Name: atomic force microscopy investigations of dna lesion recognition in nucleotide excision repair
Uploaded: 2017-05-24T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Atomic Force Microscopy Investigations of DNA Lesion Recognition in Nucleotide Excision Repair at JoVE.com

PUC19N, CPD-containing oligonucleotides, and p44 were kindly provided by Samuel Wilson, Korbinian Heil and Thomas Carell, and Gudrun Michels and Caroline Kisker, respectively. This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) FZ82 and TE-671/4 to IT.

1. Sample Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of DNA substrates11
	<ol>
		<li>Generating a ssDNA gap in the plasmid
		<ol>
			<li>Completely digest a sample of the plasmid (here: modified pUC19, pUC19N) in a reaction tube with an appropriate nickase (here: Nt.BstNBI) followed by enzyme heat inactivation, using conditions according to the manufacturer&#39;s protocol (see Figure 1 for a schematic presentation). Start with ~50 &#181;L and ~500 nM plasmid for a sufficient yield.</li>
...

<ol>
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USA. 100 (25), 14822-14827 (2003).</li><li>Tessmer, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanism+of+MutS+searching+for+DNA+mismatches+and+signaling+repair.">Mechanism of MutS searching for DNA mismatches and signaling repair.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 283 (52), 36646-36654 (2008).</li><li>Wagner, K., Moolenaar, G., van Noort, J., Goosen, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-molecule+analysis+reveals+two+separate+DNA-binding+domains+in+the+Escherichia+coli+UvrA+dimer.">Single-molecule analysis reveals two separate DNA-binding domains in the Escherichia coli UvrA dimer.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 37 (6), 1962-1972 (2009).</li><li>Buechner, C. 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Biol. 9 (2), 021001 (2012).</li><li>Maurer, S., Fritz, J., Muskhelishvili, G., Travers, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNA+polymerase+and+an+activator+form+discrete+subcomplexes+in+a+transcription+initiation+complex.">RNA polymerase and an activator form discrete subcomplexes in a transcription initiation complex.</a> EMBO J. 25 (16), 3784-3790 (2006).</li><li>Sambrook, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. 1, (2012).</li><li>Theis, K., Chen, P. J., Skorvaga, M., Van Houten, B., Kisker, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Crystal+structure+of+UvrB,+a+DNA+helicase+adapted+for+nucleotide+excision+repair.">Crystal structure of UvrB, a DNA helicase adapted for nucleotide excision repair.</a> EMBO J. 18 (24), 6899-6907 (1999).</li><li>Kuper, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+TFIIH,+XPD+helicase+is+exclusively+devoted+to+DNA+repair.">In TFIIH, XPD helicase is exclusively devoted to DNA repair.</a> PLoS Biol. 12 (9), e1001954 (2014).</li><li>Shlyakhtenko, L. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Silatrane-based+surface+chemistry+for+immobilization+of+DNA,+protein-DNA+complexes+and+other+biological+materials.">Silatrane-based surface chemistry for immobilization of DNA, protein-DNA complexes and other biological materials.</a> Ultramicroscopy. 97, 279-287 (2003).</li><li>Roth, H. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=XPB+helicase+regulates+DNA+incision+by+the+Thermoplasma+acidophilum+endonuclease+Bax1.">XPB helicase regulates DNA incision by the Thermoplasma acidophilum endonuclease Bax1.</a> DNA Repair. 11 (3), 286-293 (2012).</li><li>Ratcliff, G. C., Erie, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Novel+Single-Molecule+Study+to+Determine+Protein-Protein+Association+Constants.">A Novel Single-Molecule Study to Determine Protein-Protein Association Constants.</a> J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123 (24), 5632-5635 (2001).</li><li>Yang, Y., Sass, L. E., Du, C., Hsieh, P., Erie, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+protein-DNA+binding+constants+and+specificities+from+statistical+analyses+of+single+molecules:+MutS-DNA+interactions.">Determination of protein-DNA binding constants and specificities from statistical analyses of single molecules: MutS-DNA interactions.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 33 (13), 4322-4334 (2005).</li><li>Caron, P. R., Grossman, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Involvement+of+a+cryptic+ATPase+activity+of+UvrB+and+its+proteolysis+product,+UvrB*+in+DNA+repair.">Involvement of a cryptic ATPase activity of UvrB and its proteolysis product, UvrB* in DNA repair.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 16 (22), 10891-10902 (1988).</li><li>Wang, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=UvrB+domain+4,+an+autoinhibitory+gate+for+regulation+of+DNA+binding+and+ATPase+activity.">UvrB domain 4, an autoinhibitory gate for regulation of DNA binding and ATPase activity.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 281 (22), 15227-15237 (2006).</li><li>Chammas, O., Billingsley, D. J., Bonass, W. A., Thomson, N. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-stranded+DNA+loops+as+fiducial+markers+for+exploring+DNA-protein+interactions+in+single+molecule+imaging.">Single-stranded DNA loops as fiducial markers for exploring DNA-protein interactions in single molecule imaging.</a> Methods. 60 (2), 122-130 (2013).</li><li>Truglio, J. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structural+basis+for+DNA+recognition+and+processing+by+UvrB.">Structural basis for DNA recognition and processing by UvrB.</a> Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 13 (4), 360-364 (2006).</li><li>Kuper, J., Wolski, S. C., Michels, G., Kisker, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+and+structural+studies+of+the+nucleotide+excision+repair+helicase+XPD+suggest+a+polarity+for+DNA+translocation.">Functional and structural studies of the nucleotide excision repair helicase XPD suggest a polarity for DNA translocation.</a> EMBO J. 31 (2), 494-502 (2012).</li><li>Verhoeven, E. E., Wyman, C., Moolenaar, G. F., Goosen, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+presence+of+two+UvrB+subunits+in+the+UvrAB+complex+ensures+damage+detection+in+both+DNA+strands.">The presence of two UvrB subunits in the UvrAB complex ensures damage detection in both DNA strands.</a> EMBO J. 21 (15), 4196-4205 (2002).</li><li>Verhoeven, E. E., Wyman, C., Moolenaar, G. F., Hoeijmakers, J. H., Goosen, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Architecture+of+nucleotide+excision+repair+complexes:+DNA+is+wrapped+by+UvrB+before+and+after+damage+recognition.">Architecture of nucleotide excision repair complexes: DNA is wrapped by UvrB before and after damage recognition.</a> EMBO J. 20 (3), 601-611 (2001).</li><li>Moolenaar, G. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Role+of+ATP+Binding+and+Hydrolysis+by+UvrB+during+Nucleotide+Excision+Repair.">The Role of ATP Binding and Hydrolysis by UvrB during Nucleotide Excision Repair.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 275, 8044-8050 (2000).</li></ol>

