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J M Vos

Publications and source records attributed to J M Vos.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Long-term episomal gene delivery in human lymphoid cells using human and avian adenoviral-assisted transfection.

Human B-lymphoblastoid cells transformed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common source of established human cell lines, are generally refractory to standard DNA transfection methods. We report here the use of human and chicken adenoviruses for the stable delivery of plasmid DNA carrying the latent origin of replication, oriP, from EBV into human B-lymphoblastoid cells. Long-term hygromycin-resistant transformants of human lymphoblastoid cells belonging to the genetically unstable inherited disease Fanconi's anemia were obtained by adenoviral-assisted transfection of plasmid DNA complexed to either human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) or avian adenovirus type 1 (CELO). Successful long-term transformation of human lymphoblastoid cells was unrelated to the efficiency of short-term transfection as measured by the transient expression level of a reporter lacZ gene. The human or avian adenoviral binary conjugates, with no other cell ligand, were sufficient for stable cell transformation. The amount of DNA established in the human B-cell transformants was approximately 100-fold higher with the CELO virus. We conclude that Ad5-assisted transfection is more suitable for transient gene expression studies in human lymphoblastoid cells, while CELO-assisted transfection appears the method of choice for stable genetic transformation of such cells. Such differential short- and long-term gene delivery strategy with Ad5 and CELO may be useful in gene therapy of human B cells involving cancers and inherited diseases, respectively.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Defective replication of psoralen adducts detected at the gene-specific level in xeroderma pigmentosum variant cells.

Replication of damaged DNA is suspected to play an important role in cell cycle, genetic stability, and survival pathways. Using psoralen photoaddition as prototype DNA damage and the renaturing agarose gel electrophoresis technique to measure DNA cross-linking in individual genes, Vos and Hanawalt previously observed efficient bypass replication of psoralen monoadducts in human genes (J.-M. H. Vos and P. C. Hanawalt, Cell 50:789-799, 1987). To understand the mechanism of bypass replication in human cells, mutants affected in such a process would be useful. We now report that cells from individuals suffering from the hereditary recessive syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum variant (XPV) are hypersensitive to killing induced by photoactivated psoralen. In addition, analysis of psoralen-mediated DNA cross-linking in the rRNA genes indicated that although repair of psoralen adducts was similar to that of normal individuals, XPV cells were markedly deficient in the ability to bypass psoralen adducts during replication; in comparison with normal cells, approximately half as many monoadducts were bypassed during replication in XPV cells. Furthermore, in contrast to normal cells, replication of interstrand cross-links was not detected in XPV. This is the first demonstration of a deficiency in bypass replication detected at the gene-specific level in vivo. A model involving a strand-specific defect in recombinational bypass in XPV is proposed.

Cell Division↗

Cis and trans mechanisms of DNA repair.

DNA repair is essential for genetic stability and variability. Remarkable advances in the understanding of DNA repair by the molecular analysis of the substrate (gene repair) or the enzyme (repair genes), emphasize evolutionary conservation. Recent progress also stresses the interaction(s) between DNA repair and numerous other cellular metabolic processes, including non-nuclear and/or non-genetic responses.

Animals↗

Differential introduction and repair of psoralen photoadducts to DNA in specific human genes.

We have developed a novel procedure to measure interstrand DNA cross-linking in specific DNA sequences. After alkaline denaturation, CsCl gradient equilibrium sedimentation at pH 10.8 is used to resolve cross-linked double-stranded DNA from un-cross-linked single-stranded DNA. The DNA in gradient fractions is slot-blotted and hybridized with 32P-labeled DNA probes for the sequences of interest. After densitometric quantitation of the autoradiograms, the fraction of DNA cross-linked is determined by the ratio of cross-linked DNA to total DNA (the sum of cross-linked and un-cross-linked DNA). We have used this approach to measure the initial levels of production and extent of repair of the photoadducts of 4'-hydroxymethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen, i.e., both interstrand cross-links and cross-linkable monoadducts, in specific DNA sequences in cultured human cells. Under conditions in which DNA fragments carrying the expressed dihydrofolate reductase gene were extensively modified, with approximately 92% of the fragments cross-linked, only 37% of the fragments containing the unexpressed fms protooncogene were cross-linked. The overall level of cross-linking for bulk DNA was 74%. Within 24 h, 90% of the cross-linking had been removed from the dihydrofolate reductase gene, whereas little removal was detected in fms, and the bulk DNA showed 31% removal. From this study, we conclude that both the introduction and removal of 4'-hydroxymethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen adducts are dependent upon the target DNA sequence and its transcriptional activity. The implications for DNA repair of chromatin structure and active transcription are discussed in relation to our results.

