Mutational analysis of primosome assembly sites. Evidence for alternative DNA structures.

Primosome assembly sites are complex DNA structures that share common functions (they elicit the DNA-dependent ATPase of replication factor Y from Escherichia coli and serve as origins of complementary strand DNA synthesis), but display little sequence homology. In order to ascertain a common basis for factor Y-DNA recognition, a primosome assembly site and its mutated derivatives have been functionally and structurally analyzed. Under conditions in which they lose the capacity to function as ATPase effectors these DNA templates have been (i) assayed for their ability to bind factor Y, and (ii) probed, with pancreatic DNase, for structural alterations. In this ATPase-inactivating environment (suboptimal concentrations of MgCl2 and NaCl, and high levels of the E. coli single-stranded DNA binding protein), factor Y does not bind to its cognate DNA and the DNase cleavage pattern characteristic of this site is perceptibly changed: compared to the DNase digest obtained under activating conditions, cleavage is notably decreased in the 5' half of the site and enhanced at the 3' end. The results of this study strongly indicate that the structure of the primosome assembly site under analysis consists of two hairpins which interact with each other. When the sites of pancreatic DNase attack are plotted on the proposed double hairpin structure, the 5' cleavage sites all map to one duplex while the 3' sites map to the other. The observation that, under factor Y ATPase-activating conditions, the 3' hairpin is largely refractory to the action of pancreatic DNase indicates that tertiary interactions between the two duplexes render a portion of the DNA structure inaccessible to the nuclease.

The interaction of Escherichia coli replication factor Y with complementary strand origins of DNA replication. Contact points revealed by DNase footprinting and protection from methylation.

A defined region of the viral (+) strand of phi X174 and of each strand of pBR322 DNA serves as an effector for the ATPase activity of replication factor Y from Escherichia coli. These loci can also function as complementary strand origins of DNA replication in a single-stranded circular leads to replicative form pathway whose protein requirements are characteristic of phi X174 DNA. Despite this functional similarity, these three sites possess no extensive sequence homology. To uncover a possible common structural determinant, factor Y recognition sequences were treated with pancreatic DNase or dimethyl sulfate in the presence and absence of this replication protein. When factor Y was present, the action of the nuclease was altered in a similar manner on each of the three templates, indicating that factor Y was bound to the entire length of its effector site. Factor Y-mediated modification of the dimethyl sulfate methylation patterns gave evidence of specific, tight protein-DNA contacts. Protection maps, devised by plotting the results of the methylation and footprinting experiments on duplex structures, suggest that tertiary interactions are either involved in the formation of a factor Y effector site or are induced by the binding of the protein.

N6-(Methylnitroso)adenosine: a carcinogen from a nucleic acid component.

Substituted aminopurines in nucleic acids may be nitrosated to yield carcinogenic nitrosaminopurines. To investigate this possibility, we studied the nitrosation of N6-methyladenosine under conditions simulating the gastric environment. We administered the product of this reaction, N6-(methylnitroso)adenosine (m6(NO)Ado), parenterally and orally to mice. A high incidence of thymic lymphomas, lung adenomas and some liver tumours were found in mice given m6(NO)Ado i.p. during early life. Oral administration of m6(NO)Ado to adult mice resulted in the formation of reproductive system tumours in 80% of the exposed female mice, as well as lung tumours in both sexes. The precursors of m6(NO)Ado (m6Ado and nitrite) did not elevate tumour incidence when given separately, but resulted in a significant increase in numbers of lung tumours in males when administered together. The nitrosamine base, N6-(methylnitroso)-adenine, was found to be a less potent carcinogen than m6(NO)Ado, causing lung tumours only in males and possibly a few mammary tumours in females. These results indicate the in vivo formation of a carcinogen from the precursors, N6-methyladenosine and nitrite, and show that m6(NO)Ado induces neoplasms in the reproductive system of mice, an unusual target for an N-nitroso carcinogen. Complete inhibition of nitrosaminopurine formation in vitro was obtained with ascorbic acid.

Induction of reproductive system tumors in mice by N6-(methylnitroso)-adenosine and a tumorigenic effect of its combined precursors.

Interaction of the naturally-occurring nucleoside, N6-methyl adenosine, with nitrite, a reaction that occurs readily under acidic conditions, results in the formation of a nitrosamine, N6-(methylnitroso) adenosine[m6(NO)Ado]. This nitrosamine was given in the drinking water (1 mM solution) of non-inbred Swiss mice from 3 weeks of age until death. It caused a significant increase in the incidence of primary lung tumors, compared with controls. It also induced reproductive tract tumors in 80% of the exposed females, including mammary tumors in 60% and uterine tumors in 25%. The precursors of m6(NO) Ado, m6Ado and nitrite, did not elevate tumor incidence when given singly, but when administered together resulted in a significant increase in numbers of lung tumors in the males. The nitrosamine base, N6-(methylnitroso)adenine, was found to be a less potent carcinogen than m6(NO)Ado, causing lung tumors only in males and possibly a few mammary tumors in females. These results indicate the in vivo formation of a carcinogen from m6Ado and nitrite, and show that m6(NO)Ado induces neoplasms in the reproductive system of mice, an unusual target for a N-nitroso carcinogen.

N6(Methylnitroso)adenosine: a carcinogenic nitrosamine derived from a naturally-occurring nucleoside.

N6(Methylnitroso) adenosine (M6(NO)Ado) is found readily under acidic conditions by the interaction of nitrite with 6-methyladenosine, a naturally-occurring nucleoside. Swiss mice were treated with M6(NO)Ado by injection (40 mg/kg each treatment) transplacentally and then as newborns and young adults. The incidences of lymphomas, primary lung tumors, and hepatic neoplasms were significantly greater in these treated animals than in controls. These results demonstrate the tumorigenicity of M6(NO)Ado.