AFM statistical analyses of binding positions of proteins on long DNA fragments that contain specific target sites can reveal interesting details on the particular strategies employed by the protein to recognize these sites2,3,4,5,6. To interpret the resulting position distributions, the positions of the targets in the DNA need to be precisely known. This is a...

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful technique for the analysis of protein-DNA interactions1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. It requires only low amounts of sample material to directly visualize heterogeneous samples with a resolution at the single molecule level. Heterogeneity can result from different conformational or oligomeric states of a protein. In particular, in the context of protein-DNA samples, protein complexes can display different stoichiometries and/or conformations induced by DNA binding in general or binding to a specific target site within DNA. Heterogeneous samples may also contain two (or more) different kinds of proteins, and different protein complex forms (e.g., consisting of only one type of protein versus heteromeric complexes) may interact differently with DNA. The studies discussed here exploit AFM imaging in air on static, dried samples of DNA repair proteins bound to long (~900 base pairs, bp) DNA fragments that contain a lesion, which represents a target of these proteins. The high, molecular resolution of AFM allows the distinction between different types of protein complexes and to determine the binding positions of the proteins on the DNA fragments. Importantly, the lesions are introduced into the DNA substrates at well-defined positions. Because the position of the lesion site in the DNA is known, the distributions of proteins bound on DNA provide insight into (different) lesion recognition properties of the (different) protein complexes, e.g., how well they recognize a particular type of lesion (compared to non-damaged DNA)2,3,4,5,6. Their positions on the DNA also allow the distinction between protein complexes bound specifically at the lesions and complexes bound nonspecifically elsewhere on the DNA. Separate characterization of these different complex types (complexes bound specifically at the lesion versus nonspecific complexes) can reveal potential conformational changes in the complexes induced upon target site identification.
The DNA repair proteins focused on here are helicases that are responsible for lesion recognition in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. In bacteria, NER is achieved by the proteins UvrA, UvrB, and UvrC. UvrA is responsible for initial lesion sensing in a UvaA2/UvrB2 DNA-scanning complex. Upon lesion verification by UvrB this complex converts to monomeric UvrB bound at the lesion site and this specific complex can then recruit the prokaryotic NER endonuclease UvrC. UvrC excises a short (12-13 nt) stretch of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) containing the lesion. The missing stretch is then refilled by DNA polymerase. Finally, DNA ligase seals the newly synthesized stretch with the original DNA9,10. In eukaryotes, most proteins of the NER cascade are part of the large, multimeric transcription factor II H (TFIIH) complex. After initial lesion sensing via the trimeric CEN2-XPC-HR23B complex, TFIIH is recruited to the DNA target site. When XPD within the complex verifies the presence of an NER target lesion, the eukaryotic NER endonucleases XPG and XPF are recruited to excise a short (24-32 nt) stretch of ssDNA containing the lesion9,10. Here, specifically, the helicases UvrB and XPD from prokaryotic and eukaryotic NER, respectively, were studied. These helicases require an unpaired region in the DNA (a DNA bubble) to thread onto one of the two DNA single strands and subsequently translocate along this strand fueled by ATP hydrolysis. In addition to the DNA lesions, a DNA bubble was hence introduced in the substrates that functions as loading site for the proteins.
The procedure for preparation of specific lesion DNA substrates has been described previously11. It requires a circular DNA construct (plasmid) with two closely spaced restriction sites for a nickase. In the context of this study, the plasmid pUC19N (2729 bp) was used (created by S. Wilson&#39;s laboratory, NIEHS). This plasmid contains three closely spaced restriction sites for the nickase Nt.BstNBI that frame a 48 nucleotide (nt) stretch. After incubation with the nickase, the stretch of ssDNA between these sites can be removed and replaced by an oligonucleotide containing any target feature. After each step, complete enzymatic digestion is tested via agarose gel electrophoresis. Nicked circular DNA can be distinguished due to its lower electrophoretic mobility compared to the original supercoiled plasmid. Gapping of the DNA and replacement of the removed stretch by the specific substrate oligonucleotide can be evaluated via digestion with a restriction enzyme which incises the substrate exclusively within the region between the nicks. Linearization of the circular plasmid by the enzyme will hence be suppressed for the gapped DNA and restored after insertion of the specific oligonucleotide. Finally, two endonuclease restriction sites (ideally single cutters) allow for the generation of a linear DNA substrate, with length as desired and with the specific target site at a defined position as well as a DNA bubble at a distance from the lesion either in 5&#39; or 3&#39; direction.
Recognition of the lesions by the NER helicases can be investigated via AFM imaging. Stalled DNA translocation of the helicases at the lesion site is visible as a peak in the protein position distribution on the DNA and indicates lesion recognition. Because DNA translocation of these helicases is furthermore directional, with 5&#39;-to-3&#39; polarity, the dependence of lesion recognition on the position of the loading site (DNA bubble upstream or downstream from the lesion) also indicates whether the lesion is preferentially recognized on the translocated or on the opposite, non-translocated ssDNA strand5,9. In the following sections, the methods used will be introduced and major findings from these experiments will be briefly discussed. Importantly, analogous to the exemplary work on DNA repair shown here, AFM imaging can be applied to the study of different DNA interacting systems, such as DNA replication or transcription8,12,13,14.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Molecular Force Probe (MFP) 3D</td>
			<td>Asylum Research</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>atomic force microscope (AFM)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Precision 390</td>
