Nadejda I. Rechkunova

AP-site cleavage activity of tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1

APE‐independent base excision repair (BER) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of DNA repair mechanisms. In this study it has been found that recently discovered tyrosyl‐DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) catalyzes the AP site cleavage reaction to generate breaks with the 3′‐ and 5′‐phosphate termini. The removal of the 3′‐phosphate is performed by polynucleotide kinase phosphatase (PNKP). Tdp1 is known to interact stably with BER proteins: DNA polymerase beta (Pol β), XRCC1, PARP1 and DNA ligase III. The data suggest a role of Tdp1 in the new APE‐independent BER pathway in mammals.

Localization of xeroderma pigmentosum group A protein and replication protein A on damaged DNA in nucleotide excision repair

The interaction of xeroderma pigmentosum group A protein (XPA) and replication protein A (RPA) with damaged DNA in nucleotide excision repair (NER) was studied using model dsDNA and bubble-DNA structure with 5-{3-[6-(carboxyamido-fluoresceinyl)amidocapromoyl]allyl}-dUMP lesions in one strand and containing photoreactive 5-iodo-dUMP residues in defined positions. Interactions of XPA and RPA with damaged and undamaged DNA strands were investigated by DNA–protein photocrosslinking and gel shift analysis. XPA showed two maximums of crosslinking intensities located on the 5′-side from a lesion. RPA mainly localized on undamaged strand of damaged DNA duplex and damaged bubble-DNA structure. These results presented for the first time the direct evidence for the localization of XPA in the 5′-side of the lesion and suggested the key role of XPA orientation in conjunction with RPA binding to undamaged strand for the positioning of the NER preincision complex. The findings supported the mechanism of loading of the heterodimer consisting of excision repair cross-complementing group 1 and xeroderma pigmentosum group F proteins by XPA on the 5′-side from the lesion before damaged strand incision. Importantly, the proper orientation of XPA and RPA in the stage of preincision was achieved in the absence of TFIIH and XPG.

Interaction of nucleotide excision repair factors XPC-HR23B, XPA, and RPA with damaged DNA.

The interaction of nucleotide excision repair factors-xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C protein in complex with human homolog of yeast Rad23 protein (XPC-HR23B), replication protein A (RPA), and xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A protein (XPA)—with 48-mer DNA duplexes imitating damaged DNA structures was investigated. All studied proteins demonstrated low specificity in binding to damaged DNA compared with undamaged DNA duplexes. RPA stimulates formation of XPC-HR23B complex with DNA, and when XPA and XPC-HR23B are simultaneously present in the reaction mixture a synergistic effect in binding of these proteins to DNA is observed. RPA crosslinks to DNA bearing photoreactive 5I-dUMP residue on one strand and fluorescein-substituted dUMP analog as a lesion in the opposite strand of DNA duplex and also stimulates cross-linking with XPC-HR23B. Therefore, RPA might be one of the main regulation factors at various stages of nucleotide excision repair. The data are in agreement with the cooperative binding model of nucleotide excision repair factors participating in pre-incision complex formation with DNA duplexes bearing damages.

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 initiates repair of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the phosphodiester linkage between the DNA 3′ phosphate and a tyrosine residue as well as a variety of other DNA 3′ damaged termini. Recently we have shown that Tdp1 can liberate the 3′ DNA phosphate termini from apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites. Here, we found that Tdp1 is more active in the cleavage of the AP sites inside bubble-DNA structure in comparison to ssDNA containing AP site. Furthermore, Tdp1 hydrolyzes AP sites opposite to bulky fluorescein adduct faster than AP sites located in dsDNA. Whilst the Tdp1 H493R (SCAN1) and H263A mutants retain the ability to bind an AP site-containing DNA, both mutants do not reveal endonuclease activity, further suggesting the specificity of the AP cleavage activity. We suggest that this Tdp1 activity can contribute to the repair of AP sites particularly in DNA structures containing ssDNA region or AP sites in the context of clustered DNA lesions.

Comparative Analysis of Interaction of Human and Yeast DNA Damage Recognition Complexes with Damaged DNA in Nucleotide Excision Repair

Background: XPC-RAD23B and Rad4-Rad23 proteins are primary damage recognition factors in nucleotide excision repair in human and yeast cells, respectively. Results: XPC-RAD23B and Rad4-Rad23 have contacts with damaged DNA in the same positions. Conclusion: Both proteins reveal similar topography in the complex with damaged DNA in solution. Significance: This study fills the gap between biochemical results for XPC-RAD23B and x-ray data for Rad4-Rad23. The human XPC-RAD23B complex and its yeast ortholog, Rad4-Rad23, are the primary initiators of global genome nucleotide excision repair. The interaction of these proteins with damaged DNA was analyzed using model DNA duplexes containing a single fluorescein-substituted dUMP analog as a lesion. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed similarity between human and yeast proteins in DNA binding. Quantitative analyses of XPC/Rad4 binding to the model DNA structures were performed by fluorescent depolarization measurements. XPC-RAD23B and Rad4-Rad23 proteins demonstrate approximately equal binding affinity to the damaged DNA duplex (KD ∼ (0.5 ± 0.1) and (0.6 ± 0.3) nm, respectively). Using photoreactive DNA containing 5-iodo-dUMP in defined positions, XPC/Rad4 location on damaged DNA was shown. Under conditions of equimolar binding to DNA both proteins exhibited the highest level of cross-links to 5I-dUMP located exactly opposite the damaged nucleotide. The positioning of the XPC and Rad4 proteins on damaged DNA by photocross-linking footprinting is consistent with x-ray analysis of the Rad4-DNA crystal complex. The identity of the XPC and Rad4 location illustrates the common principles of structure organization of DNA damage-scanning proteins from different Eukarya organisms.

