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Freeman ADJ, Déclais AC, Wilson TJ, Lilley DJ. Biochemical and mechanistic analysis of the cleavage of branched DNA by human ANKLE1. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5743-5754. [PMID: 37216589 PMCID: PMC10287932 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
ANKLE1 is a nuclease that provides a final opportunity to process unresolved junctions in DNA that would otherwise create chromosomal linkages blocking cell division. It is a GIY-YIG nuclease. We have expressed an active domain of human ANKLE1 containing the GIY-YIG nuclease domain in bacteria, that is monomeric in solution and when bound to a DNA Y-junction, and unilaterally cleaves a cruciform junction. Using an AlphaFold model of the enzyme we identify the key active residues, and show that mutation of each leads to impairment of activity. There are two components in the catalytic mechanism. Cleavage rate is pH dependent, corresponding to a pKa of 6.9, suggesting an involvement of the conserved histidine in proton transfer. The reaction rate depends on the nature of the divalent cation, likely bound by glutamate and asparagine side chains, and is log-linear with the metal ion pKa. We propose that the reaction is subject to general acid-base catalysis, using a combination of tyrosine and histidine acting as general base and water directly coordinated to the metal ion as general acid. The reaction is temperature dependent; activation energy Ea = 37 kcal mol-1, suggesting that cleavage is coupled to opening of DNA in the transition state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair D J Freeman
- Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Anne-Cécile Déclais
- Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Timothy J Wilson
- Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - David M J Lilley
- Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
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Zhou R, Yang O, Déclais AC, Jin H, Gwon GH, Freeman ADJ, Cho Y, Lilley DMJ, Ha T. Junction resolving enzymes use multivalency to keep the Holliday junction dynamic. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:269-275. [PMID: 30664685 PMCID: PMC6377835 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0209-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Holliday junction (HJ) resolution by resolving enzymes is essential for chromosome segregation and recombination-mediated DNA repair. HJs undergo two types of structural dynamics that determine the outcome of recombination: conformer exchange between two isoforms and branch migration. However, it is unknown how the preferred branch point and conformer are achieved between enzyme binding and HJ resolution given the extensive binding interactions seen in static crystal structures. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of resolving enzymes from bacteriophages (T7 endonuclease I), bacteria (RuvC), fungi (GEN1) and humans (hMus81-Eme1) showed that both types of HJ dynamics still occur after enzyme binding. These dimeric enzymes use their multivalent interactions to achieve this, going through a partially dissociated intermediate in which the HJ undergoes nearly unencumbered dynamics. This evolutionarily conserved property of HJ resolving enzymes provides previously unappreciated insight on how junction resolution, conformer exchange and branch migration may be coordinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruobo Zhou
- Department of Physics and Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Olivia Yang
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anne-Cécile Déclais
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Hyeonseok Jin
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Gwang Hyeon Gwon
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Alasdair D J Freeman
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Yunje Cho
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - David M J Lilley
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Physics and Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Liu Y, Freeman ADJ, Déclais AC, Wilson TJ, Gartner A, Lilley DMJ. Crystal Structure of a Eukaryotic GEN1 Resolving Enzyme Bound to DNA. Cell Rep 2015; 13:2565-2575. [PMID: 26686639 PMCID: PMC4695337 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We present the crystal structure of the junction-resolving enzyme GEN1 bound to DNA at 2.5 Å resolution. The structure of the GEN1 protein reveals it to have an elaborated FEN-XPG family fold that is modified for its role in four-way junction resolution. The functional unit in the crystal is a monomer of active GEN1 bound to the product of resolution cleavage, with an extensive DNA binding interface for both helical arms. Within the crystal lattice, a GEN1 dimer interface juxtaposes two products, whereby they can be reconnected into a four-way junction, the structure of which agrees with that determined in solution. The reconnection requires some opening of the DNA structure at the center, in agreement with permanganate probing and 2-aminopurine fluorescence. The structure shows that a relaxation of the DNA structure accompanies cleavage, suggesting how second-strand cleavage is accelerated to ensure productive resolution of the junction. GEN1 crystallized with a resolution product containing two perpendicular DNA helices GEN1 shares the FEN1 superfamily fold, with a two-metal ion-containing active site GEN1 forms a dimer that juxtaposes two products in a substrate-like complex A resulting model of a GEN1-junction complex is supported by solution experiments
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijin Liu
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Alasdair D J Freeman
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Anne-Cécile Déclais
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Timothy J Wilson
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Anton Gartner
- Center for Gene Regulation and Expression, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - David M J Lilley
