translesion synthesis DNA polymerases, great strides have been made in the last two decades in understanding the mode of replication of various DNA lesions in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. A database search indicated that approximately 2000 articles on this topic have been published in this period. This includes research involving genetic and structural studies as well as in vitro experiments using purified DNA polymerases and accessory proteins. It is a daunting task to comprehend this exciting and rapidly emerging area of research. Even so, as the majority of DNA damage occurs at 2′-deoxyguanosine residues, this perspective attempts to summarize a subset of this field, focusing on the most relevant eukaryotic DNA polymerases responsible for their bypass.

Translesion Synthesis of the N(2)-2'-Deoxyguanosine Adduct of the Dietary Mutagen IQ in Human Cells: Error-Free Replication by DNA Polymerase κ and Mutagenic Bypass by DNA Polymerases η, ζ, and Rev1

Translesion synthesis (TLS) of the N(2)-2'-deoxyguanosine (dG-N(2)-IQ) adduct of the carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) was investigated in human embryonic kidney 293T cells by replicating plasmid constructs in which the adduct was individually placed at each guanine (G1, G2, or G3) of the NarI sequence (5'-CG1G2CG3CC-3'). TLS efficiency was 38%, 29%, and 25% for the dG-N(2)-IQ located at G1, G2, and G3, respectively, which suggests that dG-N(2)-IQ is bypassed more efficiently by one or more DNA polymerases at G1 than at either G2 or G3. TLS efficiency was decreased 8-35% in cells with knockdown of pol η, pol κ, pol ι, pol ζ, or Rev1. Up to 75% reduction in TLS occurred when pol η, pol ζ, and Rev1 were simultaneously knocked down, suggesting that these three polymerases play important roles in dG-N(2)-IQ bypass. Mutation frequencies (MFs) of dG-N(2)-IQ at G1, G2, and G3 were 23%, 17%, and 11%, respectively, exhibiting a completely reverse trend of the previously reported MF of the C8-dG adduct of IQ (dG-C8-IQ), which is most mutagenic at G3 ( ( 2015 ) Nucleic Acids Res. 43 , 8340 - 8351 ). The major type of mutation induced by dG-N(2)-IQ was targeted G → T, as was reported for dG-C8-IQ. In each site, knockdown of pol κ resulted in an increase in MF, whereas MF was reduced when pol η, pol ι, pol ζ, or Rev1 was knocked down. The reduction in MF was most pronounced when pol η, pol ζ, and Rev1 were simultaneously knocked down and especially when the adduct was located at G3, where MF was reduced by 90%. We conclude that pol κ predominantly performs error-free TLS of the dG-N(2)-IQ adduct, whereas pols η, pol ζ, and Rev1 cooperatively carry out the error-prone TLS. However, in vitro experiments using yeast pol ζ and κ showed that the former was inefficient in full-length primer extension on dG-N(2)-IQ templates, whereas the latter was efficient in both error-free and error-prone extensions. We believe that the observed differences between the in vitro experiments using purified DNA polymerases, and the cellular results may arise from several factors including the crucial roles played by the accessory proteins in TLS.

Bypass of Mutagenic O(6)-Carboxymethylguanine DNA Adducts by Human Y- and B-Family Polymerases

The generation of chemical alkylating agents from nitrosation of glycine and bile acid conjugates in the gastrointestinal tract is hypothesized to initiate carcinogenesis. O(6)-carboxymethylguanine (O(6)-CMG) is a product of DNA alkylation derived from nitrosated glycine. Although the tendency of the structurally related adduct O(6)-methylguanine to code for the misincoporation of TTP during DNA replication is well-established, the impact of the presence of the O(6)-CMG adduct in a DNA template on the efficiency and fidelity of translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) by human DNA polymerases (Pols) has hitherto not been described. Herein, we characterize the ability of the four human TLS Pols η, ι, κ, and ζ and the replicative Pol δ to bypass O(6)-CMG in a prevalent mutational hot-spot for colon cancer. The results indicate that Pol η replicates past O(6)-CMG, incorporating dCMP or dAMP, whereas Pol κ incorporates dCMP only, and Pol ι incorporates primarily dTMP. Additionally, the subsequent extension step was carried out with high efficiency by TLS Pols η, κ, and ζ, while Pol ι was unable to extend from a terminal mismatch. These results provide a first basis of O(6)-CMG-promoted base misincorporation by Y- and B-family polymerases potentially leading to mutational signatures associated with colon cancer.

