Escherichia coli RecA promotes strand invasion with cisplatin-damaged DNA.

The antitumor drug cisplatin causes intrastrand cross-linking of adjacent guanine residues that severely distorts the DNA backbone. These DNA adducts impede the progress of the replisome and may result in replication fork arrest. In Escherichia coli, the response to cisplatin involves the action of the prototypic recombinase RecA. Here we show that RecA can utilize, albeit at reduced levels, oligonucleotides that bear site-specific cisplatin-induced 1,2 d(GpG) intrastrand cross-links in strand invasion reactions. Binding of RecA to cisplatin-damaged oligonucleotides was not affected, indicating that the impediment was in the pairing step. The cognate E. coli single-strand DNA-binding protein specifically stimulated strand invasion particularly with cisplatin-damaged DNA. These results indicate that RecA is capable of processing the major cisplatin-induced lesion via a recombination mechanism.

Modulation of the herpes simplex virus type-1 UL9 DNA helicase by its cognate single-strand DNA-binding protein, ICP8.

The mechanism of stimulation of a DNA helicase by its cognate single-strand DNA-binding protein was examined using herpes simplex virus type-1 UL9 DNA helicase and ICP8. UL9 and ICP8 are two essential components of the viral replisome that associate into a complex to unwind the origins of replication. The helicase and DNA-stimulated ATPase activities of UL9 are greatly elevated as a consequence of this association. Given that ICP8 acts as a single-strand DNA-binding protein, the simplest model that can account for its stimulatory effect predicts that it tethers UL9 to the DNA template, thereby increasing its processivity. In contrast to the prediction, data presented here show that the stimulatory activity of ICP8 does not depend on its single-strand DNA binding activity. Our data support an alternative hypothesis in which ICP8 modulates the activity of UL9. Accordingly, the data show that the ICP8-binding site of UL9 constitutes an inhibitory region that maintains the helicase in an inefficient ground state. ICP8 acts as a positive regulator by neutralizing this region. ICP8 does not affect substrate binding, ATP hydrolysis, or the efficiency of translocation/DNA unwinding. Rather, we propose that ICP8 increases the efficiency with which substrate binding and ATP hydrolysis are coupled to translocation/DNA unwinding.

Cysteine 111 affects coupling of single-stranded DNA binding to ATP hydrolysis in the herpes simplex virus type-1 origin-binding protein.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 origin-binding protein (UL9 protein) initiates viral replication by unwinding the origins. It possesses sequence-specific DNA-binding activity, single-stranded DNA-binding activity, DNA helicase activity, and ATPase activity that is strongly stimulated by single-stranded DNA. We have examined the role of cysteines in its action as a DNA helicase. The DNA helicase and DNA-dependent ATPase activities of UL9 protein were stimulated by reducing agent and specifically inactivated by the sulfhydryl-specific reagent N-ethylmaleimide. To identify the cysteine responsible for this phenomenon, a conserved cysteine in the vicinity of the ATP-binding site (cysteine 111) was mutagenized to alanine. UL9C111A protein exhibits defects in its DNA helicase and DNA-dependent ATPase activities and was unable to support origin-specific DNA replication in vivo. A kinetic analysis indicates that these defects are due to the inability of single-stranded DNA to induce high affinity ATP binding in UL9C111A protein. The DNA-dependent ATPase activity of UL9C111A protein is resistant to N-ethylmaleimide, while its DNA helicase activity remains sensitive. Accordingly, sensitivity of UL9 protein to N-ethylmaleimide is due to at least two cysteines. Cysteine 111 is involved in coupling single-stranded DNA binding to ATP-binding and subsequent hydrolysis, while a second cysteine is involved in coupling ATP hydrolysis to DNA unwinding.

Equilibrium binding of single-stranded DNA with herpes simplex virus type I-coded single-stranded DNA-binding protein, ICP8.

