Preferential repair of damage in actively transcribed DNA sequences in vivo

Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 605-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip C. Hanawalt

My colleagues and I have discovered intragenomic heterogeneity in DNA repair in mammalian cells. Consequences of unrepaired DNA damage depend upon the precise location of the damage with respect to relevant genes. It is therefore important to understand rules governing accessibility of specific DNA sequences in chromatin to damage and repair. The efficiency of removal of pyrimidine dimers has been determined in the active dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Repair within the gene was shown to be much more efficient than that in nontranscribed downstream sequences or in the genome overall. Preferential repair of active and essential genes such as DHFR may account for the fact that rodent cells are as uv-resistant as human cells in spite of their much lower overall repair efficiencies. In repair-proficient human cells the rate of repair in the DHFR gene is greater than that in the overall genome or in nontranscribed α-DNA sequences. The efficiency of removal of pyrimidine dimers is much higher in the transcribed than the nontranscribed DNA strands of the DHFR gene in both CHO and human cells. An excision–repair complex may be directly coupled to the transcription machinery to ensure early removal of transcription-blocking lesions in active genes. Sequences in the active c-abl proto-oncogene are repaired much more efficiently than are sequences containing the inactive c-mos proto-oncogene in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells. Tissue-specific and cell-specific differences in the coordinate regulation of proto-oncogene expression and DNA repair may account for corresponding differences in the carcinogenic response. Efficient replicative bypass of persisting psoralen monoadducts, but not interstrand cross-links, was demonstrated in the human DHFR gene. It is likely that most bulky lesions in mammalian DNA, other than cross-links, do not pose insurmountable problems for replication in vivo, but they must be removed from essential transcribed sequences to maintain cellular viability.Key words: DNA repair, chromatin, transcription, mammalian cells, pyrimidine dimers, ultraviolet light, DNA cross-links.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1594-1603 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Ho ◽  
V A Bohr ◽  
P C Hanawalt

We have examined the effects of changes in cytosine methylation on DNA repair in UV-irradiated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A hypomethylated derivative of the CHO K1B11 line, B11aza, was established by passaging B11 cells over several months in increasing concentrations of 5-azacytidine; greater than 60% demethylation was consistently demonstrated in these conditioned cells. Following a UV dose of 10 J/m2, the amount of repair replication performed within 24 h was approximately twofold higher in B11aza cells than in control B11 cells. Removal of T4 endonuclease V-sensitive sites (ESS) from specific restriction fragments within and around the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene was then examined in B11aza cells and compared with that in B11 cells. Although demethylation had little or no effect on repair in the 5' half of the DHFR gene, within a nontranscribed sequence immediately downstream from the gene, or within an extragenic region further downstream from the DHFR gene, significant increases in repair were observed at the 3' end of the DHFR gene and within an extragenic region upstream of the DHFR gene. However, the increases in DNA repair were not accompanied by any changes in overall cellular resistance to UV when colony-forming ability was assayed. We suggest that the level of DNA methylation may play an indirect role in the regulation of DNA repair, perhaps through an effect on chromatin structure or transcriptional activity.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1594-1603
Author(s):  
L Ho ◽  
V A Bohr ◽  
P C Hanawalt

We have examined the effects of changes in cytosine methylation on DNA repair in UV-irradiated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A hypomethylated derivative of the CHO K1B11 line, B11aza, was established by passaging B11 cells over several months in increasing concentrations of 5-azacytidine; greater than 60% demethylation was consistently demonstrated in these conditioned cells. Following a UV dose of 10 J/m2, the amount of repair replication performed within 24 h was approximately twofold higher in B11aza cells than in control B11 cells. Removal of T4 endonuclease V-sensitive sites (ESS) from specific restriction fragments within and around the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene was then examined in B11aza cells and compared with that in B11 cells. Although demethylation had little or no effect on repair in the 5' half of the DHFR gene, within a nontranscribed sequence immediately downstream from the gene, or within an extragenic region further downstream from the DHFR gene, significant increases in repair were observed at the 3' end of the DHFR gene and within an extragenic region upstream of the DHFR gene. However, the increases in DNA repair were not accompanied by any changes in overall cellular resistance to UV when colony-forming ability was assayed. We suggest that the level of DNA methylation may play an indirect role in the regulation of DNA repair, perhaps through an effect on chromatin structure or transcriptional activity.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
K W Caldecott ◽  
C K McKeown ◽  
J D Tucker ◽  
S Ljungquist ◽  
L H Thompson

