Primer extension by various polymerases using oligonucleotide templates containing stereoisomeric benzo[a]pyrene-deoxyadenosine adducts.

Four isomeric benzo[a]pyrene-deoxyadenosine adducts, corresponding to the products of trans opening of the epoxide ring in the four configurationally isomeric benzo[a]pyrene dihydrodiol epoxides by the amino group of deoxyadenosine, were separately introduced into each of two 16-mer sequence contexts. The sequences were from the supF gene, and the site of the adducted adenine was known, for some hydrocarbon dihydrodiol epoxides, to be a hotspot for mutation in Context I and a coldspot for mutation in Context II. Using primers complementary to the 3' ends of these oligonucleotides, the abilities of several polymerases to replicate these templates in vitro were investigated. Each adduct proved to be an effective block to primer extension such that only with high concentrations of exo- Klenow fragment was any bypass of adducts seen. DNA polymerase alpha and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase were blocked 3' to the adduct when the configuration at C10 of the hdyrocarbon was S, and some introduction of thymine opposite the adenine adduct was seen with the R configuration. Incorporation of a nucleotide opposite the adduct occurred more readily with Sequenase and the Klenow fragment, and the mutagenic introduction of adenine was apparent in most cases. This corresponded to the A-->T transversions frequently seen in mutation studies with hydrocarbon dihydrodiol epoxides that react extensively with adenine in DNA. Overall, it was clear that sequence context, adduct stereochemistry, and the choice of polymerase all influenced the polymerization reaction. With these in vitro systems, no major differences correlating with the differing tumorigenicities of the isomeric dihydrodiol epoxides or with the hotspot or coldspot nature of the sequences were detected.

Isotope effects on the cleavage of DNA by bleomycin: mechanism and modulation.

Sequence-specific isotope effects on the cleavage of DNA at thymidine residues by activated iron.bleomycin (Fe.BLM) have been observed upon incorporation of [4'-2H]thymidine into the DNA. The effects may be quantitated by end-labeling the DNA with phosphorus-32, generating a sequence ladder by gel electrophoresis, and measuring the relative damage at cleavage sites by autoradiography or phosphorimager technology. Results with DNA deuteriated at other positions of the deoxyribose ring, such as, the 5'- or 2'-carbon, afford no isotope effect suggesting high regiospecificity for the BLM-mediated carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage. The magnitude of the 4'-isotope effects for Fe.BLM ranges from 2 to 7 (+/- 0.3) and is not sensitive to changes in the partition ratio of the two proposed cleavage pathways. However, the isotope effect is sensitive to structural changes in BLM, such as with tallysomycin, and to changes in metal and cleavage mechanism, such as with Co.BLM. The variability of the effects are discussed in light of the factors responsible for the observation of V/K isotope effects. The findings suggest that the kinetics, thermodynamics, and geometry of carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage by Fe.BLM permit the observation of large isotope effects on this chemical step. Fe.BLM may be viewed, therefore, as a special case.

Neocarzinostatin-induced hydrogen atom abstraction from C-4' and C-5' of the T residue at a d(GT) step in oligonucleotides: shuttling between deoxyribose attack sites based on isotope selection effects.

The thiol-activated neocarzinostatin chromophore cleaves duplex oligonucleotides containing the sequence-TGTTTGA-, producing 3'-phosphoglycolate and 3'-phosphate fragments at T, indicating the involvement of 4'- as well as 5'-chemistry at this residue. Substitution of deuterium for hydrogen at the C-4' position of the affected T leads to a kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD) of 4.0 on the formation of the glycolate-ended product, whereas deuterium at C-5' of the same T reveals kH/kD of 1.6 in the formation of the phosphate-ended product. The proportion of the products representing 4'- and 5'-chemistry can be shifted on the basis of isotope selection effects. A second product resulting from 4'-chemistry, the abasic site associated with 4'-hydroxylation, has been identified as an alkali-labile site, and as a pyridazine derivative formed after cleavage by hydrazine. A comparable isotope effect on its production (kH/kD = 3.7) relative to that of 3'-phosphoglycolate production is consistent with a common intermediate, a putative 4'-peroxy radical, in their formation. The formation of both products of 4'-chemistry is oxygen-dependent, and the internal partitioning between them (3'-phosphate or 3'-phosphoglycolate) is influenced by thiols. Moreover, the nitroaromatic radiation sensitizer misonidazole can substitute for dioxygen, yielding 3'-phosphoglycolate and alkali-labile 3'-phosphate ends, indicative of 4'-chemistry. In addition to the internal partitioning of 4'-chemistry, thiols also affect the overall extent of cleavage (4' plus 5') and the relative partitioning between both sites of attack (4' or 5').

Sequence-specific isotope effects on the cleavage of DNA by bleomycin.

Bleomycin is a metal- and oxygen-dependent DNA cleaver. The chemistry of DNA damage has been proposed to involve rate-limiting abstraction of the 4'-hydrogen. A DNA fragment has been prepared that contains [4'-2H]thymidine residues of high isotopic content. Primary kinetic isotope effects have been directly observed at individual thymidine residues with DNA sequencing technology.