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L S Ripley

Publications and source records attributed to L S Ripley.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A structural model for sequence-specific proflavin-DNA interactions during in vitro frameshift mutagenesis.

Molecular models describing intermediates that may lead to proflavin-induced 1 bp deletions during in vitro polymerization by E. coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment are proposed. The models provide structural explanations for the fact that the induced frameshifts always occur opposite template bases that are adjacent to 5' pyrimidines and are based on the underlying hypothesis that the deletions arise because the polymerase passes by a template base without copying it. Because the most frequent mutations are opposite Pu in the template sequence 5' Py Pu 3', a single-strand loop-out model was constructed for this sequence and proflavin was added, using structures found in crystalline oligonucleotides and their complexes with proflavin. The model seeks to rationalize the roles of the 5' pyrimidine and proflavin in facilitating the bypass. Four potential roles for proflavin in mutagenesis are described: 1) stacking on the looped-out base; 2) stacking on the base pair immediately preceding the site of mutation; 3) hydrogen bonding with the 5' pyrimidine; 4) hydrogen bonding with the phosphate backbone. These models point to the possibility that a number of proflavin-DNA interactions may be involved. In contrast, modeling does not suggest a role for classically intercalated proflavin in frameshift mutagenesis arising during in vitro DNA polymerization.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

An in vitro approach to identifying specificity determinants of mutagenesis mediated by DNA misalignments.

In vitro, misalignments of the newly synthesized (primer) strand during DNA polymerization lead to deletion and/or complex frameshift mutations. In vivo, similar misalignments of repeated and quasipalindromic DNA sequences are predicted to be intermediates of mutagenesis. The mutagenic misalignments are mediated by complementary pairing between the sequence at the 3'-OH end of the newly synthesized DNA strand and sequences in the template or in the newly synthesized DNA. Mutant sequences are produced when the misaligned primers act as substrates for DNA polymerization. The misalignments responsible for detected mutant sequences were compared to similar misalignments that were not implicated in mutagenesis, and all misalignment possibilities were compared to the position of pausing during polymerization by Escherichia coli polymerase I or its Klenow fragment. These comparisons revealed three characteristics of in vitro misalignment specificity. First, the termini produced by pausing are likely to be precursors to mutagenic misalignments. Second, the absence of some potential misalignments from the detected spectrum is explained well by the predicted undetectability of the mutant sequences they produce. Third, factors distinct from pausing and mutant detectability are responsible for differences in the specificity of misalignment mutagenesis mediated by E. coli DNA polymerase I and Klenow polymerase during in vitro synthesis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The specificity of topoisomerase-mediated DNA cleavage defines acridine-induced frameshift specificity within a hotspot in bacteriophage T4.

Acridine-induced frameshift mutations in bacteriophage T4 occur at the precise location in the DNA at which acridines stimulate DNA cleavage by the T4-encoded type II topoisomerase in vitro. The mutations are duplications or deletions that begin precisely at the broken phosphodiester bond. In vivo, acridine-induced frameshift mutagenesis is reduced nearly to background levels when the topoisomerase is genetically inactivated. These observations are consistent with a model in which cleaved DNA, induced by the topoisomerase and acridine, serves as the substrate for the production of frameshift mutations at the same site. Our model predicts that the specificity and frequency of cleavage direct the specificity and frequency of mutagenesis. This prediction was tested by examining the influence of DNA sequence changes on topoisomerase-mediated cleavage and on mutagenesis in the T4 rIIB gene. The model successfully predicted the results. When DNA sequence changes altered the position of acridine-induced, topoisomerase-mediated DNA cleavage in vitro, frameshift mutations were found at the new positions. DNA sequence changes that strongly decreased in vitro cleavage also reduced mutagenesis at that site. These results demonstrate that acridine-induced frameshift mutation specificity is directed by the characteristics of the acridine-topoisomerase reaction and do not suggest that slipped pairing in repeated sequences plays a major role in acridine-induced frameshifts in bacteriophage T4.

Amsacrine↗
PubMed1990

Effects of proflavin and photoactivated proflavin on the template function of single-stranded DNA.

DNA context-specific effects of the association of proflavin, single-stranded DNA and DNA polymerase on DNA polymerization reactions were examined. Frameshift mutations induced by the presence of proflavin during in vitro DNA replication of a single-stranded DNA template by the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I were sequenced. More than 80% of the frameshifts were one base-pair deletions opposite purine bases that were immediately 3' to pyrimidines. Purines (Pu) that were not adjacent to pyrimidines (Py) were not deletion sites. The remaining deletions were opposite template pyrimidines that were also immediately 3' to another pyrimidine. All pyrimidine site deletions occurred in the context 5' PyPyPu 3'. In additional experiments, the site-specific inhibition of processive DNA polymerization by proflavin was examined. A novel inhibition of polymerization was found opposite all pyrimidines in the template when proflavin-template complexes were exposed to ten seconds of white light. This inhibition of polymerization is reversible. Longer photoactivation led to an altered pattern of DNA sequence-specific inhibition that was not reversible. The role of DNA sequence-specific interactions of proflavin with DNA in proflavin mutagenesis is discussed.

