scholarly journals Minidumbbell structures formed by ATTCT pentanucleotide repeats in spinocerebellar ataxia type 10

Author(s):  
Pei Guo ◽  
Sik Lok Lam

Abstract Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) is a progressive genetic disorder caused by ATTCT pentanucleotide repeat expansions in intron 9 of the ATXN10 gene. ATTCT repeats have been reported to form unwound secondary structures which are likely linked to large-scale repeat expansions. In this study, we performed high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigations on DNA sequences containing two to five ATTCT repeats. Strikingly, we found the first two repeats of all these sequences well folded into highly compact minidumbbell (MDB) structures. The 3D solution structure of the sequence containing two ATTCT repeats was successfully determined, revealing the MDB comprises a regular TTCTA and a quasi TTCT/A pentaloops with extensive stabilizing loop-loop interactions. We further carried out in vitro primer extension assays to examine if the MDB formed in the primer could escape from the proofreading function of DNA polymerase. Results showed that when the MDB was formed at 5-bp or farther away from the priming site, it was able to escape from the proofreading by Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I and thus retained in the primer. The intriguing structural findings bring about new insights into the origin of genetic instability in SCA10.

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragutin J. Savic ◽  
Scott V. Nguyen ◽  
Kimberly McCullor ◽  
W. Michael McShan

ABSTRACTA large-scale genomic inversion encompassing 0.79 Mb of the 1.816-Mb-longStreptococcus pyogenesserotype M49 strain NZ131 chromosome spontaneously occurs in a minor subpopulation of cells, and in this report genetic selection was used to obtain a stable lineage with this chromosomal rearrangement. This inversion, which drastically displaces theorisite relative to the terminus, changes the relative length of the replication arms so that one replichore is approximately 0.41 Mb while the other is about 1.40 Mb in length. Genomic reversion to the original chromosome constellation is not observed in PCR-monitored analyses after 180 generations of growth in rich medium. Compared to the parental strain, the inversion surprisingly demonstrates a nearly identical growth pattern in the first phase of the exponential phase, but differences do occur when resources in the medium become limited. When cultured separately in rich medium during prolonged stationary phase or in an experimental acute infection animal model (Galleria mellonella), the parental strain and the invertant have equivalent survival rates. However, when they are coincubated together, bothin vitroandin vivo, the survival of the invertant declines relative to the level for the parental strain. The accompanying aspect of the study suggests that inversions taking place nearoriCalways happen to secure the linkage oforiCto DNA sequences responsible for chromosome partition. The biological relevance of large-scale inversions is also discussed.IMPORTANCEBased on our previous work, we created to our knowledge the largest asymmetric inversion, covering 43.5% of theS. pyogenesgenome. In spite of a drastic replacement of origin of replication and the unbalanced size of replichores (1.4 Mb versus 0.41 Mb), the invertant, when not challenged with its progenitor, showed impressive vitality for growthin vitroand in pathogenesis assays. The mutant supports the existing idea that slightly deleterious mutations can provide the setting for secondary adaptive changes. Furthermore, comparative analysis of the mutant with previously published data strongly indicates that even large genomic rearrangements survive provided that the integrity of theoriCand the chromosome partition cluster is preserved.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (22) ◽  
pp. 7828-7838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoqi Liu ◽  
John J. Bissler ◽  
Richard R. Sinden ◽  
Michael Leffak

ABSTRACT Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) is associated with expansion of (ATTCT) n repeats (where n is the number of repeats) within the ataxin 10 (ATX10/E46L) gene. The demonstration that (ATTCT) n tracts can act as DNA unwinding elements (DUEs) in vitro has suggested that aberrant replication origin activity occurs at expanded (ATTCT) n tracts and may lead to their instability. Here, we confirm these predictions. The wild-type ATX10 locus displays inefficient origin activity, but origin activity is elevated at the expanded ATX10 loci in patient-derived cells. To test whether (ATTCT) n tracts can potentiate origin activity, cell lines were constructed that contain ectopic copies of the c-myc replicator in which the essential DUE was replaced by ATX10 DUEs with (ATTCT) n . ATX10 DUEs containing (ATTCT)27 or (ATTCT)48, but not (ATTCT)8 or (ATTCT)13, could substitute functionally for the c-myc DUE, but (ATTCT)48 could not act as an autonomous replicator. Significantly, chimeric c-myc replicators containing ATX10 DUEs displayed length-dependent (ATTCT) n instability. By 250 population doublings, dramatic two- and fourfold length expansions were observed for (ATTCT)27 and (ATTCT)48 but not for (ATTCT)8 or (ATTCT)13. These results implicate replication origin activity as one molecular mechanism associated with the instability of (ATTCT) n tracts that are longer than normal length.


1988 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Muller ◽  
J Martial ◽  
W G Verly

5-Bromo-2′-deoxyuridine triphosphate (Br-dUTP) and dTTP are used interchangeably for DNA synthesis in vitro by the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. When DNA containing Br-dUMP instead of dTMP at a few preselected sites is transfected into competent bacteria, no mutation occurs, indicating that in vivo E. coli DNA polymerase always places a dAMP residue in front of any unrepaired Br-dUMP residue. On the other hand, in vitro Br-dUTP can also replace dCTP, but only with difficulty: when dCTP is absent, Br-dUMP can be forced in front of a dGMP residue, but the Klenow polymerase pauses before and after addition of Br-dUMP. Transfection into E. coli of the substituted DNA leads to the expected G→A transitions. These mutations can easily be targeted by using a suitable primer and the correctly chosen mix of deoxynucleoside triphosphates containing Br-dUTP. When Br-dUMP has been placed in front of a dGMP residue, the mutation yield is not 100%, showing a partial repair of the transfected DNA before it is replicated. Advantage can be taken of this partial repair to prepare a set of different mutations within a target region in a single experiment.


