Site-specific DNA damage recognition by enzyme-induced base flipping.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
James T Stivers
Publications and source records attributed to James T Stivers.
Electrostatic guidance of glycosyl cation migration along the reaction coordinate of uracil DNA glycosylase.
The DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase has been crystallized with a cationic 1-aza-2'-deoxyribose-containing DNA that mimics the ultimate transition state of the reaction in which the water nucleophile attacks the anomeric center of the oxacarbenium ion-uracil anion reaction intermediate. Comparison with substrate and product structures, and the previous structure of the intermediate determined by kinetic isotope effects, reveals an exquisite example of geometric strain, least atomic motion, and electrophile migration in biological catalysis. This structure provides a rare opportunity to reconstruct the detailed structural transformations that occur along an enzymatic reaction coordinate.
Cations↗
Solution structure and base perturbation studies reveal a novel mode of alkylated base recognition by 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase I.
The specific recognition mechanisms of DNA repair glycosylases that remove cationic alkylpurine bases in DNA are not well understood partly due to the absence of structures of these enzymes with their cognate bases. Here we report the solution structure of 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase I (TAG) in complex with its 3-methyladenine (3-MeA) cognate base, and we have used chemical perturbation of the base in combination with mutagenesis of the enzyme to evaluate the role of hydrogen bonding and pi-cation interactions in alkylated base recognition by this DNA repair enzyme. We find that TAG uses hydrogen bonding with heteroatoms on the base, van der Waals interactions with the 3-Me group, and conventional pi-pi stacking with a conserved Trp side chain to selectively bind neutral 3-MeA over the cationic form of the base. Discrimination against binding of the normal base adenine is derived from direct sensing of the 3-methyl group, leading to an induced-fit conformational change that engulfs the base in a box defined by five aromatic side chains. These findings indicate that base specific recognition by TAG does not involve strong pi-cation interactions, and suggest a novel mechanism for alkylated base recognition and removal.
Adenine↗
A novel zinc snap motif conveys structural stability to 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase I.
The Escherichia coli 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase I (TAG) is a DNA repair enzyme that excises 3-methyladenine in DNA and is the smallest member of the helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) superfamily of DNA glycosylases. Despite many studies over the last 25 years, there has been no suggestion that TAG was a metalloprotein. However, here we establish by heteronuclear NMR and other spectroscopic methods that TAG binds 1 eq of Zn2+ extremely tightly. A family of refined NMR structures shows that 4 conserved residues contributed from the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions of TAG (Cys4, His17, His175, and Cys179) form a Zn2+ binding site. The Zn2+ ion serves to tether the otherwise unstructured amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions of TAG. We propose that this unexpected "zinc snap" motif in the TAG family (CX(12-17)HX(approximately 150)HX(3)C) serves to stabilize the HhH domain thereby mimicking the functional role of protein-protein interactions in larger HhH superfamily members.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Powering DNA repair through substrate electrostatic interactions.
The reaction catalyzed by the DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) proceeds through an unprecedented stepwise mechanism involving a positively charged oxacarbenium ion sugar and uracil anion leaving group. Here we use a novel approach to evaluate the catalytic contribution of electrostatic interactions between four essential phosphodiester groups of the DNA substrate and the cationic transition state. Our strategy was to substitute each of these phosphate groups with an uncharged (R)- or (S)-methylphosphonate linkage (MeP). We then compared the damaging effects of these methylphosphonate substitutions on catalysis with their damaging effects on binding of a cationic 1-azadeoxyribose (1-aza-dR(+)) oxacarbenium ion analogue to the UDG-uracil anion binary complex. A plot of log k(cat)/K(m) for the series of MeP-substituted substrates against log K(D) for binding of the 1-aza-dR(+) inhibitors gives a linear correlation of unit slope, confirming that the electronic features of the transition state resemble that of the 1-aza-dR(+), and that the anionic backbone of DNA is used in transition state stabilization. We estimate that all of the combined phosphodiester interactions with the substrate contribute 6-8 kcal/mol toward lowering the activation barrier, a stabilization that is significant compared to the 16 kcal/mol catalytic power of UDG. However, unlike groups of the enzyme that selectively stabilize the charged transition state by an estimated 7 kcal/mol, these phosphodiester groups also interact strongly in the ground state. To our knowledge, these results provide the first experimental evidence for electrostatic stabilization of a charged enzymatic transition state and intermediate using the anionic backbone of DNA.
Catalysis↗
Rational engineering of a DNA glycosylase specific for an unnatural cytosine:pyrene base pair.
