The efficiency of the translesion synthesis across abasic sites by mitochondrial DNA polymerase is low in mitochondria of 3T3 cells

Dual chemical labeling enables nucleotide-resolution mapping of DNA abasic sites and common alkylation damage in human mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) modifications play an emerging role in innate immunity and inflammatory diseases. Nonetheless, relatively little is known regarding the locations of mtDNA modifications. Such information is critically important for deciphering their roles in mtDNA instability, mtDNA-mediated immune and inflammatory responses, and mitochondrial disorders. The affinity probe-based enrichment of lesion-containing DNA represents a key strategy for sequencing DNA modifications. Existing methods are limited in the enrichment specificity of abasic (AP) sites, a prevalent DNA modification and repair intermediate. Herein, we devise a novel approach, termed dual chemical labeling-assisted sequencing (DCL-seq), for mapping AP sites. DCL-seq features two designer compounds for enriching and mapping AP sites specifically at single-nucleotide resolution. For proof of principle, we mapped AP sites in mtDNA from HeLa cells under different biological conditions. The resulting AP site maps coincide with mtDNA regions with low TFAM (mitochondrial transcription factor A) coverage and with potential G-quadruplex-forming sequences. In addition, we demonstrated the broader applicability of the method in sequencing other DNA modifications in mtDNA, such as N7-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine and N3-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine, when coupled with a lesion-specific repair enzyme. Together, DCL-seq holds the promise to sequence multiple DNA modifications in various biological samples.

Key Amino Acid Residues of Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A Synergize with Abasic (AP) Site Dynamics To Facilitate AP-Lyase Reactions

Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes 37 essential genes and plays a critical role in mitochondrial and cellular functions. mtDNA is susceptible to damage by endogenous and exogenous chemicals. Damaged mtDNA molecules are counteracted by the redundancy, repair, and degradation of mtDNA. In response to difficult-to-repair or excessive amounts of DNA lesions, mtDNA degradation is a crucial mitochondrial genome maintenance mechanism. Nevertheless, the molecular basis of mtDNA degradation remains incompletely understood. Recently, mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) has emerged as a factor in degrading damaged mtDNA containing abasic (AP) sites. TFAM has AP-lyase activity, which cleaves DNA at AP sites. Human TFAM and its homologs contain a higher abundance of Glu than that of the proteome. To decipher the role of Glu in TFAM-catalyzed AP-DNA cleavage, we constructed TFAM variants and used biochemical assays, kinetic simulations, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to probe the functional importance of E187 near a key residue K186. Our previous studies showed that K186 is a primary residue to cleave AP-DNA via Schiff base chemistry. Here, we demonstrate that E187 facilitates β-elimination, key to AP-DNA strand scission. MD simulations showed that extrahelical confirmation of the AP lesion and the flexibility of E187 in TFAM-DNA complexes facilitate AP-lyase reactions. Together, highly abundant Lys and Glu residues in TFAM promote AP-DNA strand scission, supporting the role of TFAM in AP-DNA turnover and implying the breadth of this process across different species.

DNA-protein cross-links between abasic DNA damage and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM)

In higher eukaryotic cells, mitochondria are essential organelles for energy production, metabolism, and signaling. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes 13 protein subunits for oxidative phosphorylation and a set of tRNAs and rRNAs. mtDNA damage, sourced from endogenous chemicals and environmental factors, contributes to mitochondrial genomic instability, which has been associated with various mitochondrial diseases. DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are deleterious DNA lesions that threaten genomic integrity. Although much has been learned about the formation and repair of DPCs in the nucleus, little is known about DPCs in mitochondria. Here, we present in vitro and in cellulo data to demonstrate the formation of DPCs between a prevalent abasic (AP) DNA lesion and a DNA-packaging protein, mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). TFAM cleaves AP-DNA and forms DPCs and single-strand breaks (SSB). Lys residues of TFAM are critical for the formation of TFAM-DPC and a reactive 3'-phospho-α,β-unsaturated aldehyde (3'pUA) residue on SSB. The 3'pUA residue reacts with two Cys of TFAM and contributes to the stable TFAM-DPC formation. Glutathione reacts with 3'pUA and competes with TFAM-DPC formation, corroborating our cellular experiments showing the accumulation of TFAM-DPCs under limiting glutathione. Our data point to the involvement of TFAM in AP-DNA turnover and fill a knowledge gap regarding the protein factors in processing damaged mtDNA.

Transient State Kinetics of Plasmodium falciparum Apicoplast DNA Polymerase Suggests the Involvement of Accessory Factors for Efficient and Accurate DNA Synthesis

Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa. Most apicomplexans, including Plasmodium, contain an essential nonphotosynthetic plastid called the apicoplast that harbors its own genome that is replicated by a dedicated organellar replisome. This replisome employs a single DNA polymerase (apPol), which is expected to perform both replicative and translesion synthesis. Unlike other replicative polymerases, no processivity factor for apPol has been identified. While preliminary structural and biochemical studies have provided an overall characterization of apPol, the kinetic mechanism of apPol's activity remains unknown. We have used transient state methods to determine the kinetics of replicative and translesion synthesis by apPol and show that apPol has low processivity and efficiency while copying undamaged DNA. Moreover, while apPol can bypass oxidatively damaged lesions, the bypass is error-prone. Taken together, our results raise the following question─how does a polymerase with low processivity, efficiency, and fidelity (for translesion synthesis) faithfully replicate the apicoplast organellar DNA within the hostile environment of the human host? We hypothesize that interactions with putative components of the apicoplast replisome and/or an as-yet-undiscovered processivity factor transform apPol into an efficient and accurate enzyme.

