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Mutations in topA interfere with the inducible expression of DNA damage response loci in Salmonella typhimurium.

Strains of Salmonella typhimurium deficient in topoisomerase I activity (topA mutants) are UV sensitive and non-mutable (Overbye and Margolin: J Bacteriol 146:170-178, 1981). Using lac-operon fusions to DNA damage inducible (din) loci we investigated whether these observations could be explained by an inability of topA strains to efficiently induce DNA damage responses. Mitomycin C (MMC)-induced expression of lac-operon fusions to uvrB and to a second SOS locus, din-9, was largely eliminated in topA bacteria. The inducible expression of several other din-fusions was also diminished. This inducibility defect was mimicked by growth of din-9 topA+ bacteria in media of high osmolarity, a condition that leads to increased DNA supercoiling. Inhibitors of DNA gyrase efficiently induced din-9 in topA bacteria. Together, these results suggest that the topA effect on din expression may be mediated at the level of DNA supercoiling. The sensitivities of a number of din-fusions to topA paralleled the degree to which they were repressed by excess LexA, suggesting that mutations in topA might influence LexA-operator interactions and/or increase lexA expression.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mutagenicity of beta-alkyl substituted acrolein congeners in the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 and genotoxicity testing in the SOS chromotest.

The beta-alkyl substituted acrolein congeners crotonaldehyde, trans-2-pentenal, trans-2-hexenal, 2,4-hexadienal, and trans-2-heptenal were clearly mutagenic in a slightly modified preincubation Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA100 with and without S9 mix using a threefold bacterial cell density and a 90-min preincubation time, whereas trans-cis-2,6-nonadienal did not show any mutagenic activity. The greatest impediment to adequate mutagenicity testing of these compounds is their toxicity toward bacteria. Within the congener family tested, toxicity increases as a function of both chain length and lipophilicity, and it becomes more and more difficult to demonstrate mutagenicity. Mutagenicity decreases with increasing chain length. This effect may be explained by increasing toxicity. The effect of S9 mix seems to be mostly nonenzymatic detoxication by nonspecific scavanger protection of bacterial cytotoxicity. No indication could be found that bioactivation plays a role in S9-mediated reduction of bacterial cytotoxicity. Although positive mutagenic outcomes could be obtained with the SOS chromotest for other alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, these acrolein congeners were not genotoxic in this test, most probably because they are toxic for the Escherichia coli bacteria PQ37 and PQ243.

Acrolein↗

Assessment of oxidative DNA damage in the oxyR-deficient SOS chromotest strain Escherichia coli PQ300.

The SOS chromotest is a simple short-term genotoxicity assay measuring the induction of gene sfiA in Escherichia coli K-12. The recent availability of SOS tester strains with additional mutations in DNA repair or protection systems allows testing of DNA damaging compounds for genotoxic specificity. E. coli PQ300 differs from the standard SOS tester strain PQ37 in that it contains an additional mutation in gene oxyR that renders it more sensitive to oxidative genotoxins. The generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) by hydroperoxides (H2O2, t-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide), gamma-radiation, glucose oxidase, and xanthine oxidase resulted in a more vigorous SOS response in strain PQ300 compared to strain PQ37. PQ300 was also more sensitive than PQ37 for the detection of reducing agents such as ascorbic acid, cysteine, and glutathione, which also alter the redox status of the bacterial cells. However, intercalating agents (adriamycin, bleomycin, and mitomycin C) and the UV- and radiomimetic compound 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide whose DNA damaging potential are known also to involve ROI did not show significant differences between strains PQ37 and PQ300. It is concluded that the oxyR-deficient strain PQ300 is useful for detecting certain classes of genotoxins that change the oxidative/antioxidative balance of tester bacteria in the SOS chromotest.

DNA Damage↗

Genotoxic activity detected in soils from a hazardous waste site by the Ames test and an SOS colorimetric test.