			<td>DELL</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>computer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ThermoMixer and 1.5 ml block</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5382000015</td>
			<td>heat block for DNA preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rotilabo Block-Heater H 250 &#38; blocks for 0.5 ml tubes</td>
			<td>Carl Roth GmbH</td>
			<td>Y264.1 &#38; Y267.1</td>
			<td>heat block for protein-DNA incubations</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mini-Sub Cell GT</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad Laboratories GmbH</td>
			<td>1704467</td>
			<td>electrophoresis chamber with gel caster and power supply</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Power Pac Basic</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad Laboratories GmbH</td>
			<td>1645050</td>
			<td>electrophoresis power supply</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centifuge 5415 D with rotor</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>2262120-3</td>
			<td>table centrifuge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultra-Lum electronic UV transillumonator MEB-15</td>
			<td>Ultralum</td>
			<td>900-1322-02</td>
			<td>UV irradiation table</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NanoDrop ND-1000</td>
			<td>VWR International / PEQLAB Biotechnologie GmbH</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>UV spectrophotometer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TKAX-CAD with 0.2 &#956;m capsule filter</td>
			<td>Unity Lab Services</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>water deionization and filter unit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Software</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MFP software on Igor Pro</td>
			<td>Asylum Research</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>AFM software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ (open source Java image processing)</td>
			<td>NIH Image</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Image analysis software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Excel (Microsoft Office)</td>
			<td>Microsoft Corporation</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>data analysis software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Origin9 / Origin2016</td>
			<td>OriginLab Corporation</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>statistical data analysis and graphing software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>OMCL-AC240TS</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>OMCL-AC240TS</td>
			<td>AFM cantilevers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>grade V-5 muscovite</td>
			<td>SPI Supplies</td>
			<td>1805</td>
			<td>mica sheets</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Amicon Ultra 0.5ml 50k Ultracell</td>
			<td>Millipore Ireland Ltd.</td>
			<td>UFC505096</td>
			<td>centrifuge filters</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NucleoSpin Extract II&#160;</td>
			<td>&#160;Macherey-Nagel GmbH</td>
			<td>740 609.250</td>
			<td>Agarose gel extraction kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rotilabo cellulose paper type 111A</td>
			<td>Carl Roth GmbH</td>
			<td>AP59.1</td>
			<td>AFM deposition blotting paper</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anatop 25 (0.02 &#956;m)</td>
			<td>Whatman GmbH</td>
			<td>6809-2102</td>
			<td>syringe filter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SSpI, BspQI</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs (NEB)</td>
			<td>R0132, R0712</td>
			<td>restriction enzymes for DNA substrate preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>XhoI, BglII</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>R0146, R0144</td>
			<td>restriction enzymes for DNA preparation controls</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>nicking restriction enzyme Nt.BstNBI</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs (NEB)</td>
			<td>R0607</td>
			<td>nickase</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T4 DNA ligase</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs (NEB)</td>
			<td>M0202S</td>
			<td>Ligase</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris, HEPES</td>
			<td>Carl Roth GmbH</td>
			<td>4855, 9105</td>
			<td>buffer chemicals</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl, MgCl2, KCl, MgAcetate</td>
			<td>Carl Roth GmbH</td>
			<td>3957, HN03, HN02, P026</td>
			<td>salt chemicals</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaAc</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH</td>
			<td>32318</td>
			<td>salt chemicals</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DTT, TCEP, EDTA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>6908, HN95, 8040</td>
			<td>chemicals/reagents</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>agarose, acetic acid, HCl</td>
			<td>Carl Roth GmbH</td>
			<td>2267, 3738, K025</td>
			<td>reagents</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ATP&#404;S</td>
			<td>Jena Bioscience</td>
			<td>NU-406</td>
			<td>nucleotides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ATP</td>
			<td>Carl Roth GmbH</td>
			<td>K054</td>
			<td>nucleotides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>oligonucleotide #1 in Table 1</td>
			<td>Biomers</td>
			<td>custom</td>
			<td>complementary DNA oligonucleotide</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>oligonucleotides #2, #3, and #6 in Table 1</td>
			<td>Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT)</td>
			<td>custom</td>
			<td>fluorescein containing oligonucleotides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>oligonucleotides #4&#160; and #5 in Table 1</td>
			<td>private (available from e.g. TriLink or GlenResearch)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>CPD containing oligonucleotides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SafeSeal reaction tube 0.5 ml and 1.5 ml</td>
			<td>Sarstedt</td>
			<td>72.704 and 72.706</td>
			<td>incubation tubes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GeneRuler 1 kb</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>SM0311</td>
			<td>DNA ladder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6x concentrate gel loading dye purple</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs (NEB)</td>
			<td>51406</td>
			<td>DNA loading dye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Midori Green&#160;</td>
			<td>Nippon Genetics Europe GmbH</td>
			<td>999MG28055</td>
			<td>DNA stain</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