A novel site-specific cytosine DNA glycosylase has been rationally engineered from the active site scaffold of the DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG). UDG, which operates by a nucleotide flipping mechanism, was first converted into a sequence nonspecific cytosine DNA glycosylase (CDG) by altering the base-specific hydrogen bond donor-acceptor groups in the active site. A second mutation that renders UDG defective in nucleotide flipping was then introduced, and the double mutant was rescued using a substrate with a "preflipped" cytosine base. Substrate-assisted flipping was engineered by incorporation of an unnatural pyrene nucleotide wedge (Y) into the DNA strand opposite to the target cytosine. This new enzyme, CYDG, can be used to target cleavage of specific cytosine residues in the context of a C/Y base pair in any DNA fragment.
Algorithms↗
A mechanistic perspective on the chemistry of DNA repair glycosylases.
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Animals↗
Mutational analysis of the base-flipping mechanism of uracil DNA glycosylase.
The DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) locates unwanted uracil bases in genomic DNA using a remarkable base-flipping mechanism in which the entire deoxyuridine nucleotide is rotated from the DNA base stack into the enzyme active site. Enzymatic base flipping has been described as a three-step process involving phosphodiester backbone pinching, base extrusion through active pushing and plugging by a leucine side chain that inserts in the DNA minor groove, and, finally, pulling by hydrogen-bonding groups that interact with the extrahelical base. Here we employ mutagenesis in combination with transient kinetic approaches to assess the functional roles of six conserved enzymatic groups of UDG that have been implicated in the "pinch, push, plug, and pull" base-flipping mechanism. Our results show that these mutant enzymes are capable of flipping the uracil base from the duplex, but that many of these mutations prevent a subsequent induced fit conformational step in which catalytic groups of UDG dock with the flipped-out base. These studies support our previous model for base flipping in which a conformational gating step closely follows base extrusion from the DNA duplex [Stivers, J. T., et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 952-963]. A model that accounts for the temporal and functional roles of these side chain interactions along the reaction pathway for base flipping is presented.
Base Pairing↗
Base-flipping mutations of uracil DNA glycosylase: substrate rescue using a pyrene nucleotide wedge.
We recently introduced a new substrate rescue tool for investigating enzymatic base flipping by uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) in which a bulky pyrene nucleotide wedge (Y) was placed opposite a uracil in duplex DNA (i.e., a U/Y pair), thereby preorganizing the target base in an extrahelical conformation [Jiang, Y. L., et al. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 42347-54]. The pyrene wedge completely rescued the large catalytic defects resulting from removal of the natural Leu191 wedge, presumably mimicking the pushing and plugging function of this group. Here we employ the pyrene rescue method in combination with transient kinetic approaches to assess the functional roles of six conserved enzymatic groups of UDG that have been implicated in the "pinch, push, plug, and pull" base-flipping mechanism (see the preceding paper in this issue). We find that a U/Y base pair increases the apparent second-order rate constant for damaged site recognition by L191G pushing mutation by 45-fold as compared to a U/A pair, thereby fully rescuing the kinetic effects of the mutation. Remarkably, the U/Y pair also allows L191G to proceed through the conformational docking step that is severely comprised with the normal U/A substrate, and allows the active site of UDG to clamp around the extrahelical base. Thus, pyrene also fulfills the plugging role of the Leu191 side chain. Preorganization of uracil in an extrahelical conformation by pyrene allows diffusion-controlled damage recognition by all of these base-flipping mutants, and allows the UDG conformational change to proceed as rapidly as the rate of uracil flipping with the natural U/A base pair. Thus, the pyrene wedge substrate allows UDG to recognize uracil by a lock-and-key mechanism, rather than the natural induced-fit mechanism. Unnatural pyrene base pairs may provide a general strategy to promote site-specific targeting of other enzymes that recognize extrahelical bases.
Amino Acid Substitution↗
Inhibition of uracil DNA glycosylase by an oxacarbenium ion mimic.
We have investigated the inhibition of the DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) by an 11-mer oligonucleotide (AIA) containing a cationic 1-aza-deoxyribose (I) residue designed to be a stable mimic of the high-energy oxacarbenium ion reaction intermediate [Werner, R. M., and Stivers, J. T. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 14054-14064]. Inhibition kinetics and direct binding studies indicate that AIA binds weakly to the free enzyme (K(D) = 2 microM) but binds 4000-fold more tightly to the enzyme-uracil anion (EU) product complex (K(D) = 500 pM). The importance of the positive charge on the 1-nitrogen in binding is established by the observation that AIA binds >30 000-fold more tightly to the EU complex than the corresponding neutral tetrahydrofuran (F) abasic site product analogue (AFA). The unusual inhibition mechanism for AIA results in a time dependence that resembles slow-onset inhibition even though the apparent on-rate of the inhibitor for the EU(-) binary product complex is moderate (1 microM(-1) x s(-1)). Accordingly, the low K(D) of AIA for the EU complex is largely due its very slow off-rate (5 x 10(-4) x s(-1)). These results support previous kinetic isotope effect measurements that indicate UDG stabilizes a discrete oxacarbenium ion-uracil anion intermediate. This oxacarbenium ion mimic represents the tightest binding inhibitor of UDG yet identified.