A fidelity mechanism in DNA polymerase lambda promotes error-free bypass of 8-oxo-dG

8-oxo-7,8-dihydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) has high mutagenic potential as it is prone to mispair with deoxyadenine (dA). In order to maintain genomic integrity, post-replicative 8-oxo-dG:dA mispairs are removed through DNA polymerase lambda (Pol λ)-dependent MUTYH-initiated base excision repair (BER). Here, we describe seven novel crystal structures and kinetic data that fully characterize 8-oxo-dG bypass by Pol λ. We demonstrate that Pol λ has a flexible active site that can tolerate 8-oxo-dG in either the anti- or syn-conformation. Importantly, we show that discrimination against the pro-mutagenic syn-conformation occurs at the extension step and identify the residue responsible for this selectivity. This residue acts as a kinetic switch, shunting repair toward long-patch BER upon correct dCMP incorporation, thus enhancing repair efficiency. Moreover, this switch also provides a potential mechanism to increase repair fidelity of MUTYH-initiated BER.

Involvement of translesion synthesis DNA polymerases in DNA interstrand crosslink repair

DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) covalently join the two strands of a DNA duplex and block essential processes such as DNA replication and transcription. Several important anti-tumor drugs such as cisplatin and nitrogen mustards exert their cytotoxicity by forming ICLs. However, multiple complex pathways repair ICLs and these are thought to contribute to the development of resistance towards ICL-inducing agents. While the understanding of many aspects of ICL repair is still rudimentary, studies in recent years have provided significant insights into the pathways of ICL repair. In this perspective we review the recent advances made in elucidating the mechanisms of ICL repair with a focus on the role of TLS polymerases. We describe the emerging models for how these enzymes contribute to and are regulated in ICL repair, discuss the key open questions and examine the implications for this pathway in anti-cancer therapy.

Proficient Replication of the Yeast Genome by a Viral DNA Polymerase

DNA replication in eukaryotic cells requires minimally three B-family DNA polymerases: Pol α, Pol δ, and Pol ϵ. Pol δ replicates and matures Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand of the replication fork. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pol δ is a three-subunit enzyme (Pol3-Pol31-Pol32). A small C-terminal domain of the catalytic subunit Pol3 carries both iron-sulfur cluster and zinc-binding motifs, which mediate interactions with Pol31, and processive replication with the replication clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), respectively. We show that the entire N-terminal domain of Pol3, containing polymerase and proofreading activities, could be effectively replaced by those from bacteriophage RB69, and could carry out chromosomal DNA replication in yeast with remarkable high fidelity, provided that adaptive mutations in the replication clamp PCNA were introduced. This result is consistent with the model that all essential interactions for DNA replication in yeast are mediated through the small C-terminal domain of Pol3. The chimeric polymerase carries out processive replication with PCNA in vitro; however, in yeast, it requires an increased involvement of the mutagenic translesion DNA polymerase ζ during DNA replication.

DNA Polymerases η and ζ Combine to Bypass O(2)-[4-(3-Pyridyl)-4-oxobutyl]thymine, a DNA Adduct Formed from Tobacco Carcinogens

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) are important human carcinogens in tobacco products. They are metabolized to produce a variety 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutyl (POB) DNA adducts including O(2)-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobut-1-yl]thymidine (O(2)-POB-dT), the most abundant POB adduct in NNK- and NNN-treated rodents. To evaluate the mutagenic properties of O(2)-POB-dT, we measured the rate of insertion of dNTPs opposite and extension past O(2)-POB-dT and O(2)-Me-dT by purified human DNA polymerases η, κ, ι, and yeast polymerase ζ in vitro. Under conditions of polymerase in excess, polymerase η was most effective at the insertion of dNTPs opposite O(2)-alkyl-dTs. The time courses were biphasic suggesting the formation of inactive DNA-polymerase complexes. The kpol parameter was reduced approximately 100-fold in the presence of the adduct for pol η, κ, and ι. Pol η was the most reactive polymerase for the adducts due to a higher burst amplitude. For all three polymerases, the nucleotide preference was dATP > dTTP ≫ dGTP and dCTP. Yeast pol ζ was most effective in bypassing the adducts; the kcat/Km values were reduced only 3-fold in the presence of the adducts. The identity of the nucleotide opposite the O(2)-alkyl-dT did not significantly affect the ability of pol ζ to bypass the adducts. The data support a model in which pol η inserts ATP or dTTP opposite O(2)-POB-dT, and then, pol ζ extends past the adduct.

