Biomedical subjects

Mutsuo Sekiguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Mutsuo Sekiguchi.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Mutational specificity of mice defective in the MTH1 and/or the MSH2 genes.

Oxidative damage of nucleotides within DNA or precursor pools caused by oxygen radicals is thought to play an important role in spontaneous mutagenesis, as well as carcinogenesis and aging. In particular, 8-oxodGTP and 2-OHdATP are potent mutagenic substrate for DNA synthesis. Mammalian MTH1 catalyzes hydrolysis of these mutagenic substrates, suggesting that it functions to prevent mutagenesis caused by these oxidized nucleotides. We have established MTH1(-/-) mice lacking the 8-oxodGTPase activity, which were shown to be susceptible to lung, liver and stomach cancers. To examine in vivo mutation events due to the MTH1-deficiency, a reporter gene, rpsL of Escherichia coli, was introduced into MTH1(-/-) mice. Interestingly, the net frequency of rpsL(-) forward mutants showed no apparent increase in MTH1(-/-) mice as compared to MTH1(+/+) mice. However, we found differences between these two genotypes in the class- and site-distributions of the rpsL(-) mutations recovered from the mice. Unlike MutT-deficient E. coli showing 1000-fold higher frequency of A:T-->C:G transversion than the wild type cells, an increase in frequency of A:T-->C:G transversion was not evident in MTH1 nullizygous mice. Nevertheless, the frequency of single-base frameshifts at mononucleotide runs was 5.7-fold higher in spleens of MTH1(-/-) mice than in those of wild type mice. Since the elevated incidence of single-base frameshifts at mononucleotide runs is a hallmark of the defect in MSH2-dependent mismatch repair system, this weak site-specific mutator effect of MTH1(-/-) mice could be attributed to a partial sequestration of the mismatch repair function that may act to correct mispairs with the oxidized nucleotides. Consistent with this hypothesis, a significant increase in the frequency of G:C-->T:A transversions was observed with MTH1(-/-) MSH2(-/-) mice over MSH2(-/-) mice alone. These results suggest a possible involvement of multiple anti-mutagenic pathways, including the MTH1 protein and other repair system(s), in mutagenesis caused by the oxidized nucleotides.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Binding capacity of human YB-1 protein for RNA containing 8-oxoguanine.

8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine) is generated in the cellular nucleotide pool as well as in nucleic acids, by the action of oxygen radicals produced in cells. 8-oxoguanine has the potential to pair with both cytosine and adenine, and thus, the persistence of this base in messenger RNA would cause translational errors. To prevent such an outcome, organisms should have mechanisms for preventing the misincorporation of 8-oxoguanine-containing nucleotide into RNA and for removing 8-oxoguanine-containing RNA from processes of translation. We now report that mammalian Y box-binding protein 1 (YB-1 protein) possesses the activity to bind specifically to RNA containing 8-oxoguanine. On incubation with a purified preparation of YB-1 protein, 8-oxoguanine-containing RNA forms stable complexes with the protein while normal RNA scarcely forms such a complex. Using a series of deletion mutants which produce altered forms of YB-1 protein lacking some parts of the sequence, domains of the protein necessary for RNA binding were identified. Escherichia coli cells expressing normal or truncated forms of YB-1 protein with the binding capacity acquire resistance against paraquat, a drug that induces oxidative stress in cells, whereas cells with truncated proteins lacking such an activity do not. YB-1 protein may disturb the bacterial system in recognizing oxidatively damaged RNA, thus exerting a dominant negative effect on cell growth. We propose that YB-1 protein may discriminate the oxidized RNA molecule from normal ones, thus contributing to the high fidelity of translation in cells.

CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins↗

PubMed2002

Role of tryptophan residues in the recognition of mutagenic oxidized nucleotides by human antimutator MTH1 protein.

The human MTH1 antimutator protein hydrolyzes mutagenic oxidized nucleotides, and thus prevents their incorporation into DNA and any subsequent mutation. We have examined its great selectivity for oxidized nucleotides by analyzing the structure of the protein and its interaction with nucleotides, as reflected in the fluorescence of its tryptophan residues. The binding of nucleotides decreased the intensity of MTH1 protein fluorescence and red-shifted the emission peak, indicating that at least one tryptophan residue is close to the binding site. Oxidized nucleotides (2-OH-dATP and 8-oxo-dGTP) produced a larger decrease in fluorescence intensity than did unoxidized nucleotides, and MTH1 protein had a much higher binding affinity for oxidized nucleotides. Deconvolution of protein fluorescence by comparison of its quenching by positively (Cs(+)) and negatively (I(-)) charged ions indicated that the MTH1 tryptophan residues are in two different environments. One class of tryptophan residues is exposed to solvent but in a negatively charged environment; the other class is partially buried. While the binding of unoxidized nucleotides quenches the fluorescence of only class 1 tryptophan residue(s), the binding of oxidized nucleotides quenched that of class 2 tryptophan residue(s) as well. This suggests that selectivity is due to additional contact between the protein and the oxidized nucleotide. Mutation analysis indicated that the tryptophan residue at position 117, which is in a negative environment, is in contact with nucleotides. The negatively charged residues in the binding site probably correlate with the finding that nucleotide binding requires metal ions and depends upon their nature. Positively charged metal ions probably act by neutralizing the negatively charged nucleotide phosphate groups. (c) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2002

Deficient expression of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase combined with mismatch-repair proteins hMLH1 and hMSH2 is related to poor prognosis in human biliary tract carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair enzyme that transfers methyl groups from O(6)-methylguanine to itself. Alkylation of DNA at the O(6) position of guanine is an important step in the induction of mutations in the organism by alkylating agents. The O(6)-methyl G:T mismatch is recognized by the mismatch-repair (MMR) pathway. The biliary duct is highly exposed to alkylating agents because of its anatomical location. METHODS: We examined 39 surgically resected gallbladder carcinomas and 35 extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas and evaluated the expression of MGMT and MMR protein (hMLH1 and hMSH2) by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: MGMT-negative staining was detected in 59.0% of gallbladder carcinoma specimens and 60.0% of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma specimens. In gallbladder carcinoma, hMLH1- and hMSH2-negative staining was observed in 51.3% and 59.0%, respectively, whereas in extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, the respective values were 57.1% and 65.7%. MGMT-negative staining correlated with hepatic invasion in gallbladder carcinoma and with poor prognosis in both types of tumor. Furthermore, a combined MGMT and MMR status was shown to be a more significant prognostic biomarker in both tumor types. CONCLUSIONS: Combined MGMT and MMR is a possible prognostic marker that probably reflects an accumulation of genetic mutations.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