Susith Wickramaratne

Synthesis of sequence-specific DNA-protein conjugates via a reductive amination strategy.

DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are ubiquitous, structurally diverse DNA lesions formed upon exposure to bis-electrophiles, transition metals, UV light, and reactive oxygen species. Because of their superbulky, helix distorting nature, DPCs interfere with DNA replication, transcription, and repair, potentially contributing to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. However, the biological implications of DPC lesions have not been fully elucidated due to the difficulty in generating site-specific DNA substrates representative of DPC lesions formed in vivo. In the present study, a novel approach involving postsynthetic reductive amination has been developed to prepare a range of hydrolytically stable lesions structurally mimicking the DPCs produced between the N7 position of guanine in DNA and basic lysine or arginine side chains of proteins and peptides.

Synthesis of site-specific DNA-protein conjugates and their effects on DNA replication.

DNA–protein cross-links (DPCs) are bulky, helix-distorting DNA lesions that form in the genome upon exposure to common antitumor drugs, environmental/occupational toxins, ionizing radiation, and endogenous free-radical-generating systems. As a result of their considerable size and their pronounced effects on DNA–protein interactions, DPCs can interfere with DNA replication, transcription, and repair, potentially leading to mutagenesis, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity. However, the biological consequences of these ubiquitous lesions are not fully understood due to the difficulty of generating DNA substrates containing structurally defined, site-specific DPCs. In the present study, site-specific cross-links between the two biomolecules were generated by copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] Huisgen cycloaddition (click reaction) between an alkyne group from 5-(octa-1,7-diynyl)-uracil in DNA and an azide group within engineered proteins/polypeptides. The resulting DPC substrates were subjected to in vitro primer extension in the presence of human lesion bypass DNA polymerases η, κ, ν, and ι. We found that DPC lesions to the green fluorescent protein and a 23-mer peptide completely blocked DNA replication, while the cross-link to a 10-mer peptide was bypassed. These results indicate that the polymerases cannot read through the larger DPC lesions and further suggest that proteolytic degradation may be required to remove the replication block imposed by bulky DPC adducts.

DNA-reactive protein monoepoxides induce cell death and mutagenesis in mammalian cells.

Although cytotoxic alkylating agents possessing two electrophilic reactive groups are thought to act by cross-linking cellular biomolecules, their exact mechanisms of action have not been established. In cells, these compounds form a mixture of DNA lesions, including nucleobase monoadducts, interstrand and intrastrand cross-links, and DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs). Interstrand DNA-DNA cross-links block replication and transcription by preventing DNA strand separation, contributing to toxicity and mutagenesis. In contrast, potential contributions of drug-induced DPCs are poorly understood. To gain insight into the biological consequences of DPC formation, we generated DNA-reactive protein reagents and examined their toxicity and mutagenesis in mammalian cells. Recombinant human O(6)-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) protein or its variants (C145A and K125L) were treated with 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane to yield proteins containing 2-hydroxy-3,4-epoxybutyl groups on cysteine residues. Gel shift and mass spectrometry experiments confirmed that epoxide-functionalized AGT proteins formed covalent DPC but no other types of nucleobase damage when incubated with duplex DNA. Introduction of purified AGT monoepoxides into mammalian cells via electroporation generated AGT-DNA cross-links and induced cell death and mutations at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene. Smaller numbers of DPC lesions and reduced levels of cell death were observed when using protein monoepoxides generated from an AGT variant that fails to accumulate in the cell nucleus (K125L), suggesting that nuclear DNA damage is required for toxicity. Taken together, these results indicate that AGT protein monoepoxides produce cytotoxic and mutagenic DPC lesions within chromosomal DNA. More generally, these data suggest that covalent DPC lesions contribute to the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of bis-electrophiles.