The contribution of translesion synthesis polymerases on geminiviral replication

Geminiviruses multiply primarily in the plant phloem, but never in meristems. Their Rep protein can activate DNA synthesis in differentiated cells. However, when their single-stranded DNA is injected into the phloem by insects, no Rep is present for inducing initial complementary strand replication. Considering a contribution of translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases in plants, four of them (Polη, Polζ, Polκ, Rev1) are highly and constitutively expressed in differentiated tissues like the phloem. Two geminiviruses (Euphorbia yellow mosaic virus, Cleome leaf crumple virus), inoculated either biolistically or by whiteflies, replicated in Arabidopsis thaliana mutant lines of these genes to the same extent as in wild type plants. Comparative deep sequencing of geminiviral DNAs, however, showed a high exchange rate (10(-4)-10(-3)) similar to the phylogenetic variation described before and a significant difference in nucleotide substation rates if Polη and Polζ were absent, with a differential response to the viral DNA components.

DNA polymerases κ and ζ cooperatively perform mutagenic translesion synthesis of the C8-2'-deoxyguanosine adduct of the dietary mutagen IQ in human cells

The roles of translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases in bypassing the C8-2'-deoxyguanosine adduct (dG-C8-IQ) formed by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), a highly mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amine found in cooked meats, were investigated. Three plasmid vectors containing the dG-C8-IQ adduct at the G1-, G2- or G3-positions of the NarI site (5'-G1G2CG3CC-3') were replicated in HEK293T cells. Fifty percent of the progeny from the G3 construct were mutants, largely G→T, compared to 18% and 24% from the G1 and G2 constructs, respectively. Mutation frequency (MF) of dG-C8-IQ was reduced by 38-67% upon siRNA knockdown of pol κ, whereas it was increased by 10-24% in pol η knockdown cells. When pol κ and pol ζ were simultaneously knocked down, MF of the G1 and G3 constructs was reduced from 18% and 50%, respectively, to <3%, whereas it was reduced from 24% to <1% in the G2 construct. In vitro TLS using yeast pol ζ showed that it can extend G3*:A pair more efficiently than G3*:C pair, but it is inefficient at nucleotide incorporation opposite dG-C8-IQ. We conclude that pol κ and pol ζ cooperatively carry out the majority of the error-prone TLS of dG-C8-IQ, whereas pol η is involved primarily in its error-free bypass.

Genetic instability in budding and fission yeast-sources and mechanisms

Cells are constantly confronted with endogenous and exogenous factors that affect their genomes. Eons of evolution have allowed the cellular mechanisms responsible for preserving the genome to adjust for achieving contradictory objectives: to maintain the genome unchanged and to acquire mutations that allow adaptation to environmental changes. One evolutionary mechanism that has been refined for survival is genetic variation. In this review, we describe the mechanisms responsible for two biological processes: genome maintenance and mutation tolerance involved in generations of genetic variations in mitotic cells of both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. These processes encompass mechanisms that ensure the fidelity of replication, DNA lesion sensing and DNA damage response pathways, as well as mechanisms that ensure precision in chromosome segregation during cell division. We discuss various factors that may influence genome stability, such as cellular ploidy, the phase of the cell cycle, transcriptional activity of a particular region of DNA, the proficiency of DNA quality control systems, the metabolic stage of the cell and its respiratory potential, and finally potential exposure to endogenous or environmental stress.

The stability of budding and fission yeast genomes is influenced by two contradictory factors: (1) the need to be fully functional, which is ensured through the replication fidelity pathways of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes through sensing and repairing DNA damage, through precise chromosome segregation during cell division; and (2) the need to acquire changes for adaptation to environmental challenges.