DNA↗

Differential introduction of DNA damage and repair in mammalian genes transcribed by RNA polymerases I and II.

We have developed a general quantitative method for comparing the levels of drug-induced DNA crosslinking in specific mammalian genes. We observed a dramatic difference between the efficiency of the removal of both psoralen monoadducts and interstrand crosslinks from the rRNA genes and the efficiency of their removal from the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene in cultured human and hamster cells. While 90% of the interstand crosslinks were removed from the human DHFR gene in 48 h, less than 25% repair occurred in the rRNA genes. Similarly, in Chinese hamster ovary cells, 85% repair of interstrand crosslinks occurred within 8 h in the DHFR gene versus only 20% repair in the rRNA genes. The preferential repair of the DHFR gene relative to that of the rRNA genes was also observed for psoralen monoadducts in cells from both mammalian species. In human-mouse hybrid cells, the active mouse rRNA genes were five times more susceptible to psoralen modification than are the silent rRNA human genes, but adduct removal was similarly inefficient for both classes. We conclude that the repair of chemical damage such as psoralen photoadducts in an expressed mammalian gene may depend upon the class of transcription to which it belongs.

Animals↗

Differential repair and replication of damaged DNA in ribosomal RNA genes in different CHO cell lines.

We studied the repair of psoralen adducts in the pol I-transcribed ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes of excision repair competent Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, their UV sensitive mutant derivatives, and their UV resistant transformants, which express a human excision repair gene. In the parental cell line CHO-AA8, both monoadducts and interstrand crosslinks are removed efficiently from the rRNA genes, whereas neither adduct is removed in the UV sensitive derivative UV5; removal of both adducts is restored in the UV resistant transformant CHO-5T4 carrying the human excision repair gene ERCC-2. In contrast, removal of psoralen adducts from the rRNA genes is not detected in another parental CHO cell line CHO-9, neither in its UV sensitive derivative 43-3B, nor in its UV resistant transformant 83-G5 carrying the human excision repair gene ERCC-1. In contrast to such intergenomic heterogeneity of repair, persistence of psoralen monoadducts during replication of the rRNA genes occurs equally well in all CHO cell lines tested. From these data, we conclude that: 1) the repair efficiency of DNA damage in the rRNA genes varies between established parental CHO cell lines; 2) the repair pathways of intrastrand adducts and interstrand crosslinks in mammalian cells share, at least, one gene product, i.e., the excision repair gene ERCC-2; 3) replicational bypass of psoralen monoadducts at the CHO rRNA locus occurs similarly on both DNA strands.

Animals↗

DNA damage stimulates human cell transformation by integrative but not episomal Epstein-Barr virus-derived plasmid.

Previous work has demonstrated that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of SV40-based plasmids can strikingly enhance the frequency of stable transformation of human cells. In this study we compared the effect of UV-induced DNA damage on transformation mediated by integrative versus autonomously replicating plasmids derived from human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We report that transfection of human fibroblasts with UV-irradiated integrative EBV-based plasmid results in enhanced transformation. However, transfection of UV-damaged episomal EBV-based constructs into the same human cell line does not enhance transformation; in fact, the extrachromosomal status of the plasmid is maintained irrespective of the UV dose to the plasmid. We conclude that enhanced transformation of human cells by damaged DNA requires its chromosomal integration.

Cell Transformation, Viral↗

Repair analysis of mitomycin C-induced DNA crosslinking in ribosomal RNA genes in lymphoblastoid cells from Fanconi's anemia patients.

The repair of mitomycin C (MMC)-induced DNA crosslinking was analyzed by denaturation-renaturation gel electrophoresis in ribosomal RNA genes in lymphoblastoid cell lines from 4 patients with Fanconi's anemia (FA). In comparison to normal lymphoblastoid cell lines, 2 lines of FA cells belonging to complementation group A clearly exhibited higher sensitivity to MMC and an almost identical deficiency in the removal of DNA crosslinking. A complementation group B cell line, HSC 62, exhibited a lower sensitivity than group A cells and a lesser deficiency in crosslink repair. Another 'non-A' group cell line, HSC 230, reproducibly exhibited even higher sensitivity to MMC than group A cells. The results on MMC crosslinkage removal at the molecular level correlated well with cell survival. The observed subtle differences of repair among the 4 FA cell lines might represent possible genetic differences in the respective FA complementation groups.

