aphidicolin and Xeroderma-Pigmentosum

Exposure to DNA-damaging agents triggers signal transduction pathways that are thought to play a role in maintenance of genomic stability. A key protein in the cellular processes of nucleotide excision repair, DNA recombination, and DNA double-strand break repair is the single-stranded DNA binding protein, RPA. We showed previously that the p34 subunit of RPA becomes hyperphosphorylated as a delayed response (4-8 h) to UV radiation (10-30 J/m(2)). Here we show that UV-induced RPA-p34 hyperphosphorylation depends on expression of ATM, the product of the gene mutated in the human genetic disorder ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). UV-induced RPA-p34 hyperphosphorylation was not observed in A-T cells, but this response was restored by ATM expression. Furthermore, purified ATM kinase phosphorylates the p34 subunit of RPA complex in vitro at many of the same sites that are phosphorylated in vivo after UV radiation. Induction of this DNA damage response was also dependent on DNA replication; inhibition of DNA replication by aphidicolin prevented induction of RPA-p34 hyperphosphorylation by UV radiation. We postulate that this pathway is triggered by the accumulation of aberrant DNA replication intermediates, resulting from DNA replication fork blockage by UV photoproducts. Further, we suggest that RPA-p34 is hyperphosphorylated as a participant in the recombinational postreplication repair of these replication products. Successful resolution of these replication intermediates reduces the accumulation of chromosomal aberrations that would otherwise occur as a consequence of UV radiation.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Aphidicolin; Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Fractionation; Cell Line; Culture Media, Serum-Free; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA-Binding Proteins; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Immunoblotting; Molecular Sequence Data; Peptide Mapping; Phosphorylation; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Recombinant Proteins; Replication Protein A; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Ultraviolet Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Several methods have been developed for studying the kinetics of DNA repair after exposure of cells to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as conventional assays measuring unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS). In this study, we have developed an accurate and rapid method to follow DNA gap filling during nucleotide excision repair (NER) in normal human fibroblasts (NHFs) in response to UV-induced damage.. After UVc irradiation, aphidicolin was added to the culture to hold repair patches open. This allowed an efficient incorporation of biotin-21-dUTP during an endogenous DNA repair synthesis that was detected by flow cytometry.. We showed that the DNA gap filling after UVc irradiation in NHFs increased with time up to 10 h after irradiation and that no repair synthesis activity could be detected in XP-A fibroblasts. Furthermore, this activity was UVc dose dependent up to 20 J/m2. These results correlated well with those of the UDS assay. Interestingly, addition of aphidicolin at different time points after UVc irradiation, thus allowing endogenous repair synthesis in the absence of biotin-21-dUTP, demonstrated that the response of the NER system occurred extremely rapidly after irradiation.. This method may be a reliable and simple alternative to other techniques measuring UDS. Practical advantages include the rapidity of the method, no need for radioactivity, and the possibility to use a second and/even a third flow marker to analyse cell cycle and heterogeneous cell populations concomitantly.

Topics: Aphidicolin; Cells, Cultured; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fibroblasts; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Time Factors; Ultraviolet Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Although single-strand breaks (SSBs) occur frequently, the cellular responses and repair of SSB are not well understood. To address this, we established mammalian cell lines expressing Neurospora crassa UV damage endonuclease (UVDE), which introduces a SSB with a 3'-OH immediately 5' to UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers or 6-4 photoproducts and initiates an alternative excision repair process. Xeroderma pigmentosum group A cells expressing UVDE show UV resistance of almost the wild-type level. In these cells SSBs are produced upon UV irradiation and then efficiently repaired. The repair patch size is about seven nucleotides, and repair synthesis is decreased to 30% by aphidicolin, suggesting the involvement of a DNA polymerase delta/epsilon-dependent long-patch repair. Immediately after UV irradiation, cellular proteins are poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated. The UV resistance of the cells is decreased in the presence of 3-aminobenzamide, an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Expression of UVDE in XRCC1-defective EM9, a Chinese hamster ovary cell line, greatly sensitizes the host cells to UV, and addition of 3-aminobenzamide results in almost no further sensitization of the cells to UV. Thus, we show that XRCC1 and PARP are involved in the same pathway for the repair of SSBs.