atomic force microscopy investigations of dna lesion recognition in nucleotide excision repair

AFM imaging is a powerful technique for the study of protein-DNA interactions. This single molecule method allows the simultaneous resolution of different molecules and molecular assemblies in a heterogeneous sample. In the particular context of DNA interacting protein systems, different protein complex forms and their corresponding binding positions on target sites containing DNA fragments can thus be distinguished. Here, an application of AFM to the study of DNA lesion recognition in the prokaryotic and eukaryotic nucleotide excision DNA repair (NER) systems is presented. The procedures of DNA and protein sample preparations are described and experimental as well as analytical details of the experiments are provided. The data allow important conclusions on the strategies by which target site verification may be achieved by the NER proteins. Interestingly, they indicate different approaches of lesion recognition and identification for the eukaryotic NER system, depending on the type of lesion. Furthermore, distinct structural properties of the two different helicases involved in prokaryotic and eukaryotic NER result in and explain the different strategies observed for these two systems. Importantly, these experimental and analytical approaches can be applied not only to the study of DNA repair but also very similarly to other DNA interacting protein systems such as those involved in replication or transcription processes.

Distinguishing between different complex types based on protein complex volumes
The helicase activity of the prokaryotic NER helicase UvrB is stimulated by DNA binding22,23. UvrB requires an unpaired region in the DNA (a DNA bubble) in order to load correctly onto one of the two single ssDNA strands. In vivo, this DNA structure is provided by DNA interactions throu...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Atomic Force Microscopy Investigations of DNA Lesion Recognition in Nucleotide Excision Repair at JoVE.com

Atomic Force Microscopy Investigations of DNA Lesion Recognition in Nucleotide Excision Repair

Here, the study of different DNA lesion recognition approaches via single molecule AFM imaging is demonstrated with the nucleotide excision repair system as an example. The procedures of DNA and protein sample preparations and experimental as well as analytical details for the AFM experiments are described.

AFM imaging is a powerful technique for the study of protein-DNA interactions. This single molecule method allows the simultaneous resolution of different ...

