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Induction of SOS genes in Escherichia coli and mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium by fluoroquinolones.

The induction of several SOS genes of Escherichia coli by fluoroquinolones has been studied. Three different SOS gene fusions (recA::lacZ, umuC::lacZ and sulA::lacZ) have been introduced into the E.coli MC1061 strain to study the induction of these SOS genes in the same genetic background. Data on the basal level of expression of these fusions, as well as their induction by mitomycin C and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine are presented. Using these strains, we have found that, like nalidixic acid, ofloxacin, enoxacin and ciprofloxacin are strong inducers of the SOS genes tested, umuC gene expression being the highest. Furthermore, fluoroquinolones produced a significant increase in the reversion of the base substitution hisG428 mutation in the TA102 Salmonella tester strain, while no effect was found in strains TA98, TA100, TA1537 and TA1535. These data indicate that the error-prone repair pathway can participate in mutagenesis induced by fluoroquinolones and also that the damage produced by these chemicals may be similar to that produced by nalidixic acid.

DNA Repair↗

Novel mechanism for UV sensitivity and apparent UV nonmutability of recA432 mutants: persistent LexA cleavage following SOS induction.

The recA432 mutant allele was isolated (T. Kato and Y. Shinoura, Mol. Gen. Genet. 156:121-131, 1977) by virtue of its defect in cellular mutagenesis (Mut-) and its hypersensitivity to damage by UV irradiation (UVs), which were phenotypes expected for a recA mutant. However, we found that in a different genetic background (lexA51 sulA211 uvrB+), recA432 mutants expressed certain mutant phenotypes but not the Mut- and UVs phenotypes (D.G. Ennis, N. Ossanna, and D.W. Mount, J. Bacteriol. 171:2533-2541, 1989). We present several lines of evidence that these differences resulted from the sulA genotype of the cell and that the apparent UVs and Mut- phenotypes of the sulA+ derivatives resulted from lethal filamentation of induced cells because of persistent derepression of sulA. First, transduction of sulA(Def) mutations into the recA432 strains restored cellular mutagenesis and resistance to UV. Second, recA432 sulA+ strains underwent filamentous death following SOS-inducing treatments. Third, cleavage of LexA repressor in a recA432 strain continued at a rapid rate long after UV induction, at a time when cleavage of the repressor in the recA+ parental strain had substantially declined. Fourth, we confirmed that a single mutation (recA432) conferring both the UVs and Mut- phenotypes mapped to the recA gene. These findings indicate that the RecA432 mutant protein is defective in making the transition back to the deactivated state following SOS induction; thus, the SOS-induced state of recA432 mutants is prolonged and can account for an excess of SulA protein, leading to filamentation. These results are discussed in the context of molecular models for RecA activation for LexA and UmuD cleavage and their roles in the control of mutagenesis and cell division in the SOS response.

Bacterial Proteins↗

A microplate version of the SOS/umu-test for rapid detection of genotoxins and genotoxic potentials of environmental samples.

The umu-microtest is a miniaturized automated short-term test version proposed for screening of umuC-dependent mutagenic potentials of chemicals relevant to environmental pollution, river water and industrial waste water. The test is based on the SOS/umu-test and has been modified in order to allow extensive testing of environmental samples. Genetically engineered Salmonella typhimurium (TA1535/pSK1002) are incubated on a microplate rotor in a sloping position for 2 h with the test samples, followed by addition of fresh culture medium to reach a 10-fold dilution of the incubation medium. 2 h later, the activity of the beta-galactosidase, which reflects umuC induction, is determined colorimetrically. The incubation of the bacteria in the presence of the test compounds as well as the assessment of beta-galactosidase activity takes place in 96-well microplates, thus enabling simultaneous screening of large numbers of samples. Data of the genotoxic potentials are available within 8 h. Computer-controlled automation is possible by using a laboratory workstation.

Azides↗

Mutational properties of the primary aflatoxin B1-DNA adduct.

