MutT protein specifically hydrolyses a potent mutagenic substrate for DNA synthesis.

Errors in the replication of DNA are a major source of spontaneous mutations, and a number of cellular functions are involved in correction of these errors to keep the frequency of spontaneous mutations very low. We report here a novel mechanism which prevents replicational errors by degrading a potent mutagenic substrate for DNA synthesis. This error-avoiding process is catalysed by a protein encoded by the mutT gene of Escherichia coli, mutations of which increase the occurrence of A.T----C.G transversions 100 to 10,000 times the level of the wild type. Spontaneous oxidation of dGTP forms 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-dGTP (8-oxodGTP), which is inserted opposite dA and dC residues of template DNA with almost equal efficiency, and the MutT protein specifically degrades 8-oxodGTP to the monophosphate. This indicates that elimination from the nucleotide pool of the oxidized form of guanine nucleotide is important for the high fidelity of DNA synthesis.     

Fitness reduction associated with the deletion of a satellite DNA array

Satellite DNA refers to a class of tandem repeats of very simple sequences, usually A + T or G + C rich, which form a satellite band on a CsCl gradient. Their ubiquity and abundance in higher eukaryotes have led to speculation about their functions. It has often been suggested that satellite DNAs are merely innocuous genetic parasites or comprise 'junk' DNA. The recent identification of an array of satellite DNA repeats as the Responder (Rsp) locus of Drosophila melanogaster provides a new perspective on these elements. Rsp is in the centromeric heterochromatin of most natural second chromosomes. It causes spermatids bearing it to degenerate after meiosis when the homologous second chromosome is a Segregation Distorter (SD) chromosome. That is, SD targets the Rsp locus on its homologue for destruction during spermatogenesis, causing meiotic drive. Why then does the Rsp locus, a large array of satellite repeats, exist at all? One plausible explanation is that its existence contributes to the fitness of flies bearing it, compensating for the loss through meiotic drive. A direct demonstration of the usefulness of any family of satellite DNA is to compare the fitnesses of individuals with and without it. Previously, such an experiment has been difficult because the absence of a characteristic phenotype has precluded an efficient selection of deletion mutations. In this report we attempt to demonstrate a fitness reduction associated with the deletion of Rsp satellite DNA as well as the life stages at which such a reduction occurs.     

A common sequence of calcium and pH signals in the mitogenic stimulation of eukaryotic cells

When normal quiescent (G0) cells are stimulated by mitogens to enter the cell cycle, the metabolic derepression which occurs is similar in a variety of cells. The mechanisms initiating these responses and their relationship to subsequent progression through G1 to DNA synthesis in S phase, however, are generally undefined. The clearest evidence has been obtained in sea urchin eggs, where fertilization by sperm causes a rapid, transient increase in the concentration of free cytoplasmic Ca2+ [(Ca]i), followed by a sustained increase in cytoplasmic pH (pHi). It has been demonstrated clearly that these ionic responses are obligatory for progression to DNA synthesis by the normal pathway after fertilization, although the Ca2+ signal can be bypassed by parthenogenetic agents which elevate directly pHi (for example, NH+4 ions). These observations raise the questions of whether other eukaryotic cells show the same sequence of ionic responses when stimulated by mitogens and whether such signals are an obligatory component of their mitogenic pathways. We show here that a common sequence of [Ca]i and pHi responses occurs in both quiescent mouse thymocytes and Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts stimulated by appropriate mitogens. Furthermore, 'opportunistic' mitogens (those that do not act on the cells in vivo, such as concanavalin A (Con A), the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate CTPA] that are mitogenic for both mouse thymocytes and 3T3 fibroblast, each produce characteristic ionic responses that are the same in both types of cell.     