The overall goal of this atomic force microscopy experiment is to resolve interactions of DNA repair proteins with damage sites in DNA and to distinguish between different DNA interactions by various protein complexes. This method can help answer key questions in the DNA repair field, such as how a particular DNA repair system achieves the recognition of its target lesions in the DNA. The main advantage of this technique is that we can directly see and analyze the different types of complexes that are involved in the DNA lesion recognition process.Demonstrating the procedure will be Nicolas Wirth, who used this approach during his bachelor research. To begin, prepare a suitable DNA substrate by generating a single-stranded DNA gap in a plasmid. Refill the gap with modified, single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides, and finally, linearize the plasma DNA using appropriate restriction enzymes.For these experiments, the double-stranded DNA substrates are about 1, 000 base pairs long and contain a DNA lesion as well as an unpaired region called a DNA bubble for protein loading onto the DNA. Next, prepare a protein DNA sample for AFM analysis by first pipetting 10x Reaction Buffer and water into a microreaction tube. Then, add the DNA and proteins under investigation.For example, here, 100 nanomolar of the DNA sample and one micromolar or each of the eukaryotic nucleotide excision repair proteins XPD and p44. Then, incubate the reaction for 30 minutes at 37 degrees Celsius in a heat block. Following the incubation, briefly spin down the sample.Next, prepare a mica substrate to place the sample onto. Use a scalpel to cut a one-centimeter by one-centimeter piece of mica from a larger strip. Then, use a piece of adhesive tape to remove the top layers of the mica to reveal a clean, flat, anatomically smooth substrate surface.Dilate the protein DNA sample fifty to a hundredfold in AFM deposition buffer, and immediately deposit 20 microliters of the diluted sample onto the mica surface. The dilution factor depends on the sample concentration. Immediately after depositing the sample on the mica surface, rinse the sample three to four times with a few milliliters of filtered, deionized water and blot off excess liquid.Use a gentle stream of nitrogen to blow dry the sample. Finally, use adhesive tape to fix the sample at its edges onto a microscope slide. Place the sample in the middle of the AFM stage and use magnetic pads to fix the microscope slide on the stage.Then, insert the AFM tip into the tip holder. Fix the tip in the holder under a clamp by tightening the screw so that it is finger tight. Once secured, enter the tip holder into the AFM measurement head.Use the positioning screws to move the sample in a central position. Place the AFM measurement head on top of the sample, making sure the head stands stably with its legs inside the stage indentations. Next, align the AFM laser on the back of the cantilever for optimal signal strength.Watch the reflection signal in the AFM video window to crudely position the laser. For this AFM model, turn the wheels of the right side and back of the AFM measurement head to adjust the X and Y positions of the AFM laser in order to direct it centrally onto the end of the cantilever. Then, optimize the detector sum signal by fine-tuning the laser position with the two wheels.Direct the AFM laser reflection onto the detector center by zeroing the different signal from the top and bottom diodes of the detector array. For this step, turn the screw on the left-side of the measurement head for this AFM model. Next, determine the cantilever residence frequency by going into the master panel tune window in the software.Choose an amplitude corresponding to a one-volt input for the Piezo that drives the cantilever oscillation and then set the oscillation frequency to negative 5%slightly lower than the residence frequency. Now perform an auto frequency tune and zero the phase of the oscillation. Leave the system to reach thermal equilibrium for about one hour before you start imaging, in order to avoid drift.When you are ready to start imaging, in the software main panel, set a protecting set point and prepare to approach the tip to the sample surface by selecting engage. Lower the front wheel of the AFM head manually until the protective setting, or set point, is reached. Then, carefully lower the front wheel further until the Z sensor signal is fully extended to the left.Activate the vibration oscillation table and close the acoustic isolation enclosure. Next, lower the set point in the AFM software using the hamster wheel to fine engage the AFM tip with the sample. To perform tapping mode imaging in the repulsive regime, lower the set point until the phase signal becomes slightly lower than the free level phase.Then, begin scanning the sample. Use the scan speed of 2.5 micrometers per second in image surface areas of four micrometer by four micrometer or eight micrometer by eight micrometer squares with pixel resolutions of 2, 048 or 4, 096, respectively;and press the Do Scan button. Preselect relevant protein DNA complexes by direct visual inspection of the images in the AFM software.For XPD samples, possible complexes include XPD p44 DNA, as well as XPD DNA and p44 DNA with distinctly different sizes due to the different molecular masses of XPD and p44. Measure volumes of individual protein peaks on the DNA by using the section tool in the analysis window to measure the height and diameter of the protein peak sections with the section window cursors. Use these values to determine the volume of the peaks using simple mathematical models to verify the complex type.Finally, calibrate your AFM system with a range of proteins with known molecular weights to translate these volumes into approximate molecular weights of proteins and protein complexes. In order to determine additional features, such as DNA fragment lengths, the positions of protein complexes on the DNA and their target-site specificities or DNA band angles, see the accompanying text protocol. Shown here is an AFM image with three different types of DNA-bound complexes that can be distinguished based on their different sizes.Class one complexes are consistent with only the helicase activating co-factor p44, class two complexes consist of only the XPD protein, and class three complexes consist of both XPD and p44 as legion recognition by XPD requires the activation of its helicase activity by p44, and only the class three complexes show lesion recognition. In order to identify different lesion recognition strategies, the locations of proteins on the DNA substrates were measured for protein loading at a DNA bubble in either the five prime or three prime directions from a DNA lesion shown in red for prokaryotic and eukaryotic NER helicases. In the protein position distributions, DNA lesion recognition can be seen as a peak due to enhanced binding at the DNA lesion position.The prokaryotic NER helicase UVRB and its eukaryotic counterpart, XPD, show different strategies of CPD lesion recognition that indicate different DNA strand preferences. Specifically, CPD lesions are recognized on the translocated strand by UVRB, but preferentially on the opposite, non-translocated strand by XPD. Once mastered, this method can be done in a few hours or days including analysis.It's important to work with highly pure protein and DNA samples to be able to interpret the features in the AFM images and to carefully design the DNA substrate depending on the biological system and on the question you want to address. In addition, ensemble methods, such as gel electrophoresis space, electromobility shift, or DNA incision assays are, of course, highly complementary to these AFM experiments;and these methods can help address additional questions, such as on DNA binding affinities or DNA lesion excision activities. This technique is a relatively fast and simple approach to directly visualize protein DNA complexes, and these complexes give us a good picture of the processes that occur in a biological system.Of course, this is not only useful in understanding DNA repair processes, but it can also be applied to other protein DNA systems. After watching this video, you should have a pretty good idea of how to prepare a sample on your favorite protein DNA system, how to image it by AFM, and of how to extract useful parameters for an interpretation of your data.

atomic-force-microscopy-investigations-dna-lesion-recognition

Education

Research

JoVE Core

JoVE Journal

Molecular Biology

Biology

Genetics

Unit 1

DNA Structure and Function

DNA Repair and Recombination

SCIENTISTS IN ACTION

The Visual Colorimetric Detection of Multi-nucleotide Polymorphisms on a Pneumatic Droplet Manipulation Platform

A simple and visual method to detect multi-nucleotide polymorphism (MNP) was performed on a pneumatic droplet manipulation platform on an open surface. This approach to colorimetric DNA detection was based on the hybridization-mediated growth of gold nanoparticle probes (AuNP probes). The growth size and configuration of the AuNP are dominated by the number of DNA samples hybridized with the probes. Based on the specific size- and shape-dependent optical properties of the nanoparticles, the number of mismatches in a sample DNA fragment to the probes is able to be discriminated. The tests were conducted via droplets containing reagents and DNA samples respectively, and were transported and mixed on the pneumatic platform with the controlled pneumatic suction of the flexible PDMS-based superhydrophobic membrane. Droplets can be delivered simultaneously and precisely on an open-surface on the proposed pneumatic platform that is highly biocompatible with no side effect of DNA samples inside the droplets. Combining the two proposed methods, the multi-nucleotide polymorphism can be detected at sight on the pneumatic droplet manipulation platform; no additional instrument is required. The procedure from installing the droplets on the platform to the final result takes less than 5 min, much less than with existing methods. Moreover, this combined MNP detection approach requires a sample volume of only 10 &#181;l in each operation, which is remarkably less than that of a macro system.