XRCC1, the human gene that fully corrects the Chinese hamster ovary DNA repair mutant EM9, encodes a protein involved in the rejoining of DNA single-strand breaks that arise following treatment with alkylating agents or ionizing radiation. In this study, a cDNA minigene encoding oligohistidine-tagged XRCC1 was constructed to facilitate affinity purification of the recombinant protein. This construct, designated pcD2EHX, fully corrected the EM9 phenotype of high sister chromatid exchange, indicating that the histidine tag was not detrimental to XRCC1 activity. Affinity chromatography of extract from EM9 cells transfected with pcD2EHX resulted in the copurification of histidine-tagged XRCC1 and DNA ligase III activity. Neither XRCC1 or DNA ligase III activity was purified during affinity chromatography of extract from EM9 cells transfected with pcD2EX, a cDNA minigene that encodes untagged XRCC1, or extract from wild-type AA8 or untransfected EM9 cells. The copurification of DNA ligase III activity with histidine-tagged XRCC1 suggests that the two proteins are present in the cell as a complex. Furthermore, DNA ligase III activity was present at lower levels in EM9 cells than in AA8 cells and was returned to normal levels in EM9 cells transfected with pcD2EHX or pcD2EX. These findings indicate that XRCC1 is required for normal levels of DNA ligase III activity, and they implicate a major role for this DNA ligase in DNA base excision repair in mammalian cells.


1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 398-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
J S Rubin ◽  
V R Prideaux ◽  
H F Willard ◽  
A M Dulhanty ◽  
G F Whitmore ◽  
...  

The genes and gene products involved in the mammalian DNA repair processes have yet to be identified. Toward this end we made use of a number of DNA repair-proficient transformants that were generated after transfection of DNA from repair-proficient human cells into a mutant hamster line that is defective in the initial incision step of the excision repair process. In this report, biochemical evidence is presented that demonstrates that these transformants are repair proficient. In addition, we describe the molecular identification and cloning of unique DNA sequences closely associated with the transfected human DNA repair gene and demonstrate the presence of homologous DNA sequences in human cells and in the repair-proficient DNA transformants. The chromosomal location of these sequences was determined by using a panel of rodent-human somatic cell hybrids. Both unique DNA sequences were found to be on human chromosome 19.


1994 ◽  
Vol 304 (3) ◽  
pp. 699-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Frosina ◽  
P Fortini ◽  
O Rossi ◽  
F Carrozzino ◽  
A Abbondandolo ◽  
...  

Hamster cell extracts that perform repair synthesis on covalently closed circular DNA containing pyrimidine dimers, were used to study the repair of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites and methoxyamine (MX)-modified AP sites. Plasmid molecules were heat-treated at pH 5 and incubated with MX when required. The amount of damage introduced ranged from 0.2 to 0.9 AP sites/kb. Extracts were prepared from the Chinese hamster ovary CHO-9 cell line and from its derivative, 43-3B clone which is mutated in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) ERCC1 gene. AP and MX-AP sites stimulated repair synthesis by CHO-9 cell extracts. The level of synthesis correlated with the number of lesions and was of similar magnitude to the repair stimulated by 4.3 u.v. photoproducts/kb. Repair of AP and MX-AP sites was faster than the repair of u.v. damage and was independent of ERCC1 gene product. The high level of repair replication was due to a very efficient and rapid incision of plasmids carrying AP or MX-AP sites, performed by abundant AP endonucleases present in the extract. The calculated average repair patch sizes were: 7 nucleotides per AP site; 10 nucleotides per MX-AP site; 28 nucleotides per (6-4) u.v. photoproduct or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer. The data indicate that AP and MX-AP sites are very efficiently repaired by base-excision repair in mammalian cells and suggest that MX-AP sites may also be processed via alternative repair mechanisms.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 4128-4134
Author(s):  
J Venema ◽  
A van Hoffen ◽  
V Karcagi ◽  
A T Natarajan ◽  
A A van Zeeland ◽  
...  

We have measured the removal of UV-induced pyrimidine dimers from DNA fragments of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genes in primary normal human and xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XP-C) cells. Using strand-specific probes, we show that in normal cells, preferential repair of the 5' part of the ADA gene is due to the rapid and efficient repair of the transcribed strand. Within 8 h after irradiation with UV at 10 J m-2, 70% of the pyrimidine dimers in this strand are removed. The nontranscribed strand is repaired at a much slower rate, with 30% dimers removed after 8 h. Repair of the transcribed strand in XP-C cells occurs at a rate indistinguishable from that in normal cells, but the nontranscribed strand is not repaired significantly in these cells. Similar results were obtained for the DHFR gene. In the 3' part of the ADA gene, however, both normal and XP-C cells perform fast and efficient repair of either strand, which is likely to be caused by the presence of transcription units on both strands. The factor defective in XP-C cells is apparently involved in the processing of DNA damage in inactive parts of the genome, including nontranscribed strands of active genes. These findings have important implications for the understanding of the mechanism of UV-induced excision repair and mutagenesis in mammalian cells.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 4128-4134 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Venema ◽  
A van Hoffen ◽  
V Karcagi ◽  
A T Natarajan ◽  
A A van Zeeland ◽  
...  

