The role of mismatched nucleotides in activating the hMSH2-hMSH6 molecular switch.

We have previously shown that hMSH2-hMSH6 contains an intrinsic ATPase which is activated by mismatch-provoked ADP-->ATP exchange that coordinately induces the formation of a sliding clamp capable of hydrolysis-independent diffusion along the DNA backbone (1,2). These studies suggested that mismatch repair could be propagated by a signaling event transduced via diffusion of ATP-bound hMSH2-hMSH6 molecular switches to the DNA repair machinery. The Molecular Switch model (Fishel, R. (1998) Genes Dev. 12, 2096-2101) is considerably different than the Hydrolysis-Driven Translocation model (Blackwell, L. J., Martik, D., Bjornson, K. P., Bjornson, E. S., and Modrich, P. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 32055-32062) and makes additional testable predictions beyond the demonstration of hydrolysis-independent diffusion (Gradia, S., Subramanian, D., Wilson, T., Acharya, S., Makhov, A., Griffith, J., and Fishel, R. (1999) Mol. Cell 3, 255-261): (i) individual mismatch-provoked ADP-->ATP exchange should be unique and rate-limiting, and (ii) the k(cat x DNA) for the DNA-stimulated ATPase activity should decrease with increasing chain length. Here we have examined hMSH2-hMSH6 affinity and ATPase stimulatory activity for several DNA substrates containing mispaired nucleotides as well as the chain length dependence of a defined mismatch under physiological conditions. We find that the results are most consistent with the predictions of the Molecular Switch model.

hMSH2-hMSH6 forms a hydrolysis-independent sliding clamp on mismatched DNA.

Mismatch recognition by the human MutS homologs hMSH2-hMSH6 is regulated by adenosine nucleotide binding, supporting the hypothesis that it functions as a molecular switch. Here we show that ATP-induced release of hMSH2-hMSH6 from mismatched DNA is prevented if the ends are blocked or if the DNA is circular. We demonstrate that mismmatched DNA provokes ADP-->ATP exchange, resulting in a discernible conformational transition that converts hMSH2-hMSH6 into a sliding clamp capable of hydrolysis-independent diffusion along the DNA backbone. Our results support a model for bidirectional mismatch repair in which stochastic loading of multiple ATP-bound hMSH2-hMSH6 sliding clamps onto mismatch-containing DNA leads to activation of the repair machinery and/or other signaling effectors similar to G protein switches.

Interactions of human hMSH2 with hMSH3 and hMSH2 with hMSH6: examination of mutations found in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Mutations in the human mismatch repair protein hMSH2 have been found to cosegregate with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Previous biochemical and physical studies have shown that hMSH2 forms specific mispair binding complexes with hMSH3 and hMSH6. We have further characterized these protein interactions by mapping the contact regions within the hMSH2-hMSH3 and the hMSH2-hMSH6 heterodimers. We demonstrate that there are at least two distinct interaction regions of hMSH2 with hMSH3 and hMSH2 with hMSH6. Interestingly, the interaction regions of hMSH2 with either hMSH3 or hMSH6 are identical and there is a coordinated linear orientation of these regions. We examined several missense alterations of hMSH2 found in HNPCC kindreds that are contained within the consensus interaction regions. None of these missense mutations displayed a defect in protein-protein interaction. These data support the notion that these HNPCC-associated mutations may affect some other function of the heterodimeric complexes than simply the static interaction of hMSH2 with hMSH3 or hMSH2 with hMSH6.

The human mismatch recognition complex hMSH2-hMSH6 functions as a novel molecular switch.

The mechanism of DNA mismatch repair has been modeled upon biochemical studies of the E. coli DNA adenine methylation-instructed pathway where the initial recognition of mismatched nucleotides is performed by the MutS protein. MutS homologs (MSH) have been identified based on a highly conserved region containing a Walker-A adenine nucleotide binding motif. Here we show that adenine nucleotide binding and hydrolysis by the human mismatch recognition complex hMSH2-hMSH6 functions as a novel molecular switch. The hMSH2-hMSH6 complex is ON (binds mismatched nucleotides) in the ADP-bound form and OFF in the ATP-bound form. These results suggest a new model for the function of MutS proteins during mismatch repair in which the switch determines the timing of downstream events.

hMSH2 forms specific mispair-binding complexes with hMSH3 and hMSH6.

The genetic and biochemical properties of three human MutS homologues, hMSH2, hMSH3, and hMSH6, have been examined. The full-length hMSH6 cDNA and genomic locus were isolated and characterized, and it was demonstrated that the hMSH6 gene consisted of 10 exons and mapped to chromosome 2p15-16. The hMSH3 cDNA was in some cases found to contain a 27-bp deletion resulting in a loss of nine amino acids, depending on the individual from which the cDNA was isolated. hMSH2, hMSH3, and hMSH6 all showed similar tissue-specific expression patterns. hMSH2 protein formed a complex with both hMSH3 and hMSH6 proteins, similar to protein complexes demonstrated by studies of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MSH2, MSH3, and MSH6. hMSH2 was also found to form a homomultimer complex, but neither hMSH3 nor hMSH6 appear to interact with themselves or each other. Analysis of the mismatched nucleotide-binding specificity of the hMSH2-hMSH3 and hMSH2-hMSH6 protein complexes showed that they have overlapping but not identical binding specificity. These results help to explain the distribution of mutations in different mismatch-repair genes seen in hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer.

Expression of a 32 kDa protein in rat mammary tumors induced by anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide.