This work presents a simple and visual method to detect multi-nucleotide polymorphisms on a pneumatic droplet manipulation platform. With the proposed method, the entire experiment, including droplet manipulation and detection of multi-nucleotide polymorphisms, can be performed near 23 &#176;C without the aid of advanced instruments.

A simple and visual method to detect multi-nucleotide polymorphism (MNP) was performed on a pneumatic droplet manipulation platform on an open surface. ...

In Situ Labeling of Mitochondrial DNA Replication in Drosophila Adult Ovaries by EdU Staining

The mitochondrial genome is inherited exclusively through the maternal line. Understanding of how the mitochondrion and its genome are proliferated and transmitted from one generation to the next through the female oocyte is of fundamental importance. Because of the genetic tractability, and the elegant, ordered simplicity by which oocyte development proceeds, Drosophila oogenesis has become an invaluable system for mitochondrial study. An EdU (5-ethynyl-2&#180;-deoxyuridine) labeling method was utilized to detect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication in Drosophila ovaries. This method is superior to the BrdU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) labeling method in that it allows for good structural preservation and efficient fluorescent dye penetration of whole-mount tissues.
Here we describe a detailed protocol for labeling replicating mitochondrial DNA in Drosophila adult ovaries with EdU. Some technical solutions are offered to improve the viability of the ovaries, maintain their health during preparation, and ensure high-quality imaging. Visualization of newly synthesized mtDNA in the ovaries not only reveals the striking temporal and spatial pattern of mtDNA replication through oogenesis, but also allows for simple quantification of mtDNA replication under various genetic and pharmacological perturbations.

In Situ Labeling of Mitochondrial DNA Replication in Drosophila Adult Ovaries by EdU Staining

Drosophila oogenesis continues to be exceptionally useful in the study of mitochondrial proliferation and inheritance. This manuscript describes a detailed protocol used to label the replicating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in Drosophila adult ovaries with 5-ethynyl-2&#180;-deoxyuridine (EdU), which facilitates uncovering mechanisms associated with mitochondrial inheritance that were previously debatable.

The mitochondrial genome is inherited exclusively through the maternal line. Understanding of how the mitochondrion and its genome are proliferated and ...

Kinetics of Lagging-strand DNA Synthesis In Vitro by the Bacteriophage T7 Replication Proteins

Here we provide protocols for the kinetic examination of lagging-strand DNA synthesis in vitro by the replication proteins of bacteriophage T7. The T7 replisome is one of the simplest replication systems known, composed of only four proteins, which is an attractive feature for biochemical experiments. Special emphasis is placed on the synthesis of ribonucleotide primers by the T7 primase-helicase, which are used by DNA polymerase to initiate DNA synthesis. Because the mechanisms of DNA replication are conserved across evolution, these protocols should be applicable, or useful as a conceptual springboard, to investigators using other model systems. The protocols described here are highly sensitive and an experienced investigator can perform these experiments and obtain data for analysis in about a day. The only specialized piece of equipment required is a rapid-quench flow instrument, but this piece of equipment is relatively common and available from various commercial sources. The major drawbacks of these assays, however, include the use of radioactivity and the relative low throughput.

Kinetics of Lagging-strand DNA Synthesis In Vitro by the Bacteriophage T7 Replication Proteins

We describe sensitive, gel-based discontinuous assays to examine the kinetics of lagging-strand initiation using the replication proteins of bacteriophage T7.

Here we provide protocols for the kinetic examination of lagging-strand DNA synthesis in vitro by the replication proteins of bacteriophage T7. The T7 ...

Assessment of DNA Contamination in RNA Samples Based on Ribosomal DNA

One method extensively used for the quantification of gene expression changes and transcript abundances is reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). It provides accurate, sensitive, reliable, and reproducible results. Several factors can affect the sensitivity and specificity of RT-qPCR. Residual genomic DNA (gDNA) contaminating RNA samples is one of them. In gene expression analysis, non-specific amplification due to gDNA contamination will overestimate the abundance of transcript levels and can affect the RT-qPCR results. Generally, gDNA is detected by qRT-PCR using primer pairs annealing to intergenic regions or an intron of the gene of interest. Unfortunately, intron/exon annotations are not yet known for all genes from vertebrate, bacteria, protist, fungi, plant, and invertebrate metazoan species.
Here we present a protocol for detection of gDNA contamination in RNA samples by using ribosomal DNA (rDNA)-based primers. The method is based on the unique features of rDNA: their multigene nature, highly conserved sequences, and high frequency in the genome. Also as a case study, a unique set of primers were designed based on the conserved region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in the Poaceae family. The universality of these primer pairs was tested by melt curve analysis and agarose gel electrophoresis. Although our method explains how rDNA-based primers can be applied for the gDNA contamination assay in the Poaceae family,&#160;it could be easily used to other prokaryote and eukaryote species

Here, we present a protocol for tracing genomic DNA (gDNA) contamination in RNA samples. The presented method utilizes primers specific for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes. The method is suited for reliable and sensitive detection of DNA contamination in most eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

One method extensively used for the quantification of gene expression changes and transcript abundances is reverse-transcription quantitative real-time ...