Ten soil samples from a hazardous waste site were compared for their genotoxic activity by the Ames test (Salmonella reverse mutation assay) and a modified SOS colorimetric test. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons known to produce frameshift mutations were found in high levels in the soils. Salmonella typhimurium TA98, sensitive to frameshift mutations, was selected as the Ames tester strain. Escherichia coli K12 PQ37 (sulA::lacZ) was the SOS tester strain. Organic extracts were prepared from the soil samples by Soxhlet extraction. One set of the soil samples was extracted with methylene chloride and a second set with cyclohexane. Two criteria from reproducible dose-related increases in response to the soil were used to compare the positive responses: 1) the concentrations required for doubling responses and 2) a minimum concentration required to produce statistically significant increases from background controls. Analysis of variance indicated that with S9 mix, Ames and SOS results were similar for the same soils and solvent extractions. However, without S9 mix, the SOS test was significantly more sensitive than the Ames test to the genotoxins extracted from the soils. Both the Ames and SOS tests detected lower concentrations of genotoxins in methylene chloride than in cyclohexane extracts. The simplicity of the method, reduction in expenses, and results within 1 working day all contribute to the advantages of the SOS test.

Animals↗

Modulation of the H2O2-induced SOS response in Escherichia coli PQ300 by amino acids, metal chelators, antioxidants, and scavengers of reactive oxygen species.

The SOS chromotest is a simple colorimetric genotoxicity assay that monitors DNA repair by measuring the induction of the gene sfiA in Escherichia coli K-12. E. coli PQ300, a diagnostic SOS tester strain for the detection of oxidative genotoxins, carries a mutation in a key gene for antioxidative defense, oxyR. This mutation renders PQ300 more sensitive to oxidative genotoxins, particularly to H2O2. We found that induction of the SOS response by H2O2 in E. coli PQ300 is dependent on the composition of the incubation medium; a substantially reduced response was obtained in minimal phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as opposed to complex Luria broth (LB) medium. Supplementation of PBS with histidine or cysteine stimulated H2O2-induced SOS induction to levels exceeding those found in LB medium. Low concentrations of glutathione (20-70 microM) also enhanced the H2O2-induced SOS response in E. coli PQ300, whereas higher concentrations (> 150 microM) were protective. Preincubation of tester cells with the chelators o-phenanthroline, 2,2-dipyridyl, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) protected cells from the effects of H2O2, although EDTA was only partially effective. Pretreatment of PQ300 with the antioxidant ascorbic acid or the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide also diminished the SOS response, whereas mannitol and glucose were ineffective. The results show that the net effect of H2O2-induced DNA damage is influenced by the balance of oxidative and antioxidative factors and, furthermore, can be modulated by constituents of the extracellular milieu.

Amino Acids↗

UV-responsive element (TGACAACA) from rat fibroblasts to human melanomas.

When taken together, several lines of evidence suggest that the URE-bound proteins are associated with DNA replication. (1) A trans-acting factor of 60 kDa (which may include the 68-kDa URE-binding proteins) was found to be induced by UV and to mediate polyoma DNA replication; (2) the URE was able to compete for the binding of factors that promote polyoma replication in rodent cells; (3) URE-bound proteins are expressed to a higher extent at the S phase of the cell cycle; and (4) they are induced following treatment with aphidicholin. These observations may suggest that the URE may play a role in growth "release" (as opposed to growth "arrest") which would assist in restoring normal growth following DNA damage. It is clear that URE-bound proteins consist of multiple transcription factors, some of which are well characterized (i.e., jun, CREB, and fos families); however, it is likely that the growth release phenomenon we relate to is also mediated by (1) other members of these transcription factor families which have not been identified as yet and (2) a specific combination of known transcription factors which bind to this response element under certain circumstances. This hypothesis is outlined in the enclosed model (Fig. 3).

Animals↗

Propylene oxide mutagenesis at template cytosine residues.

Propylene oxide (PO) is a widely used industrial reagent which is mutagenic and carcinogenic. We have recently shown that a variety of aliphatic epoxides, including propylene oxide, can react with DNA to form hydroxyalkyl adducts at N-3 of cytosine which rapidly undergo hydrolytic deamination to produce uracil adducts. These 3-hydroxyalkyl uracil adducts are stable in DNA and are postulated to be an important class of potentially mutagenic lesions. Mutagenesis at cytosine residues due to PO modification of single-stranded M13mp2/C141 DNA was studied by transfection of modified DNA into SOS and non-SOS induced E. coli host cells. Mutations of the proline (CCC) codon at C141 which result in reversion of the lacZ phenotype (blue plaques) were scored. It was found that PO treatment of single-stranded DNA results in dose-dependent mutagenesis that is highly SOS dependent. The spectrum of base-substitution mutations found at this site differed when PO-modified DNA was transfected into E. coli with different DNA repair backgrounds. These results indicate that propylene oxide induced DNA adducts at template cytosine residues are mutagenic in E. coli and that this mutagenesis is greatly increased by SOS processing. They also show that these lesions may be repaired by one or more mechanisms.

