A specific transcriptional response of yeast cells to camptothecin dependent on the Swi4 and Mbp1 factors.

Topoisomerase I (Top1) is the specific target of the anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) that interferes with enzyme activity promoting Top1-mediated DNA breaks and inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis. To define the specific transcriptional response to CPT, we have determined the CPT-altered transcription profiles in yeast by using a relatively low concentration of the drug. CPT could alter global expression profiles only if a catalytically active Top1p was expressed in the cell, demonstrating that drug interference with Top1 was the sole trigger of the response. A total of 95 genes showed a statistically-significant alterations. Gene Ontology term analyses suggested that the cell response was mainly to the inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis and cell cycle progression. Promoter sequence analyses of the 22 up-regulated genes and expression studies in gene-deleted strains showed that the transcription factors, Swi4p and Mbp1p, mediate at least partially the transcriptional response to CPT. The MBP1 gene deletion abrogates a transient cell growth delay caused by CPT whereas the SWI4 gene deletion increases yeast resistance to CPT. Thus, the findings show that yeast cells have a highly selective and sensitive transcriptional response to CPT depending on SWI4 and MBP1 genes suggesting a complex regulation of cell cycle progression by the two factors in the presence of CPT.

Global transcription regulation by DNA topoisomerase I in exponentially growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells: activation of telomere-proximal genes by TOP1 deletion.

To establish the cellular functions of DNA topoisomerase I-B (Top1p) at a global level, we have determined the expression profiles and histone modification patterns affected by TOP1 gene deletion (DeltaTOP1) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In exponentially growing cells, DeltaTOP1 specifically increases transcription of telomere-proximal genes and decreases glucose utilization and energy production pathways. Immunoprecipitation data demonstrate that Top1p can bind to and is catalytically active at telomeric DNA repeats, and that both DeltaTOP1 and an inactive Y727F Top1p mutant increase H4 histone acetylation at telomere-proximal regions. Interestingly, while the Y727F mutation has no influence on enzyme recruitment to chromatin sites, it has a marked effect on H4 K16 acetylation at subtelomeric regions. The Top1p mutation also increases H3 histone K4 dimethylation, which has been associated with gene transcription, at 3' termini of subtelomeric genes. No major effect of DeltaTOP1 or mutation was detected on Sir3p recruitment; however, DeltaTOP1 has an effect on transcript levels of genes known to regulate telomeric silencing. Thus, the findings indicate that Top1p activity can favor both a repressed chromatin organization and a reduced gene expression level at telomere-proximal regions in yeast. As telomere-proximal regions are known to be enriched for stress-activated genes, our findings show that Top1p can optimize transcript levels for cell growth in exponentially growing cells under a synthetic medium with glucose.

DNA topoisomerase i as a transcription protein and a lethal cellular toxin.

DNA topoisomerase I constitutes a significant relaxing activity in nuclei of eukaryotic cells. The enzyme acts during several DNA transactions involving the generation of torsional stress in the DNA template. Moreover, antitumor agents targeting DNA topoisomerase I are used in the treatment of human cancers with significant clinical outcome. Major progress has been attained in recent years in the understanding of the basic cellular functions of DNA topoisomerase I. In particular, the consequences of topoisomerase I activity during transcription have been extensively investigated and constitute still a very active research area. Understanding of topoisomerase I inhibitors emphasizes drug activity against the enzyme, however the high drug potency cannot be explained by the DNA damage outcome only. Even though the understanding of enzyme structure has progressed in last years, however more insights into the activity of topoisomerase I poisons have not been achieved yet. Here, we will review landmark investigations on topoisomerase I involvement in different stages of the transcription process, addressing both enzyme functions as well as drug effects on molecular processes. Moreover, we will discuss recent findings on the targeting of topoisomerase I to pre-selected sites in transcribed chromatin by fusion to a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein domain.

The effects of camptothecin on RNA polymerase II transcription: roles of DNA topoisomerase I.

Eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I is active in transcribed chromatin domains to modulate transcription-generated DNA torsional tension. Camptothecin and other agents targeting DNA topoisomerase I are used in the treatment of human solid cancers with significant clinical efficacy. Major progress has been achieved in recent years in the understanding of enzyme structures and basic cellular functions of DNA topoisomerase I. Nevertheless, the precise enzyme functions and mechanisms during transcription-related processes remain unclear. The current understanding of the molecular action of camptothecin emphasizes the drug action against the enzyme and the production of irreversible breaks in the cellular DNA. However, the high drug potency is hardly fully explained by the DNA damage outcome only. In the recent past, several unexpected findings have been reported in relation to the role of eukaryotic topoisomerase I during transcription. In particular, the function of DNA topoisomerase I and the molecular effects of its inhibition on transcription-coupled processes constitute a very active research area. Here, we will briefly review relevant investigations on topoisomerase I involvement in different stages of transcription, discussing both enzyme functions and drug effects on molecular processes.

Early effects of topoisomerase I inhibition on RNA polymerase II along transcribed genes in human cells.

We have determined the early effects of camptothecin and alpha-amanitin on genomic DNA-binding sites of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), TATA-binding protein (TBP), DNA topoisomerase I (Top1), and histone components in human transcribed loci by chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The two agents caused notably different alterations in active chromatin. Camptothecin induced a specific reduction of RNAPII density at promoter pause sites and histone modifications suggesting an increased chromatin accessibility. alpha-Amanitin caused an accumulation of RNAPII at transcribed genes, a reduction of TBP bound to chromatin and a less accessible chromatin structure. Interestingly, RNAPII reduction at promoter pause sites occurred within 5-10min of camptothecin treatment, and was not a response to replication-dependent DNA breaks. ChIP analyses of RNAPII along transcribed genes indicated that RNAPII levels were transiently increased at internal exons, and that camptothecin effects could be fully reversed by DRB, a cdk inhibitor. Top1 was found to be enriched in active chromatin, therefore suggesting that Top1 inhibition at the transcribed template and/or adjacent regulating regions immediately affects RNAPII at active genes. The findings are novel in vivo evidence of camptothecin effects on RNAPII bound to transcribing genomic regions, and are consistent with the hypothesis that Top1 activity can be involved in transcription regulation at the level of promoter clearance.