Topics: Animals; Aphidicolin; Cell Line; Cell Survival; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; DNA; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; Endodeoxyribonucleases; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Kinetics; Mammals; Recombinant Proteins; Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; Transfection; Ultraviolet Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum variant (XP-V) represents one of the most common forms of this cancer-prone DNA repair syndrome. Unlike classical XP cells, XP-V cells are normal in nucleotide excision repair but defective in post-replication repair. The precise molecular defect in XP-V is currently unknown, but it appears to be a protein involved in translesion synthesis. Here we established a sensitive assay system using an SV40 origin-based plasmid to detect XP-V complementation activity. Using this system, we isolated a protein from HeLa cells capable of complementing the defects in XP-V cell extracts. The protein displays novel DNA polymerase activity which replicates cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer-containing DNA templates. The XPV polymerase activity was dependent on MgCl2, sensitive to NEM, moderately sensitive to KCl, resistant to both aphidicolin and ddTTP, and not stimulated by PCNA. In glycerol density gradients, the activity co-sedimented with a 54 kDa polypeptide at 3.5S, indicating that the monomeric form of this polypeptide was responsible for the activity. The protein factor corrected the translesion defects of extracts from three XPV cell strains. Bypass DNA synthesis by the XP-V polymerase occurred only in the presence of dATP, indicating that it can incorporate only dATP to bypass a di-thymine lesion.

Topics: Aphidicolin; Base Sequence; Cell Extracts; Cells, Cultured; Deoxyadenine Nucleotides; Dideoxynucleotides; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Ethylmaleimide; Fibroblasts; Genetic Complementation Test; HeLa Cells; Humans; Magnesium Chloride; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Plasmids; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Pyrimidine Dimers; Replication Origin; Simian virus 40; Thymine Nucleotides; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

The repair of X-ray-induced DNA damage related to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was characterized in human diploid fibroblasts by an indirect immunofluorescence method. PCNA staining induced by X rays was lost after DNase I treatment but not after RNase treatment. The staining was not induced when ATP was depleted or the temperature was lowered to 0 degrees C during the X irradiation. When cells were incubated at 37 degrees C after X irradiation, PCNA staining diminished gradually and was almost entirely absent 12-15 h later. On the other hand, PCNA staining persisted during aphidicolin treatment even 20 h after X irradiation. Induction of PCNA staining was not affected by the aphidicolin treatment. Cycloheximide treatment did not affect induction of the staining either, but did inhibit the disappearance of the staining. There was no difference in the staining pattern and time course of PCNA staining after X irradiation between normal and xeroderma pigmentosum group A (XP-A) cells. These results imply that PCNA-dependent, aphidicolin-sensitive DNA polymerases may be involved in repair of X-ray-induced DNA damage in vivo, but the repair initiation step could be different from that of nucleotide excision repair initiated by XP proteins.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Aphidicolin; Cell Line; Diploidy; DNA; DNA Damage; Fibroblasts; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Humans; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Reference Values; Skin; X-Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

The alkaline single cell gel test (SCG test or comet assay) was used to study the contribution of excision repair activity to the observed DNA effect after mutagen treatment. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of UV-irradiation and the chemical mutagens 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA) were compared in a normal human cell line (MRC5CV1) and an excision-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cell line (XP12ROSV). The XP cells showed increased cell killing after treatment with all mutagens tested, but did not show a clear increase in DNA migration in the comet assay. DNA effects in MRC5 cells were strongly enhanced by the repair inhibitor aphidicolin (APC), while under the same experimental conditions, APC had no effect on the XP cell line. The enhancing effect of APC on DNA migration in MRC5 cells and the lack of effects in XP cells indicate that the induced DNA effects of 4NQO, BP and DMBA in the comet assay mainly represent the activity of an excision repair process.

Topics: 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide; 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; Aphidicolin; Benzo(a)pyrene; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; DNA; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fibroblasts; Humans; Male; Mutagens; Ultraviolet Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

The human single-stranded DNA binding protein (HSSB/RPA) is involved in several processes that maintain the integrity of the genome including DNA replication, homologous recombination, and nucleotide excision repair of damaged DNA. We report studies that analyze the role of HSSB in DNA repair. Specific protein-protein interactions appear to be involved in the repair function of HSSB, since it cannot be replaced by heterologous single-stranded DNA binding proteins. Anti-HSSB antibodies that inhibit the ability of HSSB to stimulate DNA polymerase alpha also inhibit repair synthesis mediated by human cell-free extracts. However, antibodies that neutralize DNA polymerase alpha do not inhibit repair synthesis. Repair is sensitive to aphidicolin, suggesting that DNA polymerase epsilon or delta participates in nucleotide excision repair by cell extracts. HSSB has a role other than generally stimulating synthesis by DNA polymerases, as it does not enhance the residual damage-dependent background synthesis displayed by repair-deficient extracts from xeroderma pigmentosum cells. Significantly, when damaged DNA is incised by the Escherichia coli UvrABC repair enzyme, human cell extracts can carry out repair synthesis even when HSSB has been neutralized with antibodies. This suggests that HSSB functions in an early stage of repair, rather than exclusively in repair synthesis. A model for the role of HSSB in repair is presented.

