Interaction between Set1p and checkpoint protein Mec3p in DNA repair and telomere functions.

The yeast protein Set1p, inactivation of which alleviates telomeric position effect (TPE), contains a conserved SET domain present in chromosomal proteins involved in epigenetic control of transcription. Mec3p is required for efficient DNA-damage-dependent checkpoints at G1/S, intra-S and G2/M (refs 3-7). We show here that the SET domain of Set1p interacts with Mec3p. Deletion of SET1 increases the viability of mec3delta mutants after DNA damage (in a process that is mostly independent of Rad53p kinase, which has a central role in checkpoint control) but does not significantly affect cell-cycle progression. Deletion of MEC3 enhances TPE and attenuates the Set1delta-induced silencing defect. Furthermore, restoration of TPE in a Set1delta mutant by overexpression of the isolated SET domain requires Mec3p. Finally, deletion of MEC3 results in telomere elongation, whereas cells with deletions of both SET1 and MEC3 do not have elongated telomeres. Our findings indicate that interactions between SET1 and MEC3 have a role in DNA repair and telomere function.

Integration of the colicin A pore-forming domain into the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli.

The pore-forming domain of colicin A (pfColA) fused to a prokaryotic signal peptide (sp-pfColA) inserted into the inner membrane of Escherichia coli and apparently formed a functional channel, when generated in vivo. We investigated pfColA functional activity in vivo by the PhoA gene fusion approach, combined with cell fractionation and protease susceptibility experiments. Alkaline phosphatase was fused to the carboxy-terminal end of each of the ten alpha-helices of sp-pfColA to form a series of differently sized fusion proteins. We suggest that the alpha-helices anchoring pfColA in the membrane are first translocated into the periplasm. We identify two domains that anchor pfColA to the membrane in vivo: domain 1, extending from helix 1 to helix 8, which contains the voltage-responsive segment and domain 2 consisting of the hydrophobic helices 8 and 9. These two domains function independently. Fusion proteins with a mutation inactivating the voltage-responsive segment or with a domain 1 lacking helix 8 were peripherally associated with the outside of the inner membrane, and were therefore digested by proteases added to spheroplasts. In contrast, fusion proteins with a functional domain 1 were protected from proteases, suggesting as expected that most of domain 1 is inserted into the membrane or is indeed translocated to the cytoplasm during pfColA channel opening.

Enzymatic conversion of adenosine to inosine and to N1-methylinosine in transfer RNAs: a review.

Inosine (6-deaminated adenosine) is a characteristic modified nucleoside that is found at the first anticodon position (position 34) of several tRNAs of eukaryotic and eubacterial origins, while N1-methylinosine is found exclusively at position 37 (3' adjacent to the anticodon) of eukaryotic tRNA(Ala) and at position 57 (in the middle of the psi loop) of several tRNAs from halophilic and thermophilic archaebacteria. Inosine has also been recently found in double-stranded RNA, mRNA and viral RNAs. As for all other modified nucleosides in RNAs, formation of inosine and inosine derivative in these RNA is catalysed by specific enzymes acting after transcription of the RNA genes. Using recombinant tRNAs and T7-runoff transcripts of several tRNA genes as substrates, we have studied the mechanism and specificity of tRNA-inosine-forming enzymes. The results show that inosine-34 and inosine-37 in tRNAs are both synthesised by a hydrolytic deamination-type reaction, catalysed by distinct tRNA:adenosine deaminases. Recognition of tRNA substrates by the deaminases does not strictly depend on a particular "identity' nucleotide. However, the efficiency of adenosine to inosine conversion depends on the nucleotides composition of the anticodon loop and the proximal stem as well as on 3D-architecture of the tRNA. In eukaryotic tRNA(Ala), N1-methylinosine-37 is formed from inosine-37 by a specific SAM-dependent methylase, while in the case of N1-methylinosine-57 in archaeal tRNAs, methylation of adenosine-57 into N1-methyladenosine-57 occurs before the deamination process. The T psi-branch of fragmented tRNA is the minimalist substrate for the N1-methylinosine-57 forming enzymes. Inosine-34 and N1-methylinosine-37 in human tRNA(Ala) are targets for specific autoantibodies which are present in the serum of patients with inflammatory muscle disease of the PL-12 polymyositis type. Here we discuss the mechanism, specificity and general properties of the recently discovered RNA:adenosine deaminases/editases acting on double-stranded RNA, intron-containing mRNA and viral RNA in relation to those of the deaminases acting on tRNAs.