Bacteriophage M13↗

Mutability of Salmonella tester strains TA1538 (hisD3052) and TA1535 (hisG46) containing the UmuD' and UmuC proteins of Escherichia coli.

We have studied the mutability of Salmonella typhimurium tester strains carrying plasmids in which either the umuDC or the umuD'C operon of Escherichia coli have been cloned. Reversion of the hisD3052 frameshift mutation by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), was very efficiently promoted by UmuD' (the activated form of UmuD) and UmuC proteins. In contrast, UmuD'C proteins promoted a moderate reversion of the missense hisG46 allele by B[a]P, and were not effective in mediating this reversion by AFB1. The Salmonella tester strain carrying the hisD3052 allele and containing the E. coli UmuD'C proteins has a sensitivity toward frameshift mutagens similar to that of the MucAB containing strain TA98, and may be useful for obtaining a high level of mutants generated by the SOS mutagenic mechanism in the absence of MucAB proteins.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Relative genotoxic activities of pesticides evaluated by a modified SOS microplate assay.

The genotoxic activities of 47 pesticides were determined using a modified SOS microplate assay in which the induction of beta-galactosidase in E. coli PQ37 was used as a quantitative measure of genotoxic activity. The results were compared with those obtained with anethole, curcumin, and capsaicin, a few examples of naturally occurring compounds present in foods. The assays were conducted with pesticides dissolved either in a suitable solvent, such as 10% DMSO in physiological saline or dispersed in sodium taurocholate micelles, to simulate conditions in the small intestine from where these substances are normally absorbed from the diet. 4-Nitroquinoline oxide (4-NQO) served as the reference standard of a direct acting mutagen. In micellar form, 4-NQO and 25 of the 47 pesticides tested showed significantly higher genotoxic activities than when they were tested in an organic solvent. In micellar form the SOS inducing potency of 4-NQO was almost twice as high as in 10% DMSO in physiological saline. In taurocholate micelles, the five most active compounds had activities in the range of 1,234-3,765 units/mumol and in the order of decreasing activities they were ranked as follows: malathion > dichlorvos > lindane > chlordane > endrin. They were significantly less active than 4-NQO (less than 40%). In micellar solution the naturally occurring compounds, anethole, curcumin, and capsaicin gave activities of 4,594, 928, and 809 units/mumol, respectively. These studies show that genotoxicity may depend upon the environment in which cells are exposed to these potential genotoxins. It appears that testing of the more hydrophobic compounds, both synthetic and naturally occurring, are needed.

DNA Damage↗

Application of SOS umu-test for the detection of genotoxic volatile chemicals and air pollutants.

The SOS umu-test has been used for the detection of DNA-damaging agents. In this system the plasmid pSK1002 carrying a fused gene umuC-lacZ was introduced into Salmonella typhimurium TA1535. The SOS function induced by genotoxic agents is detected by a colorimetric measurement of beta-galactosidase activity encoded by the lacZ gene, which is regulated by the Umu operon. This system was used with modifications to study the SOS function inducibility of volatile chemicals (propylene oxide, methyl bromide, and ethylene dibromide) and air pollutants (diesel emission, welding fumes, and cigarette smoke). Tester cells were exposed directly to the test material. The enzyme activity of the treated cells was measured according to the established procedure. Results of the study showed that all chemicals and pollutants tested induced SOS function in a dose-related manner. These results indicate that the SOS umu-test is potentially useful for the in situ detection of genotoxic agents in occupational settings.

Air Pollutants↗

Influence of dietary fat on fecal mutagenicity in premenopausal women.