We have carried out solution equilibrium binding studies of ICP8, the major single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein of herpes simplex virus type I, in order to determine the thermodynamic parameters for its interaction with ssDNA. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements of a 5'-fluorescein-labeled 32-mer oligonucleotide revealed that ICP8 formed a nucleoprotein filament on ssDNA with a binding site size of 10 nucleotides/ICP8 monomer, an association constant at 25 degrees C, K = 0.55 +/- 0.05 x 10(6) M(-1), and a cooperativity parameter, omega = 15 +/- 3. The equilibrium constant was largely independent of salt, deltalog(Komega)/deltalog([NaCl]) = -2.4 +/- 0.4. Comparison of these parameters with other ssDNA-binding proteins showed that ICP8 reacted with an unusual mechanism characterized by low cooperativity and weak binding. In addition, the reaction product was more stable at high salt concentrations, and fluorescence enhancement of etheno-ssDNA by ICP8 was higher than for other ssDNA-binding proteins. These last two characteristics are also found for protein-DNA complexes formed by recombinases in their active conformation. Given the proposed role of ICP8 in promoting strand transfer reactions, they suggest that ICP8 and recombinase proteins may catalyze homologous recombination by a similar mechanism.

Photoaffinity labeling of the herpes simplex virus type-1 single-strand DNA-binding protein (ICP8) with oligodeoxyribonucleotides.

The herpes simplex virus type-1 single-strand DNA-binding protein ICP8 is a 128-kDa zinc metalloprotein. In this communication we have shown that unsubstituted and bromodeoxyuridine-substituted oligonucleotides can be specifically crosslinked to ICP8 by UV irradiation. We have used this approach to show that the single-strand DNA-binding site of ICP8 resides within a 53.5-kDa tryptic polypeptide. This polypeptide initiates at alanine 368 and was estimated to extend through arginine 902. A polypeptide encompassing residues 368-902 synthesized in vitro exhibited single-strand DNA-binding activity. We conclude that the region encompassing residues 368-902 contains the single-strand DNA-binding site of ICP8. Moreover, photoaffinity labeling of ICP8 with oligonucleotides provides a means of specifically modifying its single-strand DNA-binding site, thereby facilitating future studies on the importance of its single-strand DNA-binding activity in its interaction with other DNA replication enzymes.

Inhibition of a DNA-helicase by peptide nucleic acids.

Bis-peptide nucleic acid (bis-PNA) binding results in D-loop formation by strand displacement at complementary homopurine stretches in DNA duplexes. Transcription and replication in intact cells is mediated by multienzymatic complexes involving several proteins other than polymerases. The behaviour of the highly stable clamp structure formed by bis-PNAs has thus far been studied with respect to their capacity to arrest RNA polymerases. Little attention has been given to their recognition and processing by DNA helicases. In this report we have investigated the inhibitory effect of a bis-PNA on the DNA-helicase activity of the well characterized herpes simplex type I UL9 protein. Unwinding by UL9 of a synthetic substrate is significantly inhibited by a bis-PNA and the addition of the ICP8 protein, which increases UL9 processivity, does not relieve this inhibition.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 single-strand DNA-binding protein (ICP8) enhances the ability of the viral DNA helicase-primase to unwind cisplatin-modified DNA.

The herpes simplex virus type-1 UL5, UL8, and UL52 genes encode an essential heterotrimeric DNA helicase-primase that is responsible for concomitant DNA unwinding and primer synthesis at the viral DNA replication fork. The viral single-strand DNA-binding protein (ICP8) can stimulate DNA unwinding by the helicase-primase as a result of a physical interaction that is mediated by the UL8 subunit. In this study, we investigated the ability of the helicase-primase to unwind a fork-like substrate that contains an intrastrand d(GpG) DNA cross-link produced by the antitumor drug cisplatin. We also examined the ability of ICP8 to modulate the effect of the cisplatin lesion. The data show that the lesion inhibited the helicase-primase when located on the DNA strand along which it translocates. However, the lesion did not represent a permanent obstacle to its progression. In contrast, the adduct did not affect the helicase-primase when located on the opposite DNA strand. ICP8 specifically stimulated DNA unwinding by the helicase-primase. Coating concentrations of ICP8 were necessary for optimal unwinding of damaged DNA. Addition of competitor DNA to helicase reactions led to substantial reduction of DNA unwinding by the helicase-primase, suggesting that the enzyme is distributive. ICP8 did not abolish the competition, indicating that it did not stimulate the helicase by increasing its processivity. Rather, ICP8 may stimulate DNA unwinding and enable bypass of cisplatin damaged DNA by recruiting the helicase-primase to the DNA.

The herpes simplex virus type-1 single-strand DNA-binding protein, ICP8, increases the processivity of the UL9 protein DNA helicase.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 UL9 protein is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that recognizes elements in the viral origins of DNA replication and possesses DNA helicase activity. It forms an essential complex with its cognate single-strand DNA-binding protein, ICP8. The DNA helicase activity of the UL9 protein is greatly stimulated as a consequence of this interaction. A complex of these two proteins is thought to be responsible for unwinding the viral origins of DNA replication. The aim of this study was to identify the mechanism by which ICP8 stimulates the translocation of the UL9 protein along DNA. The data show that the association of the UL9 protein with DNA substrate is slow and that its dissociation from the DNA substrate is fast, suggesting that it is nonprocessive. ICP8 caused maximal stimulation of DNA unwinding activity at equimolar UL9 protein concentrations, indicating that the active species is a complex that contains UL9 protein and ICP8 in 1:1 ratio. ICP8 prevented dissociation of UL9 protein from the DNA substrate, suggesting that it increases its processivity. ICP8 specifically stimulated the DNA-dependent ATPase activity of the UL9 protein with DNA cofactors that allow translocation of UL9 protein and those with secondary structure. These data suggest that UL9 protein and ICP8 form a specific complex that translocates along DNA. Within this complex, ICP8 tethers the UL9 protein to the DNA substrate, thereby preventing its dissociation, and participates directly in the assimilation and stabilization of the unwound DNA strand, thus facilitating translocation of the complex through regions of duplex DNA.

The RecB protein of Escherichia coli translocates along single-stranded DNA in the 3' to 5' direction: a proposed ratchet mechanism.

To investigate the role that the individual subunits play in the ATP-dependent helicase activity of the RecBCD protein we have investigated the ability of the RecB, RecC and RecD proteins to displace various 20-mer oligonucleotides annealed to either end or to the centre of an oligonucleotide 60 bases long. The results show that the only subunit which can displace the 20-mers in the absence of the other subunits is the RecB protein. Moreover, the 20-mer is displaced only if it is annealed to the 60-mer at the 5' end or the middle, suggesting that the RecB protein translocates along the 60-mer in the 3' to 5' direction, displacing annealed 20-mers as it proceeds. We have shown that reconstituted RecBC and RecBCD complexes displace the 20-mers but, unlike RecB, they do not require a 3'-ended single-stranded region for helicase action, but can displace the 20-mers from either end of the 60-mer. The level of helicase activity of the RecBC complex is considerably greater than that of RecB alone, and the activity of the RecBCD complex appears to be greater still. This hierarchy of activity is also shown by DNA binding studies, but is not reflected in the ATPase activities of the enzymes. We have also shown that the ability of trypsin to cleave various sites on the RecB molecule is modified by the presence of ATP or ATP-gamma-S, suggesting that conformational changes may be induced in RecB upon ATP binding. We discuss a model for the ATP-driven, unidirectional motion of the RecB translocase along single-stranded DNA. In this model, the RecB molecule binds to single-stranded DNA and then translocates along it, one base at a time, in the 3' to 5' direction, by a 'ratchet' mechanism in which repeated stretching and contraction of the protein is coupled to ATP hydrolysis. The RecC protein in the RecBC complex is proposed to act as a 'sliding clamp' which increases processivity by preventing dissociation.

Herpes simplex virus DNA replication.

The Herpesviridae comprise a large class of animal viruses of considerable public health importance. Of the Herpesviridae, replication of herpes simplex virustype-1 (HSV-1) has been the most extensively studied. The linear 152-kbp HSV-1 genome contains three origins of DNA replication and approximately 75 open-reading frames. Of these frames, seven encode proteins that are required for originspecific DNA replication. These proteins include a processive heterodimeric DNA polymerase, a single-strand DNA-binding protein, a heterotrimeric primosome with 5'-3' DNA helicase and primase activities, and an origin-binding protein with 3'-5' DNA helicase activity. HSV-1 also encodes a set of enzymes involved in nucleotide metabolism that are not required for viral replication in cultured cells. These enzymes include a deoxyuridine triphosphatase, a ribonucleotide reductase, a thymidine kinase, an alkaline endo-exonuclease, and a uracil-DNA glycosylase. Host enzymes, notably DNA polymerase alpha-primase, DNA ligase I, and topoisomerase II, are probably also required. Following circularization of the linear viral genome, DNA replication very likely proceeds in two phases: an initial phase of theta replication, initiated at one or more of the origins, followed by a rolling-circle mode of replication. The latter generates concatemers that are cleaved and packaged into infectious viral particles. The rolling-circle phase of HSV-1 DNA replication has been reconstituted in vitro by a complex containing several of the HSV-1 encoded DNA replication enzymes. Reconstitution of the theta phase has thus far eluded workers in the field and remains a challenge for the future.

The UL8 subunit of the herpes simplex virus type-1 DNA helicase-primase optimizes utilization of DNA templates covered by the homologous single-strand DNA-binding protein ICP8.

The herpes simplex virus type-1 DNA helicase-primase is a heterotrimer encoded by the UL5, UL8, and UL52 genes. The core enzyme, specified by the UL5 and UL52 genes, retains DNA helicase, DNA-dependent nucleoside triphosphatase, and primase activities. The UL8 subunit has previously been implicated in increasing primer stability and in stimulating primer synthesis by the core enzyme. To further characterize the function of the UL8 subunit, we have examined its effect on the activities of the UL5/52 core enzyme using DNA templates covered by the herpes simplex virus type-1 single-strand DNA-binding protein ICP8. We found that while ICP8 stimulated the DNA helicase activity of the UL5/52 proteins up to 3-fold, maximum stimulation by ICP8 required the presence of UL8 protein. Moreover, UL8 protein was required to reverse the inhibitory effect of ICP8 on the DNA-dependent ATPase and primase activities of the UL5/52 proteins. These observations were specific for ICP8 since the heterologous Escherichia coli single-strand DNA-binding protein could not substitute for ICP8. These data suggest that UL8 protein mediates an interaction between the UL5/52 core enzyme and ICP8 that optimizes the utilization of ICP8-covered DNA templates during DNA replication.

Visualization of the unwinding of long DNA chains by the herpes simplex virus type 1 UL9 protein and ICP8.

UL9 protein and ICP8 encoded by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were shown to catalyze a highly active, non-origin-dependent unwinding of DNA. UL9 protein, the HSV-1 origin binding protein, as a modest helicase activity that is greatly stimulated by the HSV-1 single strand (ss) binding protein, ICP8. Here, electron microscopy has been applied to examine the mechanics of this reaction. Negative staining of the proteins revealed particles consisting primarily of ICP8 monomers and UL9 protein dimers. When the binding of UL9 protein to double strand (ds) DNA containing ss tails was examined by shadowcasting methods, UL9 protein was seen bound to the ss tails or ss/ds junctions; addition of ATP led to its appearance internally along the ds segment. When UL9 protein and ICP8 were incubated together with the tailed dsDNA in the presence of ATP, a highly ordered unwinding of the DNA was observed by negative staining that appeared to progress through four distinct stages: (1) binding of ICP8 to the ss tail and progressive coverage of the ds portion by UL9 protein; (2) formation of highly condensed regular filaments; (3) relaxation of the condensed structures into coiled-coils; and (4) unwinding of the coils and release of ICP8-covered linear ssDNAs. This process represents a mechanism of unwinding that is very different from ones that proceed by a progressive unwinding at Y-shaped forks that move along the DNA.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 origin-binding protein carries out origin specific DNA unwinding and forms stem-loop structures.

The UL9 protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) binds specifically to the HSV-1 oriS and oriL origins of replication, and is a DNA helicase and DNA-dependent NTPase. In this study electron microscopy was used to investigate the binding of UL9 protein to DNA fragments containing oriS. In the absence of ATP, UL9 protein was observed to bind specifically to oriS as a dimer or pair of dimers, which bent the DNA by 35 degrees +/- 15 degrees and 86 degrees +/- 38 degrees respectively, and the DNA was deduced to make a straight line path through the protein complex. In the presence of 4 mM ATP, binding at oriS was enhanced 2-fold, DNA loops or stem-loops were extruded from the UL9 protein complex at oriS, and the DNA in them frequently appeared highly condensed into a tight rod. The stem-loops contained from a few hundred to over one thousand base pairs of DNA and in most, oriS was located at their apex, although in some, oriS was at a border. The DNA in the stem-loops could be stabilized by photocrosslinking, and when Escherichia coli SSB protein was added to the incubations, it bound the stem-loops strongly. Thus the DNA strands in the stem-loops exist in a partially paired, partially single-stranded state presumably making them available for ICP8 binding in vivo. These observations provide direct evidence for an origin specific unwinding by the HSV-1 UL9 protein and for the formation of a relatively stable four-stranded DNA in this process.

