Abstract
Binding experiments with alkyl-transfer-active and -inactive mutants of human O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) show that it forms an O6-methylguanine (6mG)-specific complex on duplex DNA that is distinct from non-specific assemblies previously studied. Specific complexes with duplex DNA have a 2:1 stoichiometry that is formed without accumulation of a 1:1 intermediate. This establishes a role for cooperative interactions in lesion binding. Similar specific complexes could not be detected with single-stranded DNA. The small difference between specific and non-specific binding affinities strongly limits the roles that specific binding can play in the lesion search process. Alkyl-transfer kinetics with a single-stranded substrate indicate that two or more AGT monomers participate in the rate-limiting step, showing for the first time a functional link between cooperative binding and the repair reaction. Alkyl-transfer kinetics with a duplex substrate suggest that two pathways contribute to the formation of the specific 6mG-complex; one at least first order in AGT, we interpret as direct lesion binding. The second, independent of [AGT], is likely to include AGT transfer from distal sites to the lesion in a relatively slow unimolecular step. We propose that transfer between distal and lesion sites is a critical step in the repair process.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 9060-9072 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Nucleic Acids Research |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 18 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2012 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:National Institutes of Health (NIH) [GM-070662 to M.G.F.]; National Center for Research Resources [2P20 RR020171]. Funding for open access charge: NIH [GM-070662].
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics