scholarly journals Photoinduced DNA Lesions in Dormant Bacteria. The Peculiar Route Leading to Spore Photoproduct Unraveled by Multiscale Molecular Dynamics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Francés-Monerris ◽  
Cécilia Hognon ◽  
Thierry Douki ◽  
Antonio Monari
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Uv Radiation ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Free Energy Barrier ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Spore Photoproduct ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Some bacterial species enter a dormant state in the form of spores to resist to unfavorable external conditions. Spores are resistant to a wide series of stress agents, including UV radiation, and can last for tens to hundreds of years. Due to the suspension of biological functions such as DNA repair, they accumulate DNA damage upon exposure to UV radiation. Differently from active organisms, the most common DNA photoproduct in spores are not cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, but rather the so-called spore photoproduct. This non-canonical photochemistry results from the dry state of DNA and the binding to small acid soluble proteins that drastically modify the structure and photoreactivity of the nucleic acid. In this contribution, we use multiscale molecular dynamics simulations including extended classical molecular dynamics and QM/MM biased dynamics to elucidate the coupling of electronic and structural factors leading to this photochemical outcome. In particular, we rationalize the well-described impact of the peculiar DNA environment found in spores on the favored formation of the spore photoproduct, given the small free energy barrier found for this path. Meanwhile, the specific organization of spore DNA precludes the photochemical path leading to cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers formation.TOC GRAPHICS

Molecular Basis of Glucose Transport Mechanism in Plants

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji Selvam ◽  
Ya-Chi Yu ◽  
Liqing Chen ◽  
Diwakar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Free Energy ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transport Mechanism ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Free Energy Barrier ◽  
Transport Cycle ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

<p>The SWEET family belongs to a class of transporters in plants that undergoes large conformational changes to facilitate transport of sugar molecules across the cell membrane. However, the structures of their functionally relevant conformational states in the transport cycle have not been reported. In this study, we have characterized the conformational dynamics and complete transport cycle of glucose in OsSWEET2b transporter using extensive molecular dynamics simulations. Using Markov state models, we estimated the free energy barrier associated with different states as well as 1 for the glucose the transport mechanism. SWEETs undergoes structural transition to outward-facing (OF), Occluded (OC) and inward-facing (IF) and strongly support alternate access transport mechanism. The glucose diffuses freely from outside to inside the cell without causing major conformational changes which means that the conformations of glucose unbound and bound snapshots are exactly same for OF, OC and IF states. We identified a network of hydrophobic core residues at the center of the transporter that restricts the glucose entry to the cytoplasmic side and act as an intracellular hydrophobic gate. The mechanistic predictions from molecular dynamics simulations are validated using site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Our simulation also revealed hourglass like intermediate states making the pore radius narrower at the center. This work provides new fundamental insights into how substrate-transporter interactions actively change the free energy landscape of the transport cycle to facilitate enhanced transport activity.</p>

scholarly journals pH-Dependent cooperativity and existence of a dry molten globule in the folding of a miniprotein BBL

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 3523-3530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Yue ◽  
Jana Shen
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Energy Barrier ◽  
Molten Globule ◽  
Free Energy Barrier ◽  
Molten Globule State ◽  
Constant Ph ◽  
Ph Dependent ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Constant Ph Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Folding Free Energy

Constant pH molecular dynamics simulations of BBL reveals negligible folding free energy barrier that is pH dependent and a sparsely populated dry molten globule state.

scholarly journals Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers are predominant DNA lesions in whole human skin exposed to UVA radiation

2006 ◽  
Vol 103 (37) ◽  
pp. 13765-13770 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mouret ◽  
C. Baudouin ◽  
M. Charveron ◽  
A. Favier ◽  
J. Cadet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Skin ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Uva Radiation

scholarly journals Spore Photoproduct (SP) Lyase from Bacillus subtilisSpecifically Binds to and Cleaves SP (5-Thyminyl-5,6-Dihydrothymine) but Not Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers in UV-Irradiated DNA

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (22) ◽  
pp. 6412-6417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony A. Slieman ◽  
Roberto Rebeil ◽  
Wayne L. Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Factor Xa ◽  
Dnase I ◽  
Single Pair ◽  
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Dnase I Footprinting ◽  
Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Spore Photoproduct ◽  
Helical Turn ◽  
Overexpression System