Analysis of nucleotide insertion opposite 2,2,4-triamino-5(2H)-oxazolone by eukaryotic B- and Y-family DNA polymerases

Mutations induced by oxidative DNA damage can cause diseases such as cancer. In particular, G:C-T:A and G:C-C:G transversions are caused by oxidized guanine and have been observed in the p53 and K-ras genes. We focused on an oxidized form of guanine, 2,2,4-triamino-5(2H)-oxazolone (Oz), as a cause of G:C-C:G transversions based on our earlier elucidation that DNA polymerases (Pols) α, β, γ, ε, η, I, and IV incorporate dGTP opposite Oz. The nucleotide insertion and extension of Pols δ, ζ, ι, κ, and REV1, belonging to the B- and Y-families of DNA polymerases, were analyzed for the first time. Pol δ incorporated dGTP, in common with other replicative DNA polymerases. Pol ζ incorporated dGTP and dATP, and the efficiency of elongation up to full-length beyond Oz was almost the same as that beyond G. Although nucleotide incorporation by Pols ι or κ was also error-prone, they did not extend the primer. On the other hand, the polymerase REV1 predominantly incorporated dCTP opposite Oz more efficiently than opposite 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, guanidinohydantoin, or tetrahydrofuran. Here, we demonstrate that Pol ζ can efficiently replicate DNA containing Oz and that REV1 can prevent G:C-C:G transversions caused by Oz.

Mitochondria-nucleus network for genome stability

The proper functioning of the cell depends on preserving the cellular genome. In yeast cells, a limited number of genes are located on mitochondrial DNA. Although the mechanisms underlying nuclear genome maintenance are well understood, much less is known about the mechanisms that ensure mitochondrial genome stability. Mitochondria influence the stability of the nuclear genome and vice versa. Little is known about the two-way communication and mutual influence of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Although the mitochondrial genome replicates independent of the nuclear genome and is organized by a distinct set of mitochondrial nucleoid proteins, nearly all genome stability mechanisms responsible for maintaining the nuclear genome, such as mismatch repair, base excision repair, and double-strand break repair via homologous recombination or the nonhomologous end-joining pathway, also act to protect mitochondrial DNA. In addition to mitochondria-specific DNA polymerase γ, the polymerases α, η, ζ, and Rev1 have been found in this organelle. A nuclear genome instability phenotype results from a failure of various mitochondrial functions, such as an electron transport chain activity breakdown leading to a decrease in ATP production, a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ), and a block in nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis. The loss of ΔΨ inhibits the production of iron-sulfur prosthetic groups, which impairs the assembly of Fe-S proteins, including those that mediate DNA transactions; disturbs iron homeostasis; leads to oxidative stress; and perturbs wobble tRNA modification and ribosome assembly, thereby affecting translation and leading to proteotoxic stress. In this review, we present the current knowledge of the mechanisms that govern mitochondrial genome maintenance and demonstrate ways in which the impairment of mitochondrial function can affect nuclear genome stability.

Unlike catalyzing error-free bypass of 8-oxodGuo, DNA polymerase λ is responsible for a significant part of Fapy·dG-induced G → T mutations in human cells

8-OxodGuo and Fapy·dG induced 10-22% mutations, predominantly G → T transversions, in human embryonic kidney 293T cells in four TG*N sequence contexts, where N = C, G, A, or T. siRNA knockdown of pol λ resulted in 34 and 55% increases in the level of mutations in the progeny from the 8-oxodGuo construct in the TG*T and TG*G sequences, respectively, suggesting that pol λ is involved in error-free bypass of 8-oxodGuo. For Fapy·dG, in contrast, the level of G → T mutations was reduced by 27 and 46% in the TG*T and TG*G sequences, respectively, suggesting that pol λ is responsible for a significant fraction of Fapy·dG-induced G → T mutations.