Acridines↗
PubMed1989

Polymerase-specific differences in the DNA intermediates of frameshift mutagenesis. In vitro synthesis errors of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I and its large fragment derivative.

The sequences of more than 600 frameshift mutations produced as a consequence of in vitro DNA replication on an oligonucleotide-primed, single-stranded DNA template by the Escherichia coli polymerase I enzyme (PolI) or its large fragment derivative (PolLF) were compared. Four categories of mutants were found: (1) single-base deletions, (2) base substitutions, (3) multiple-base deletions and (4) complex frameshift mutations that change both the base sequence and the number of bases in a concerted mutational process. The template sequence 5'-Py-T-G-3', previously identified as a PolLF hotspot for single-base deletions opposite G, is also a hotspot for PolI. A PolI-specific warm spot for single-base deletions was identified. Among base substitutions, transitions were more frequent than transversions. Transversions were mediated by (template)G.G, (template)G.A, and (template)C.T mispairs. Multiple-base deletions were found only after PolI replication. Although each of these deletions can be explained by a misalignment mediated by directly repeated DNA sequences, deletion frequencies were often different for repeats of the same length. Both PolI and PolLF produced many complex frameshift mutants. The new sequences at the mutant sites are exactly complementary to nearby DNA sequences in the newly synthesized DNA strand. In each case, palindromic complementarity could mediate the misalignment needed to initiate the mutational process. The misaligned DNA synthesis accounts for the nucleotide changes at the mutant site and for homology that could direct realignment of the DNA onto the template. Most of the complex mutant sequences could be initiated by either intramolecular misalignments involving fold-back structures in newly synthesized DNA or by strand-switching during strand-displacement synthesis. The striking differences between the specificities of complex frameshift mutations and multiple-base deletions by PolI and PolLF identify the existence of polymerase-specific determinants that influence the frequency and specificity of misalignment-mediated frameshifts and deletions.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1988

Estimation of in-vivo miscoding rates.

The replication of premutagenic DNA lesions generates mutant progeny in patterns that distinguish lesions that rarely produce a mutation per DNA replication from those that frequently do so. The quantitative aspects of this distinction were tested in studies of heat-mutagenized bacteriophage T4. Previous T4 studies had demonstrated that transition mutations produced at G.C base-pairs depended upon heat-induced DNA lesions distinct from those responsible for transversions at G.C pairs. In this study the transversion mutations are shown to arise in patterns predicted for mutations produced from lesions that miscode rarely (fewer than 10% per replication). In contrast, the transition mutations arise in patterns predicted for mutations produced from lesions that miscode at about 20 to 60% per replication. The fact that the two classes of DNA lesions are distinguishable as predicted by the quantitative model suggests that such studies may in general be useful in quantifying the behavior of mutation-generating DNA lesions. The method employed also estimates the frequency of premutagenic lesions in DNA.

DNA Damage↗
PubMed1988

Hotspot sites for acridine-induced frameshift mutations in bacteriophage T4 correspond to sites of action of the T4 type II topoisomerase.

The type II topoisomerase of bacteriophage T4 is a central determinant of the frequency and specificity of acridine-induced frameshift mutations. Acridine-induced frameshift mutagenesis is specifically reduced in a mutant defective in topoisomerase activity. The ability of an acridine to promote topoisomerase-dependent cleavage at specific DNA sites in vitro is correlated to its ability to produce frameshift mutations at those sites in vivo. The specific phosphodiester bonds cleaved in vitro are precisely those at which frameshifts are most strongly promoted by acridines in vivo. The cospecificity of in vitro cleavage and in vivo mutation implicate acridine-induced, topoisomerase-mediated DNA cleavages as intermediates of acridine-induced mutagenesis in T4.

Acridines↗
PubMed1988

An in vitro assay for frameshift mutations: hotspots for deletions of 1 bp by Klenow-fragment polymerase share a consensus DNA sequence.

The fidelity of in vitro DNA synthesis catalyzed by the large fragment of DNA polymerase I was examined. The templates, specifically designed to detect shifts to the +1 or to the -1 reading frame, are composites of M13mp8 and bacteriophage T4 rIIB DNA and were designed to assist in the identification of the types of frameshifts that are the specific consequence of DNA polymerization errors. In vitro polymerization by the Klenow fragment produced only deletions, rather than the mixture of duplications and deletions characteristic of in vivo frameshifts. The most frequent frameshifts were deletions of 1 bp opposite a template purine base. Hotspots for these deletions occurred when the template purine immediately preceded the template sequence TT. The highest mutation frequencies were seen when the TTPu consensus sequence was adjacent to G:C rich sequences in the 3' direction. The nature of the consensus sequence itself distinguishes this 1-bp deletion mechanism from those operating in DNA repeats and attributed to the misalignment of DNA primers during synthesis. Deletions that were larger than 1 or 2 bp isolated after in vitro replication were consistent with the misalignment of the primer. Deletions of 2 bp and complex frameshifts (the replacement of AA by C) were also found. Mechanisms that may account for these mutations are discussed.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Spectrum of spontaneous frameshift mutations. Sequences of bacteriophage T4 rII gene frameshifts.

