Krzysztof Staroń

Poly(ADP-ribose) binds to the splicing factor ASF/SF2 and regulates its phosphorylation by DNA topoisomerase I.

Human DNA topoisomerase I plays a dual role in transcription, by controlling DNA supercoiling and by acting as a specific kinase for the SR-protein family of splicing factors. The two activities are mutually exclusive, but the identity of the molecular switch is unknown. Here we identify poly(ADP-ribose) as a physiological regulator of the two topoisomerase I functions. We found that, in the presence of both DNA and the alternative splicing factor/splicing factor 2 (ASF/SF2, a prototypical SR-protein), poly(ADP-ribose) affected topoisomerase I substrate selection and gradually shifted enzyme activity from protein phosphorylation to DNA cleavage. A likely mechanistic explanation was offered by the discovery that poly(ADP-ribose) forms a high affinity complex with ASF/SF2 thereby leaving topoisomerase I available for directing its action onto DNA. We identified two functionally important domains, RRM1 and RS, as specific poly(ADP-ribose) binding targets. Two independent lines of evidence emphasize the potential biological relevance of our findings: (i) in HeLa nuclear extracts, ASF/SF2, but not histone, phosphorylation was inhibited by poly(ADP-ribose); (ii) an in silico study based on gene expression profiling data revealed an increased incidence of alternative splicing within a subset of inflammatory response genes that are dysregulated in cells lacking a functional poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. We propose that poly(ADP-ribose) targeting of topoisomerase I and ASF/SF2 functions may participate in the regulation of gene expression.

Subunit structure of Physarum polycephalum chromatin.

Digestion of animal chromatin [l-4] as well as chromatin from higher plants [S] and yeast [6] by exogenous bacterial nuclease has led to the conclusion that chromatin has a regular subunit structure. It is however still important to establish whether this structure is common especially among organisms in which the histone pattern is not identical with that of higher plants and animals. We report here studies on the chromatin organization in a true slime mold Physarum polycephalum which belongs to a very primitive group of eukaryotes and is widely used as a model organism especially in mitotic studies [7].

Mg2+ as a trigger of condenstion-decondensation transition of chromatin during mitosis

Abstract It is proposed that the direct trigger of the mitotic condensation-decondensation transition of interphase chromatin is the elevation and subsequent normalization of cellular concentration of ionized magnesium. The hypothesis is based on the analysis of structural changes of chromatin during condensation and their relation to known experimental data on mitotic condensation and mitosis.

Topoisomerase I is differently phosphorylated in two sublines of L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells

Two sublines of LY murine lymphoma, differing in sensitivity to CPT, served as source of topoisomerase I in order to compare the enzymes properties. The activity of topoisomerase I isolated from LY-S cells of reduced sensitivity to CPT increased about 2-times more upon phosphorylation with casein kinase but was inhibited to a lesser extent upon dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase than the enzyme from the CPT-sensitive LY-R cells. The in vitro phosphorylation of LY-S enzyme restored its sensitivity to CPT. The in vitro incorporation of 32P into topoisomerase protein was about 1.7-times higher in LY-S than in LY-R enzyme. A reversed incorporation ratio was observed upon metabolic labelling. The level of topoisomerase I protein, determined by Western blot analysis using scleroderma anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, was about 1.5-times higher in LY-S than in LY-R cells. The level of topoisomerase I mRNA was similar in both sublines. These results indicate that the reduced sensitivity of LY-S cells to CPT is based on the lowered phosphorylation of topoisomerase I protein but does not depend on the expression of topoisomerase I gene.

Reduced sensitivity to camptothecin of topoisomerase I from a L5178Y mouse lymphoma subline sensitive to X-radiation

Murine L517BY (LY) lymphoma sublines, LY-R (X-radiation resistant) and LY-S (X-radiation sensitive) displayed a difference in susceptibility to camptothecin: susceptibility of LY-S cells to the alkaloid was shifted towards higher concentrations as compared to LY-R cells. A similar difference was observed at the level of genomic DNA when a number of DNA-protein cross-links was determined or single-strand breaks were revealed by the fluorescent nucleoid halo assay. Activities of topoisomerases I and II were the same in both sublines. In turn, a higher resistance to camptothecin was found for the isolated LY-S topoisomerase I in the DNA cleavage test, suggesting that an altered enzyme was responsible for the susceptibility difference observed at the cellular level. In the relaxation test the enzymes from the two sublines showed a different sensitivity to beta-lapachone, an activator of topoisomerase I, but were similarly sensitive to all inhibitors, except camptothecin.

Lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal modulates base excision repair in human cells

Oxidative-stress-driven lipid peroxidation (LPO) is involved in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including cancer. LPO products react with cellular proteins changing their properties, and with DNA bases to form mutagenic etheno-DNA adducts, removed from DNA mainly by the base excision repair (BER) pathway. One of the major reactive aldehydes generated by LPO is 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). We investigated the effect of HNE on BER enzymes in human cells and in vitro. K21 cells pretreated with physiological HNE concentrations were more sensitive to oxidative and alkylating agents, H2O2 and MMS, than were untreated cells. Detailed examination of the effects of HNE on particular stages of BER in K21 cells revealed that HNE decreases the rate of excision of 1,N(6)-ethenoadenine (ɛA) and 3,N(4)-ethenocytosine (ɛC), but not of 8-oxoguanine. Simultaneously HNE increased the rate of AP-site incision and blocked the re-ligation step after the gap-filling by DNA polymerases. This suggested that HNE increases the number of unrepaired single-strand breaks (SSBs) in cells treated with oxidizing or methylating agents. Indeed, preincubation of cells with HNE and their subsequent treatment with H2O2 or MMS increased the number of nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) foci, known to appear in cells in response to SSBs. However, when purified BER enzymes were exposed to HNE, only ANPG and TDG glycosylases excising ɛA and ɛC from DNA were inhibited, and only at high HNE concentrations. APE1 endonuclease and 8-oxoG-DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1) were not inhibited. These results indicate that LPO products exert their promutagenic action not only by forming DNA adducts, but in part also by compromising the BER pathway.