We have measured the removal of UV-induced pyrimidine dimers from DNA fragments of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genes in primary normal human and xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XP-C) cells. Using strand-specific probes, we show that in normal cells, preferential repair of the 5' part of the ADA gene is due to the rapid and efficient repair of the transcribed strand. Within 8 h after irradiation with UV at 10 J m-2, 70% of the pyrimidine dimers in this strand are removed. The nontranscribed strand is repaired at a much slower rate, with 30% dimers removed after 8 h. Repair of the transcribed strand in XP-C cells occurs at a rate indistinguishable from that in normal cells, but the nontranscribed strand is not repaired significantly in these cells. Similar results were obtained for the DHFR gene. In the 3' part of the ADA gene, however, both normal and XP-C cells perform fast and efficient repair of either strand, which is likely to be caused by the presence of transcription units on both strands. The factor defective in XP-C cells is apparently involved in the processing of DNA damage in inactive parts of the genome, including nontranscribed strands of active genes. These findings have important implications for the understanding of the mechanism of UV-induced excision repair and mutagenesis in mammalian cells.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 6822-6830 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Bessho ◽  
D Mu ◽  
A Sancar

Most DNA repair mechanisms rely on the redundant information inherent to the duplex to remove damaged nucleotides and replace them with normal ones, using the complementary strand as a template. Interstrand cross-links pose a unique challenge to the DNA repair machinery because both strands are damaged. To study the repair of interstrand cross-links by mammalian cells, we tested the activities of cell extracts of wild-type or excision repair-defective rodent cell lines and of purified human excision nuclease on a duplex with a site-specific cross-link. We found that in contrast to monoadducts, which are removed by dual incisions bracketing the lesion, the cross-link causes dual incisions, both 5' to the cross-link in one of the two strands. The net result is the generation of a 22- to 28-nucleotide-long gap immediately 5' to the cross-link. This gap may act as a recombinogenic signal to initiate cross-link removal.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 3731-3737 ◽  
Author(s):  
L N Petersen ◽  
D K Orren ◽  
V A Bohr

We have analyzed the fine structure of DNA repair in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells within the G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Repair of inactive regions of the genome has been suggested to increase in the G2 phase of the cell cycle compared with other phases. However, detailed studies of DNA repair in the G2 phase of the cell cycle have been hampered by technical limitations. We have used a novel synchronization protocol (D. K. Orren, L. N. Petersen, and V. A. Bohr, Mol. Cell. Biol. 15:3722-3730, 1995) which permitted detailed studies of the fine structure of DNA repair in G2. CHO cells were synchronized and UV irradiated in G1 or early G2. The rate and extent of removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers from an inactive region of the genome and from both strands of the actively transcribed dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene were examined within each phase. The repair of the transcribed strand of the DHFR gene was efficient in both G1 and G2, with no major differences between the two cell cycle phases. Neither the nontranscribed strand of the DHFR gene nor an inactive region of the genome was repaired in G1 or G2. CHO cells irradiated early in G2 were more resistant to UV irradiation than cells irradiated in late G1. Since we found no major difference in repair rates in G1 and G2, we suggest that G2 resistance can be attributed to the increased time (G2 and G1) available for repair before cells commit to DNA synthesis.


1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor A. Tron ◽  
Martin J. Trotter ◽  
Takatoshi Ishikawa ◽  
Vincent C. Ho ◽  
Gang Li

Background: p53 protects the integrity of the genome by inducing programed cell death or by promoting DNA repair. We have previously shown that loss or mutation of p53 leads to reduced DNA repair in keratinocytes. Objective: The hypothesis that p53 regulates repair of ultraviolet light-induced epidermal DNA damage in vivo was tested in mice. Methods: An immunohistochemical assay for pyrimidine dimers and 6–4 photoproducts was performed on ultraviolet-irradiated skin from p53 null (−/−) and wild type (+/+) mice. Immunostaining for photoproducts was quantified using computer-assisted imaging. The level of DNA repair was then expressed as the percentage of positive cells remaining as compared to the zero hour time point. Results: p53+/+ mouse skin exposed to 1000 J/m2 retained ≈ 25% of epidermal cyclobutane dimers at 48 h, whereas approximately 50% remained in p53−/− cells. Using the same UV dose, p53+/+ mice retained 20% of detectable 6–4 photoproducts by 24 h, whereas about 50% remained in epidermal cells of p53-deficient mice. Conclusion: Using in situ labelling of UV-damaged cells, we confirm our earlier conclusion that p53 regulates DNA repair within the epidermis after exposure to UV light.


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