Teruhisa Tsuzuki

Mutagenesis and carcinogenesis caused by the oxidation of nucleic acids.

Abstract Genomes and their precursor nucleotides are highly exposed to reactive oxygen species, which are generated both as byproducts of oxygen respiration or molecular executors in the host defense, and by environmental exposure to ionizing radiation and chemicals. To counteract such oxidative damage in nucleic acids, mammalian cells are equipped with three distinct enzymes. MTH1 protein hydrolyzes oxidized purine nucleoside triphosphates, such as 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine triphosphate and 2-hydroxy-2′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate (2-OH-dATP), to the corresponding monophosphates. We observed increased susceptibility to spontaneous carcinogenesis in MTH1-null mice, which exhibit an increased occurrence of A:T→C:G and G:C→T:A transversion mutations. 8-Oxoguanine (8-oxoG) DNA glycosylase, encoded by the OGG1 gene, and adenine DNA glycosylase, encoded by the MUTYH gene, are responsible for the suppression of G:C to T:A transversions caused by the accumulation of 8-oxoG in the genome. Deficiency of these enzymes leads to increased tumorigenesis in the lung and intestinal tract in mice, respectively. MUTYH deficiency may also increase G:C to T:A transversions through the misincorporation of 2-OH-dATP, especially in the intestinal tract, since MUTYH can excise 2-hydroxyadenine opposite guanine in genomic DNA and the repair activity is selectively impaired by a mutation found in patients with autosomal recessive colorectal adenomatous polyposis.

MUTYH-Null Mice Are Susceptible to Spontaneous and Oxidative Stress–Induced Intestinal Tumorigenesis

MUTYH is a mammalian DNA glycosylase that initiates base excision repair by excising adenine opposite 8-oxoguanine and 2-hydroxyadenine opposite guanine, thereby preventing G:C to T:A transversion caused by oxidative stress. Recently, biallelic germ-line mutations of MUTYH have been found in patients predisposed to a recessive form of hereditary multiple colorectal adenoma and carcinoma with an increased incidence of G:C to T:A somatic mutations in the APC gene. In the present study, a systematic histologic examination revealed that more spontaneous tumors had developed in MUTYH-null mice (72 of 121; 59.5%) than in the wild type (38 of 109; 34.9%). The increased incidence of intestinal tumors in MUTYH-null mice (11 tumors in 10 of 121 mice) was statistically significant compared with the wild type (no intestinal tumors in 109 mice). Two adenomas and seven adenocarcinomas were observed in the small intestines, and two adenomas but no carcinomas were found in the colons. In MUTYH-null mice treated with KBrO(3), the occurrence of small intestinal tumors dramatically increased. The mean number of polyps induced in the small intestines of these mice was 61.88 (males, 72.75; females, 51.00), whereas it was 0.85 (males, 0.50; females, 1.00) in wild-type mice. The tumors developed predominantly in the duodenum and in the upper region of the (jejunum) small intestines. We conclude that MUTYH suppresses spontaneous tumorigenesis in mammals, thus providing experimental evidence for the association between biallelic germ-line MUTYH mutations and a recessive form of human hereditary colorectal adenoma and carcinoma.

Significance of error‐avoiding mechanisms for oxidative DNA damage in carcinogenesis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced through normal cellular metabolism, and their formation is further enhanced by exposure to ionizing radiation and various chemicals. ROS attack DNA, and the resulting oxidative DNA damage is considered to contribute to aging, carcinogenesis and neurodegeneration. Among various types of oxidative DNA damage, 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanine (8‐oxoguanine or 8‐oxoG) is the most abundant, and plays significant roles in mutagenesis because of its ability to pair with adenine as well as cytosine. Enzymatic activities that may be responsible for preventing 8‐oxoG‐evoked mutations were identified in mammalian cells. We have focused on the following three enzymes: MTH1, OGG1 and MUTYH. MTH1 is a mammalian ortholog of Escherichia coli MutT, which hydrolyzes 8‐oxo‐dGTP to its monophosphate form in nucleotide pools, thereby preventing incorporation of the mutagenic substrate into DNA. OGG1, a functional counterpart of E. coli MutM, has an 8‐oxoG DNA glycosylase activity. MUTYH, a mammalian ortholog of E. coli MutY, excises an adenine paired with 8‐oxoG. These three enzymes are thought to prevent mutagenesis caused by 8‐oxoG in mammals. To analyze the functions of mammalian MTH1 (Mth1), OGG1 (Ogg1) and MUTYH (Mutyh) in vivo, we established mutant mice for these three enzymes by targeted mutagenesis, and investigated spontaneous tumorigenesis as well as mutagenesis. Here we discuss our recent investigation of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in these mutant mice. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 465–470)

YB-1 is important for an early stage embryonic development: neural tube formation and cell proliferation.

