Error-prone replication of oxidatively damaged DNA by a high-fidelity DNA polymerase

Aerobic respiration generates reactive oxygen species that can damage guanine residues and lead to the production of 8-oxoguanine (8oxoG), the major mutagenic oxidative lesion in the genome. Oxidative damage is implicated in ageing and cancer, and its prevalence presents a constant challenge to DNA polymerases that ensure accurate transmission of genomic information. When these polymerases encounter 8oxoG, they frequently catalyse misincorporation of adenine in preference to accurate incorporation of cytosine. This results in the propagation of G to T transversions, which are commonly observed somatic mutations associated with human cancers. Here, we present sequential snapshots of a high-fidelity DNA polymerase during both accurate and mutagenic replication of 8oxoG. Comparison of these crystal structures reveals that 8oxoG induces an inversion of the mismatch recognition mechanisms that normally proofread DNA, such that the 8oxoG.adenine mismatch mimics a cognate base pair whereas the 8oxoG.cytosine base pair behaves as a mismatch. These studies reveal a fundamental mechanism of error-prone replication and show how 8oxoG, and DNA lesions in general, can form mismatches that evade polymerase error-detection mechanisms, potentially leading to the stable incorporation of lethal mutations.     

RecA acts in trans to allow replication of damaged DNA by DNA polymerase V

The DNA polymerase V (pol V) and RecA proteins are essential components of a mutagenic translesion synthesis pathway in Escherichia coli designed to cope with DNA damage. Previously, it has been assumed that RecA binds to the DNA template strand being copied. Here we show, however, that pol-V-catalysed translesion synthesis, in the presence or absence of the beta-processivity-clamp, occurs only when RecA nucleoprotein filaments assemble or RecA protomers bind on separate single-stranded (ss)DNA molecules in trans. A 3'-proximal RecA filament end on trans DNA is essential for stimulation; however, synthesis is strengthened by further pol V-RecA interactions occurring elsewhere along a trans nucleoprotein filament. We suggest that trans-stimulation of pol V by RecA bound to ssDNA reflects a distinctive regulatory mechanism of mutation that resolves the paradox of RecA filaments assembled in cis on a damaged template strand obstructing translesion DNA synthesis despite the absolute requirement of RecA for SOS mutagenesis.     

耐热DNA聚合酶介导的DNA酶促自发合成

构建了无模板引物的“类ＰＣＲ体系”。该体系在适当温度保温一段时间之后，能检测到产物出现，利用热变性分析等手段，初步研究了产物的性质，发现这些产物是随机合成的具有一些特殊构型的ＤＮＡ。本文报道三种构型，两类碱基组成比例，并通过改变反应条件观察对酶促自发合成的影响，探讨耐热ＤＮＡ聚合酶的非特异聚合活性以及介导的酶促自发合成的机理和意义。     

Sequential initiation of lagging and leading strand synthesis by two different polymerase complexes at the SV40 DNA replication origin

Enzymatic synthesis of DNA from the simian virus 40 origin of DNA replication has been reconstituted in vitro with eight purified components. DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex first initiates DNA synthesis at the replication origin and continues as the lagging strand polymerase. Subsequently, the DNA polymerase delta complex initiates replication on the leading strand template. Some prokaryotic DNA polymerase complexes can replace the eukaryotic polymerase delta complex. A model for polymerase switching during initiation of DNA replication is presented.     

DNA replication and recombination

Knowledge of the structure of DNA enabled scientists to undertake the difficult task of deciphering the detailed molecular mechanisms of two dynamic processes that are central to life: the copying of the genetic information by DNA replication, and its reassortment and repair by DNA recombination. Despite dramatic advances towards this goal over the past five decades, many challenges remain for the next generation of molecular biologists.     

DNA stretching by bacterial initiators promotes replication origin opening

Many replication initiators form higher-order oligomers that process host replication origins to promote replisome formation. In addition to dedicated duplex-DNA-binding domains, cellular initiators possess AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) elements that drive functions ranging from protein assembly to origin recognition. In bacteria, the AAA+ domain of the initiator DnaA has been proposed to assist in single-stranded DNA formation during origin melting. Here we show crystallographically and in solution that the ATP-dependent assembly of Aquifex aeolicus DnaA into a spiral oligomer creates a continuous surface that allows successive AAA+ domains to bind and extend single-stranded DNA segments. The mechanism of binding is unexpectedly similar to that of RecA, a homologous recombination factor, but it differs in that DnaA promotes a nucleic acid conformation that prevents pairing of a complementary strand. These findings, combined with strand-displacement assays, indicate that DnaA opens replication origins by a direct ATP-dependent stretching mechanism. Comparative studies reveal notable commonalities between the approach used by DnaA to engage DNA substrates and other, nucleic-acid-dependent, AAA+ systems.     

用PCR法检测人巨细胞病毒DNA

用聚合酶链式反应（ＰＣＲ）法检测患者尿液中人巨细胞病毒（ＨＣＭＶ）ＤＮＡ．结果表明，自行设计合成的引物位于ＨＣＭＶ基因组早期蛋白基因区，经ＰＣＲ仪扩增一段长４３０ｂｐ的特异序列片段，对正常人基因组ＤＮＡ或其它疱疹病毒ＤＮＡ无交叉反应．此法可检测出少至１０－１６ｇ（０．１ｆｇ）的病毒ＤＮＡ．通过对３５份尿液标本的检测，比较ＰＣＲ法和组织培养法的检测结果完全一致