Topics: Antibodies; Aphidicolin; Cell Extracts; DNA Polymerase II; DNA Repair; DNA-Binding Proteins; Electrophoresis; Endodeoxyribonucleases; Escherichia coli Proteins; HeLa Cells; Humans; Plasmids; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Bulky adducts to DNA including DNA-protein crosslinks formed with trans-platinum(II)diammine-dichloride are repaired largely by the nucleotide excision pathway in mammalian cells. The discovery in this laboratory that cells deficient in nucleotide excision repair, i.e., SV40-virus transformed SV-XP20S cells, can efficiently repair DNA-protein crosslinks implicates a second pathway. In this report, details concerning this pathway are presented. DNA-protein crosslinks induced with 20 microM trans-platinum were assayed by the membrane alkaline elution procedure of Kohn. DNA replication was measured by CsCl gradient separation of newly synthesized DNA that had incorporated 5-bromodeoxyuridine. The following results indicate that this new repair pathway is associated with cell cycling: Whereas rapidly proliferating human cells deficient in excision repair (SV40 transformed XP20S, group A) are proficient in repair of DNA-protein crosslinks, the more slowly growing untransformed parent line is deficient but can complete repair after prolonged periods of 4-6 days, the approximate doubling time of the cell population. Either "used" culture medium or cycloheximide (1 microgram/ml) inhibits cell proliferation, protein synthesis, DNA replication and crosslink repair. In the presence of increasing concentrations of cycloheximide (0.01-5 micrograms/ml) the percent of DNA replication decreases and is essentially equivalent to the percent of crosslink repair. The following results indicate that this new repair pathway, though associated with cell cycling, is independent of DNA replication per se. The rates of DNA-protein crosslink repair and DNA replication are essentially the same in mouse L1210 cells rapidly proliferating in 20% serum supplement; however, to slower proliferation rates in 1% serum rate of crosslink repair is slower but differs from that of DNA replication. In the presence of aphidicolin (10 micrograms/ml) cells can repair DNA-protein crosslinks in virtually the complete absence of DNA replication, though the rate is slower in both nucleotide excision-proficient and -deficient cells. Thus, DNA replication is not essential for repair of DNA-protein crosslinks. Comparison of the kinetics of replication and DNA-protein crosslink repair of pulse-labeled indicates that, in the absence of metabolic inhibitors, repair of the crosslinks is independent of replication per se and, therefore, DNA recombination events are not involved in this repair process. We concl

Topics: Animals; Aphidicolin; Cell Cycle; Cell Transformation, Viral; Cisplatin; Cross-Linking Reagents; Culture Media; Cycloheximide; Diterpenes; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA, Neoplasm; Fibroblasts; Humans; Leukemia L1210; Mice; Protein Binding; Simian virus 40; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Those pyrimidine dimers that are repaired in confluent xeroderma pigmentosum Group C cells are clustered together in the genome. Although the average level of repair in this complementation group is of the order of 25% of normal, this percentage represents normal levels of repair in one quarter of the genome and little repair in the remainder. The factors that regulate this clustering process have been investigated using inhibitors of the initial incision step of repair (novobiocin) and of the polymerization step (aphidicolin). Novobiocin at a concentration that permitted 30% of repair to continue reduced the clustering of mended sites only slightly. Aphidicolin, in contrast, at a concentration that permitted 30 to 60% of repair to continue caused the mended sites to be distributed randomly. The clustering of repair sites seen in xeroderma pigmentosum Group C cells, therefore, is produced by an excision repair mechanism in which an aphidicolin-sensitive DNA polymerase, presumably alpha, plays an important regulatory role in determining which damaged sites are mended.

Topics: Aphidicolin; Diterpenes; DNA; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Humans; Novobiocin; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Repair-proficient human cells can be sensitized to exposure to UV radiation at 254 nm by postirradiation incubation in the presence of the eukaryotic alpha polymerase inhibitor, aphidicolin. The degree of sensitization has been examined in cells cultured from humans suffering from various types of sun-sensitive syndromes. Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) variant and Bloom's cell lines (both excision proficient) were strongly sensitized by aphidicolin. An excision repair proficient Cockayne's cell line and a deficient XPD line were both sensitized to a level similar to the sensitivity of excision deficient XPA cells. In contrast, three XPC cell lines which show intermediate UV-induced repair replication and UV sensitivity were sensitized little (in one case) or not at all (in two cases) to UV by postirradiation inhibition of the alpha polymerase. These results lead us to conclude that there are two independent pathways of biologically effective excision repair, the major one of which involves the alpha polymerase and a second, less efficient and slower pathway which is independent of the alpha polymerase and which is the only pathway operating in two of the three XPC strains tested. The rates of biologically effective excision repair were similar in normal, XP variant, and Cockayne's cell lines, but these rates were considerably higher than published rates of dimer excision measured under similar conditions.