Anemia, Aplastic↗

DNA interstrand cross-links promote chromosomal integration of a selected gene in human cells.

We have used integrative pSV2 plasmids to learn how DNA lesions affect nonhomologous recombination with human chromosomes. Enhanced stable transformation of fibrosarcoma cells with a selectable gene was observed after chemical modification of the plasmid DNA; thus, cells transfected with plasmid pSV2-gpt carrying photoadducts of the cross-linking agent 4'-hydroxymethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) yielded four- to sevenfold-higher levels of Gpt+ transformants than were obtained with untreated plasmid. The enhancement due to HMT interstrand cross-links was at least as great as that due to the monoadducts. DNA hybridization analysis indicated that the enhanced transformation frequency resulted from an increased number of cells carrying integrated plasmid sequences rather than from a higher copy number per transformant. The enhancement was not seen with a plasmid missing the sequences flanking the minimal simian virus 40 gpt transcription unit. Cotransfection with untreated and HMT-treated plasmids suggested that the HMT-containing DNA interacted preferentially with some cellular factor that promoted chromosomal integration of the plasmid DNA. It is concluded that (i) interstrand cross-linking as well as intrastrand DNA adducts promote nonhomologous recombination in human chromatin and (ii) DNA sequences flanking the selectable genes are the targets for such recombinational events.

Cell Line↗

Enhanced transforming activity of pSV2 plasmids in human cells depends upon the type of damage introduced into the plasmid.

When pSV2-gpt or pSV2-neo plasmids are introduced into human cells by calcium phosphate coprecipitation, the yield of stable transformants (Gpt+ or Neo+) is increased by irradiating the respective plasmid DNA in vitro with UV (254 nm). To identify specific lesions that can increase the transforming activity of plasmids in human cells we examined pSV2 plasmids containing different types of damage. Of the lesions tested, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers produced the greatest increase, and can nearly fully account for the effect of 254 nm UV on transformation. The enhancement of transformation produced by UV was not altered by the additional treatment of the plasmid DNA with T4 endonuclease V, an enzyme that nicks DNA specifically at pyrimidine dimers. Treatment of plasmid DNA with osmium tetroxide to produce thymine glycols, or with acid and heat to produce apurinic sites did not affect transformation frequency. The enhancement occurred in all the human cell lines tested, whether they contained or not sequences homologous to those in the plasmids, and was independent of the repair capacity of the recipient cells.

Cell Line↗

Processing of psoralen adducts in an active human gene: repair and replication of DNA containing monoadducts and interstrand cross-links.

We have examined DNA repair in the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene in cultured human cells treated with 4'-hydroxymethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) using a newly developed assay for interstrand DNA cross-linking in defined genomic sequences. Within 24 hr, 80% of the cross-links, but only 45% of the monoadducts, were removed from a 32 kb transcribed sequence, demonstrating that repair efficiency in an active human gene varies with the nature of the damage. HMT monoadducts were also detected in the replicated DHFR sequence at frequencies indicating little interference with replication. The existence of cross-linkable monoadduct sites in the replicated DNA implies strand continuity opposite those sites and a relatively error-free mechanism of bypass. Translesion replication could circumvent transcription blockage in a damaged gene. These findings have important implications for mechanisms of mutagenesis and DNA lesion tolerance in human cells.

Cell Line↗

Replication of DNA containing apurinic sites in human and mouse cells probed with parvoviruses MVM and H-1.

We studied the effect of apurinic sites on DNA replication in mouse and human cells, using parvoviruses MVM (minute virus of mice) and H-1 as probes. Although apurinic sites are efficient blocks to the replication of these single-stranded DNA viruses in vivo, depurinated parvoviruses can be reactivated if host cells have been preexposed to a subtoxic dose of UV light. The target of this conditional reactivation process is the conversion of depurinated input DNA into double-stranded replicative forms; the concomitant increase in viral mutagenesis strongly suggests that apurinic sites can be bypassed in mammalian cells.

Animals↗

Mutagenesis at putative apurinic sites in alkylated single-stranded DNA of parvovirus H-1 propagated in human cells.