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

RNAs are emerging as important biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Thus, there is great potential in developing chemical probes and therapeutic ligands for the recognition of RNA sequence and structure. Chemically modified Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) oligomers have been recently developed that can recognize RNA duplexes in a sequence-specific manner. PNAs are chemically stable with a neutral peptide-like backbone. PNAs can be synthesized relatively easily by the manual Boc-chemistry solid-phase peptide synthesis method. PNAs are purified by reverse-phase HPLC, followed by molecular weight characterization by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF). Non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) technique facilitates the imaging of the triplex formation, because carefully designed free RNA duplex constructs and PNA bound triplexes often show different migration rates. Non-denaturing PAGE with ethidium bromide post staining is often an easy and informative technique for characterizing the binding affinities and specificities of PNA oligomers. Typically, multiple RNA hairpins or duplexes with single base pair mutations can be used to characterize PNA binding properties, such as binding affinities and specificities. 2-Aminopurine is an isomer of adenine (6-aminopurine); the 2-aminopurine fluorescence intensity is sensitive to local structural environment changes, and is suitable for the monitoring of triplex formation with the 2-aminopurine residue incorporated near the PNA binding site. 2-Aminopurine fluorescence titration can also be used to confirm the binding selectivity of modified PNAs towards targeted double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) over single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs). UV-absorbance-detected thermal melting experiments allow the measurement of the thermal stability of PNA-RNA duplexes and PNA&#183;RNA2 triplexes. Here, we describe the synthesis and purification of PNA oligomers incorporating modified residues, and describe biochemical and biophysical methods for characterization of the recognition of RNA duplexes by the modified PNAs.

We report the protocols for the synthesis and purification of Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) oligomers incorporating modified residues. The biochemical and biophysical methods for the characterization of the recognition of RNA duplexes by the modified PNAs are described.

RNAs are emerging as important biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Thus, there is great potential in developing chemical probes and therapeutic ligands ...

A Simple, Rapid, and Quantitative Assay to Measure Repair of DNA-protein Crosslinks on Plasmids Transfected into Mammalian Cells

The purpose of this method is to provide a flexible, rapid, and quantitative technique to examine the kinetics of DNA-protein crosslink (DPC) repair in mammalian cell lines. Rather than globally assaying removal of xenobiotic-induced or spontaneous chromosomal DPC removal, this assay examines the repair of a homogeneous, chemically defined lesion specifically introduced at one site within a plasmid DNA substrate. Importantly, this approach avoids the use of radioactive materials and is not dependent on expensive or highly-specialized technology. Instead, it relies on standard recombinant DNA procedures and widely available real-time, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) instrumentation. Given the inherent flexibility of the strategy utilized, the size of the crosslinked protein, as well as the nature of the chemical linkage and the precise DNA sequence context of the attachment site can be varied to address the respective contributions of these parameters to the overall efficiency of DPC repair. Using this method, plasmids containing a site-specific DPC were transfected into cells and low molecular weight DNA recovered at various times post-transfection. Recovered DNA is then subjected to strand-specific primer extension (SSPE) using a primer complementary to the damaged strand of the plasmid. Since the DPC lesion blocks Taq DNA polymerase, the ratio of repaired to un-repaired DNA can be quantitatively assessed using qPCR. Cycle threshold (CT) values are used to calculate percent repair at various time points in the respective cell lines. This SSPE-qPCR method can also be used to quantitatively assess the repair kinetics of any DNA adduct that blocks Taq polymerase.

The goal of this protocol is to quantify the repair of defined DNA-protein crosslinks on plasmid DNA. Lesioned plasmids are transfected into recipient mammalian cell lines and low-molecular weight harvested at multiple time points post-transfection. DNA repair kinetics are quantified using strand-specific primer extension followed by qPCR.

The purpose of this method is to provide a flexible, rapid, and quantitative technique to examine the kinetics of DNA-protein crosslink (DPC) repair in ...

Use of Frozen Tissue in the Comet Assay for the Evaluation of DNA Damage

The comet assay is gaining popularity as a means to assess DNA damage in cultured cells and tissues, particularly following exposure to chemicals or other environmental stressors. Use of the comet assay in regulatory testing for genotoxic potential in rodents has been driven by adoption of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline in 2014. Comet assay slides are typically prepared from fresh tissue at the time of necropsy; however, freezing tissue samples can avoid logistical challenges associated with simultaneous preparation of slides from multiple organs per animal and from many animals per study. Freezing also enables shipping samples from the exposure facility to a different laboratory for analysis, and storage of frozen tissue facilitates deferring a decision to generate DNA damage data for a given organ. The alkaline comet assay is useful for detecting exposure-related DNA double- and single-strand breaks, alkali-labile lesions, and strand breaks associated with incomplete DNA excision repair. However, DNA damage can also result from mechanical shearing or improper sample processing procedures, confounding the results of the assay. Reproducibility in collection and processing of tissue samples during necropsies may be difficult to control due to fluctuating laboratory personnel with varying levels of experience in harvesting tissues for the comet assay. Enhancing consistency through refresher training or deployment of mobile units staffed with experienced laboratory personnel is costly and may not always be feasible. To optimize consistent generation of high quality samples for comet assay analysis, a method for homogenizing flash frozen cubes of tissue using a customized tissue mincing device was evaluated. Samples prepared for the comet assay by this method compared favorably in quality to fresh and frozen tissue samples prepared by mincing during necropsy. Moreover, low baseline DNA damage was measured in cells from frozen cubes of tissue following prolonged storage.