Eukaryotic DNA polymerase ζ

This review focuses on eukaryotic DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ), the enzyme responsible for the bulk of mutagenesis in eukaryotic cells in response to DNA damage. Pol ζ is also responsible for a large portion of mutagenesis during normal cell growth, in response to spontaneous damage or to certain DNA structures and other blocks that stall DNA replication forks. Novel insights in mutagenesis have been derived from recent advances in the elucidation of the subunit structure of Pol ζ. The lagging strand DNA polymerase δ shares the small Pol31 and Pol32 subunits with the Rev3-Rev7 core assembly giving a four subunit Pol ζ complex that is the active form in mutagenesis. Furthermore, Pol ζ forms essential interactions with the mutasome assembly factor Rev1 and with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). These interactions are modulated by posttranslational modifications such as ubiquitination and phosphorylation that enhance translesion synthesis (TLS) and mutagenesis.

Roles of mutagenic translesion synthesis in mammalian genome stability, health and disease

Most spontaneous and DNA damage-induced nucleotide substitutions in eukaryotes depend on translesion synthesis polymerases Rev1 and Pol ζ, the latter consisting of the catalytic subunit Rev3 and the accessory protein Rev7. Here we review the regulation, and the biochemical and cellular functions, of Rev1/Pol ζ-dependent translesion synthesis. These are correlated with phenotypes of mouse models with defects in Rev1, Rev3 or Rev7. The data indicate that Rev1/Pol ζ-mediated translesion synthesis is important for adaptive immunity while playing paradoxical roles in oncogenesis. On the other hand, by enabling the replication of endogenously damaged templates, Rev1/Pol ζ -dependent translesion synthesis protects stem cells, thereby preventing features of ageing. In conclusion, Rev1/Pol ζ-dependent translesion synthesis at DNA helix-distorting nucleotide lesions orchestrates pleiotropic responses that determine organismal fitness and disease.

Mutational analysis of the C8-guanine adduct of the environmental carcinogen 3-nitrobenzanthrone in human cells: critical roles of DNA polymerases η and κ and Rev1 in error-prone translesion synthesis

3-Nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA), a potent mutagen and suspected human carcinogen, is a common environmental pollutant. The genotoxicity of 3-NBA has been associated with its ability to form DNA adducts, including N-(2′-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-3-aminobenzanthrone (C8-dG-ABA). To investigate the molecular mechanism of C8-dG-ABA mutagenesis in human cells, we have replicated a plasmid containing a single C8-dG-ABA in human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells, which yielded 14% mutant progeny. The major types of mutations induced by C8-dG-ABA were G → T > G → A > G → C. siRNA knockdown of the translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases (pols) in HEK293T cells indicated that pol η, pol κ, pol ι, pol ζ, and Rev1 each have a role in replication across this adduct. The extent of TLS was reduced with each pol knockdown, but the largest decrease (of ∼55% reduction) in the level of TLS occurred in cells with knockdown of pol ζ. Pol η and pol κ were considered the major contributors of the mutagenic TLS, because the mutation frequency (MF) decreased by 70%, when these pols were simultaneously knocked down. Rev1 also is important for mutagenesis, as reflected by the 60% reduction in MF upon Rev1 knockdown, but it probably plays a noncatalytic role by physically interacting with the other two Y-family pols. In contrast, pol ζ appeared to be involved in the error-free bypass of the lesion, because MF increased by 60% in pol ζ knockdown cells. These results provide important mechanistic insight into the bypass of the C8-dG-ABA adduct.

An archaeal family-B DNA polymerase variant able to replicate past DNA damage: occurrence of replicative and translesion synthesis polymerases within the B family

A mutant of the high fidelity family-B DNA polymerase from the archaeon Thermococcus gorgonarius (Tgo-Pol), able to replicate past DNA lesions, is described. Gain of function requires replacement of the three amino acid loop region in the fingers domain of Tgo-Pol with a longer version, found naturally in eukaryotic Pol ζ (a family-B translesion synthesis polymerase). Inactivation of the 3′–5′ proof-reading exonuclease activity is also necessary. The resulting Tgo-Pol Z1 variant is proficient at initiating replication from base mismatches and can read through damaged bases, such as abasic sites and thymine photo-dimers. Tgo-Pol Z1 is also proficient at extending from primers that terminate opposite aberrant bases. The fidelity of Tgo-Pol Z1 is reduced, with a marked tendency to make changes at G:C base pairs. Together, these results suggest that the loop region of the fingers domain may play a critical role in determining whether a family-B enzyme falls into the accurate genome-replicating category or is an error-prone translesion synthesis polymerase. Tgo-Pol Z1 may also be useful for amplification of damaged DNA.