Error-prone Translesion Synthesis Past DNA-Peptide Cross-links Conjugated to the Major Groove of DNA via C5 of Thymidine

Background: DNA-protein conjugates can be induced by reactive oxygen species and proteolytically cleaved to the corresponding peptide conjugates. Results: Polymerase bypass past C5-dT peptide conjugates catalyzed by human polymerases η and κ gives rise to base substitutions and deletions. Conclusion: Replication past C5-T peptide conjugates is mutagenic. Significance: This study provides the first evidence for error-prone replication of DPCs cross-linked to pyrimidines in DNA. DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are exceptionally bulky, structurally diverse DNA adducts formed in cells upon exposure to endogenous and exogenous bis-electrophiles, reactive oxygen species, and ionizing radiation. If not repaired, DPCs can induce toxicity and mutations. It has been proposed that the protein component of a DPC is proteolytically degraded, giving rise to smaller DNA-peptide conjugates, which can be subject to nucleotide excision repair and replication bypass. In this study, polymerase bypass of model DNA-peptide conjugates structurally analogous to the lesions induced by reactive oxygen species and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors was examined. DNA oligomers containing site-specific DNA-peptide conjugates were generated by copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] Huisgen cyclo-addition between an alkyne-functionalized C5-thymidine in DNA and an azide-containing 10-mer peptide. The resulting DNA-peptide conjugates were subjected to steady-state kinetic experiments in the presence of recombinant human lesion bypass polymerases κ and η, followed by PAGE-based assays to determine the catalytic efficiency and the misinsertion frequency opposite the lesion. We found that human polymerase κ and η can incorporate A, G, C, or T opposite the C5-dT-conjugated DNA-peptide conjugates, whereas human polymerase η preferentially inserts G opposite the lesion. Furthermore, HPLC-ESI−-MS/MS sequencing of the extension products has revealed that post-lesion synthesis was highly error-prone, resulting in mutations opposite the adducted site or at the +1 position from the adduct and multiple deletions. Collectively, our results indicate that replication bypass of peptides conjugated to the C5 position of thymine by human translesion synthesis polymerases leads to large numbers of base substitution and frameshift mutations.

Bypass of DNA-Protein Cross-links Conjugated to the 7-Deazaguanine Position of DNA by Translesion Synthesis Polymerases

DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are bulky DNA lesions that form both endogenously and following exposure to bis-electrophiles such as common antitumor agents. The structural and biological consequences of DPCs have not been fully elucidated due to the complexity of these adducts. The most common site of DPC formation in DNA following treatment with bis-electrophiles such as nitrogen mustards and cisplatin is the N7 position of guanine, but the resulting conjugates are hydrolytically labile and thus are not suitable for structural and biological studies. In this report, hydrolytically stable structural mimics of N7-guanine-conjugated DPCs were generated by reductive amination reactions between the Lys and Arg side chains of proteins/peptides and aldehyde groups linked to 7-deazaguanine residues in DNA. These model DPCs were subjected to in vitro replication in the presence of human translesion synthesis DNA polymerases. DPCs containing full-length proteins (11–28 kDa) or a 23-mer peptide blocked human polymerases η and κ. DPC conjugates to a 10-mer peptide were bypassed with nucleotide insertion efficiency 50–100-fold lower than for native G. Both human polymerase (hPol) κ and hPol η inserted the correct base (C) opposite the 10-mer peptide cross-link, although small amounts of T were added by hPol η. Molecular dynamics simulation of an hPol κ ternary complex containing a template-primer DNA with dCTP opposite the 10-mer peptide DPC revealed that this bulky lesion can be accommodated in the polymerase active site by aligning with the major groove of the adducted DNA within the ternary complex of polymerase and dCTP.

Translesion synthesis across 1,N6-(2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA) adducts by human and archebacterial DNA polymerases