A dietary intervention study was conducted on 31 premenopausal women (age: 20-40 years) to investigate the relationship between dietary fat and fecal mutagenicity. After a free-living period (baseline) of one menstrual cycle, the subjects were placed on a high-fat diet (40% calories from fat) for 4 menstrual cycles, followed by a low-fat diet (20% calories from fat) for 4 menstrual cycles. One-half of the subjects were randomly assigned throughout the study to a diet with a P:S ratio of 1.0 while the other half was assigned to one with a P:S ratio of 0.3; body weight by group remained constant. Three-day stool samples were collected at the mid-follicular period during the free-living phase and during the 4th menstrual cycle of each of the 2 controlled diet periods. Mutagenicity was assayed by the SOS chromotest. Reduction of dietary fat was accompanied by a significant decrease in fecal mutagenicity in both P:S groups. Combined values, i.e., both P:S groups, were 20.3 units for high-fat diets vs. 8.78 for low-fat diets.

Adult↗

Escherichia coli PriA protein is essential for inducible and constitutive stable DNA replication.

Under certain conditions, Escherichia coli cells exhibit either of two altered modes of chromosomal DNA replication. These are inducible stable DNA replication (iSDR), seen in SOS-induced cells, and constitutive stable DNA replication (cSDR), seen in rnhA mutants. Both iSDR and cSDR can continue to occur in the absence of protein synthesis. They are dependent on RecA protein, but do not require DnaA protein or the oriC site. Here we report the requirement for PriA, a protein essential for assembly of the phi X174-type primosome, for both iSDR and cSDR. In priA1(Null)::kan mutant cells, iSDR is not observed after induction by thymine starvation. Replication from one of the origins (oriM1) specific to iSDR is greatly reduced by the priA1::kan mutation. cSDR in rnhA224 mutant cells deficient in RNase HI is also completely abolished by the same priA mutation. In both cases, SDR is restored by introduction of a plasmid carrying a wild-type priA gene. Furthermore, the viability of an rnhA::cat dnaA46 strain is lost at 42 degrees C upon inactivation of the priA gene, indicating the lethal effect of priA inactivation on those cells whose viability depends on cSDR. These results demonstrate that a function of PriA protein is essential for iSDR and cSDR and suggest the involvement of the PriA-dependent phi X174-type primosome in these DnaA/oriC-independent pathways of chromosome replication. Whereas ColE1-type plasmids, known to be independent of DnaA, absolutely require PriA function for replication, DnaA-dependent plasmid replicons such as pSC101, F, R6K, Rts1 and RK2 are able to transform and to be maintained in the priA1::kan strain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alleles↗

An attempt to improve the SOS chromotest responses.

The SOS Chromotest was carried out on leachates of ten industrial wastes with the standard procedure and a miniaturized version with microplates. The two methods gave identical results in nine samples (eight negative and one positive). A simple additional manipulation is described for the identification of the false positive response that is frequently observed with complex mixtures. It involves challenging the SOS Chromotest bacteria with samples (having previously shown a positive genotoxic response) just before the enzymatic activities (i.e. beta-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase) are estimated colorimetrically. This additional step eliminates discrepancies between the results for the standard and the miniaturized procedures.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Quantitation of the relationship between tester cell number inoculated and SOS-inducing potency of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) in an automated version of the SOS chromotest.

The SOS chromotest is a simple quantitative short-term bacterial assay for the detection of genotoxic activity of pure compounds or complex samples. On the basis of consecutive experiments aimed at demonstrating the relationship between the inoculum size and the outcome of the test using 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) as model genotoxin. It is shown that within the suitable range of the cell number there is a negative correlation between the number of tester cells and test sensitivity. Moreover, it could be demonstrated that the peak of the dose response curve, i.e., the maximal induction factor, is systematically influenced by the actual value of the ratio of beta-galactosidase to alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities at a 4-NQO concentration of zero. Last but not least, some simple statistical data describing the performance of the automated version of the SOS chromotest are also given.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Regulation of the dnaQ gene of Escherichia coli in mutants expressing the SOS regulon constitutively.

Current models for the mechanism of SOS mutagenesis in E. coli propose the involvement of a new or modified DNA polymerase III holoenzyme in error-prone replicative bypass of bulky DNA lesions assuming an inhibited or excluded 3'----5' proofreading exonuclease function of DNA polymerase. By promotor fusion to galK, gene fusion to lacZ and Sl analysis the in vivo regulation of dnaQ coding the proofreading subunit of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme was analyzed under conditions of induced or constitutive SOS expression. The results presented here clearly show that, at least on the level of gene expression no regulatory event seems to contribute to the assumed decrease of proofreading activity during SOS mediated error-prone bypassing of bulky lesions. On the contrary, an increase in dnaQ gene expression was observed following treatment with some SOS inducing agents which produces bulky DNA lesions.