RNA polymerases react differently at d(ApG) and d(GpG) adducts in DNA modified by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II).

Two duplexes (20-mers) were constructed containing either a single cis-[Pt(NH3)2[d(GpG)]] or cis-[Pt(NH3)2[d(ApG)]] intrastrand cross-link, the major DNA adducts of the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). These synthetic duplexes were multimerized and the resultant polymers used as templates in single-step addition reactions of condensation of a single nucleoside triphosphate substrate to a dinucleotide primer (abortive elongation reaction) catalyzed by prokaryotic or eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Primer-substrate combinations were selected so as to direct trinucleotide product formation within the platinated bases of the templates. Transcription experiments established that cis-DDP-DNA adducts formed at d(ApG) or d(GpG) sites are not an absolute block to formation of a single phosphodiester bond by either Escherichia coli RNA polymerase or wheat germ RNA polymerase II. Furthermore, the kinetic data indicate that single-step addition reactions are much more impeded at the platinated d(GpG) than at the platinated d(ApG) site and that the mechanisms of inhibition of RNA polymerase activity are different at the two platinated sites. In particular, binding affinity between E. coli RNA polymerase and the d(GpG)-containing platinated template is lowered, as the apparent Km of enzyme for the platinated polymer is increased by a factor of 4-5. In contrast, binding affinity between the RNA polymerase and the d(ApG)-containing template is not affected by modification of the d(ApG) site by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). Similar experiments were carried out with synthetic templates containing the adducts at the d(GpG) sites, in which one of the two platinated dG residues is paired with a dT residue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accuracy of wheat-germ RNA polymerase II. General enzymatic properties and effect of template conformational transition from right-handed B-DNA to left-handed Z-DNA.

We investigated the accuracy of the insertion process in RNA chain elongation catalyzed by wheat germ RNA polymerase II. Error frequencies varied from 1 misinserted nucleotide per 250 polymerized correct substrates to less than 1 in 2 x 10(5), depending on template sequence and nature of the divalent metal cofactor. Higher error ratios were observed in the presence of Mn2+ compared to Mg2+, and with alternating poly[d(G-C)].poly[d(G-C)] compared to poly[d(A-T)].poly[d(A-T)]. In this latter case the eukaryotic RNA polymerase was as accurate as Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holo-enzyme. The fidelity of wheat germ RNA polymerase II was also examined in transcription of polynucleotide templates in the poly[d(G-C)] family adopting either the right-handed B or left-handed Z conformations. Error ratios for noncomplementary ATP increased markedly under experimental conditions favoring the B-to-Z conformational transition of the alternating copolymers. In accordance with the results of previous studies, the rate of productive elongation, i.e. the synthesis of poly[r(G-C)], was depressed, suggesting that the decreased accuracy of the enzyme derived from an altered competence of the enzyme to form elongation complexes on the left-handed DNA. As judged by the large difference in apparent Km values of the enzyme for complementary and noncomplementary nucleoside triphosphates, part of the discrimination between substrates seemed to take place at the initial binding step. Furthermore, the results indicate that wheat germ RNA polymerase II was able to elongate a primer with a 3'-terminal mismatch, and thus to incorporate the mismatched nucleotide stably in the nascent RAN. However, the probability of productive RNA chain elongation was much lower with noncognate than with the complementary substrates.

Colicin A immunity protein interacts with the hydrophobic helical hairpin of the colicin A channel domain in the Escherichia coli inner membrane.

The colicin A pore-forming domain (pfColA) was fused to a bacterial signal peptide (sp-pfColA). This was inserted into the Escherichia coli inner membrane in functional form and could be coimmunoprecipitated with epitope-tagged immunity protein (EpCai). We constructed a series of fusion proteins in which various numbers of sp-pfColA alpha-helices were fused to alkaline phosphatase (AP). We showed that a fusion protein made up of the hydrophobic alpha-helices 8 and 9 of sp-pfColA fused to AP was specifically coimmunoprecipitated with EpCai produced in the same cells. This is the first biochemical evidence that Cai recognizes and interacts with the colicin A hydrophobic helical hairpin.