This protocol describes several procedures for preparing high quality frozen tissue samples at the time of necropsy for use in the comet assay to assess DNA damage: 1) minced tissue, 2) scraped epithelial cells from the gastrointestinal tract, and 3) cubed tissue samples, requiring homogenization using a tissue mincing device.

The comet assay is gaining popularity as a means to assess DNA damage in cultured cells and tissues, particularly following exposure to chemicals or other ...

Single-Molecule F&ouml;rster Resonance Energy Transfer Methods for Real-Time Investigation of the Holliday Junction Resolution by GEN1

Bulk methods measure the ensemble behavior of molecules, in which individual reaction rates of the underlying steps are averaged throughout the population. Single-molecule F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) provides a recording of the conformational changes taking place by individual molecules in real-time. Therefore, smFRET is powerful in measuring structural changes in the enzyme or substrate during binding and catalysis. This work presents a protocol for single-molecule imaging of the interaction of a four-way Holliday junction (HJ) and gap endonuclease I (GEN1), a cytosolic homologous recombination enzyme. Also presented are single-color and two-color alternating excitation (ALEX) smFRET experimental protocols to follow the resolution of the HJ by GEN1 in real-time. The kinetics of GEN1 dimerization are determined at the HJ, which has been suggested to play a key role in the resolution of the HJ and has remained elusive until now. The techniques described here can be widely applied to obtain valuable mechanistic insights of many enzyme-DNA systems.

Single-Molecule F&amp;#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer Methods for Real-Time Investigation of the Holliday Junction Resolution by GEN1

Presented here is a protocol for performing single-molecule F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer to study HJ resolution. Two-color alternating excitation is used for determining the dissociation constants. Single-color time lapse smFRET is then applied in real-time cleavage assays to obtain the dwell time distribution prior to HJ resolution.

Bulk methods measure the ensemble behavior of molecules, in which individual reaction rates of the underlying steps are averaged throughout the ...

Application of DNA Fingerprinting using the D1S80 Locus in Lab Classes

In biological sciences, DNA fingerprinting has been widely used for paternity testing, forensic applications and phylogenetic studies. Here, we describe a reliable and robust method for genotyping individuals by Variable Number of Tandem Repeat (VNTR) analysis in the context of undergraduate laboratory classes. The human D1S80 VNTR locus is used in this protocol as a highly polymorphic marker based on variation in the number of repetitive sequences.
This simple protocol conveys useful information for teachers and the implementation of DNA fingerprinting in practical laboratory classes. In the presented laboratory exercise, DNA extraction followed by PCR amplification is used to determine genetic variation at the D1S80 VNTR locus. Differences in the fragment size of PCR products are visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. The fragment sizes and repeat numbers are calculated based on a linear regression of the size and migration distance of a DNA size standard.
Following this guide, students should be able to:
&#8226;&#160; Harvest and extract DNA from buccal mucosa epithelial cells 
&#8226;&#160; Perform a PCR experiment and understand the function of various reaction components 
&#8226;&#160; Analyze the amplicons by agarose gel electrophoresis and interpret the results 
&#8226;&#160; Understand the use of VNTRs in DNA fingerprinting and its application in biological sciences

Application of DNA Fingerprinting using the D1S80 Locus in Lab Classes

Here we describe a simple protocol to generate DNA fingerprinting profiles by amplifying the VNTR locus D1S80 from epithelial cell DNA.

In biological sciences, DNA fingerprinting has been widely used for paternity testing, forensic applications and phylogenetic studies. Here, we describe a ...

Detection of Post-Replicative Gaps Accumulation and Repair in Human Cells Using the DNA Fiber Assay

The DNA fiber assay is a simple and robust method for the analysis of replication fork dynamics, based on the immunodetection of nucleotide analogs that are incorporated during DNA synthesis in human cells. However, this technique has a limited resolution of a few thousand kilobases. Consequently, post-replicative single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps as small as a few hundred bases are not detectable by the standard assay. Here, we describe a modified version of the DNA fiber assay that utilizes the S1 nuclease, an enzyme that specifically cleaves ssDNA. In the presence of post-replicative ssDNA gaps, the S1 nuclease will target and cleave the gaps, generating shorter tracts that can be used as a read-out for ssDNA gaps on ongoing forks. These post-replicative ssDNA gaps are formed when damaged DNA is replicated discontinuously. They can be repaired via mechanisms uncoupled from genome replication, in a process known as gap-filling or post-replicative repair. Because gap-filling mechanisms involve DNA synthesis independent of the S phase, alterations in the DNA fiber labeling scheme can also be employed to monitor gap-filling events. Altogether, these modifications of the DNA fiber assay are powerful strategies to understand how post-replicative gaps are formed and filled in the genome of human cells.

Here we describe two modifications of the DNA fiber assay to investigate single-stranded DNA gaps in replicating DNA after lesion induction. The S1 fiber assay enables the detection of post-replicative gaps using the ssDNA-specific S1 endonuclease, while the gap-filling assay allows visualization and quantification of gap repair.

The DNA fiber assay is a simple and robust method for the analysis of replication fork dynamics, based on the immunodetection of nucleotide analogs that ...