Native state dynamics and mechanical properties of human topoisomerase I within a structure‐based coarse‐grained model

A coarse grained molecular dynamics model with an implicit solvent is used to elucidate properties of the human topoisomerase I. The model is defined through the native structure and it allows covering significantly longer time scales than in all atom simulations. Single residue and double residue motional characteristics are studied. The results are consistent with all atom simulations reported in the literature indicating usefulness of the model in further studies of this protein. Novel findings include broadening of the description of the dynamic behavior of the lip and hinge regions and a characterization of the motional properties of the RRM binding site of the enzyme. We also consider mechanical stretching of the protein and identify sources of the force peaks. The elastic properties of topoisomerase I are predicted to be average in comparison to other proteins, yielding a maximum force of resistance to pulling which should be of order 120 pN. The contact unraveling pattern is consistent with the understanding of the structure and function of the protein. We find supporting evidence for the hypothesis that the C‐terminal domain acquires an ordered structure upon binding with the core enzyme even though it forms a molten globule when in isolation. Proteins 2009.

Effect of ethidium bromide on the digestion of chromatin DNA with micrococcal nuclease.

Intercalation of ethidium bromide into DNA influences the rate of its digestion with micrococcal nuclease in opposite directions depending on whether it is free DNA or DNA in chromatin. In the case of free DNA the binding of ethidium bromide, starting from a very low concentration, results in the inhibition of the rate of digestion (increasing constantly with the increase of the ethidium bromide/nucleotide ratio). In contrast to free DNA the digestion rate as well as the overall amount of nuclease susceptible DNA is increased upon ethidium bromide binding to chromatin, with maximum enhancement around the saturation of intercalation sites. The saturation of intercalation sites in chromatin leads also to the disappearance of the typical micrococcal nuclease digestion pattern of DNA upon gel electrophoresis. Instead, a random cleavage pattern is observed. These data indicate that partial unwinding of chromatin DNA by ethidium bromide results in unmasking new sites for nuclease action. Interpretation of this finding in terms of the nucleosomal structure of chromatin and the mode of ethidium bromide binding to chromatin DNA indicates that newly unmasked sites are localized within the core particle DNA.

Controlled delivery of BID protein fused with TAT peptide sensitizes cancer cells to apoptosis

BackgroundLow cellular level of BID is critical for viability of numerous cancer cells. Sensitization of cells to anticancer agents by BID overexpression from adenovirus or pcDNA vectors is a proposed strategy for cancer therapy; however it does not provide any stringent control of cellular level of BID. The aim of this work was to examine whether a fusion of BID with TAT cell penetrating peptide (TAT-BID) may be used for controlled sensitization of cancer cells to anticancer agents acting through death receptors (TRAIL) or DNA damage (camptothecin). Prostate cancer PC3 and LNCaP, non-small human lung cancer A549, and cervix carcinoma HeLa cells were used in the study.MethodsUptake of TAT-BID protein by cells was studied by quantitative Western blot analysis of cells extracts. Cells viability was monitored by MTT test. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and cytochrome c release assay.ResultsTAT-BID was delivered to all cancer cells in amounts depending on time, dose and the cell line. Recombinant BID sensitized PC3 cells to TRAIL or, to lesser extent, to camptothecin. Out of remaining cells, TAT-BID sensitized A549, and only slightly HeLa cells to TRAIL. None of the latter cell lines were sensitized to camptothecin. In all cases the mutant not phosphorylable by CK2 (TAT-BIDT59AS76A) was similarly efficient in sensitization as the wild type TAT-BID.ConclusionsTAT-BID may be delivered to cancer cells in controlled manner and efficiently sensitizes PC3 and A549 cells to TRAIL. Therefore, it may be considered as a potential therapeutic agent that enhances the efficacy of TRAIL for the treatment of prostate and non-small human lung cancer.

Trimeric purine nucleoside phosphorylase: Exploring postulated one-third-of-the-sites binding in the transition state

Transition-state analogue inhibitors, immucillins, were reported to bind to trimeric purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) with the stoichiometry of one molecule per enzyme trimer [Miles, R. W.; Tyler, P. C.; Furneaux, R. H.; Bagdassarian, C. K.; Schramm, V. L. Biochem. 1998, 37, 8615]. In attempts to observe and better understand the nature of this phenomenon we have conducted calorimetric titrations of the recombinant calf PNP complexed with immucillin H. However, by striking contrast to the earlier reports, we have not observed negative cooperativity and we got the stoichiometry of three immucillin molecules per enzyme trimer. Similar results were obtained from fluorimetric titrations, and for other inhibitors bearing features of the transition state. However, we observed apparent cooperativity between enzyme subunits and apparent lower stoichiometry when we used the recombinant enzyme not fully purified from hypoxanthine, which is moped from Escherichia coli cells. Results presented here prove that one-third-of-the-sites binding does not occur for trimeric PNP, and give the highly probable explanation why previous experiments were interpreted in terms of this phenomenon.