Spectrum of DNA--platinum adduct recognition by prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA-dependent RNA polymerases.

Double-stranded DNA oligomers were constructed to evaluate the effect of bifunctional and monofunctional platinum(II) complexes at the level of DNA transcription. They contained a single lesion, which is either a cis-[Pt(NH3)2(d(GpTpG))] intrastrand cross-link, a trans-[Pt(NH3)2(d(GpTpG))] intrastrand cross-link, a cis-[Pt(NH3)2(d(GpC/GpC))] interstrand cross-link, or a (diethylenetriamine)-platinum(II)-dG adduct. The synthetic duplexes were multimerized and then used as templates in dinucleotide-primed reactions catalyzed by prokaryotic or eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Reactions were conducted in the presence of a single triphosphate substrate (single-step addition reaction) or of a combination of triphosphate substrates, permitting elongation of the trinucleotide products to longer RNA chains (productive elongation reaction), respectively. In transcription of the platinated strands, none of the DNA adducts provided an absolute block to formation of a single phosphodiester bond by either Escherichia coli RNA polymerase or wheat germ RNA polymerase II. However, the single-step addition reactions were much more impeded from transcription of bifunctional adduct-containing templates as compared to those containing monofunctional lesions. Productive elongation was irreversibly blocked in transcription of the platinated strand of templates containing a cis-d(G*pTpG*) intrastrand cross-link or a cis-d(G*pC/G*pC) interstrand cross-link. In both cases transcription stopped at the level of the lesion. Termination occurred also several nucleotides before the elongation complexes reached the interstrand cross-link. A substantial amount of the RNA polymerase molecules was able of bypassing the trans-d(G*pTpG*) cross-links. In all the cases single-step addition reactions were enhanced on the template strand complementary to that containing the intrastrand cross-links.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transcription by eucaryotic and procaryotic RNA polymerases of DNA modified at a d(GG) or a d(AG) site by the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II).

We have investigated whether DNA modified at a d(GG) or a d(AG) site by the chemotherapeutic drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) can be used as template by wheat germ RNA polymerase II. The templates used in the present study were obtained by ligation of double-helical oligodeoxyribonucleotides, containing 18 pyrimidine bases and 2 central dG, or dA and dG, bases on one strand and 18 purine bases and 2 central dC, or dT and dC, bases on the complementary strand. Therefore, the cis-DDP adducts are only present on one strand of each of the two templates and are regularly spaced by 18 pyrimidine bases. These constructs allowed us to investigate the effect of cis-DDP on transcription of the platinated strand and of the complementary unplatinated sequence. Transcription experiments were carried out in the presence of dinucleotide primers and either a single triphosphate substrate (abortive elongation) or the full set of triphosphate substrates dictated by the template sequence (productive elongation). The results show that the eucaryotic RNA polymerase can catalyze dinucleotide-primed reactions on platinated DNA. However, the eucaryotic enzyme behaved very differently depending on which strand was transcribed. Thus, transcription elongation was completely blocked on the strand carrying the metal complex, whereas transcription elongation was not blocked on the complementary template strand. However, on this latter strand and with the platinated polymers, productive elongation was slightly inhibited. Furthermore, abortive elongation leading to dinucleotide-primed trinucleotide formation was enhanced on the template strand complementary to that carrying the cis-DDP adducts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inosine and N1-methylinosine within a synthetic oligomer mimicking the anticodon loop of human tRNA(Ala) are major epitopes for anti-PL-12 myositis autoantibodies.