一种游仆虫无性生殖周期中大核及其DNA含量的变化

应用光学显微镜、显微光度计和定量细胞化学技术研究了一种游仆虫无性生殖周期中大核及其 DNA 含量的变化特征,获得如下结果:(1)游仆虫细胞周期分成 G_1期、S 期和 D 期,各个时期在整个细胞周期中所占的时间速率分别为36%、59%和5%。(2)游仆虫细胞周期中,G_1期大核迅速增大,但此时大核无 DNA 合成现象,DNA 分布密度随大核增大而降低;S 期大核前期增大,此后变小,大核 DNA 含量连续增加,大核 DNA 分布密度也随着增高。8期结束后,大核 DNA 含量相当于 G_1大核的两倍;D期大核又显著增大,DNA 分布密度稍高于 G_1期大核的水平。(3)由游仆虫孚尔根反应大核的形态,大核 DNA 三维吸收图像和显微光度术定量分析数据表明,游仆虫大核 DNA 含量的变化仅发生在 S 期,S 期大核中 DNA 合成与大核改组带相联系。     

Inhibition of telomerase by G-quartet DNA structures

The ends or telomeres of the linear chromosomes of eukaryotes are composed of tandem repeats of short DNA sequences, one strand being rich in guanine (G strand) and the complementary strand in cytosine. Telomere synthesis involves the addition of telomeric repeats to the G strand by telomere terminal transferase (telomerase). Telomeric G-strand DNAs from a variety of organisms adopt compact structures, the most stable of which is explained by the formation of G-quartets. Here we investigate the capacity of the different folded forms of telomeric DNA to serve as primers for the Oxytricha nova telomerase in vitro. Formation of the K(+)-stabilized G-quartet structure in a primer inhibits its use by telomerase. Furthermore, the octanucleotide T4G4, which does not fold, is a better primer than (T4G4)2, which can form a foldback structure. We conclude that telomerase does not require any folding of its DNA primer. Folding of telomeric DNA into G-quartet structures seems to influence the extent of telomere elongation in vitro and might therefore act as a negative regulator of elongation in vivo.     

Regulation of p34CDC28 tyrosine phosphorylation is not required for entry into mitosis in S. cerevisiae.

Progression from G2 to M phase in eukaryotes requires activation of a protein kinase composed of p34cdc2/CDC28 associated with G1-specific cyclins. In some organisms the activation of the kinase at the G2/M boundary is due to dephosphorylation of a highly conserved tyrosine residue at position 15 (Y15) of the cdc2 protein. Here we report that in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, p34CDC28 also undergoes cell-cycle regulated dephosphorylation on an equivalent tyrosine residue (Y19). However, in contrast to previous observations in S. pombe, Xenopus and mammalian cells, dephosphorylation of Y19 is not required for the activation of the CDC28/cyclin kinase. Furthermore, mutation of this tyrosine residue does not affect dependence of mitosis on DNA synthesis nor does it abolish G2 arrest induced by DNA damage. Our data imply that regulated phosphorylation of this tyrosine residue is not the 'universal' means by which the onset of mitosis is determined. We propose that there are other unidentified controls that regulate entry into mitosis.     

一种游仆虫无性生殖周期中大核及其 DNA 含量的变化

应用光学显微镜、显微光度计和定量细胞化学技术研究了一种游仆虫无性生殖周期中大核及其DNA含量的变化特征,获得如下结果:(1)游仆虫细胞周期分成G_1期、S期和D期,各个时期在整个细胞周期中所占的时间速率分别为36%、59%和5%。(2)游仆虫细胞周期中,G_1期大核迅速增大,但此时大核无DNA合成现象,DNA分布密度随大核增大而降低;S期大核前期增大,此后变小,大核DNA含量连续增加,大核DNA分布密度也随着增高。S期结束后,大核DNA含量相当于G_1大核的两倍;D期大核又显著增大,DNA分布密度稍高于G_1期大核的水平。(3)由游仆虫孚尔根反应大核的形态,大核DNA三维吸收图像和显微光度术定量分析数据表明,游仆虫大核DNA含量的变化仅发生在S期,S期大核中DNA合成与大核改组带相联系。     

