Role of homologous recombination in the alpha-particle-induced bystander effect for sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations.

The bystander effect for sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations was examined in hamster cell lines deficient in either DNA-PKcs (V3 cells, deficient in nonhomologous end joining, NHEJ) or RAD51C (irs3 cells, deficient in homologous recombination, HR). Cells synchronized in G0/G1 phase were irradiated with very low fluences of alpha particles such that < 1% of the nuclei were traversed by an alpha particle. Wild-type cells showed a prominent bystander response for SCE induction; an even greater effect was observed in V3 cells. On the other hand, no significant induction of SCE was observed in the irs3 RAD51C-deficient bystander cells irradiated at various stages in the cell cycle. Whereas a marked bystander effect for chromosomal aberrations occurred in V3 cells, the induction of chromosomal aberrations in irs3 bystander cells was minimal and similar to that of wild-type cells. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that HR is essential for the induction of SCE in bystander cells; however, HR is unable to repair the DNA damage induced in NHEJ-deficient bystander cells that leads to either SCE or chromosomal aberrations.

Evidence for simultaneous protein interactions between human Rad51 paralogs.

In yeast, the Rad51-related proteins include Rad55 and Rad57, which form a heterodimer that interacts with Rad51. Five human Rad51 paralogs have been identified (XRCC2, XRCC3, Rad51B/Rad51L1, Rad51C/Rad51L2, and Rad51D/Rad51L3), and each interacts with one or more of the others. Previously we reported that HsRad51 interacts with XRCC3, and Rad51C interacts with XRCC3, Rad51B, and HsRad51. Here we report that in the yeast two-hybrid system, Rad51D interacts with XRCC2 and Rad51C. No other interactions, including self-interactions, were found, indicating that the observed interactions are specific. The yeast Rad51 interacts with human Rad51 and XRCC3, suggesting Rad51 conservation since the human yeast divergence. Data from yeast three-hybrid experiments indicate that a number of the pairs of interactions between human Rad51 paralogs can occur simultaneously. For example, Rad51B expression enhances the binding of Rad51C to XRCC3 and to HsRad51D, and Rad51C expression allows the indirect interaction of Rad51B with Rad51D. Experiments using 6xHis-tagged proteins in the baculovirus system confirm several of our yeast results, including Rad51B interaction with Rad51D only when Rad51C is simultaneously expressed and Rad51C interaction with XRCC2 only when Rad51D is present. These results suggest that these proteins may participate in one complex or multiple smaller ones.

Interfacial activation, lysophospholipase and transacylase activity of group VI Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2.

The Group VI 80-kDa Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) has been purified from murine P388D1 macrophages and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The amino acid sequence of the iPLA2 has been determined and shown to contain a lipase consensus sequence and eight ankyrin repeats, which makes it distinct from Group I-V PLA2s. This enzyme appears to play a key role in mediating basal phospholipid remodeling. We now report that the Group VI iPLA2 displays interfacial activation toward short chain phospholipids, 1-octanoyl-2-heptanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1,2-diheptanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine micelles. ATP protects the iPLA2 from a loss in activity as a result of prolonged incubation during the assay. Hence higher enzyme activity is observed in the presence than in the absence of ATP. Similar protection was obtained with glycerol. In addition, the iPLA2 exhibits multiple activities which are strongly dependent on substrate presentation. The lysophospholipase activity of this enzyme was diminished by Triton X-100 and stimulated by glycerol. With the combination of 50 microM Triton X-100 and 50% glycerol, the enzyme's lysophospholipase activity achieved equivalent activity to its PLA2 activity. The iPLA2 displayed both lysophospholipid/transacylase and phospholipid/transacylase activity, supporting the conclusion that the mechanism of action of iPLA2 proceeds through an acyl-enzyme intermediate as proposed for the Group IV cPLA2.

Irreversible inhibition of Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 by methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate.

Methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP) has been recently reported to be a selective, active-site directed, irreversible inhibitor of the Group IV 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). We have now shown that this compound also potently inhibits the Ca(2+)-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2 (iPLA2). MAFP inhibited iPLA2 in a concentration-dependent manner with half-maximal inhibition observed at 0.5 microM after a 5 min preincubation at 40 degrees C. This inhibition was not reversed upon extensive dilution of the enzyme into the assay mixture. Preincubation of iPLA2 with MAFP resulted in a linear, time-dependent inactivation of enzyme activity, and the enzyme was protected from inactivation by the reversible inhibitor PACOCF3. The ability of MAFP to inhibit the iPLA2 suggests that this enzyme proceeds through an acyl-enzyme intermediate as has been proposed for the cPLA2. Further testing indicated that MAFP did not inhibit the arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent acyltransferase, or CoA-independent transacylase activities from P388D1 cells. Thus, MAFP is not a general inhibitor for enzymes which act on arachidonoyl substrates. Instead, the inhibitor appears to show some selectivity for PLA2, although it does not discriminate between cPLA2 and iPLA2. Particular caution must be exercised to distinguish these activities if this inhibitor is used in intact cells.