DNA Polymerase III↗

The effect of non-ionic surfactants on the SOS-inducing potency of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide in Escherichia coli PQ37.

Various non-ionic surfactants affect the SOS-inducing potency (SOSIP) of the model genotoxin, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, in Escherichia coli PQ37 to varying degrees, as measured by an automated version of the SOS chromotest. While there is little effect on the SOSIP value and other test parameters from Tween 20 and 80 and, with some reservation, Triton X305 and Tyloxapol, over the critical micelle concentration range, the SOSIP value increases in the presence of comparable concentrations of Triton X15, 45 and 100. A possible dependence of the tester strain's beta-galactosidase production and its growth inhibition on the HLB of the non-ionic surfactants added is discussed.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Mutagenic specificity of the (+)anti-diol epoxide of dibenz[a,j]anthracene in the supF gene of an Escherichia coli plasmid.

This study was designed to examine the mutagenic specificity of (+)anti-dibenz[a,j]anthracene 3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide ((+)anti-DB[a,j]A-DE) in SOS-induced repair-proficient Escherichia coli ES87 (delta pro-lac, strA)/F' (pro+, lac1Q, lac1am26, lacZ delta M15). The plasmid pUB3, which contains the mutation target gene, supF, was modified with (+)anti-DB[a,j]A-DE in vitro (two to five adducts/plasmid) and then transformed into bacteria by electroporation. The spontaneous mutation frequency for unmodified pUB3 in uninduced cells was about 2 x 10(-6) and for SOS-induced cells, about 8 x 10(-6). The spontaneous supF- mutations were primarily insertions, deletions, and frameshifts. The mutation frequency for (+)anti-DB[a,j]A-DE-modified pUB3 was about 8 x 10(-6) and about 32 x 10(-6) for uninduced cells and SOS-induced cells, respectively. (+)anti-DB[a,j]A-DE induced primarily point mutations in supF in SOS-induced cells. GC-->AT transitions were the major mutations observed in SOS-induced cells (37%). GC-->TA (21%) and GC-->CG (8.6%) transversion mutations were also observed, whereas mutations at AT base pairs were rare (1.9%). Furthermore, a large number of tandem GC/GC-->AT/AT transition mutations were also observed (about 15% of all mutations in SOS-induced cells). Taken together, single and tandem GC-->AT mutations accounted for slightly over half (about 51%) of the mutations observed in SOS-induced cells. These results demonstrated that (+)anti-DB[a,j]A-DE was mutagenic in repair-proficient E. coli; however, unlike other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that induce primarily transversion mutations, (+)anti-DB[a,j]A-DE caused mostly GC-->AT transitions.

Base Sequence↗

ogt alkyltransferase enhances dibromoalkane mutagenicity in excision repair-deficient Escherichia coli K-12.

We examined the role of the O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase encoded by ogt gene in the sensitivity of Escherichia coli to the mutagenic effects of the dibromoalkanes, dibromoethane and dibromomethane, by comparing responses in ogt- bacteria to those in their isogenic ogt+ parental counterparts. The effects of the uvrABC excision-repair system, the adaptive response, mucAB and umuDC mutagenic processing, and glutathione bioactivation on the differential responses of ogt- and ogt+ bacteria were also studied. Mutation induction was monitored by measuring the frequency of forward mutations to L-arabinose resistance. Induced mutations occurred only in excision repair-defective strains and were totally (with dibromomethane) or substantially (with dibromoethane) dependent on the alkyltransferase (ATase) encoded by the ogt gene. An increased mutagenic response to both dibromoalkanes was also seen in ogt- bacteria that overexpressed the ogt protein from a multicopy plasmid, indicating that the differences in mutability between ogt+ and ogt- bacteria were not dependent on the ogt- null allele carried by the defective strain. The ATase encoded by the constitutive ogt gene was more effective in promoting dibromoalkane mutagenicity than the ada ATase induced by exposure to low doses of a methylating agent. The mutagenicity promoted by the ogt ATase was dependent on both glutathione bioactivation and SOS mutagenic processing. To our knowledge, this paper presents for the first time evidence that DNA ATases, in particular the ATase encoded by the ogt gene, can increase the mutagenic effects of a DNA-damaging agent. The mechanism of this effect has yet to be established.

DNA Repair↗