PMID: 27574558

Authors:

O'Flaherty DK, Patra A, Su Y, Guengerich FP, Egli M, Wilds CJ

Title:

Lesion Orientation of O(4)-Alkylthymidine Influences Replication by Human DNA Polymerase eta.

Journal:

Chem Sci. 2016 Aug 1;7(8):4896-4904. doi: 10.1039/C6SC00666C. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Abstract:

DNA lesions that elude repair may undergo translesion synthesis catalyzed by Y-family DNA polymerases. O(4)-Alkylthymidines, persistent adducts that can result from carcinogenic agents, may be encountered by DNA polymerases. The influence of lesion orientation around the C4-O(4) bond on processing by human DNA polymerase eta (hPol eta) was studied for oligonucleotides containing O(4)-methylthymidine, O(4)-ethylthymidine, and analogs restricting the O(4)-methylene group in an anti-orientation. Primer extension assays revealed that the O(4)-alkyl orientation influences hPol eta bypass. Crystal structures of hPol eta*DNA*dNTP ternary complexes with O(4)-methyl- or O(4)-ethylthymidine in the template strand showed the nucleobase of the former lodged near the ceiling of the active site, with the syn-O(4)-methyl group engaged in extensive hydrophobic interactions. This unique arrangement for O(4)-methylthymidine with hPol eta, inaccessible for the other analogs due to steric/conformational restriction, is consistent with differences observed for nucleotide incorporation and supports the concept that lesion conformation influences extension across DNA damage. Together, these results provide mechanistic insights on the mutagenicity of O(4)MedT and O(4)EtdT when acted upon by hPol eta.