Trapping of Human DNA Topoisomerase I by DNA Structures Mimicking Intermediates of DNA Repair

In this report we show that human DNA Topoisomerase I (Top1) forms DNA‐protein adducts with nicked and gapped DNA structures lacking a conventional Top1 cleavage site. The radioactively labeled crosslinking products were identified by SDS‐gel electrophoresis. The chemical structure of the groups at 5′ or 3′ end of the nick does not have an effect on the formation of these covalent adducts. Therefore, all kinds of nicks, either directly induced by ionizing radiation or reactive oxygen species or indirectly induced in the course of base excision repair (BER) are targets for Top1 that competes with BER proteins and other nick‐sensors. Top1‐DNA covalent adducts formed in cells exposed to DNA damaging agents can promote genetic instability.

Interaction of nucleotide excision repair factors RPA and XPA with DNA containing bulky photoreactive groups imitating damages

Interaction of nucleotide excision repair factors—replication protein A (RPA) and Xeroderma pigmentosum complementing group A protein (XPA)—with DNA structures containing nucleotides with bulky photoreactive groups imitating damaged nucleotides was investigated. Efficiency of photoaffinity modification of two proteins by photoreactive DNAs varied depending on DNA structure and type of photoreactive group. The secondary structure of DNA and, first of all, the presence of extended single-stranded parts plays a key role in recognition by RPA. However, it was shown that RPA efficiently interacts with DNA duplex containing a bulky substituent at the 5′-end of a nick. XPA was shown to prefer the nicked DNA; however, this protein was cross-linked with approximately equal efficiency by single-stranded and double-stranded DNA containing a bulky substituent inside the strand. XPA seems to be sensitive not only to the structure of DNA double helix, but also to a bulky group incorporated into DNA. The mechanism of damage recognition in the process of nucleotide excision repair is discussed.

Sensitized photomodification of mammalian DNA polymerase β. A new approach for highly selective affinity labeling of polymerases

To enhance the specificity of polymerase photoaffinity labeling, a novel approach based on sensitized photomodification has been developed. A base‐substituted analog of TTP containing a pyrene group (PyrdUTP) was synthesized and used as an active site‐bound photosensitizer for photoaffinity modification of DNA polymerase β (pol β). 5′‐[32P]‐labeled primer was elongated in situ by pol β with a photoreactive analog of TTP (FAB‐4‐dUTP). The pyrene sensitizer (PyrdUTP), excited by light (365–450 nm), can activate the photoreagent, crosslinking it to pol β as a result of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The initial rate of pol β photomodification was shown to increase by a factor of ten. The selectivity of pol β photosensitized modification was proved by adding human replication protein A.

Crosslinking of nucleotide excision repair proteins with DNA containing photoreactive damages.

Photoreactive DNA duplexes mimicking substrates of nucleotide excision repair (NER) system were used to analyze the interaction of XPC-HR23B, RPA, and XPA with damaged DNA. Photoreactive groups in one strand of DNA duplex (arylazido-dCMP or 4-thio-dUMP) were combined with anthracenyl-dCMP residue at the opposite strand to analyze contacts of NER factors with damaged and undamaged strands. Crosslinking of XPC-HR23B complex with photoreactive 48-mers results in modification of XPC subunit. XPC-HR23B did not crosslink with DNA duplex bearing bulky residues in both strands while this modification does not prevent interaction of DNA with XPA. The data on crosslinking of XPA and RPA with photoreactive DNA duplexes containing bulky group in one of the strands are in favor of XPA preference to interact with the damaged strand and RPA preference for the undamaged strand. The results support the understanding and set the stage for dynamically oriented experiments of how the pre-incision complex is formed in the early stage of NER.

Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 Modulates Interaction of the Nucleotide Excision Repair Factor XPC-RAD23B with DNA via Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation

Background: Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of DNA repair proteins is essential for the regulation of DNA repair processes. Results: Both subunits of the nucleotide excision repair factor XPC-RAD23B are poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated by PARP1. Conclusion: PARP1 influences the interaction of XPC-RAD23B with DNA via PAR synthesis. Significance: This study provides direct evidence for XPC-RAD23B belonging to the targets of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation catalyzed by PARP1. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a reversible post-translational modification that plays an essential role in many cellular processes, including regulation of DNA repair. Cellular DNA damage response by the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) is mediated mainly by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1). The XPC-RAD23B complex is one of the key factors of nucleotide excision repair participating in the primary DNA damage recognition. By using several biochemical approaches, we have analyzed the influence of PARP1 and PAR synthesis on the interaction of XPC-RAD23B with damaged DNA. Free PAR binds to XPC-RAD23B with an affinity that depends on the length of the poly(ADP-ribose) strand and competes with DNA for protein binding. Using 32P-labeled NAD+ and immunoblotting, we also demonstrate that both subunits of the XPC-RAD23B are poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated by PARP1. The efficiency of XPC-RAD23B PARylation depends on DNA structure and increases after UV irradiation of DNA. Therefore, our study clearly shows that XPC-RAD23B is a target of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation catalyzed by PARP1, which can be regarded as a universal regulator of DNA repair processes.