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Escherichia coli processivity clamp ? from DNA polymerase III is dynamic in solution.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III is a highly processive replicase because of the presence of the ? clamp protein that tethers DNA polymerases to DNA. The ? clamp is a head-to-tail ring-shaped homodimer, in which each protomer contains three structurally similar domains. Although multiple studies have probed the functions of the ? clamp, a detailed understanding of the conformational dynamics of the ? clamp in solution is lacking. Here we used hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry to characterize the conformation and dynamics of the intact dimer ? clamp and a variant form (I272A/L273A) with a weakened ability to dimerize in solution. Our data indicate that the ? clamp is not a static closed ring but rather is dynamic in solution. The three domains exhibited different dynamics, though they share a highly similar tertiary structure. Domain I, which controls the opening of the clamp by dissociating from domain III, contained several highly flexible peptides that underwent partial cooperative unfolding (EX1 kinetics) with a half-life of ~4 h. The comparison between the ? monomer variant and the wild-type ? clamp showed that the ? monomer was more dynamic. In the monomer, partial unfolding was much faster and additional regions of domain III also underwent partial unfolding with a half-life of ~1 h. Our results suggest that the ? subunit of the clamp loader may function as a "ring holder" to stabilize the transient opening of the ? clamp, rather than as a "ring opener".

SUBMITTER: Fang J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3130017 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Escherichia coli processivity clamp β from DNA polymerase III is dynamic in solution.

Fang Jing J Engen John R JR Beuning Penny J PJ

Biochemistry 20110610 26

Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III is a highly processive replicase because of the presence of the β clamp protein that tethers DNA polymerases to DNA. The β clamp is a head-to-tail ring-shaped homodimer, in which each protomer contains three structurally similar domains. Although multiple studies have probed the functions of the β clamp, a detailed understanding of the conformational dynamics of the β clamp in solution is lacking. Here we used hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry to characteriz ...[more]

PMID: 21657794

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Project description:The Escherichia coli umuDC gene products encode DNA polymerase V, which participates in both translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) and a DNA damage checkpoint control. These two temporally distinct roles of the umuDC gene products are regulated by RecA-single-stranded DNA-facilitated self-cleavage of UmuD (which participates in the checkpoint control) to yield UmuD' (which enables TLS). In addition, even modest overexpression of the umuDC gene products leads to a cold-sensitive growth phenotype, apparently due to the inappropriate expression of the DNA damage checkpoint control activity of UmuD(2)C. We have previously reported that overexpression of the epsilon proofreading subunit of DNA polymerase III suppresses umuDC-mediated cold sensitivity, suggesting that interaction of epsilon with UmuD(2)C is important for the DNA damage checkpoint control function of the umuDC gene products. Here, we report that overexpression of the beta processivity clamp of the E. coli replicative DNA polymerase (encoded by the dnaN gene) not only exacerbates the cold sensitivity conferred by elevated levels of the umuDC gene products but, in addition, confers a severe cold-sensitive phenotype upon a strain expressing moderately elevated levels of the umuD'C gene products. Such a strain is not otherwise normally cold sensitive. To identify mutant beta proteins possibly deficient for physical interactions with the umuDC gene products, we selected for novel dnaN alleles unable to confer a cold-sensitive growth phenotype upon a umuD'C-overexpressing strain. In all, we identified 75 dnaN alleles, 62 of which either reduced the expression of beta or prematurely truncated its synthesis, while the remaining alleles defined eight unique missense mutations of dnaN. Each of the dnaN missense mutations retained at least a partial ability to function in chromosomal DNA replication in vivo. In addition, these eight dnaN alleles were also unable to exacerbate the cold sensitivity conferred by modestly elevated levels of the umuDC gene products, suggesting that the interactions between UmuD' and beta are a subset of those between UmuD and beta. Taken together, these findings suggest that interaction of beta with UmuD(2)C is important for the DNA damage checkpoint function of the umuDC gene products. Four possible models for how interactions of UmuD(2)C with the epsilon and the beta subunits of DNA polymerase III might help to regulate DNA replication in response to DNA damage are discussed.

Project description:Strict regulation of replisome components is essential to ensure the accurate transmission of the genome to the next generation. The sliding clamp processivity factors play a central role in this regulation, interacting with both DNA polymerases and multiple DNA processing and repair proteins. Clamp binding partners share a common peptide binding motif, the nature of which is essentially conserved from phage through to humans. Given the degree of conservation of these motifs, much research effort has focussed on understanding how the temporal and spatial regulation of multiple clamp binding partners is managed. The bacterial sliding clamps have come under scrutiny as potential targets for rational drug design and comprehensive understanding of the structural basis of their interactions is crucial for success.In this study we describe the crystal structure of a complex of the E. coli ?-clamp with a 12-mer peptide from the UmuC protein. UmuC is the catalytic subunit of the translesion DNA polymerase, Pol V (UmuD'?C). Due to its potentially mutagenic action, Pol V is tightly regulated in the cell to limit access to the replication fork. Atypically for the translesion polymerases, both bacterial and eukaryotic, Pol V is heterotrimeric and its ?-clamp binding motif (³??QLNLF³?¹) is internal to the protein, rather than at the more usual C-terminal position. Our structure shows that the UmuC peptide follows the overall disposition of previously characterised structures with respect to the highly conserved glutamine residue. Despite good agreement with the consensus ?-clamp binding motif, distinct variation is shown within the hydrophobic binding pocket. While UmuC Leu-360 interacts as noted in other structures, Phe-361 does not penetrate the pocket at all, sitting above the surface.Although the ?-clamp binding motif of UmuC conforms to the consensus sequence, variation in its mode of clamp binding is observed compared to related structures, presumably dictated by the proximal aspartate residues that act as linker to the poorly characterised, unique C-terminal domain of UmuC. Additionally, interactions between Asn-359 of UmuC and Arg-152 on the clamp surface may compensate for the reduced interaction of Phe-361.

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Escherichia coli processivity clamp ? from DNA polymerase III is dynamic in solution.

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Escherichia coli processivity clamp β from DNA polymerase III is dynamic in solution.

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