表皮生长因子效应评价细胞模型的建立

为了筛选表皮生长因子(EGF)信号通路的未知调控分子,利用人正常乳腺上皮细胞系MCF10A建立了EGF效应评价模型,包括细胞增殖、迁移以及细胞周期的进程等。结果显示,EGF能有效促进MCF10A细胞的增殖。饥饿同步化后,EGF能促进细胞从G1期进入S期,开始DNA的合成。此外,Transwell实验显示EGF能明显促进MCF10A细胞的迁移。     

骨形成发生蛋白对人骨髓间充质干细胞的影响

目的探讨骨形成发生蛋白(BMP)对人骨髓间充质干细胞的影响及调节作用.方法使用含BMP-7基因的PTracer-CMV载体感染人骨髓间充质干细胞(h MSCs),并设未转染组和空载体组,免疫组化法检测BMP-7蛋白表达,MTT法检测细胞增殖能力,流式细胞术检测细胞周期,湿化学法检测碱性磷酸酶合成情况.结果培养48 h后,BMP-7转染组h MSCs增殖速度明显高于未转染组和空载体组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);未转染组与空载体组h MSCs增殖速度之间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05).BMP-7转染组各时间点G_0/G_1期细胞比例均明显低于未转染组和空载体组;S期、G_2/M期的细胞比例均明显高于未转染组和空载体组,上述差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);各时间点未转染组与空载体组G_0/G_1期、S期、G_2/M期细胞比例间差异均无统计学意义(P0.05).BMP-7转染组h MSCs细胞碱性磷酸酶含量明显高于未转染组、空载体组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05).结论 BMP-7可促进h MSCs体外增殖和向成骨细胞分化,可能与促进细胞由G_1期进入S期、DNA合成增加、提升DNA合成的后期细胞数量有关.     

DNA-bound structures and mutants reveal abasic DNA binding by APE1 and DNA repair coordination [corrected

Non-coding apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites in DNA are continually created in cells both spontaneously and by damage-specific DNA glycosylases. The biologically critical human base excision repair enzyme APE1 cleaves the DNA sugar-phosphate backbone at a position 5' of AP sites to prime DNA repair synthesis. Here we report three co-crystal structures of human APE1 bound to abasic DNA which show that APE1 uses a rigid, pre-formed, positively charged surface to kink the DNA helix and engulf the AP-DNA strand. APE1 inserts loops into both the DNA major and minor grooves and binds a flipped-out AP site in a pocket that excludes DNA bases and racemized beta-anomer AP sites. Both the APE1 active-site geometry and a complex with cleaved AP-DNA and Mn2+ support a testable structure-based catalytic mechanism. Alanine substitutions of the residues that penetrate the DNA helix unexpectedly show that human APE1 is structurally optimized to retain the cleaved DNA product. These structural and mutational results show how APE1 probably displaces bound glycosylases and retains the nicked DNA product, suggesting that APE1 acts in vivo to coordinate the orderly transfer of unstable DNA damage intermediates between the excision and synthesis steps of DNA repair.     

Mouse p53 inhibits SV40 origin-dependent DNA replication

p53 is a cellular phosphoprotein that is present at elevated concentrations in cells transformed by different agents. p53 complementary DNA expression-constructs immortalize primary cells in vitro and co-operate with an activated ras oncogene in malignant transformation. Several reports have implicated p53 in mammalian cell cycle control and specifically with events occurring at the G0-G1 boundary. p53 forms specific complexes with simian virus 40 (SV40) large-T antigen, and such complexes are found associated with both replicating and mature SV40 DNA in lytically infected cells. In an accompanying paper Gannon and Lane report that in in vitro plate-binding assays, mouse p53 can displace polymerase alpha from complex with T-antigen. We have examined the in vivo consequences of expressing wild-type and mutant p53 proteins from other species in SV40-transformed monkey cells. We report here that expression of mouse p53 results in a substantial and selective inhibition of SV40 origin-dependent DNA replication. In addition to any function in the G0-G1 transition, the data presented suggest that p53 may affect directly the initiation or maintenance of replicative DNA synthesis.     