The mutagenic activity of the major DNA adduct formed by the liver carcinogen aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was investigated in vivo. An oligonucleotide containing a single 8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1 (AFB1-N7-Gua) adduct was inserted into the single-stranded genome of bacteriophage M13. Replication in SOS-induced Escherichia coli yielded a mutation frequency for AFB1-N7-Gua of 4%. The predominant mutation was G --> T, identical to the principal mutation in human liver tumors believed to be induced by aflatoxin. The G --> T mutations of AFB1-N7-Gua, unlike those (if the AFB1-N7-Gua-derived apurinic site, were much more strongly dependent on MucAB than UmuDC, a pattern matching that in intact cells treated with the toxin. It is concluded that the AFB1-N7-Gua adduct, and not the apurinic site, has genetic requirements for mutagenesis that best explain mutations in aflatoxin-treated cells. While most mutations were targeted to the site of the lesion, a significant fraction (13%) occurred at the base 5' to the modified guanine. In contrast, the apurinic site-containing genome gave rise only to targeted mutations. The mutational asymmetry observed for AFB1-N7-Gua is consistent with structural models indicating that the aflatoxin moiety of the aflatoxin guanine adduct is covalently intercalated on the 5' face of the guanine residue. These results suggest a molecular mechanism that could explain an important step in the carcinogenicity of aflatoxin B1.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Efficient repair of hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage by Escherichia coli requires SOS induction of RecA and RuvA proteins.

The survival of Escherichia coli following treatment with a low dose (1-3 mM) of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) that causes extensive mode-one killing of DNA repair mutants is stimulated by the induction of the SOS regulon. Results for various mutants indicate that induction of recA and RecA protein-mediated recombination are critical factors contributing to the repair of H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative DNA damage. However, because DNA damage activates RecA protein's coprotease activity essential to cleavage of LexA repressor protein and derepression of all SOS genes, it is unclear to what extent induction of RecA protein stimulates this repair. To make this determination, we examined mode-one killing of DeltarecA cells carrying plasmid-borne recA (P(tac)-recA(+)) and constitutively expressing a fully induced level of wild-type RecA protein when SOS genes other than recA are non-inducible in a lexA3 (Ind(-)) genetic background or inducible in a lexA(+) background. At a H(2)O(2) dose resulting in maximal killing, DeltarecA lexA3 (Ind(-)) cells with P(tac)-recA(+) show 40-fold greater survival than lexA3 (Ind(-)) cells with chromosomal recA having a low, non-induced level of RecA protein. However, they still show 10- to 15-fold lower survival than wild-type cells and DeltarecA lexA(+) cells with P(tac)-recA(+). To determine if the inducible RuvA protein stimulates survival, we examined a ruvA60 mutant that is defective for the repair of UV-induced DNA damage. This mutant also shows 10- to 15-fold lower survival than wild-type cells. We conclude that while induction of RecA protein has a pronounced stimulatory effect on the recombinational repair of H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative DNA damage, the induction of other SOS proteins such as RuvA is essential for wild-type repair.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Predicting the genotoxicity of thiophene derivatives from molecular structure.

We report several binary classification models that directly link the genetic toxicity of a series of 140 thiophene derivatives with information derived from the compounds' molecular structure. Genetic toxicity was measured using an SOS Chromotest. IMAX (maximal SOS induction factor) values were recorded for each of the 140 compounds both in the presence and in the absence of S9 rat liver homogenate. Compounds were classified as genotoxic if IMAX >or= 1.5 in either test or nongenotoxic if IMAX < 1.5 for both tests. The molecular structures were represented by numerical descriptors that encoded the topological, geometric, electronic, and polar surface area properties of the thiophene derivatives. The classification models used were linear discriminant analysis (LDA), k-nearest neighbor classification (k-NN), and the probabilistic neural network (PNN). These were used in conjunction with either a genetic algorithm or a generalized simulated annealing to find optimal subsets of descriptors for each classifier. The quality of the resulting models was determined by the number of misclassified compounds, with preference given to models that produced fewer false negative classifications. Model sizes ranged from seven descriptors for LDA to three descriptors for k-NN and PNN. Very good classification results were obtained with all three classifiers. Classification rates for the LDA, k-NN, and PNN models were 80, 85, and 85%, respectively, for the prediction set compounds. Additionally, a consensus model was generated that incorporated all three of the basic model types. This consensus model correctly predicted the genotoxicity of 95% of the prediction set compounds.

DNA Damage↗

Genetics of mutagenesis in E. coli: various combinations of translesion polymerases (Pol II, IV and V) deal with lesion/sequence context diversity.

The biochemistry and genetics of translesion synthesis (TLS) and, as a consequence, of mutagenesis has recently received much attention in view of the discovery of novel DNA polymerases, most of which belong to the Y family. These distributive and low fidelity enzymes assist the progression of the high fidelity replication complex in the bypass of DNA lesions that normally hinder its progression. The present paper extends our previous observation that in Escherichia coli all three SOS-inducible DNA polymerases (Pol II, IV and V) are involved in TLS and mutagenesis. The genetic control of frameshift mutation pathways induced by N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) adducts or by oxidative lesions induced by methylene blue and visible light is investigated. The data show various examples of mutation pathways with an absolute requirement for a specific combination of DNA polymerases and, in contrast, other examples where two DNA polymerases exhibit functional redundancy within the same pathway. We suggest that cells respond to the challenge of replicating DNA templates potentially containing a large diversity of DNA lesions by using a pool of accessory DNA polymerases with relaxed specificities that assist the high fidelity replicase.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Cellular defects caused by deletion of the Escherichia coli dnaK gene indicate roles for heat shock protein in normal metabolism.