DNA repair mechanisms and the bypass of DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

DNA repair mechanisms are critical for maintaining the integrity of genomic DNA, and their loss is associated with cancer predisposition syndromes. Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have played a central role in elucidating the highly conserved mechanisms that promote eukaryotic genome stability. This review will focus on repair mechanisms that involve excision of a single strand from duplex DNA with the intact, complementary strand serving as a template to fill the resulting gap. These mechanisms are of two general types: those that remove damage from DNA and those that repair errors made during DNA synthesis. The major DNA-damage repair pathways are base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair, which, in the most simple terms, are distinguished by the extent of single-strand DNA removed together with the lesion. Mistakes made by DNA polymerases are corrected by the mismatch repair pathway, which also corrects mismatches generated when single strands of non-identical duplexes are exchanged during homologous recombination. In addition to the true repair pathways, the postreplication repair pathway allows lesions or structural aberrations that block replicative DNA polymerases to be tolerated. There are two bypass mechanisms: an error-free mechanism that involves a switch to an undamaged template for synthesis past the lesion and an error-prone mechanism that utilizes specialized translesion synthesis DNA polymerases to directly synthesize DNA across the lesion. A high level of functional redundancy exists among the pathways that deal with lesions, which minimizes the detrimental effects of endogenous and exogenous DNA damage.

Translesion DNA synthesis and mutagenesis in eukaryotes

The structural features that enable replicative DNA polymerases to synthesize DNA rapidly and accurately also limit their ability to copy damaged DNA. Direct replication of DNA damage is termed translesion synthesis (TLS), a mechanism conserved from bacteria to mammals and executed by an array of specialized DNA polymerases. This chapter examines how these translesion polymerases replicate damaged DNA and how they are regulated to balance their ability to replicate DNA lesions with the risk of undesirable mutagenesis. It also discusses how TLS is co-opted to increase the diversity of the immunoglobulin gene hypermutation and the contribution it makes to the mutations that sculpt the genome of cancer cells.

DNA polymerase minor groove interactions modulate mutagenic bypass of a templating 8-oxoguanine lesion

A major base lesion resulting from oxidative stress is 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxoG) that has ambiguous coding potential. Error-free DNA synthesis involves 8-oxoG adopting an anti-conformation to base pair with cytosine whereas mutagenic bypass involves 8-oxoG adopting a syn-conformation to base pair with adenine. Left unrepaired the syn-8-oxoG/dAMP base pair results in a G–C to T–A transversion. During base excision repair of this mispair, DNA polymerase (pol) β is confronted with gap filling opposite 8-oxoG. To determine how pol β discriminates between anti- and syn-8-oxoG, we introduced a point mutation (R283K) to alter insertion specificity. Kinetic studies demonstrate that this substitution results in an increased fidelity opposite 8-oxoG. Structural studies with R283K pol β show that the binary DNA complex has 8-oxoG in equilibrium between anti- and syn-forms. Ternary complexes with incoming dCTP resemble the wild-type enzyme, with templating anti-8-oxoG base pairing with incoming cytosine. In contrast to wild-type pol β, the ternary complex of the R283K mutant with an incoming dATP-analogue and templating 8-oxoG resembles a G–A mismatched structure with 8-oxoG adopting an anti-conformation. These results demonstrate that the incoming nucleotide is unable to induce a syn-8-oxoG conformation without minor groove DNA polymerase interactions that influence templating (anti-/syn-equilibrium) of 8-oxoG while modulating fidelity.

