Stable Interstrand Cross-Links Generated from the Repair of 1, N6-Ethenoadenine in DNA by α-Ketoglutarate/Fe(II)-Dependent Dioxygenase ALKBH2

J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Apr 17;146(15):10381-10392. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c12890. Epub 2024 Apr 4.

Abstract

DNA cross-links severely challenge replication and transcription in cells, promoting senescence and cell death. In this paper, we report a novel type of DNA interstrand cross-link (ICL) produced as a side product during the attempted repair of 1,N6-ethenoadenine (εA) by human α-ketoglutarate/Fe(II)-dependent enzyme ALKBH2. This stable/nonreversible ICL was characterized by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and quantified by high-resolution LC-MS in well-matched and mismatched DNA duplexes, yielding 5.7% as the highest level for cross-link formation. The binary lesion is proposed to be generated through covalent bond formation between the epoxide intermediate of εA repair and the exocyclic N6-amino group of adenine or the N4-amino group of cytosine residues in the complementary strand under physiological conditions. The cross-links occur in diverse sequence contexts, and molecular dynamics simulations rationalize the context specificity of cross-link formation. In addition, the cross-link generated from attempted εA repair was detected in cells by highly sensitive LC-MS techniques, giving biological relevance to the cross-link adducts. Overall, a combination of biochemical, computational, and mass spectrometric methods was used to discover and characterize this new type of stable cross-link both in vitro and in human cells, thereby uniquely demonstrating the existence of a potentially harmful ICL during DNA repair by human ALKBH2.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / analogs & derivatives*
  • AlkB Homolog 2, Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase / metabolism
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA Adducts
  • DNA Repair
  • Dioxygenases* / metabolism
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Humans
  • Ketoglutaric Acids*

Substances

  • Ketoglutaric Acids
  • Dioxygenases
  • 1,N(6)-ethenoadenine
  • DNA
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • DNA Adducts
  • ALKBH2 protein, human
  • AlkB Homolog 2, Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase
  • Adenine