DnaK is a major heat shock protein of Escherichia coli and has been previously reported to be essential for growth at high temperatures. We systematically investigated the role of DnaK in cellular metabolism at a wide range of growth temperatures by analyzing cellular defects caused by deletion of the dnaK gene (delta dnaK52). At intermediate temperatures (30 degrees C), introduction of the delta dnaK52 allele into wild-type cells caused severe defects in cell division, slow growth, and poor viability of the cells. delta dnaK52 mutants were genetically unstable at 30 degrees C and frequently acquired secondary mutations. At high (42 degrees C) and low (11 and 16 degrees C) temperatures the delta dnaK52 allele could only be introduced into the subpopulation of wild-type cells that had duplicated the dnaK region of their chromosome. delta dnaK52 mutants isolated at 30 degrees C were cold sensitive as well as temperature sensitive for growth. Cell division defects of delta dnaK52 mutants at 30 degrees C were largely suppressed by overproduction of the FtsZ protein, which is normally required for septation during cell division; however, slow growth and poor viability at 30 degrees C and cold sensitivity and temperature sensitivity of growth were not suppressed, indicating that delta dnaK52 mutants had additional defective cellular functions besides cell division.

Cell Division↗

PriA mutations that affect PriA-PriC function during replication restart.

In Escherichia coli, repair and restart of collapsed replication forks is thought to be essential for cell growth. The replication restart proteins, PriA, PriB, PriC, DnaB, DnaC, DnaG, DnaT and Rep, form redundant pathways that recognize repaired replication forks and restart them. Recognition, modulation of specific DNA structures and loading of the replicative helicase by the replication restart proteins, is likely to be important for replication restart. It has been hypothesized that PriB and PriC function with PriA in genetically separate and redundant PriA-PriB and PriA-PriC pathways. In this study, the del(priB)302 or priC303:kan mutations were used to isolate the PriA-PriB and PriA-PriC pathways genetically so that the effects of three priA missense mutations, priA300 (K230R), priA301 (C479Y) and priA306 (L557P), on these pathways could be assessed. In a wild-type background, the three priA mutations had little, if any, effect on the phenotypes of UV resistance, basal levels of SOS expression and cell viability. In the priB mutant, priA300 and priA301 caused dramatic negative changes in the three phenotypes listed above (and others), whereas the third priA mutant allele, priA306, showed very little negative effect. In the priC mutant, all three priA mutations behaved similarly, producing little, if any, changes in phenotypes. We conclude that priA300 and priA301 mostly affect the PriA-PriC pathway and do so more than priA306. We suggest that PriA's helicase activity is important for the PriA-PriC pathway of replication restart.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The export of the DNA replication inhibitor Microcin B17 provides immunity for the host cell.

Microcin B17 (MccB17) is a peptide antibiotic which inhibits DNA replication in Enterobacteriaceae. Microcin-producing strains are immune to the action of the microcin. Physical and genetic studies showed that immunity is mediated by three genes: mcbE, mcbF and mcbG. We sequenced these genes and identified polypeptide products for mcbF and mcbG. By studying the contribution of each gene to the expression of immunity we found that immunity is determined by two different mechanisms. One of these, encoded by mcbE and mcbF, is also involved in the production of extracellular MccB17. To reconcile these observations we propose that McbE and McbF serve as a 'pump' for the export of active MccB17 from the cytoplasm. This model is supported by the predicted properties of the McbE and McbF proteins, which are thought to be, respectively, an integral membrane protein and an ATP-binding protein with homology to other transport proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Adducts formed by the food mutagen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f) quinoline induce frameshift mutations at hot spots through an SOS-independent pathway.

The potency of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ) adducts to induce -2, -1 and +1 frameshift mutations has been determined on specific target DNA sequences, namely short runs of alternating GpC sequences and short runs of guanines. The genetic control of the mutational processes has been analyzed using different Escherichia coli mutants, affected either in the control or in the mutagenesis pathway of the SOS system. We have shown that IQ adducts induce very efficiently both -1 and -2 frameshift mutations in E. coli. Both types of deletion mutations are induced in bacteria without the need of SOS induction, indicating that no LexA-controlled functions, in particular the UmuDC proteins, are required for mutation fixation. We have also shown that the frequency of IQ-induced -2 frameshift mutations in alternating GC sequences increases with the length of the repetition. The efficiency of IQ adducts to induce -1 and -2 frameshift mutations is similar to that of N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) adducts. Both chemicals are potent carcinogens which form covalent adducts at the C8 position of guanines. We suggest that in both cases the adduct-induced DNA structure allows the replication complex to perform a mutagenic bypass of the lesion by a slippage mechanism. However, in contrast to AAF-induced frameshift mutagenesis, IQ-induced frameshift mutagenesis is SOS-independent.