DNA polymerase zeta generates clustered mutations during bypass of endogenous DNA lesions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Multiple sequence changes that are simultaneously introduced in a single DNA transaction have a higher probability of altering gene function than do single base substitutions. DNA polymerase zeta (Pol ζ) has been shown to introduce such clustered mutations under specific selective and/or DNA damage-producing conditions. In this study, a forward mutation assay was used to determine the specificity of spontaneous mutations generated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae when either wild-type Pol ζ or a mutator Pol ζ variant (rev3-L979F) bypasses endogenous lesions. Mutagenesis in strains proficient for nucleotide excision repair (NER) was compared to mutagenesis in NER-deficient strains that retain unrepaired endogenous DNA lesions in the genome. Compared to NER-proficient strains, NER-deficient rad14Δ strains have elevated mutation rates that depend on Pol ζ. Rates are most strongly elevated for tandem base pair substitutions and clusters of multiple, closely spaced mutations. Both types of mutations depend on Pol ζ, but not on Pol η. Rates of each are further elevated in yeast strains bearing the rev3-979F allele. The results indicate that when Pol ζ performs mutagenic bypass of endogenous, helix-distorting lesions, it catalyzes a short track of processive, error-prone synthesis. We discuss the implications of this unique catalytic property of Pol ζ to its evolutionary conservation and possibly to multistage carcinogenesis.

A four-subunit DNA polymerase ζ complex containing Pol δ accessory subunits is essential for PCNA-mediated mutagenesis

DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ) plays a key role in DNA translesion synthesis (TLS) and mutagenesis in eukaryotes. Previously, a two-subunit Rev3-Rev7 complex had been identified as the minimal assembly required for catalytic activity in vitro. Herein, we show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pol ζ binds to the Pol31 and Pol32 subunits of Pol δ, forming a four-subunit Pol ζ(4) complex (Rev3-Rev7-Pol31-Pol32). A [4Fe-4S] cluster in Rev3 is essential for the formation of Pol ζ(4) and damage-induced mutagenesis. Pol32 is indispensible for complex formation, providing an explanation for the long-standing observation that pol32Δ strains are defective for mutagenesis. The Pol31 and Pol32 subunits are also required for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-dependent TLS by Pol ζ as Pol ζ(2) lacks functional interactions with PCNA. Mutation of the C-terminal PCNA-interaction motif in Pol32 attenuates PCNA-dependent TLS in vitro and mutagenesis in vivo. Furthermore, a mutant form of PCNA, encoded by the mutagenesis-defective pol30-113 mutant, fails to stimulate Pol ζ(4) activity, providing an explanation for the observed mutagenesis phenotype. A stable Pol ζ(4) complex can be identified in all phases of the cell cycle suggesting that this complex is not regulated at the level of protein interactions between Rev3-Rev7 and Pol31-Pol32.

Reversal of PCNA ubiquitylation by Ubp10 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Regulation of PCNA ubiquitylation plays a key role in the tolerance to DNA damage in eukaryotes. Although the evolutionary conserved mechanism of PCNA ubiquitylation is well understood, the deubiquitylation of ubPCNA remains poorly characterized. Here, we show that the histone H2B^K123 ubiquitin protease Ubp10 also deubiquitylates ubPCNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results sustain that Ubp10-dependent deubiquitylation of the sliding clamp PCNA normally takes place during S phase, likely in response to the simple presence of ubPCNA. In agreement with this, we show that Ubp10 forms a complex with PCNA in vivo. Interestingly, we also show that deletion of UBP10 alters in different ways the interaction of PCNA with DNA polymerase ζ–associated protein Rev1 and with accessory subunit Rev7. While deletion of UBP10 enhances PCNA–Rev1 interaction, it decreases significantly Rev7 binding to the sliding clamp. Finally, we report that Ubp10 counteracts Rad18 E3-ubiquitin ligase activity on PCNA at lysine 164 in such a manner that deregulation of Ubp10 expression causes tolerance impairment and MMS hypersensitivity.

DNA damage is a major source of genome instability and cancer. A universal mechanism of DNA damage tolerance is based on translesion synthesis (TLS) by specialized low-fidelity DNA polymerases capable of replicating over DNA lesions during replication. Translesion synthesis requires the switch between replicative and TLS DNA polymerases, and this switching is controlled through the ubiquitylation of the proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a processivity factor for DNA synthesis. It is thought that DNA polymerase switching is a reversible process that has a favorable outcome for cells in the prevention of irreversible DNA replication forks collapse. However, the low-fidelity nature of TLS polymerases has unfavorable consequences like the increased risk of mutations opposite to DNA lesions. Here we identify Ubp10 as an enzyme controlling PCNA deubiquitylation in the model yeast S. cerevisiae. The identification of Ubp10 is a first step that will allow us to understand its biological significance and its potential role as part of a safeguard mechanism limiting the residence time of TLS DNA polymerases on replicating chromatin in eukaryotes.