Background: 1,N6-(2-Hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA) adducts are formed in DNA by 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (metabolite of human carcinogen 1,3-butadiene). Results: hpols η and κ carry out translesion synthesis, incorporating T, G, or A opposite the 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA adduct. Conclusion: Translesion bypass of 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA adducts by TLS polymerases is error-prone. Significance: This study identifies 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA as the DNA adduct potentially responsible for A→T and A→C transversions and deletions induced by 1,3-butadiene. The 1,N6-(2-Hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA) adducts are formed upon bifunctional alkylation of adenine nucleobases in DNA by 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane, the putative ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of 1,3-butadiene. The presence of a substituted 1,N6-propano group on 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA is expected to block the Watson-Crick base pairing of the adducted adenine with thymine, potentially contributing to mutagenesis. In this study, the enzymology of replication past site-specific 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA lesions in the presence of human DNA polymerases (hpols) β, η, κ, and ι and archebacterial polymerase Dpo4 was investigated. Run-on gel analysis with all four dNTPs revealed that hpol η, κ, and Dpo4 were able to copy the modified template. In contrast, hpol ι inserted a single base opposite 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA but was unable to extend beyond the damaged site, and a complete replication block was observed with hpol β. Single nucleotide incorporation experiments indicated that although hpol η, κ, and Dpo4 incorporated the correct nucleotide (dTMP) opposite the lesion, dGMP and dAMP were inserted with a comparable frequency. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of primer extension products confirmed the ability of bypass polymerases to insert dTMP, dAMP, or dGMP opposite 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA and detected large amounts of −1 and −2 deletion products. Taken together, these results indicate that hpol η and κ enzymes bypass 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA lesions in an error-prone fashion, potentially contributing to A→T and A→C transversions and frameshift mutations observed in cells following treatment with 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane.

Structures of Exocyclic R,R- and S,S-N(6),N(6)-(2,3-Dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2'-Deoxyadenosine Adducts Induced by 1,2,3,4-Diepoxybutane.

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an industrial and environmental chemical present in urban air and cigarette smoke, and is classified as a human carcinogen. It is oxidized by cytochrome P450 to form 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB); DEB bis-alkylates the N6 position of adenine in DNA. Two enantiomers of bis-N6-dA adducts of DEB have been identified: R,R-N6,N6-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (R,R-DHB-dA), and S,S-N6,N6-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (S,S-DHB-dA) [SeneviratneU., AntsypovichS., DorrD. Q., DissanayakeT., KotapatiS., and TretyakovaN. (2010) Chem. Res. Toxicol.23, 1556−156720873715]. Herein, the R,R-DHB-dA and S,S-DHB-dA adducts have been incorporated into the 5′-d(C1G2G3A4C5X6A7G8A9A10G11)-3′:5′-d(C12T13T14C15T16T17G18T19C20C21G22)-3′ duplex [X6 = R,R-DHB-dA (R6) or S,S-DHB-dA (S6)]. The structures of the duplexes were determined by molecular dynamics calculations, which were restrained by experimental distances obtained from NMR data. Both the R,R- and S,S-DHB-dA adducts are positioned in the major groove of DNA. In both instances, the bulky 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine rings are accommodated by an out-of-plane rotation about the C6-N6 bond of the bis-alkylated adenine. In both instances, the directionality of the dihydroxypyrrolidine ring is evidenced by the pattern of NOEs between the 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine protons and DNA. Also in both instances, the anti conformation of the glycosyl bond is maintained, which combined with the out-of-plane rotation about the C6-N6 bond, allows the complementary thymine, T17, to remain stacked within the duplex, and form one hydrogen bond with the modified base, between the imine nitrogen of the modified base and the T17 N3H imino proton. The loss of the second Watson–Crick hydrogen bonding interaction at the lesion sites correlates with the lower thermal stabilities of the R,R- and S,S-DHB-dA duplexes, as compared to the corresponding unmodified duplex. The reduced base stacking at the adduct sites may also contribute to the thermal instability.