The DNA sequences of 185 independent spontaneous frameshift mutations in the rIIB gene of bacteriophage T4 are described. Approximately half of the frameshifts, including those at hot spot sites, are fully consistent with classical proposals that frameshift mutations are produced by a mechanism involving the misaligned pairing of repeated DNA sequences. However, the remaining frameshifts are inconsistent with this model. Correlations between the positions of two base-pair frameshifts and the bases of DNA hairpins suggest that local DNA topology might influence frameshift mutation. Warm spots for larger deletions share the property of having endpoints adjacent to DNA sequences whose complementarity to sequences a few base-pairs away suggest that non-classical DNA misalignments may participate in deletion mutation. A model for duplication mutation as a consequence of strand displacement synthesis is discussed. In all, 15 frameshifts were complex combinations of frameshifts and base substitutions. Three of these were identical, and have extended homology to a sequence 256 base-pairs away that is likely to participate in the mutational event; the remainder are unique combinations of frameshifts and transversions. The frequency and diversity of complex mutants suggest a challenge to the assumption that the molecular evolution of DNA must depend primarily upon the accumulation of single nucleotide changes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Frameshift mutations produced by proflavin in bacteriophage T4: specificity within a hotspot.

Frameshift mutations were induced by proflavin in the rIIB gene of bacteriophage T4. rIIB DNA from each of 48 independent frameshifts was inserted into M13mp8 and sequenced. Two-thirds of the frameshifts (33/48) lie contiguous to one another in 10 base pairs of the rIIB sequence. This hotspot differs markedly from previously characterized mutagen-induced frameshift hotspots. Distinctive features of the hotspot include the absence of locally repetitive sequences, particularly G X C runs, and the fact that many different sequence changes are induced within the hotspot sequence at appreciable frequencies. Among the 33 mutants at the hotspot, 8 distinguishable DNA sequence changes were seen. All of the mutations were deletions of a single base or duplications of one or more bases. Duplications were more frequent than deletions. The patterns of the base sequence changes suggest that two specific phosphodiester bonds within the hotspot sequence are sites at which proflavin-induced mutation is initiated.

Acridines↗
PubMed1976

Heat mutagenesis in bacteriophage T4: the transversion pathway.

Heat induces transversions (as well as transitions) at G-C base pairs in bacteriophage T4. The target base for transversions is guanine,which is converted to a product which is sometimes replicated and transcribed as a pyrimidine.A model for this process is proposed in which the deoxyguanosine glycosidic bond migrates from N9 to N2: the resulting deoxyneoguanosine may pair with normal guanine to produce G-C leads to C-G transversions.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Transversion mutagenesis in bacteriophage T4.

Transversion mutations can be distinguished from transition mutations by the use of special tauII mutants of bacteriophage T4. Methyl methanesulfonate did not induce reversion of the tester mutants along transversion or transition pathways from A:T1 base pair sites, nor along transversion pathways from G:C base pair sites. Ethyl methanesulfonate and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, however, induced both transversions and transitions at an A:T base pair site; no transversions were detected at G:C-sites. Mn++ induced transversions and transitions at both A:T-and G:C-sites. The influence of temperature-sensitive gene-43 DNA polymerase mutator and antimutator mutations on the reversion of the tauII tester mutants was measured: some gene-43 mutants differentially influenced different pathways of reversion. Studies of thymineless mutagenesis demonstrated A:T-site transversion mutations. A synergistic interaction between thymineless mutagenesis and the gene-43 mutator, tsL56, was used to demonstrate thymineless mutagenesis at one site where it was not detected in the presence of the wild type polymerase.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1973

Thymineless mutagenesis in bacteriophage T4.

Thymine deprivation can be achieved in bacteriophage T4 either by the use of the thymidylate synthetase inhibitor FUdR, or by an appropriate combination of genetic blocks; both methods produce marked mutagenesis. Extensive tests of the specificity of thymineless mutagenesis reveal that only A:T base pairs are affected, and that transitions and possibly transversions are produced. This system therefore constitutes the first example of an A:T-specific mutagen. Thymineless mutagenesis in bacteriophage T4 exhibits a marked dependence upon the functional state of the DNA polymerase gene, but is largely independent of the px-y misrepair system.

Adenine Nucleotides↗