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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Freeman ADJ, Liu Y, Déclais AC, Gartner A, Lilley DMJ. GEN1 from a thermophilic fungus is functionally closely similar to non-eukaryotic junction-resolving enzymes. J Mol Biol 2014; 426:3946-3959. [PMID: 25315822 PMCID: PMC4270448 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Revised: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Processing of Holliday junctions is essential in recombination. We have identified the gene for the junction-resolving enzyme GEN1 from the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum and expressed the N-terminal 487-amino-acid section. The protein is a nuclease that is highly selective for four-way DNA junctions, cleaving 1nt 3' to the point of strand exchange on two strands symmetrically disposed about a diagonal axis. CtGEN1 binds to DNA junctions as a discrete homodimer with nanomolar affinity. Analysis of the kinetics of cruciform cleavage shows that cleavage of the second strand occurs an order of magnitude faster than the first cleavage so as to generate a productive resolution event. All these properties are closely similar to those described for bacterial, phage and mitochondrial junction-resolving enzymes. CtGEN1 is also similar in properties to the human enzyme but lacks the problems with aggregation that currently prevent detailed analysis of the latter protein. CtGEN1 is thus an excellent enzyme with which to engage in biophysical and structural analysis of eukaryotic GEN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair D J Freeman
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Yijin Liu
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Anne-Cécile Déclais
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Anton Gartner
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - David M J Lilley
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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Wang J, Fessl T, Schroeder KT, Ouellet J, Liu Y, Freeman ADJ, Lilley DMJ. Single-molecule observation of the induction of k-turn RNA structure on binding L7Ae protein. Biophys J 2012; 103:2541-8. [PMID: 23260056 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Revised: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 11/06/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The k-turn is a commonly occurring structural motif that introduces a tight kink into duplex RNA. In free solution, it can exist in an extended form, or by folding into the kinked structure. Binding of proteins including the L7Ae family can induce the formation of the kinked geometry, raising the question of whether this occurs by passive selection of the kinked structure, or a more active process in which the protein manipulates the RNA structure. We have devised a single-molecule experiment whereby immobilized L7Ae protein binds Cy3-Cy5-labeled RNA from free solution. We find that all bound RNA is in the kinked geometry, with no evidence for transitions to an extended form at the millisecond timescale of the camera. Furthermore, real-time binding experiments provide no evidence for a more extended intermediate even at the earliest times, at a time resolution of 16 ms. The data support a passive conformational selection model by which the protein selects a fraction of RNA that is already in the kinked conformation, thereby drawing the equilibrium into this form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, The University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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Abstract
T7 endonuclease I is a dimeric nuclease that is selective for four-way DNA junctions. Previous crystallographic studies have found that the N-terminal 16 amino acids are not visible, neither in the presence nor in the absence of DNA. We have now investigated the effect of deleting the N-terminus completely or partially. N-terminal deleted enzyme binds more tightly to DNA junctions but cleaves them more slowly. While deletion of the N-terminus does not measurably affect the global structure of the complex, the presence of the peptide is required to generate a local opening at the center of the DNA junction that is observed by 2-aminopurine fluorescence. Complete deletion of the peptide leads to a cleavage rate that is 3 orders of magnitude slower and an activation enthalpy that is 3-fold higher, suggesting that the most important interaction of the peptide is with the reaction transition state. Taken together, these data point to an important role of the N-terminus in generating a central opening of the junction that is required for the cleavage reaction to proceed properly. In the absence of this, we find that a cruciform junction is no longer subject to bilateral cleavage, but instead, just one strand is cleaved. Thus, the N-terminus is required for a productive resolution of the junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair D J Freeman
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
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Freeman ADJ, Ward R, El Mkami H, Lilley DMJ, Norman DG. Analysis of conformational changes in the DNA junction-resolving enzyme T7 endonuclease I on binding a four-way junction using EPR. Biochemistry 2011; 50:9963-72. [PMID: 22008089 DOI: 10.1021/bi2011898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The four-way (Holliday) DNA junction is the central intermediate in homologous recombination. It is ultimately resolved into two nicked-duplex species by the action of a junction-resolving enzyme. These enzymes are highly selective for the structure of branched DNA, yet as a class these proteins impose significant distortion on their target junctions. Bacteriophage T7 endonuclease I selectively binds and cleaves DNA four-way junctions. The protein is an extremely stable dimer, comprising two globular domains joined by a β-strand bridge with each active site including amino acids from both polypeptides. The crystal structure of endonuclease I has been solved both as free protein and in complex with a DNA junction, showing that the protein, as well as the junction, becomes distorted on binding. We have therefore used site-specific spin-labeling in conjunction with EPR distance measurements to analyze induced fit in the binding of endonuclease I to a DNA four-way junction. The results support the change in protein structure as it binds to the junction. In addition, we have examined the structure of wild type and catalytically inactive mutants alone and in complex with DNA. We demonstrate the presence of hitherto undefined metastable conformational states within endonuclease I, showing how these states can be influenced by DNA-junction binding or mutations within the active sites. In addition, we demonstrate a previously unobserved instability in the N-terminal α1-helix upon active site mutation. These studies reveal that structural changes in both DNA and protein occur in the action of this junction-resolving enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair D J Freeman
- Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
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Déclais AC, Liu J, Freeman ADJ, Lilley DMJ. Structural recognition between a four-way DNA junction and a resolving enzyme. J Mol Biol 2006; 359:1261-76. [PMID: 16690083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2006.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2006] [Revised: 04/05/2006] [Accepted: 04/14/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Resolving enzymes bind highly selectively to four-way DNA junctions, but the mechanism of this structural specificity is poorly understood. In this study, we have explored the role of interactions between the dimeric enzyme and the helical arms of the junction, using junctions with either shortened arms, or circular permutation of arms. We find that DNA-protein contacts in the arms containing the 5' ends of the continuous strands are very important, conferring a significant level of sequence discrimination upon both the choice of conformer and the order of strand cleavage. We have exploited these properties to obtain hydroxyl radical footprinting data on endonuclease I-junction complexes that are not complicated by the presence of alternative conformers, with results that are in good agreement with the arm permutation and shortening experiments. Substitution of phosphate groups at the center of the junction reveals the importance of electrostatic interactions at the point of strand exchange in the complex. Our data show that the form of the complex between endonuclease I and a DNA junction depends on the core of the junction and on interactions with the first six base-pairs of the arms containing the 5' ends of the continuous strands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Cécile Déclais
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee
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Abstract
Genetic recombination occurs between homologous DNA molecules via a four-way (Holliday) junction intermediate. This ancient and ubiquitous process is important for the repair of double-stranded breaks, the restart of stalled replication forks, and the creation of genetic diversity. Once formed, the four-way junction alone can undergo the stepwise exchange of base pairs known as spontaneous branch migration. Conventional ensemble assays, useful for finding average migration rates over long sequences, have been unable to examine the affect of sequence and structure on the migration process. Here, we present a single-molecule spontaneous branch migration assay with single-base pair resolution in a study of individual DNA junctions that can undergo one step of migration. Junctions exhibit markedly different dynamics of exchange between stacking conformers depending on the point of strand exchange, allowing the moment at which branch migration occurs to be detected. The free energy landscape of spontaneous branch migration is found to be highly nonuniform and governed by two types of sequence-dependent barriers, with unmediated local migration being up to 10 times more rapid than the previously deduced average rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A McKinney
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Freeman ADJ, Déclais AC, Lilley DMJ. Metal Ion Binding in the Active Site of the Junction-resolving Enzyme T7 Endonuclease I in the Presence and in the Absence of DNA. J Mol Biol 2003; 333:59-73. [PMID: 14516743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2003.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Endonuclease I of bacteriophage T7 is a DNA junction-resolving enzyme. We have previously used crystallography to demonstrate the binding of two manganese ions into the active site that is formed by three carboxylate (Glu 20, Asp 55 and Glu 65) and a lysine residue (Lys 67). Endonuclease I is active in the presence of magnesium, manganese, iron (II) and cobalt (II) ions, weakly active in the presence of nickel, copper (II) and zinc ions, and completely inactive in the presence of calcium ions. However, using calorimetry, we have observed the binding of two calcium ions to the free enzyme in a manner very similar to the binding of manganese ions. In the presence of iron (II) ions, we have obtained a cleavage of the continuous strands of a junction bound by endonuclease I, at sites close to (but not identical with) enzyme-induced hydrolysis. The results suggest that this arises from attack by locally generated hydroxyl radicals, arising from iron (II) ions bound into the active site. This therefore provides an indirect way of examining metal ion binding in the enzyme-junction complex. Ion binding in free protein (by calorimetry) and the enzyme-junction complex (iron-induced cleavage) have been studied in series of active-site mutants. Both confirm the importance of the three carboxylate ligands, and the lack of a requirement for Lys67 for the ion binding. Calorimetry points to particularly critical role of Asp55, as mutation completely abolishes all binding of both manganese and calcium ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair D J Freeman
- Cancer Research UK Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, MSI/WTB Complex, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
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