The broad goal of this study is to investigate the chromosomal consequences of cell's inability to maintain the three critical aspects of the DNA precursors pools: their quantity, their balance and their purity. Quality of DNA precursor pools has been long recognized for its important role in avoidance of mutagenesis, which is significant for evolution of any species. Recently, we have argued for a more immediate consequence of limited, imbalanced or contaminated DNA precursor pools, which is formation of chromosomal lesions that threaten cell's survival and that require complex DNA mending system called recombinational repair. We have proposed two general models of how base analog incorporation into DNA could lead to chromosomal fragmentation that requires recombinational repair. In our previous work, we identified uracil and hypoxanthine as the major base analogs contaminating DNA precursor pools in E. coli. At the same time, the identity and the sources of other natural base analogs contaminating DNA precursor pools remain unknown. Moreover, even though DNA precursor pool imbalance at first leads to reparable chromosomal lesions, it eventually generates irreparable chromosomal lesions of unknown nature. Our recent observations provide insights into the possible scenarios leading to irreparable chromosomal lesions and into the nature of these lesions, while introduction of genome analysis presents an opportunity to identify the most affected parts of the chromosome.
Aim 1 of this study addresses specific mechanisms of chromosomal fragmentation, induced by hypoxanthine, uracil or fluorouracil.
Aim 2 focuses on characterization of the mysterious origin DNA disappearance during thymine starvation, coinciding with thymineless death.
Aim 3 tests our recently-proposed multi-stage model for thymineless death, which begins with stalling of the existing replication forks, proceeds through unknown number of intermediate stages and ends with the replication origin destruction. Collectively, this work will emphasize the importance to keep DNA precursor pools plentiful, balanced and sanitized by characterizing various sources of imbalance and contamination of the pools, as well as the chromosomal consequences, including irreparable lesions, that result from pool contamination and imbalance.

Public Health Relevance

The bactericidal power of manipulations with the DNA precursor pools is a basis of effective anti-microbial and anti-cancer treatments, with drugs like hydroxyurea, trimethoprim or fluorouracil being standard components of the treatment cocktails, but their mode of action, especially at the level of chromosome, is still unclear. We will characterize the mechanisms of base analog-induced chromosomal fragmentation, the various chromosomal consequences of the DNA precursor pool imbalances, and how they lead to inactivation of the chromosome and genetic death. The results will be broadly relevant to all medically-relevant aspects of DNA metabolism, from folate limitation to designing of better ways to kill undesired cells genetically.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM073115-09
Application #
9305087
Study Section
Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (PCMB)
Program Officer
Willis, Kristine Amalee
Project Start
2007-06-01
Project End
2018-06-30
Budget Start
2017-07-01
Budget End
2018-06-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041544081
City
Champaign
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
61820
Kuzminov, Andrei (2018) When DNA Topology Turns Deadly - RNA Polymerases Dig in Their R-Loops to Stand Their Ground: New Positive and Negative (Super)Twists in the Replication-Transcription Conflict. Trends Genet 34:111-120
Mahaseth, Tulip; Kuzminov, Andrei (2017) Potentiation of hydrogen peroxide toxicity: From catalase inhibition to stable DNA-iron complexes. Mutat Res 773:274-281
Kouzminova, Elena A; Kadyrov, Farid F; Kuzminov, Andrei (2017) RNase HII Saves rnhA Mutant Escherichia coli from R-Loop-Associated Chromosomal Fragmentation. J Mol Biol 429:2873-2894
Khan, Sharik R; Kuzminov, Andrei (2017) Degradation of RNA during lysis of Escherichia coli cells in agarose plugs breaks the chromosome. PLoS One 12:e0190177
Khan, Sharik R; Kuzminov, Andrei (2017) Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis does not break E. coli chromosome undergoing excision repair after UV irradiation. Anal Biochem 526:66-68
Khan, Sharik R; Mahaseth, Tulip; Kouzminova, Elena A et al. (2016) Static and Dynamic Factors Limit Chromosomal Replication Complexity in Escherichia coli, Avoiding Dangers of Runaway Overreplication. Genetics 202:945-60
Kuzminov, Andrei (2016) Chromosomal Replication Complexity: A Novel DNA Metrics and Genome Instability Factor. PLoS Genet 12:e1006229
Mahaseth, Tulip; Kuzminov, Andrei (2016) Prompt repair of hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA lesions prevents catastrophic chromosomal fragmentation. DNA Repair (Amst) 41:42-53
Mahaseth, Tulip; Kuzminov, Andrei (2015) Cyanide enhances hydrogen peroxide toxicity by recruiting endogenous iron to trigger catastrophic chromosomal fragmentation. Mol Microbiol 96:349-67
Rotman, Ella; Khan, Sharik R; Kouzminova, Elena et al. (2014) Replication fork inhibition in seqA mutants of Escherichia coli triggers replication fork breakage. Mol Microbiol 93:50-64

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