2009 ◽  
Vol 153B (2) ◽  
pp. 524-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana Marisa Ramos ◽  
Sandra Martins ◽  
Isabel Alonso ◽  
Vanessa E. Emmel ◽  
Maria Luiza Saraiva-Pereira ◽  
...  

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (9) ◽  
pp. 3005-3014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nivedita P. Khairnar ◽  
Hari S. Misra

The Deinococcus radiodurans R1 genome encodes an X-family DNA repair polymerase homologous to eukaryotic DNA polymerase β. The recombinant deinococcal polymerase X (PolX) purified from transgenic Escherichia coli showed deoxynucleotidyltransferase activity. Unlike the Klenow fragment of E. coli, this enzyme showed short patch DNA synthesis activity on heteropolymeric DNA substrate. The recombinant enzyme showed 5′-deoxyribose phosphate (5′-dRP) lyase activity and base excision repair function in vitro, with the help of externally supplied glycosylase and AP endonuclease functions. A polX disruption mutant of D. radiodurans expressing 5′-dRP lyase and a truncated polymerase domain was comparatively less sensitive to γ-radiation than a polX deletion mutant. Both mutants showed higher sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. Excision repair mutants of E. coli expressing this polymerase showed functional complementation of UV sensitivity. These results suggest the involvement of deinococcal polymerase X in DNA-damage tolerance of D. radiodurans, possibly by contributing to DNA double-strand break repair and base excision repair.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan-Yun Chen ◽  
Chia-Lang Hsu ◽  
Han-Yi Lin ◽  
Yung-Feng Lin ◽  
Shih-Feng Tsai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Heterozygous pathogenic variants in STUB1 are implicated in autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia type 48 (SCA48), which is a rare familial ataxia disorder. We investigated the clinical, genetic and functional characteristics of STUB1 mutations identified from a Taiwanese ataxia cohort. Methods We performed whole genome sequencing in a genetically undiagnosed family with an autosomal dominant ataxia syndrome. Further Sanger sequencing of all exons and intron–exon boundary junctions of STUB1 in 249 unrelated patients with cerebellar ataxia was performed. The pathogenicity of the identified novel STUB1 variant was investigated. Results We identified a novel heterozygous frameshift variant, c.832del (p.Glu278fs), in STUB1 in two patients from the same family. This rare mutation is located in the U-box of the carboxyl terminus of the Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) protein, which is encoded by STUB1. Further in vitro experiments demonstrated that this novel heterozygous STUB1 frameshift variant impairs the CHIP protein’s activity and its interaction with the E2 ubiquitin ligase, UbE2D1, leading to neuronal accumulation of tau and α-synuclein, caspase-3 activation, and promoting cellular apoptosis through a dominant-negative pathogenic effect. The in vivo study revealed the influence of the CHIP expression level on the differentiation and migration of cerebellar granule neuron progenitors during cerebellar development. Conclusions Our findings provide clinical, genetic, and a mechanistic insight linking the novel heterozygous STUB1 frameshift mutation at the highly conserved U-box domain of CHIP as the cause of autosomal dominant SCA48. Our results further stress the importance of CHIP activity in neuronal protein homeostasis and cerebellar functions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (28) ◽  
pp. 9542-9550
Author(s):  
Alfredo J. Hernandez ◽  
Seung-Joo Lee ◽  
Seungwoo Chang ◽  
Jaehun A. Lee ◽  
Joseph J. Loparo ◽  
...  

Bacteriophage T7 encodes its own DNA polymerase, the product of gene 5 (gp5). In isolation, gp5 is a DNA polymerase of low processivity. However, gp5 becomes highly processive upon formation of a complex with Escherichia coli thioredoxin, the product of the trxA gene. Expression of a gp5 variant in which aspartate residues in the metal-binding site of the polymerase domain were replaced by alanine is highly toxic to E. coli cells. This toxicity depends on the presence of a functional E. coli trxA allele and T7 RNA polymerase-driven expression but is independent of the exonuclease activity of gp5. In vitro, the purified gp5 variant is devoid of any detectable polymerase activity and inhibited DNA synthesis by the replisomes of E. coli and T7 in the presence of thioredoxin by forming a stable complex with DNA that prevents replication. On the other hand, the highly homologous Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I containing an engineered gp5 thioredoxin-binding domain did not exhibit toxicity. We conclude that gp5 alleles encoding inactive polymerases, in combination with thioredoxin, could be useful as a shutoff mechanism in the design of a bacterial cell-growth system.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. SCI-22-SCI-22
Author(s):  
Feng Zhang

Precision genome editing, which can be used to alter specific DNA sequences, is a powerful tool for understanding the molecular circuitry underlying cellular processes. Over the past several years, we and others have harnessed microbial CRISPR-Cas systems for use as platforms for a range of genome manipulations, including single and multiplex gene knockout, gene activation, and large-scale screening applications. Recently, we discovered and characterized several novel CRISPR systems that target RNA, including the CRISPR-Cas13 family. We developed a toolbox for RNA modulation based on Cas13, including methods for highly specific RNA knockdown, transcript imaging, and precision base editing. During our initial characterization of Cas13, we observed that Cas13 also exhibits so-called non-specific "collateral" RNase activity in vitro, which we capitalized on to create SHERLOCK, a highly sensitive and specific CRISPR diagnostic platform. We are continuing to refine and extend CRISPR-based technologies as well as explore microbial diversity to find new enzymes and systems that can be adapted for use as molecular biology tools and novel therapeutics. Disclosures Zhang: Arbor Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Sherlock Biosciences: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Pairwise Plants: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Beam Therapeutics: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Editas Medicine: Consultancy, Equity Ownership.


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