Sera of some patients afflicted with the inflammatory disease myositis contain antibodies of the anti-PL-12 type. A fraction of these polyclonal autoantibodies specifically precipitates the fully matured human tRNA(Ala) bearing the anticodon IGC (PL-12 antigen). Earlier work (Bunn & Mathews, 1987, Science 238:116-119) had shown that the epitopes are located entirely within the anticodon stem-loop of the tRNA(Ala). Here we demonstrate that human anti-tRNA(Ala) autoantibodies immunoprecipitate a synthetic polyribonucleotide containing inosine (I) and N1-methylinosine (m1I) separated by 2 nt as in the anticodon stem-loop of human tRNA(Ala). The shortest polyribonucleotide that can be immunoprecipitated corresponds to the pentanucleotide IpGpCpm1IpUp, which corresponds to part of the anticodon loop of human tRNA(Ala) and lacks the stem-loop structure. The efficiency of immunoprecipitation was about four times greater with longer polyribonucleotides capable of forming a stem-loop structure, and was abolished by altering the relative positions of I and m1I within the synthetic polynucleotide. Synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide analogs of the tRNA(Ala) stem-loop, containing the sequence dIpdGdCdm1Ip, are not antigenic. Our results show that human anti-tRNA(Ala) autoantibodies selectively recognize chemical details of modified nucleotides (the 6-keto group of inosine-34 and the 6-keto group and the N1-methyl groups of N1-methylinosine-37) within an anticodon loop structure of a tRNA molecule. We also describe the chemical synthesis of the phosphoramidite derivatives corresponding to N1-methylinosine and N1-methyl-2'-deoxyinosine for use in the automatic chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides containing N1-methylinosine and N1-methyl-2'-deoxyinosine.

The colicin A pore-forming domain fused to mitochondrial intermembrane space sorting signals can be functionally inserted into the Escherichia coli plasma membrane by a mechanism that bypasses the Tol proteins.

Colicin A is a pore-forming bacteriocin that depends upon the Tol proteins in order to be transported from its receptor at the outer membrane surface to its target, the inner membrane. The presequence of yeast mitochondria cytochrome c1 (pc1) as well as the first 167 amino acids of cytochrome b2 (pb2) were fused to the pore-forming domain of colicin A (pfColA). Both hybrid proteins (pc1-pfCoIA and pb2-pfColA) were cytotoxic for Escherichia coli strains devoid of colicin A immunity protein whereas the pore-forming domain without presequence had no lethal effect. The entire precursors and their processed forms were found entirely associated with the bacterial inner membrane and their cytotoxicities were related to their pore-forming activities. The proteins were also shown to kill the tol bacterial strains, which are unable to transport colicins. In addition, we showed that both the cytochrome c1 presequence fused to the dihydrofolate reductase (pc1-DHFR) and the cytochrome c1 presequence moiety of pc1-pfCoIA were translocated across inverted membrane vesicles. Our results indicated that: (i) pc1-pfCoIA produced in the cell cytoplasm was able to assemble in the inner membrane by a mechanism independent of the tol genes; (ii) the inserted pore-forming domain had a channel activity; and (iii) this channel activity was inhibited within the membrane by the immunity protein.

The set1Delta mutation unveils a novel signaling pathway relayed by the Rad53-dependent hyperphosphorylation of replication protein A that leads to transcriptional activation of repair genes.

SET domain proteins are present in chromosomal proteins involved in epigenetic control of transcription. The yeast SET domain protein Set1p regulates chromatin structure, DNA repair, and telomeric functions. We investigated the mechanism by which the absence of Set1p increases DNA repair capacities of checkpoint mutants. We show that deletion of SET1 induces a response relayed by the signaling kinase Rad53p that leads to the MEC1/TEL1-independent hyperphosphorylation of replication protein A middle subunit (Rfa2p). Consequently, the binding of Rfa2p to upstream repressing sequences (URS) of repair genes is decreased, thereby leading to their derepression. Our results correlate the set1Delta-dependent phosphorylation of Rfa2p with the transcriptional induction of repair genes. Moreover, we show that the deletion of the amino-terminal region of Rfa2p suppresses the sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation of a mec3Delta checkpoint mutant, abolishes the URS-mediated repression, and increases the expression of repair genes. This work provides an additional link for the role of Rfa2p in the regulation of the repair capacity of the cell and reveals a role for the phosphorylation of Rfa2p and unveils unsuspected connections between chromatin, signaling pathways, telomeres, and DNA repair.