Association of origin binding protein and single strand DNA-binding protein, ICP8, during herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA replication in vivo.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) origin binding protein (UL9 protein) interacts specifically with the HSV-1 encoded single strand DNA-binding protein ICP8 (Boehmer, P.E. and Lehman, I.R. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 8444-8448). A UL9 mutant protein (UL9DM27) that lacks the C-terminal 27 amino acids shows normal origin-specific DNA binding and retains its DNA-dependent ATPase and helicase activities, but has a greatly reduced affinity for ICP8. The extreme C-terminal portion of the UL9 protein is therefore required for ICP8 binding. The helicase activity of the UL9DM27 protein is approximately 8-fold greater than that of the wild type UL9 protein and is not stimulated by ICP8. The UL9DM27 protein has a reduced ability to replicate origin-containing plasmids in vivo. Consequently, the interaction between the UL9 protein and ICP8 is likely to be important for origin-dependent DNA replication in vivo, presumably to promote efficient unwinding of the DNA at an HSV-1 origin of DNA replication.

Effect of the major DNA adduct of the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) on the activity of a helicase essential for DNA replication, the herpes simplex virus type-1 origin-binding protein.

To determine the effect of the major DNA adduct, the intrastrand d(GpG) cross-link, produced by the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) on the activity of a helicase known to be essential for DNA replication, we have examined its interaction with the origin-binding protein (UL9 protein) of herpes simplex virus type-1. We found that the helicase activity of the UL9 protein is inhibited only when the adduct is present on the template strand along which the protein translocates. This effect was paralleled by a comparable inhibition of the UL9 protein's DNA-dependent ATPase activity. The inhibitory effect of the lesion can be reduced by the addition of the herpes simplex virus type-1 single-stranded DNA-binding protein, ICP8. This stimulatory effect is specific for ICP8 and appears to be the result of the functional and physical interaction that is known to exist between the UL9 protein and ICP8, and not due to the preferential interaction of ICP8 with the adduct.

Effects of a single intrastrand d(GpG) platinum adduct on the strand separating activity of the Escherichia coli proteins RecB and RecA.

RecB and RecA proteins play key roles in the process of DNA recombination in Escherichia coli and both possess DNA unwinding activities which can displace short regions of duplex DNA in an ATP-dependent manner in vitro. We have examined the effect of the most abundant DNA adduct caused by the chemotherapeutic agent cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) on those activities. For this purpose, we have constructed a partially duplex synthetic oligonucleotide containing the intrastrand d(GpG) crosslink positioned at a specific site. We report here that both the DNA strand separating and DNA-dependent ATPase activities of the RecB protein are inhibited by the d(GpG) cis-DDP adduct. In contrast, neither the unwinding nor the ATPase activities of RecA protein appear to be perturbed by this lesion.

Physical interaction between the herpes simplex virus 1 origin-binding protein and single-stranded DNA-binding protein ICP8.

We had previously demonstrated that the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) single-stranded DNA-binding protein (ICP8) can specifically stimulate the helicase activity of the HSV-1 origin-binding protein (UL9). We show here that this functional stimulation is a manifestation of a tight interaction between UL9 protein and ICP8. By using protein-affinity chromatography, we have demonstrated the specific binding of purified UL9 protein to immobilized ICP8 and vice versa. Furthermore, ICP8 is specifically retained by a column on which the C-terminal 37-kDa DNA-binding domain of the UL9 protein was immobilized. The interaction between ICP8 and the DNA-binding domain of the UL9 protein was confirmed by cochromatography of the two proteins. These results suggest that the UL9 protein and ICP8 form a tight complex that functions in origin recognition and unwinding.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP8: helix-destabilizing properties.

The major single-stranded DNA-binding protein, ICP8, of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is one of seven virus-encoded polypeptides required for HSV-1 DNA replication. To investigate the role of ICP8 in viral DNA replication, we have examined the interaction of ICP8 with partial DNA duplexes and found that it can displace oligonucleotides annealed to single-stranded M13 DNA. In addition, ICP8 can melt small fragments of fully duplex DNA. Unlike a DNA helicase, ICP8-promoted strand displacement is ATP and Mg2+ independent and exhibits no directionality. It requires saturating amounts of ICP8 and is both efficient and highly cooperative. These properties make ICP8 suitable for a role in DNA replication in which ICP8 destabilizes duplex DNA during origin unwinding and replication fork movement.