The predominant photolesion in the DNA of UV-irradiated dormant bacterial spores is the thymine dimer 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine, commonly referred to as spore photoproduct (SP). A major determinant of SP repair during spore germination is its direct reversal by the enzyme SP lyase, encoded by the splB gene in Bacillus subtilis. SplB protein containing an N-terminal tag of six histidine residues [(6His)SplB] was purified from dormant B. subtilis spores and shown to efficiently cleave SP but not cyclobutane cis,syn thymine-thymine dimers in vitro. In contrast, SplB protein containing an N-terminal 10-histidine tag [(10His)SplB] purified from an Escherichia colioverexpression system was incompetent to cleave SP unless the 10-His tag was first removed by proteolysis at an engineered factor Xa site. To assay the parameters of binding of SplB protein to UV-damaged DNA, a 35-bp double-stranded oligonucleotide was constructed which carried a single pair of adjacent thymines on one strand. Irradiation of the oligonucleotide in aqueous solution or at 10% relative humidity resulted in formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (Py◊Py) or SP, respectively. (10His)SplB was assayed for oligonucleotide binding using a DNase I protection assay. In the presence of (10His)SplB, the SP-containing oligonucleotide was selectively protected from DNase I digestion (half-life, >60 min), while the Py◊Py-containing oligonucleotide and the unirradiated oligonucleotide were rapidly digested by DNase I (half-lives, 6 and 9 min, respectively). DNase I footprinting of (10His)SplB bound to the artificial substrate was carried out utilizing the 32P end-labeled 35-bp oligonucleotide containing SP. DNase I footprinting showed that SplB protected at least a 9-bp region surrounding SP from digestion with DNase I with the exception of two DNase I-hypersensitive sites within the protected region. (10His)SplB also caused significant enhancement of DNase I digestion of the SP-containing oligonucleotide for at least a full helical turn 3′ to the protected region. The data suggest that binding of SP lyase to SP causes significant bending or distortion of the DNA helix in the vicinity of the lesion.

Molecular Basis of Glucose Transport Mechanism in Plants

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji Selvam ◽  
Ya-Chi Yu ◽  
Liqing Chen ◽  
Diwakar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Free Energy ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transport Mechanism ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Free Energy Barrier ◽  
Transport Cycle ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

<p>The SWEET family belongs to a class of transporters in plants that undergoes large conformational changes to facilitate transport of sugar molecules across the cell membrane. However, the structures of their functionally relevant conformational states in the transport cycle have not been reported. In this study, we have characterized the conformational dynamics and complete transport cycle of glucose in OsSWEET2b transporter using extensive molecular dynamics simulations. Using Markov state models, we estimated the free energy barrier associated with different states as well as 1 for the glucose the transport mechanism. SWEETs undergoes structural transition to outward-facing (OF), Occluded (OC) and inward-facing (IF) and strongly support alternate access transport mechanism. The glucose diffuses freely from outside to inside the cell without causing major conformational changes which means that the conformations of glucose unbound and bound snapshots are exactly same for OF, OC and IF states. We identified a network of hydrophobic core residues at the center of the transporter that restricts the glucose entry to the cytoplasmic side and act as an intracellular hydrophobic gate. The mechanistic predictions from molecular dynamics simulations are validated using site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Our simulation also revealed hourglass like intermediate states making the pore radius narrower at the center. This work provides new fundamental insights into how substrate-transporter interactions actively change the free energy landscape of the transport cycle to facilitate enhanced transport activity.</p>

scholarly journals Two Photolyases Repair Distinct DNA Lesions and Reactivate UVB-Inactivated Conidia of an Insect Mycopathogen under Visible Light

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ding-Yi Wang ◽  
Bo Fu ◽  
Sen-Miao Tong ◽  
Sheng-Hua Ying ◽  
Ming-Guang Feng
Keyword(s):  
Visible Light ◽  
Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Uvb Irradiation ◽  
Pyrimidine Dimers