Assay design for analysis of human uracil DNA glycosylase

Human uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG2) is an enzyme whose primary function is to remove uracil bases from genomic DNA. UNG2 activity is critical when uracil bases are elevated in DNA during class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation, and additionally, UNG2 affects the efficacy of thymidylate synthase inhibitors that increase genomic uracil levels. Here, we summarize the enzymatic properties of UNG2 and its mitochondrial analog UNG1. To facilitate studies on the activity of these highly conserved proteins, we discuss three fluorescence-based enzyme assays that have informed much of our understanding on UNG2 function. The assays use synthetic DNA oligonucleotide substrates with uracil bases incorporated in the DNA, and the substrates can be single-stranded, double-stranded, or form other structures such as DNA hairpins or junctions. The fluorescence signal reporting uracil base excision by UNG2 is detected in different ways: (1) Excision of uracil from end-labeled oligonucleotides is measured by visualizing UNG2 reaction products with denaturing PAGE; (2) Uracil excision from dsDNA substrates is detected in solution by base pairing uracil with 2-aminopurine, whose intrinsic fluorescence is enhanced upon uracil excision; or (3) UNG2 excision of uracil from a hairpin molecular beacon substrate changes the structure of the substrate and turns on fluorescence by relieving a fluorescence quench. In addition to their utility in characterizing UNG2 properties, these assays are being adapted to discover inhibitors of the enzyme and to determine how protein-protein interactions affect UNG2 function.

Beyond base excision repair: an evolving picture of mitochondrial DNA repair

Mitochondria are highly specialised organelles required for key cellular processes including ATP production through cellular respiration and controlling cell death via apoptosis. Unlike other organelles, mitochondria contain their own DNA genome which encodes both protein and RNA required for cellular respiration. Each cell may contain hundreds to thousands of copies of the mitochondrial genome, which is essential for normal cellular function - deviation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number is associated with cellular ageing and disease. Furthermore, mtDNA lesions can arise from both endogenous or exogenous sources and must either be tolerated or corrected to preserve mitochondrial function. Importantly, replication of damaged mtDNA can lead to stalling and introduction of mutations or genetic loss, mitochondria have adapted mechanisms to repair damaged DNA. These mechanisms rely on nuclear-encoded DNA repair proteins that are translocated into the mitochondria. Despite the presence of many known nuclear DNA repair proteins being found in the mitochondrial proteome, it remains to be established which DNA repair mechanisms are functional in mammalian mitochondria. Here, we summarise the existing and emerging research, alongside examining proteomic evidence, demonstrating that mtDNA damage can be repaired using Base Excision Repair (BER), Homologous Recombination (HR) and Microhomology-mediated End Joining (MMEJ). Critically, these repair mechanisms do not operate in isolation and evidence for interplay between pathways and repair associated with replication is discussed. Importantly, characterising non-canonical functions of key proteins and understanding the bespoke pathways used to tolerate, repair or bypass DNA damage will be fundamental in fully understanding the causes of mitochondrial genome mutations and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Base Editors: Expanding the Types of DNA Damage Products Harnessed for Genome Editing

Base editors are an innovative addition to the genome editing toolbox that introduced a new genome editing strategy to the field. Instead of using double-stranded DNA breaks, base editors use nucleobase modification chemistry to efficiently and precisely incorporate single nucleotide variants (SNVs) into the genome of living cells. Two classes of DNA base editors currently exist: deoxycytidine deamination-derived editors (CBEs, which facilitate C•G to T•A mutations) and deoxyadenosine deamination-derived base editors (ABEs, which facilitate A•T to G•C mutations). More recently, the development of mitochondrial base editors allowed the introduction of C•G to T•A mutations into mitochondrial DNA as well. Base editors show great potential as therapeutic agents and research tools, and extensive studies have been carried out to improve upon the original base editor constructs to aid researchers in a variety of disciplines. Despite their widespread use, there are few publications that focus on elucidating the biological pathways involved during the processing of base editor intermediates. Because base editors introduce unique types of DNA damage products (a U•G mismatch with a DNA backbone nick for CBEs, and an I•T mismatch with a DNA backbone nick for ABEs) to facilitate genome editing, a deep understanding of the DNA damage repair pathways that facilitate or impede base editing represents an important aspect for the further expansion and improvement of the technologies. Here, we first review canonical deoxyuridine, deoxyinosine, and single-stranded break repair. Then, we discuss how interactions among these different repair processes can lead to different base editing outcomes. Through this review, we hope to promote thoughtful discussions on the DNA repair mechanisms of base editing, as well as help researchers in the improvement of the current base editors and the development of new base editors.