Acetylcholine analogue stimulates DNA synthesis in brain-derived cells via specific muscarinic receptor subtypes

Little is known about the factors which regulate the growth and development of the mammalian brain. Although proliferation of neuronal cells ceases relatively early in development, certain types of glial cells proliferate and differentiate mainly perinatally. In the perinatal period, the ability of acetylcholine to stimulate phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in brain reaches peak levels, and indeed the stable acetylcholine analogue carbachol can stimulate PI hydrolysis of primary neonatal astroglial cells. As PI hydrolysis is thought to be important in the regulation of cell proliferation, we investigated whether cellular DNA synthesis can be induced by carbachol. Our results show that carbachol stimulates DNA synthesis via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), in primary astrocytes derived from perinatal rat brain, in an age-dependent fashion. Carbachol is also mitogenic in certain brain-derived astrocytoma and neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing recombinant muscarinic receptors. DNA synthesis is strongly activated by carbachol in those brain-derived cell lines and transfected CHO cells that express mAChR subtypes which activate PI hydrolysis efficiently, and poorly activated in cells expressing mAChR subtypes which only weakly activate PI hydrolysis. These results strongly support a role for acetylcholine in regulating astroglial cell growth in the developing brain, and indicate that the specificity of acetylcholine-induced cell proliferation may be determined by the expression of those mAChR subtypes which activate PI hydrolysis.     

新型Gemini表面活性剂G14-3-14与DNA的相互作用及其在共振光散射法测定DNA中的应用

以芘(pyrene)为荧光探针,应用稳态荧光法探讨阳离子型Cemini表面活性剂G<,14-3-14>与脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)的相互作用,并求得G<,14-3-14>的临界胶束浓度(CMC)为3.8×10-4 mol·L,1.根据DNA对G<,14-3-14> 370nm处共振光散射信号的增强效应,建立以G<,14-3...     

The vsr gene product of E. coli K-12 is a strand- and sequence-specific DNA mismatch endonuclease

In Escherichia coli K-12, the Dcm methyltransferase catalyses methylation of the inner cytosine residue in the sequence CCA/TGG. Hydrolytic deamination of 5-methylcytosine bases in DNA leads to thymine residues, and hence to T/G mismatches, pre-mutagenic DNA lesions consisting of two natural DNA constituents and thus devoid of an obvious marker of the damaged DNA strand. These mismatches are corrected by the VSP repair pathway, which is characterized by very short patches of DNA repair synthesis. It depends on genes vsr and polA and is strongly stimulated by mutL and mutS. The vsr gene product (Vsr; Mr 18,000) was purified and characterized as a DNA mismatch endonuclease, a unique and hitherto unknown type of enzyme. Vsr endonuclease nicks double-stranded DNA within the sequence CTA/TGN or NTA/TGG next to the underlined thymidine residue, which is mismatched to 2'-deoxyguanosine. The incision is mismatch-dependent and strand-specific. These results illustrate how Vsr endonuclease initiates VSP mismatch repair.     

Structure of the DNA deaminase domain of the HIV-1 restriction factor APOBEC3G

The human APOBEC3G (apolipoprotein B messenger-RNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3G) protein is a single-strand DNA deaminase that inhibits the replication of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), other retroviruses and retrotransposons. APOBEC3G anti-viral activity is circumvented by most retroelements, such as through degradation by HIV-1 Vif. APOBEC3G is a member of a family of polynucleotide cytosine deaminases, several of which also target distinct physiological substrates. For instance, APOBEC1 edits APOB mRNA and AID deaminates antibody gene DNA. Although structures of other family members exist, none of these proteins has elicited polynucleotide cytosine deaminase or anti-viral activity. Here we report a solution structure of the human APOBEC3G catalytic domain. Five alpha-helices, including two that form the zinc-coordinating active site, are arranged over a hydrophobic platform consisting of five beta-strands. NMR DNA titration experiments, computational modelling, phylogenetic conservation and Escherichia coli-based activity assays combine to suggest a DNA-binding model in which a brim of positively charged residues positions the target cytosine for catalysis. The structure of the APOBEC3G catalytic domain will help us to understand functions of other family members and interactions that occur with pathogenic proteins such as HIV-1 Vif.