Overexpression of DNA polymerase zeta reduces the mitochondrial mutability caused by pathological mutations in DNA polymerase gamma in yeast

In yeast, DNA polymerase zeta (Rev3 and Rev7) and Rev1, involved in the error-prone translesion synthesis during replication of nuclear DNA, localize also in mitochondria. We show that overexpression of Rev3 reduced the mtDNA extended mutability caused by a subclass of pathological mutations in Mip1, the yeast mitochondrial DNA polymerase orthologous to human Pol gamma. This beneficial effect was synergistic with the effect achieved by increasing the dNTPs pools. Since overexpression of Rev3 is detrimental for nuclear DNA mutability, we constructed a mutant Rev3 isoform unable to migrate into the nucleus: its overexpression reduced mtDNA mutability without increasing the nuclear one.

Balancing repair and tolerance of DNA damage caused by alkylating agents

Alkylating agents constitute a major class of frontline chemotherapeutic drugs that inflict cytotoxic DNA damage as their main mode of action, in addition to collateral mutagenic damage. Numerous cellular pathways, including direct DNA damage reversal, base excision repair (BER) and mismatch repair (MMR), respond to alkylation damage to defend against alkylation-induced cell death or mutation. However, maintaining a proper balance of activity both within and between these pathways is crucial for a favourable response of an organism to alkylating agents. Furthermore, the response of an individual to alkylating agents can vary considerably from tissue to tissue and from person to person, pointing to genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that modulate alkylating agent toxicity.

Lesion bypass by S. cerevisiae Pol ζ alone

DNA polymerase zeta (Pol ζ) participates in translesion synthesis (TLS) of DNA adducts that stall replication fork progression. Previous studies have led to the suggestion that the primary role of Pol ζ in TLS is to extend primers created when another DNA polymerase inserts nucleotides opposite lesions. Here we test the non-exclusive possibility that Pol ζ can sometimes perform TLS in the absence of any other polymerase. To do so, we quantified the efficiency with which S. cerevisiae Pol ζ bypasses abasic sites, cis-syn cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts. In reactions containing dNTP concentrations that mimic those induced by DNA damage, a Pol ζ derivative with phenylalanine substituted for leucine 979 at the polymerase active site bypasses all three lesions at efficiencies between 27 and 73%. Wild-type Pol ζ also bypasses these lesions, with efficiencies that are lower and depend on the sequence context in which the lesion resides. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that, in addition to extending aberrant termini created by other DNA polymerases, Pol ζ has the potential to be the sole DNA polymerase involved in TLS.

Characterization of DNA with an 8-oxoguanine modification

The oxidation of DNA resulting from reactive oxygen species generated during aerobic respiration is a major cause of genetic damage that, if not repaired, can lead to mutations and potentially an increase in the incidence of cancer and aging. A major oxidation product generated in cells is 8-oxoguanine (oxoG), which is removed from the nucleotide pool by the enzymatic hydrolysis of 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine triphosphate and from genomic DNA by 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase. Finding and repairing oxoG in the midst of a large excess of unmodified DNA requires a combination of rapid scanning of the DNA for the lesion followed by specific excision of the damaged base. The repair of oxoG involves flipping the lesion out of the DNA stack and into the active site of the 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase. This would suggest that thermodynamic stability, in terms of the rate for local denaturation, could play a role in lesion recognition. While prior X-ray crystal and NMR structures show that DNA with oxoG lesions appears virtually identical to the corresponding unmodified duplex, thermodynamic studies indicate that oxoG has a destabilizing influence. Our studies show that oxoG destabilizes DNA (ΔΔG of 2–8 kcal mol⁻¹ over a 16–116 mM NaCl range) due to a significant reduction in the enthalpy term. The presence of oxoG has a profound effect on the level and nature of DNA hydration indicating that the environment around an oxoG•C is fundamentally different than that found at G•C. The temperature-dependent imino proton NMR spectrum of oxoG modified DNA confirms the destabilization of the oxoG•C pairing and those base pairs that are 5′ of the lesion. The instability of the oxoG modification is attributed to changes in the hydrophilicity of the base and its impact on major groove cation binding.