The eukaryotic Y-box-binding protein-1 (YB-1) is involved in the transcriptional and translational control of many biological processes, including cell proliferation. In clinical studies, the cellular level of YB-1 closely correlates with tumor growth and prognosis. To understand the role of YB-1 in vivo, especially in the developmental process, we generated YB-1 knock-out mice, which are embryonic lethal and exhibit exencephaly associated with abnormal patterns of cell proliferation within the neuroepithelium. β-Actin expression and F-actin formation were reduced in the YB-1 null embryo and YB-1-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts, suggesting that the neural tube defect is caused by abnormal cell morphology and actin assembly within the neuroepithelium. Fibroblasts derived from YB-1-/- embryos demonstrated reduced growth and cell density. A colony formation assay showed that YB-1-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts failed to undergo morphological transformation and remained contact-inhibited in culture. These results demonstrate that YB-1 is involved in early mouse development, including neural tube closure and cell proliferation.

Two modes of microsatellite instability in human cancer: differential connection of defective DNA mismatch repair to dinucleotide repeat instability

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is associated with defective DNA mismatch repair in various human malignancies. Using a unique fluorescent technique, we have observed two distinct modes of dinucleotide microsatellite alterations in human colorectal cancer. Type A alterations are defined as length changes of ≤6 bp. Type B changes are more drastic and involve modifications of ≥8 bp. We show here that defective mismatch repair is necessary and sufficient for Type A changes. These changes were observed in cell lines and in tumours from mismatch repair gene-knockout mice. No Type B instability was seen in these cells or tumours. In a panel of human colorectal tumours, both Type A MSI and Type B instability were observed. Both types of MSI were associated with hMSH2 or hMLH1 mismatch repair gene alterations. Intriguingly, p53 mutations, which are generally regarded as uncommon in human tumours of the MSI+ phenotype, were frequently associated with Type A instability, whereas none was found in tumours with Type B instability, reflecting the prevailing viewpoint. Inspection of published data reveals that the microsatellite instability that has been observed in various malignancies, including those associated with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC), is predominantly Type B. Our findings indicate that Type B instability is not a simple reflection of a repair defect. We suggest that there are at least two qualitatively distinct modes of dinucleotide MSI in human colorectal cancer, and that different molecular mechanisms may underlie these modes of MSI. The relationship between MSI and defective mismatch repair may be more complex than hitherto suspected.

Measles Virus Infection of SLAM (CD150) Knockin Mice Reproduces Tropism and Immunosuppression in Human Infection

ABSTRACT The human signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM, also called CD150), a regulator of antigen-driven T-cell responses and macrophage functions, acts as a cellular receptor for measles virus (MV), and its V domain is necessary and sufficient for receptor function. We report here the generation of SLAM knockin mice in which the V domain of mouse SLAM was replaced by that of human SLAM. The chimeric SLAM had an expected distribution and normal function in the knockin mice. Splenocytes from the SLAM knockin mice permitted the in vitro growth of a virulent MV strain but not that of the Edmonston vaccine strain. Unlike in vitro infection, MV could grow only in SLAM knockin mice that also lacked the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR). After intraperitoneal or intranasal inoculation, MV was detected in the spleen and lymph nodes throughout the body but not in the thymus. Notably, the virus appeared first in the mediastinal lymph node after intranasal inoculation. Splenocytes from MV-infected IFNAR−/− SLAM knockin mice showed suppression of proliferative responses to concanavalin A. Thus, MV infection of SLAM knockin mice reproduces lymphotropism and immunosuppression in human infection, serving as a useful small animal model for measles.

Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy diagnosed by cloned human prealbumin cDNA

A diagnosis of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) can be made by use of restriction endonuclease Nsi I, a cloned human prealbumin cDNA and Southern blot procedures. Digests of DNAs from 10 disease-free individuals showed two bands (6.6 kb and 3.2 kb) complementary to a human prealbumin cDNA, whereas digests from 11 individuals with FAP exhibited two additional bands (5.1 kb and 1.5 kb). We interpret these changes in pattern to be the result of a restriction site for NsiI located in the altered codon and associated with the mutant prealbumin gene. All these individuals with FAP were heterozygous for the prealbumin gene, carrying one normal and one mutant gene.