Racemic anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide (BcPDE) is a powerful rat mammary carcinogen and a metabolite of benzo[c]phenanthrene, a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon found in the environment. In elucidating potential molecular mechanisms that may play a role in the development of BcPDE-induced rat mammary tumors, we have identified a 32 kDa protein in 16 of 26 tumors analyzed but in only 1 of the 15 normal mammary tissues that were examined. The 32 kDa protein was identified with antibodies to Ets, which also recognized the 55 kDa Ets-1 protein that was expressed at similar levels in normal mammary tissues. The expression of the 32 kDa protein was also observed in mammary tumor-derived cell lines of both rat and human origin and in human melanoma, but not in normal human keratinocytes or rat fibroblast cell lines. Further characterization via 2D gels revealed that the protein exhibits a PI of 5.5. Southwestern analysis using Ets-1 target sequence revealed binding of the 55 kDa Ets-1 but not of the newly identified 32 kDa protein. Overall, the preferential expression of the 32 kDa protein in mammary tumor tissues may serve as a biomarker to follow the development of this tumor type.

Contrasting incidence of ras mutations in rat mammary and mouse skin tumors induced by anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide.

Racemic anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide (anti-B[c]PhDE) is a powerful rat mammary carcinogen and is one of the most potent diol-epoxide tumorigens in mouse skin. Activation of ras genes has been proposed to be involved in tumorigenesis by this and related polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites. Therefore, we analyzed rat mammary tumors and mouse skin tumors induced by anti-B[c]PhDE for mutations at codons 12, 13 and 61 of the Ki-ras and Ha-ras genes. No Ki-ras mutations were detected in either tumor type. In the rat mammary tumors, no Ha-ras mutations in codons 12 or 13 were observed in 25 tumors analyzed. Only one, a CAA-->CTA mutation, was detected in codon 61, of 42 tumors analyzed. These results indicate that Ki-ras and Ha-ras mutations are not involved in the induction of rat mammary tumors by anti-B[c]PhDE. Mutations in codon 61 of the Ha-ras gene were common, however, in mouse skin tumors induced by this diol-epoxide, being detected in 63% of the tumors analyzed; 90% of these mutations were CAA-->CTA. A dose-dependent difference in the occurrence of the CAA-->CTA mutations was observed; they were present in 75% of the tumors induced by a 100 nmol initiating dose of the diol-epoxide, but in only 34.5% of the tumors induced by a 400 nmol initiating dose. A CAA-->CTA mutation in codon 61 of Ha-ras was also detected in one of four acetone control tumors. In comparison with previous studies of other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and their metabolites, the results suggest that the reactivity with DNA of anti-B[c]PhDE is one factor involved in the induction of A mutations in Ha-ras genes in mouse skin, but further studies are required to evaluate the significance of these mutations in mouse skin tumorigenesis.

Detection of k-ras mutation in normal and malignant colonic tissues by an enriched PCR method.

ras oncogene mutations appear in over 50% of colon tumors in humans. Studies in animal systems have revealed that ras mutations are also present in preneoplastic lesions, suggesting the possibility of early detection of ras mutation in morphologically normal colon tissues for diagnostic purposes. An Enriched PCR, developed by us, eliminates most of the normal ras alleles prior to amplification; subsequent analysis via RFLP enables the detection of one mutant allele within 10(4) normal alleles. Using the Enriched PCR, we have determined the frequency of mutant ras alleles in normal mucosae and in adenomatous polyps of patients with or without adenocarcinoma. Of the 42 patients who had colon tumors, 15 were found to harbor K-ras oncogene mutation (35%). In two of the 14 cases with mutant K-ras in the tumor tissue we were able to identify mutations in tissues that had been obtained from a site at considerable distance from the tumor (13%); Analysis of 7 adenomas identified one as a carrier of the mutant ras allele (14%). Of 11 normal colonic mucosa obtained from patients without neoplasia, one specimen contained K-ras mutation. Thus, mutated alleles of K-ras may be present, at low frequency, throughout the 'normal appearing' tissue. Cells of normal appearance that harbor such mutation, have the potential to undergo further changes and to develop into the transformed phenotype. Overall, our findings suggest that mutant ras alleles can be detected in preneoplastic mucosa that is morphologically normal, and in adenomas, suggesting the occurrence of an initiation event, and possibly enabling the identification of patients who may be at high risk for developing malignant tumors.

G to A transitions and G to T transversions in codon 12 of the Ki-ras oncogene isolated from mouse lung tumors induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and related DNA methylating and pyridyloxobutylating agents.

Lung tumors were induced in A/J mice by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and the related compounds acetoxymethylmethylnitrosamine (AMMN) and 4-acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc). NNK both methylates and pyridyloxobutylates DNA while AMMN and NNKOAc only methylate or pyridyloxobutylate DNA, respectively. The lung tumors were analyzed for mutations in the Ki-ras oncogene by PCR amplification followed by either restriction fragment length polymorphism, hybridization, or sequencing procedures. NNK induced GGT to GAT mutations in codon 12 (26 of 28 samples analyzed). AMMN induced GGT to GAT mutations in 18 of 18 samples. In contrast, NNKOAc induced a variety of changes including GGT to GAT (8/21), GGT to TGT (5/21) and GGT to GTT (4/21) mutations. These results demonstrate that DNA methylation causes mainly G to A transitions in the Ki-ras gene of A/J mouse lung tumors, consistent with previous results and a role for O6-methyl-guanine, while DNA pyridyloxobutylation induces G to A transitions as well as G to T transversions, perhaps due to the steric bulk of the adducts which are formed. The results are discussed with respect to mutations observed in rodent and human lung tumors.