DNA Adducts↗

[The new antitumor drug cycloplatam: cytotoxicity and DNA interstrand cross-linking].

Cytotoxicity genetic mechanisms such as induction of SOS-repair, excision repair and interstrand coupling induced by cycloplatam or ammine (cyclopentyl amine)-S(-) malatoplatinum (II), a new antitumor drug, were for the first time studied in comparison to those of the known drug cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (II) (DDP) in a model system of Escherichia coli. In the cells of E. coli the cycloplatam cytotoxicity was much lower than that of DDP. Both the drugs induced SOS-repair in E. coli PQ37. In a concentration of 25 microM DDP was 20 times as active as cycloplatam. In concentrations of 40 to 100 microM the difference leveled. Both the drugs induced interstrand coupling in specimens of pure DNA from calf thymus and E. coli. When the cells of the wild type E. coli AB1157 were incubated in the presence of the drugs only DDP induced the DNA interstrand coupling. No correlation between the DNA interstrand coupling induced by cycloplatam or DDP and cytotoxicity of the drugs was observed.

Animals↗

SOS-red fluorescent protein (RFP) bioassay system for monitoring of antigenotoxic activity in plant extracts.

An optical antigenotoxicity assay using genetically engineered red fluorescent bacteria is presented. Exposure of Escherichia coli RS4U to genotoxicants [mitomycin C (MMC), nalidixic acid (NA) and hydrogen peroxide (HP)] resulted in phenotypic red fluorescence proportional to the concentration of the inducer. Except for tannic acid (TA), co-treatment of the genotoxicant-activated bacteria with ascorbic acid (AA) and aqueous plant extracts (Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava and Syzygium cumini) afforded protection against all three genotoxicants. TA was effective in suppressing the genotoxic effect of MMC and HP. The antigenotoxic effect is seen as inhibition of the genotoxicant-triggered red fluorescence. The IC50 of the plant extracts and AA varied with the genotoxicant used. Rec assay verified the antigenotoxic activity of the plant extracts. Folin-Ciocalteu test, FeCl3 test and DPPH assay confirmed the presence of polyphenolic compounds and hydrolyzable tannins in the plant extracts and the antioxidant capacity of the plant samples.

Antioxidants↗

Tandem double CC-->TT mutations are produced by reactive oxygen species.

Oxidative damage to DNA is mutagenic and thus may play a role in carcinogenesis. Because of the large number of different DNA lesions formed by oxidative species, no genetic alteration so far identified is exclusively associated with oxygen damage. Tandem double CC-->TT mutations are known to occur via UV damage to DNA and are thought to be a specific indicator of UV exposure. Using a sensitive reversion assay that can detect both single and double mutations within the same codon of the M13-encoded lacZ alpha gene, we show that treatments that produce reactive oxygen species can also produce tandem double CC-->TT mutations. The frequency at which these mutations occur is less than that for single base mutations by a factor of approximately 30. The induction of these mutations is inhibited by treatment that scavenges hydroxyl radicals. This unique mutation provides a marker of oxygen free radical-induced mutagenesis in cells that are not exposed to UV-irradiation and an indicator for assessing the involvement of oxidative damage to DNA in aging and tumor progression.

Base Sequence↗

The processing of a Benzo(a)pyrene adduct into a frameshift or a base substitution mutation requires a different set of genes in Escherichia coli.

Replication through a single DNA lesion may give rise to a panel of translesion synthesis (TLS) events, which comprise error-free TLS, base substitutions and frameshift mutations. In order to determine the genetic control of the various TLS events induced by a single lesion, we have chosen the major N2-dG adduct of (+)-anti-Benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide [(+)-anti-BPDE] adduct located within a short run of guanines as a model lesion. Within this sequence context, in addition to the major event, i.e. error-free TLS, the adduct also induces base substitutions (mostly G --> T transversions) and -1 frameshift mutations. The pathway leading to G --> T base substitution mutagenesis appears to be SOS independent, suggesting that TLS is most probably performed by the replicative Pol III holoenzyme itself. In contrast, both error-free and frameshift TLS pathways are dependent upon SOS-encoded functions that belong to the pool of inducible DNA polymerases specialized in TLS (translesional DNA polymerases), namely umuDC (Pol V) and dinB (Pol IV). It is likely that, given the diversity of conformations that can be adopted by lesion-containing replication intermediates, cells use one or several translesional DNA polymerases to achieve TLS.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Vibrio harveyi bioluminescence plays a role in stimulation of DNA repair.