Cellular Repair of DNA–DNA Cross-Links Induced by 1,2,3,4-Diepoxybutane

Xenobiotic-induced interstrand DNA–DNA cross-links (ICL) interfere with transcription and replication and can be converted to toxic DNA double strand breaks. In this work, we investigated cellular responses to 1,4-bis-(guan-7-yl)-2,3-butanediol (bis-N7G-BD) cross-links induced by 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB). High pressure liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI+-MS/MS) assays were used to quantify the formation and repair of bis-N7G-BD cross-links in wild-type Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79) and the corresponding isogenic clones V-H1 and V-H4, deficient in the XPD and FANCA genes, respectively. Both V-H1 and V-H4 cells exhibited enhanced sensitivity to DEB-induced cell death and elevated bis-N7G-BD cross-links. However, relatively modest increases of bis-N7G-BD adduct levels in V-H4 clones did not correlate with their hypersensitivity to DEB. Further, bis-N7G-BD levels were not elevated in DEB-treated human clones with defects in the XPA or FANCD2 genes. Comet assays and γ-H2AX focus analyses conducted with hamster cells revealed that ICL removal was associated with chromosomal double strand break formation, and that these breaks persisted in V-H4 cells as compared to control cells. Our findings suggest that ICL repair in cells with defects in the Fanconi anemia repair pathway is associated with aberrant re-joining of repair-induced double strand breaks, potentially resulting in lethal chromosome rearrangements.

Synthesis of DNA Oligodeoxynucleotides Containing Site-Specific 1,3-Butadiene-Deoxyadenosine Lesions.

Post‐oligomerization synthesis is a useful technique for preparing site‐specifically modified DNA oligomers. This approach involves site‐specific incorporation of inherently reactive halogenated nucleobases into DNA strands using standard solid‐phase synthesis, followed by post‐oligomerization nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reactions with carcinogen‐derived synthons. In these reactions, the inherent reactivities of DNA and carcinogen‐derived species are reversed: the modified DNA nucleobase acts as an electrophile, while the carcinogen‐derived species acts as a nucleophile. In the present protocol, we describe the use of the post‐oligomerization approach to prepare DNA strands containing site‐ and stereospecific N6 ‐adenine and N1,N6 ‐adenine adducts induced by epoxide metabolites of the known human and animal carcinogen 1,3‐butadiene (BD). The resulting oligomers containing site‐specific, structurally defined DNA adducts can be used in structural and biological studies to reveal the roles of specific BD adducts in carcinogenesis and mutagenesis.

Major Groove Orientation of the (2S)-N6-(2-Hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-2′-deoxyadenosine DNA Adduct Induced by 1,2-Epoxy-3-butene

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an environmental and occupational toxicant classified as a human carcinogen. It is oxidized by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases to 1,2-epoxy-3-butene (EB), which alkylates DNA. BD exposures lead to large numbers of mutations at A:T base pairs even though alkylation of guanines is more prevalent, suggesting that one or more adenine adducts of BD play a role in BD-mediated genotoxicity. However, the etiology of BD-mediated genotoxicity at adenine remains poorly understood. EB alkylates the N6 exocyclic nitrogen of adenine to form N6-(hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-2′-dA ((2S)-N6-HB-dA) adducts (TretyakovaN., LinY., SangaiahR., UptonP. B., and SwenbergJ. A. (1997) Carcinogenesis18, 137−1479054600). The structure of the (2S)-N6-HB-dA adduct has been determined in the 5′-d(C1G2G3A4C5Y6A7G8A9A10G11)-3′:5′-d(C12T13T14C15T16T17G18T19 C20C21G22)-3′ duplex [Y = (2S)-N6-HB-dA] containing codon 61 (underlined) of the human N-ras protooncogene, from NMR spectroscopy. The (2S)-N6-HB-dA adduct was positioned in the major groove, such that the butadiene moiety was oriented in the 3′ direction. At the Cα carbon, the methylene protons of the modified nucleobase Y6 faced the 5′ direction, which placed the Cβ carbon in the 3′ direction. The Cβ hydroxyl group faced toward the solvent, as did carbons Cγ and Cδ. The Cβ hydroxyl group did not form hydrogen bonds with either T16O4 or T17O4. The (2S)-N6-HB-dA nucleoside maintained the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond, and the modified base retained Watson–Crick base pairing with the complementary base (T17). The adduct perturbed stacking interactions at base pairs C5:G18, Y6:T17, and A7:T16 such that the Y6 base did not stack with its 5′ neighbor C5, but it did with its 3′ neighbor A7. The complementary thymine T17 stacked well with both 5′ and 3′ neighbors T16 and G18. The presence of the (2S)-N6-HB-dA resulted in a 5 °C reduction in the Tm of the duplex, which is attributed to less favorable stacking interactions and adduct accommodation in the major groove.