ABSTRACT Fungal conidia serve as active ingredients of fungal insecticides but are sensitive to solar UV irradiation, which impairs double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) by inducing the production of cytotoxic cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and (6-4)-pyrimidine-pyrimidine photoproducts (6-4PPs). This study aims to elucidate how CPD photolyase (Phr1) and 6-4PP photolyase (Phr2) repair DNA damage and photoreactivate UVB-inactivated cells in Beauveria bassiana, a main source of fungal insecticides. Both Phr1 and Phr2 are proven to exclusively localize in the fungal nuclei. Despite little influence on growth, conidiation, and virulence, singular deletions of phr1 and phr2 resulted in respective reductions of 38% and 19% in conidial tolerance to UVB irradiation, a sunlight component most harmful to formulated conidia. CPDs and 6-4PPs accumulated significantly more in the cells of Δphr1 and Δphr2 mutants than in those of a wild-type strain under lethal UVB irradiation and were largely or completely repaired by Phr1 in the Δphr2 mutant and Phr2 in the Δphr1 mutant after optimal 5-h exposure to visible light. Consequently, UVB-inactivated conidia of the Δphr1 and Δphr2 mutants were much less efficiently photoreactivated than were the wild-type counterparts. In contrast, overexpression of either phr1 or phr2 in the wild-type strain resulted in marked increases in both conidial UVB resistance and photoreactivation efficiency. These findings indicate essential roles of Phr1 and Phr2 in photoprotection of B. bassiana from UVB damage and unveil exploitable values of both photolyase genes for improved UVB resistance and application strategy of fungal insecticides. IMPORTANCE Protecting fungal cells from damage from solar UVB irradiation is critical for development and application of fungal insecticides but is mechanistically not understood in Beauveria bassiana, a classic insect pathogen. We unveil that two intranuclear photolyases, Phr1 and Phr2, play essential roles in repairing UVB-induced dsDNA lesions through respective decomposition of cytotoxic cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4)-pyrimidine-pyrimidine photoproducts, hence reactivating UVB-inactivated cells effectively under visible light. Our findings shed light on the high potential of both photolyase genes for use in improving UVB resistance and application strategy of fungal insecticides.

scholarly journals An alternative eukaryotic DNA excision repair pathway.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 4572-4577 ◽  
Author(s):  
G A Freyer ◽  
S Davey ◽  
J V Ferrer ◽  
A M Martin ◽  
D Beach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Repair ◽  
Excision Repair ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Repair Process ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Repair Pathway ◽  
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Dna Excision Repair ◽  
Pyrimidine Dimers

DNA lesions induced by UV light, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, and (6-4)pyrimidine pyrimidones are known to be repaired by the process of nucleotide excision repair (NER). However, in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, studies have demonstrated that at least two mechanisms for excising UV photo-products exist; NER and a second, previously unidentified process. Recently we reported that S. pombe contains a DNA endonuclease, SPDE, which recognizes and cleaves at a position immediately adjacent to cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4)pyrimidine pyrimidones. Here we report that the UV-sensitive S. pombe rad12-502 mutant lacks SPDE activity. In addition, extracts prepared from the rad12-502 mutant are deficient in DNA excision repair, as demonstrated in an in vitro excision repair assay. DNA repair activity was restored to wild-type levels in extracts prepared from rad12-502 cells by the addition of partially purified SPDE to in vitro repair reaction mixtures. When the rad12-502 mutant was crossed with the NER rad13-A mutant, the resulting double mutant was much more sensitive to UV radiation than either single mutant, demonstrating that the rad12 gene product functions in a DNA repair pathway distinct from NER. These data directly link SPDE to this alternative excision repair process. We propose that the SPDE-dependent DNA repair pathway is the second DNA excision repair process present in S. pombe.

Relating Clay Structural Factors to Dioxin Adsorption by Smectites: Molecular Dynamics Simulations

2012 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cun Liu ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Cliff T. Johnston ◽  
Stephen A. Boyd ◽  
Brian J. Teppen
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

scholarly journals Archaeal replicative primases can perform translesion DNA synthesis

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (7) ◽  
pp. E633-E638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislaw K. Jozwiakowski ◽  
Farimah Borazjani Gholami ◽  
Aidan J. Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Translesion Dna Synthesis ◽  
Template Strand ◽  
Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Translesion Dna ◽  
Y Family

DNA replicases routinely stall at lesions encountered on the template strand, and translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) is used to rescue progression of stalled replisomes. This process requires specialized polymerases that perform translesion DNA synthesis. Although prokaryotes and eukaryotes possess canonical TLS polymerases (Y-family Pols) capable of traversing blocking DNA lesions, most archaea lack these enzymes. Here, we report that archaeal replicative primases (Pri S, primase small subunit) can also perform TLS. Archaeal Pri S can bypass common oxidative DNA lesions, such as 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosines and UV light-induced DNA damage, faithfully bypassing cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Although it is well documented that archaeal replicases specifically arrest at deoxyuracils (dUs) due to recognition and binding to the lesions, a replication restart mechanism has not been identified. Here, we report that Pri S efficiently replicates past dUs, even in the presence of stalled replicase complexes, thus providing a mechanism for maintaining replication bypass of these DNA lesions. Together, these findings establish that some replicative primases, previously considered to be solely involved in priming replication, are also TLS proficient and therefore may play important roles in damage tolerance at replication forks.

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