Topics: Aphidicolin; Bloom Syndrome; Cells, Cultured; Diterpenes; DNA Polymerase II; DNA Repair; Humans; Sunlight; Ultraviolet Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

The data in this paper show that when the inhibition of growth is measured, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) complementation groups A, G and D are very sensitive to 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), whereas only XP groups G and D are very sensitive to 3-methyl-4NQO (3me4NQO). Cells belonging to XP-C group are not particularly sensitive to either agent. Thus there are different epistasis groups for the excision repair of DNA adducts induced by these agents as opposed to the repair of u.v. damage. DNA polymerase alpha is involved in the repair of 4NQO-induced lesions because aphidicolin blocks their repair. XP cells from all the above groups are defective to some extent in this repair. The degree of repair defectiveness follows that seen after u.v., with even the XP-C cell line used having reduced repair (despite the fact that the inhibition of growth by 4NQO in this cell line was not markedly different from normal). Aphidicolin did not induce breaks in the normal or XP cell lines exposed to 3me4NQO, thus the repair of lesions induced by 3me4NQO does not involve DNA polymerase alpha in any of the cell lines. Finally, catalase reduces the alkaline labile lesions induced by 4NQO, but not 3me4NQO, suggesting the latter agent does not induce substantial amounts of DNA damage by the generation of radicals.

Topics: 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide; Aphidicolin; Catalase; Cell Line; Diterpenes; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; Epistasis, Genetic; Fibroblasts; Humans; Mutagens; Nitroquinolines; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

DNA repair in xeroderma pigmentosum complementation groups C and D occurs at a low level. Measurements of pyrimidine dimers remaining in bulk DNA from the whole genome indicated very little excision in either complementation group. The repair sites in group C cells were, however, clustered together in small regions of the genome which appeared to be mended nearly as efficiently as the whole genome is mended in normal cells, while repair in group D cells was randomly distributed. Growth of normal cells in cycloheximide or 3-aminobenzamide neither inhibited repair nor altered the distribution of repair sites. Growth of normal cells in novobiocin or aphidicolin inhibited excision but repair remained randomly distributed. On the basis of these observations, and consideration of other cellular features of group C and D, we suggest that group C may represent a mutation which results in a low level of repair enzymes with normal function. Group D, on the other hand, may represent a mutation resulting in functionally defective repair enzymes.

Topics: Aphidicolin; Benzamides; Cell Line; Chromosome Mapping; Cycloheximide; Cytarabine; Diterpenes; DNA; DNA Repair; Genetic Complementation Test; Humans; Molecular Weight; Novobiocin; Ultraviolet Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of the eucaryotic alpha polymerase, has been employed to study the role of this enzyme in repair of potentially lethal damage (PLD) induced by far u.v. (254 nm) radiation in normal and repair defective primary human fibroblasts. There is strong concentration dependent specific toxicity to cells treated with a fluence of 6 Jm-2 of far-u.v. radiation and incubated with aphidicolin for 2 days over the concentration range 0.0025-2.5 micrograms/ml. A similar effect is seen with a xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) variant (excision proficient) strain but there is no specific toxicity to u.v. irradiated excision deficient XP cells of complementation group A. Inactivation of irradiated excision proficient fibroblasts is rapid over the first 6 h of aphidicolin (1 microgram/ml) treatment but the reaction takes 2 days or longer to complete depending on the u.v. dose. These results demonstrate that the apparent uncoupling of excision repair seen previously by other investigators prevents repair of PLD and is lethal to the cells.

Topics: Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Aphidicolin; Cell Line; Diterpenes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Fibroblasts; Humans; Skin; Ultraviolet Rays; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Normal and excision-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts were X-irradiated and the influence on DNA repair of either the repair inhibitor cytosine arabinoside or the specific inhibitor of Dna polymerase alpha, aphidicolin, investigated. The data indicated that the repair of a certain fraction of X-ray-induced lesions can be inhibited in both cell lines by both compounds. Thus, as aphidicolin blocks the operation of polymerase alpha, this enzyme must be involved in an excision repair pathway operating in both normal and excision-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum cells.

Topics: Aphidicolin; Cells, Cultured; Cytarabine; Diterpenes; DNA; DNA Polymerase II; DNA Repair; Fibroblasts; Humans; Xeroderma Pigmentosum