The treatment of parvovirus H-1, a single-stranded DNA virus, with ethylnitrosourea immediately prior to infection of human cells, resulted in both virus mutagenesis and lethality (immediate hits). The incubation of treated virus, prior to inoculation, under conditions promoting the release of alkylated bases, slightly reduced the mutagenicity of ethylnitrosourea but significantly increased its killing effect (delayed hits). In untreated cells, the appearance of one apurinic/apyrimidinic site in viral DNA correlated with the formation of approximately one delayed lethal hit per virus. Cells which had been sublethally UV irradiated prior to infection, were able to overcome about 20% of the delayed lethal hits inflicted to ethylnitrosourea-treated H-1. This UV-enhanced reactivation was accompanied by viral mutagenesis and was not observed for immediate lethal hits. Therefore, UV irradiation of human cells appears to trigger a conditioned recovery response which might alleviate a block to the replication of single-stranded DNA containing apurinic sites, allowing these noncoding lesions to direct mutagenesis. UV-irradiated cells also displayed a mutator phenotype towards untreated parvovirus H-1. In contrast, ethylnitrosourea failed to induce human cells to cause mutagenesis of undamaged viral DNA, although it enhanced their ability to reactivate damaged virus.

Alkylation↗

Inhibition and recovery of the replication of depurinated parvovirus DNA in mouse fibroblasts.

Apurinic sites were introduced in the single-stranded DNA of parvovirus minute-virus-of-mice (MVM) and their effect on viral DNA synthesis was measured in mouse fibroblasts. Approximately one apurinic site per viral genome, is sufficient to block its replication in untreated cells. The exposure of host cells to a sublethal dose of UV-light 15 hours prior to virus infection, enhances their ability to support the replication of depurinated MVM. Cell preirradiation induces the apparent overcome of 10-15% of viral DNA replication blocks. These results indicate that apurinic sites prevent mammalian cells from replicating single-stranded DNA unless a recovery process is activated by cell UV-irradiation.

Animals↗

U.V.-enhanced reactivation of capsid protein synthesis and infectious centre formation in mouse cells infected with U.V.-irradiated Minute-Virus-of-Mice.

The effect of U.V.-irradiation of mouse A9 cells on their ability to replicate unirradiated and U.V.-irradiated Minute-Virus-of-Mice was studied. The survival of two viral functions was measured in primary infected cells: the synthesis of viral structural proteins, as detected in situ using an immunoenzymatic assay, and the production of infectious centres, as detected by plaque formation onto appropriate indicator cells. Cell irradiation prior to infection enhanced virus survival over that in control cells (U.V.-enhanced reactivation phenomenon). The magnitude of this effect was similar for both viral functions, suggesting that the step(s) of the virus cycle sensitive to the reactivation process precede(s) the release of the primary burst and secondary infection.

Animals↗

[Reactivation of DNA replication of the parvovirus MVM in mouse cells preexposed to UV radiation].

The parvovirus Minute-Virus-of-Mice (MVM) was used to probe the DNA replication activities expressed by mouse fibroblasts. This system allowed us to study quantitatively the effect of UV-induced DNA lesions on the progression of DNA replication in vivo. MVM was UV-irradiated prior to infection. Pyrimidine dimers induced in the viral genome account for the reduced level of intracellular viral DNA synthesis, assuming that most of these lesions block viral DNA replication in unirradiated cells. The inhibition of damaged MVM DNA synthesis is less severe if the host cells themselves are irradiated prior to virus infection. This stimulation of viral DNA replication in pretreated cells might account for the UV-enhanced viral reactivation phenomenon, i.e. the increased survival of nuclear-replicating viruses propagated in cells preexposed to various genotoxic agents.

Animals↗

UV-irradiation of related mouse hybrid cells: similar increase in capacity to replicate intact minute-virus-of-mice but differential enhancement of survival of UV-irradiated virus.

3 hybrid cell lines between mouse fibroblasts (A9) and mouse lymphoma cells (L5178YS) were compared with regard to the ability of UV-pre-irradiated cells to replicate intact (unirradiated) Minute-virus-of-Mice (MVM) and to reactivate UV-irradiated MVM. UV irradiation of cells before virus infection enhanced their ability to plaque intact virus (Enhanced Capacity) to a similar extent in the 3 hybrid cell lines. However, pretreatment of cells with UV radiation enhanced the survival of UV-damaged virus (Enhanced Reactivation) in only 1 of these hybrids. The lack of detectable Enhanced Reactivation in the other hybrids without concomitant change in their Enhanced Capacity, suggests that these processes are at least partly independent. Virus survival in unirradiated cells was similar for all 3 hybrid cell lines, indicating that the absence of detectable Enhanced Reactivation in 2 of the hybrids was not due to the constitutive expression of this process, but might rather result from its loss or extinction. The expression of both Enhanced Capacity and Enhanced Reactivation requires synthesis of protein de novo shortly after cell irradiation.

Animals↗