Mitochondrial transcription factor A promotes DNA strand cleavage at abasic sites

In higher eukaryotic cells, mitochondria are essential subcellular organelles for energy production, cell signaling, and the biosynthesis of biomolecules. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome is indispensable for mitochondrial function because it encodes protein subunits of the electron transport chain and a full set of transfer and ribosomal RNAs. MtDNA degradation has emerged as an essential quality control measure to maintain mtDNA and to cope with mtDNA damage resulting from endogenous and environmental factors. Among all types of DNA damage known, abasic (AP) sites, sourced from base excision repair and spontaneous base loss, are the most abundant endogenous DNA lesions in cells. In mitochondria, AP sites trigger rapid DNA loss; however, the mechanism and molecular factors involved in the process remain elusive. Herein, we demonstrate that the stability of AP sites is reduced dramatically upon binding to a major mtDNA packaging protein, mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). The half-life of AP lesions within TFAM-DNA complexes is 2 to 3 orders of magnitude shorter than that in free DNA, depending on their position. The TFAM-catalyzed AP-DNA destabilization occurs with nonspecific DNA or mitochondrial light-strand promoter sequence, yielding DNA single-strand breaks and DNA-TFAM cross-links. TFAM-DNA cross-link intermediates prior to the strand scission were also observed upon treating AP-DNA with mitochondrial extracts of human cells. In situ trapping of the reaction intermediates (DNA-TFAM cross-links) revealed that the reaction proceeds via Schiff base chemistry facilitated by lysine residues. Collectively, our data suggest a novel role of TFAM in facilitating the turnover of abasic DNA.

Mitochondrial DNA degradation: A quality control measure for mitochondrial genome maintenance and stress response

Mitochondria play a central role in bioenergetics, and fulfill a plethora of functions in cell signaling, programmed cell death, and biosynthesis of key protein cofactors. Mitochondria harbor their own genomic DNA, which encodes protein subunits of the electron transport chain and a full set of transfer and ribosomal RNAs. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is essential for cellular and organismal functions, and defects in mitochondrial genome maintenance have been implicated in common human diseases and mitochondrial disorders. mtDNA repair and degradation are known pathways to cope with mtDNA damage; however, molecular factors involved in this process have remained unclear. Such knowledge is fundamental to the understanding of mitochondrial genomic maintenance and pathology, because mtDNA degradation may contribute to the etiology of mtDNA depletion syndromes and to the activation of the innate immune response by fragmented mtDNA. This article reviews the current literature regarding the importance of mitochondrial DNA degradation in mtDNA maintenance and stress response, and the recent progress in uncovering molecular factors involved in mtDNA degradation. These factors include key components of the mtDNA replication machinery, such as DNA polymerase γ, helicase Twinkle, and exonuclease MGME1, as well as a major DNA-packaging protein, mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM).

Increased TFAM binding to mtDNA damage hot spots is associated with mtDNA loss in aged rat heart

The well-known age-related mitochondrial dysfunction deeply affects heart because of the tissue's large dependence on mitochondrial ATP provision. Our study revealed in aged rat heart a significant 25% decrease in mtDNA relative content, a significant 29% increase in the 4.8 Kb mtDNA deletion relative content, and a significant inverse correlation between such contents as well as a significant 38% decrease in TFAM protein amount. The TFAM-binding activity to specific mtDNA regions increased at those encompassing the mtDNA replication origins, D-loop and Ori-L. The same mtDNA regions were screened for different kinds of oxidative damage, namely Single Strand Breaks (SSBs), Double Strand Breaks (DSBs), abasic sites (AP sites) and oxidized bases as 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8oxoG). A marked increase in the relative content of mtDNA strand damage (SSBs, DSBs and AP sites) was found in the D-loop and Ori-L regions in the aged animals, unveiling for the first time in vivo an age-related, non-stochastic accumulation of oxidative lesions in these two regions that appear as hot spots of mtDNA damage. The use of Formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (Fpg) demonstrated also a significant age-related accumulation of oxidized purines particularly in the D-loop and Ori-L regions. The detected increased binding of TFAM to the mtDNA damage hot spots in aged heart suggests a link between TFAM binding to mtDNA and loss of mitochondrial genome likely through hindrance of repair processes.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA glycosylases: From function to disease

Oxidative stress is associated with a growing number of diseases that span from cancer to neurodegeneration. Most oxidatively induced DNA base lesions are repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathway which involves the action of various DNA glycosylases. There are numerous genome wide studies attempting to associate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with predispositions to various types of disease; often, these common variants do not have significant alterations in their biochemical function and do not exhibit a convincing phenotype. Nevertheless several lines of evidence indicate that SNPs in DNA repair genes may modulate DNA repair capacity and contribute to risk of disease. This overview provides a convincing picture that SNPs of DNA glycosylases that remove oxidatively generated DNA lesions are susceptibility factors for a wide disease spectrum that includes besides cancer (particularly lung, breast and gastrointestinal tract), cochlear/ocular disorders, myocardial infarction and neurodegenerative disorders which can be all grouped under the umbrella of oxidative stress-related pathologies.