Although the genetics and biochemistry of bacterial luminescence have been investigated extensively, the biological role of this phenomenon remains unclear. Here it is shown that luxA, luxB and luxD mutants (unable to emit light) of the marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi are significantly more sensitive to UV irradiation when cultivated in the dark after irradiation than when cultivated under a white fluorescent lamp. This difference was much less pronounced in the wild-type (luminescent) V. harveyi strain. Survival of UV-irradiated Escherichia coli wild-type cells depended on subsequent cultivation conditions (in the dark or in the presence of external light). However, after UV irradiation, the percentage of surviving E. coli cells that bear V. harveyi genes responsible for luminescence was significantly higher than that of non-luminescent E. coli, irrespective of the subsequent cultivation conditions. Moreover, it is demonstrated that luminescence of V. harveyi can be stimulated by UV irradiation even in diluted cultures, under conditions when light emission by these bacteria is normally impaired due to quorum sensing regulation. It is proposed that luminescent bacteria have an internal source of light which could be used in DNA repair by a photoreactivation process. Therefore, production of internal light ensuring effective DNA repair seems to be at least one of the biological functions of bacterial luminescence.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Escherichia coli DNA polymerase IV mutator activity: genetic requirements and mutational specificity.

The dinB gene of Escherichia coli is known to be involved in the untargeted mutagenesis of lambda phage. Recently, we have demonstrated that this damage-inducible and SOS-controlled gene encodes a novel DNA polymerase, DNA Pol IV, which is able to dramatically increase the untargeted mutagenesis of F' plasmid. At the amino acid level, DNA Pol IV shares sequence homologies with E. coli UmuC (DNA Pol V), Rev1p, and Rad30p (DNA polymerase eta) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human Rad30A (XPV) proteins, all of which are involved in translesion DNA synthesis. To better characterize the Pol IV-dependent untargeted mutagenesis, i.e., the DNA Pol IV mutator activity, we analyzed the genetic requirements of this activity and determined the forward mutation spectrum generated by this protein within the cII gene of lambda phage. The results indicated that the DNA Pol IV mutator activity is independent of polA, polB, recA, umuDC, uvrA, and mutS functions. The analysis of more than 300 independent mutations obtained in the wild-type or mutS background revealed that the mutator activity clearly promotes single-nucleotide substitutions as well as one-base deletions in the ratio of about 1:2. The base changes were strikingly biased for substitutions toward G:C base pairs, and about 70% of them occurred in 5'-GX-3' sequences, where X represents the base (T, A, or C) that is mutated to G. These results are discussed with respect to the recently described biochemical characteristics of DNA Pol IV.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The genetic requirements for UmuDC-mediated cold sensitivity are distinct from those for SOS mutagenesis.

The umuDC operon of Escherichia coli, a member of the SOS regulon, is required for SOS mutagenesis. Following the posttranslational processing of UmuD to UmuD' by RecA-mediated cleavage, UmuD' acts in concert with UmuC, RecA, and DNA polymerase III to facilitate the process of translesion synthesis, which results in the introduction of mutations. Constitutive expression of the umuDC operon causes an inhibition of growth at 30 degrees C (cold sensitivity). The umuDC-dependent physiological phenomenon manifested as cold-sensitive growth is shown to differ from SOS mutagenesis in two respects. Intact UmuD, the form inactive in SOS mutagenesis, confers a significantly higher degree of cold sensitivity in combination with UmUC than does UmuD'. In addition, umuDC-mediated cold sensitivity, unlike SOS mutagenesis, does not require recA function. Since the RecA protein mediates the autodigestion of UnmD to UmuD', this finding supports the conclusion that intact UmuD is capable of conferring cold sensitivity in the presence of UmuC. The degree of inhibition of growth at 30 degrees C correlates with the levels of UmuD and UmuC, which are the only two SOS-regulated proteins required to observe cold sensitivity. Analysis of the cellular morphology of strains that exhibit cold sensitivity for growth led to the finding that constitutive expression of the umuDC operon causes a novel form of sulA- and sfiC-independent filamentation at 30 degrees C. This filamentation is observed in a strain constitutively expressing the single, chromosomal copy of umuDC and can be suppressed by overexpression of the ftsQAZ operon.

Bacterial Proteins↗