Aza Compounds↗
Probing the limits of electrostatic catalysis by uracil DNA glycosylase using transition state mimicry and mutagenesis.
The DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) hydrolyzes the glycosidic bond of deoxyuridine in DNA by a remarkable mechanism involving formation of a positively charged oxacarbenium ion-uracil anion intermediate. We have proposed that the positively charged intermediate is stabilized by being sandwiched between the combined negative charges of the anionic uracil leaving group and a conserved aspartate residue that are located on opposite faces of the sugar ring. Here we establish that a duplex DNA oligonucleotide containing a cationic 1-aza-deoxyribose (I) oxacarbenium ion mimic is a potent inhibitor of UDG that binds tightly to the enzyme-uracil anion (EU(-)) product complex (K(D) of EU(-) = 110 pm). The tight binding of I to the EU(-) complex results from its extremely slow off rate (k(off) = 0.0008 s(-1)), which is 25,000-fold slower than substrate analogue DNA. Removal of Asp(64) and His(187), which are involved in stabilization of the cationic sugar and the anionic uracil leaving group, respectively, specifically weakens binding of I to the UDG-uracil complex by 154,000-fold, without significantly affecting substrate or product binding. These results suggest that electrostatic effects can effectively stabilize such an intermediate by at least -7 kcal/mol, without leading to anticatalytic stabilization of the substrate and products.
Base Sequence↗
3-Methyladenine DNA glycosylase I is an unexpected helix-hairpin-helix superfamily member.
The Escherichia coli enzyme 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase I (TAG) hydrolyzes the glycosidic bond of 3-methyladenine (3-MeA) in DNA and is found in many bacteria and some higher eukaryotes. TAG shows little primary sequence identity with members of the well-known helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) superfamily of DNA repair glycosylases, which consists of AlkA, EndoIII, MutY and hOGG1. Unexpectedly, the three-dimensional solution structure reported here reveals TAG as member of this superfamily. The restricted specificity of TAG for 3-MeA bases probably arises from its unique aromatic rich 3-MeA binding pocket and the absence of a catalytic aspartate that is present in all other HhH family members.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Fluorescence spectroscopy studies of vaccinia type IB DNA topoisomerase. Closing of the enzyme clamp is faster than DNA cleavage.
The prototypic type IB topoisomerase isolated from vaccinia virus cleaves the phosphodiester backbone of duplex DNA at the sequence 5'-(C/T)CCTT, forming a covalent 3'-phosphotyrosyl adduct. A precleavage conformational change in which the enzyme clamps circumferentially around the DNA has been implicated on the basis of structural and biochemical studies. However, no direct measurements to elucidate this key step have been obtained to date. To address this shortcoming we have developed two new fluorescence assays that allow detection of conformational changes in both the enzyme and substrate DNA, and allow determination of the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanism for noncovalent DNA binding and phosphodiester cleavage. The results indicate that clamp closing occurs in a rapid step (>25 s(-1)) that is at least 14-fold faster than the maximal rate of DNA cleavage. Opening of the clamp to release the noncovalently bound substrate is also 5-8-fold more rapid than DNA cleavage. We propose a model in which DNA cleavage and religation are connected through a single high energy transition state involving covalent bond breaking. Alternative models that involve a slow precleavage conformational step are not easily reconciled with the available data.
DNA↗
19F NMR studies of vaccinia type IB topoisomerase. Conformational dynamics of the bound DNA substrate.
The site-specific DNA cleavage and religation activities of the vaccinia virus type IB topoisomerase at (C/T)CCTT(+1)X(-1) sites in duplex DNA have allowed detailed investigations of the chemical and conformational steps on the reaction pathway of this enzyme (see accompanying article (Kwon, K., and Stivers, J. T. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 345-352)). To extend these studies to the DNA substrate, we have performed 19F NMR experiments using substrates in which the +1 T has been replaced with the NMR-sensitive thymidine base analogue 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-F-dUrd). Substitution of 5-F-dUrd has little effect on the binding affinity of topoisomerase I for DNA, results in small changes in the cleavage and religation rate constants, and produces a net 3-fold decrease in the cleavage equilibrium constant as compared with the CCCTT consensus DNA. One-dimensional 19F NMR experiments show that the +1 5-F-dUrd is in a dynamic equilibrium between a stacked and unstacked state in both the noncovalent complex and the covalent phosphotyrosine complex. These NMR observations are supported by the selective sensitivity of the +1 T and +1 5-F-dUrd to KMnO4 oxidation. A role for localized DNA distortion in the topoisomerase I mechanism is suggested.
DNA↗