Targeted disruption of one allele of the Y‐box binding protein‐1 (YB‐1) gene in mouse embryonic stem cells and increased sensitivity to cisplatin and mitomycin C

The eukaryotic Y‐box binding protein‐1 (YB‐1) functions in various biological processes, including transcriptional and translational control, DNA repair, drug resistance, and cell proliferation. To elucidate the physiological role of the YB‐1 protein, we disrupted one allele of mouse YB‐1 in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Northern blot analysis revealed that YB‐1+/‐ ES cells with one intact allele contain approximately one‐half the amount of mRNA detected in wild‐type (YB‐1+/+) cells. We further found that the protein level of YB‐1+/‐ cells was reduced to approximately 50–60% compared with that of YB‐1+/+ cells. However, no apparent growth difference was found between YB‐1+/‐ and YB‐1+/+ cells. YB‐1+/‐ cells showed increased sensitivity to cisplatin and mitomycin C, but not to etoposide, X‐ray or UV irradiation, as compared to YB‐1+/+ cells. YB‐1 may have the capacity to exert a protective role against cytotoxic effects of DNA damaging agents, and may be involved in certain aspects of drug resistance.

Structural and Dynamic Features of the MutT Protein in the Recognition of Nucleotides with the Mutagenic 8-Oxoguanine Base

Escherichia coli MutT hydrolyzes 8-oxo-dGTP to 8-oxo-dGMP, an event that can prevent the misincorporation of 8-oxoguanine opposite adenine in DNA. Of the several enzymes that recognize 8-oxoguanine, MutT exhibits high substrate specificity for 8-oxoguanine nucleotides; however, the structural basis for this specificity is unknown. The crystal structures of MutT in the apo and holo forms and in the binary and ternary forms complexed with the product 8-oxo-dGMP and 8-oxo-dGMP plus Mn2+, respectively, were determined. MutT strictly recognizes the overall conformation of 8-oxo-dGMP through a number of hydrogen bonds. This recognition mode revealed that 8-oxoguanine nucleotides are discriminated from guanine nucleotides by not only the hydrogen bond between the N7-H and Oδ (N119) atoms but also by the syn glycosidic conformation that 8-oxoguanine nucleotides prefer. Nevertheless, these discrimination factors cannot by themselves explain the roughly 34,000-fold difference between the affinity of MutT for 8-oxo-dGMP and dGMP. When the binary complex of MutT with 8-oxo-dGMP is compared with the ligand-free form, ordering and considerable movement of the flexible loops surrounding 8-oxo-dGMP in the binary complex are observed. These results indicate that MutT specifically recognizes 8-oxoguanine nucleotides by the ligand-induced conformational change.

A novel protein, MAPO1, that functions in apoptosis triggered by O6-methylguanine mispair in DNA.

O6-Methylguanine produced in DNA induces mutation due to its ambiguous base-pairing properties during DNA replication. To suppress such an outcome, organisms possess a mechanism to eliminate cells carrying O6-methylguanine by inducing apoptosis that requires the function of mismatch repair proteins. To identify other factors involved in this apoptotic process, we performed retrovirus-mediated gene-trap mutagenesis and isolated a mutant that acquired resistance to a simple alkylating agent, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). However, it was still sensitive to methyl methanesulfonate, 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea, etoposide and ultraviolet irradiation. Moreover, the mutant exhibited an increased mutant frequency after exposure to MNU. The gene responsible was identified and designated Mapo1 (O6-methylguanine-induced apoptosis 1). When the expression of the gene was inhibited by small interfering RNA, MNU-induced apoptosis was significantly suppressed. In the Mapo1-defective mutant cells treated with MNU, the mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspase-3 activation were severely suppressed, although phosphorylation of p53, CHK1 and histone H2AX was observed. The orthologs of the Mapo1 gene are present in various organisms from nematode to humans. Both mouse and human MAPO1 proteins expressed in cells localize in the cytoplasm. We therefore propose that MAPO1 may play a role in the signal-transduction pathway of apoptosis induced by O6-methylguanine-mispaired lesions.