[Genetic instability and cancer].

Multiple mutations are present in most human tumours. These genetic modifications appear to be necessary to produce and select pretumoral, tumoral and metastatic clones. These multiple mutations can be sequentially produced by genotoxic agents leading to cancers with a long latency period or due to mutations in genes implicated in the control of the genetic stability.

Cellular genes possibly involved in the transformation process of the human melanoma cell line XP44 RO (Mel).

P44 Ro (Mel) is a human malignant melanoma cell line derived from a testicular metastasis in a DNA repair deficient, xeroderma pigmentosum patient. This line harbors a N-ras gene mutated in codon 61. To investigate other cellular genes possibly contributing to the expression of its transformed phenotype, four XP44 revertant cell lines were isolated by different selection procedures and the association of the level of expression of various oncogenes (including N-ras) and tumor suppressor genes with the selection for the revertant phenotype was determined.

Development of a new easy complementation assay for DNA repair deficient human syndromes using cloned repair genes.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER)-deficient human cells have been assigned so far to a genetic complementation group by a somatic cell fusion assay and, more recently, by microinjection of cloned DNA repair genes. We describe a new technique, based on the host cell reactivation assay, for the rapid determination of the complementation group of NER-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne's syndrome (CS) and photosensitive trichothiodystrophy (TTD) human cells by cotransfection of a UV-irradiated reporter plasmid with a second vector containing a cloned repair gene. Expression of the reporter gene, either chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) or luciferase, reflects the DNA repair ability restored by the introduction of the appropriate repair gene.

The specificity of p53 mutation spectra in sunlight induced human cancers.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation emitted by the sun has been clearly implicated as a major carcinogen in the formation of skin cancers in man. Indeed, the high levels of cutaneous tumors in xeroderma pigmentosum patients (XP) who are deficient in repair of UV-induced lesions have confirmed that DNA damage produced by sunlight is directly involved in the cancer development. The tumor suppressor gene, p53, very frequently found modified in human cancers, has proved to be a perfect target gene for correlating mutation spectra with different cancer causing agents as there are nearly 300 potential mutation sites available for analysis.

Coding properties of a unique apurinic/apyrimidinic site replicated in mammalian cells.

The coding properties of abasic sites have been studied in mammalian cells using a single-stranded shuttle vector carrying a unique abasic site. The probe was produced by digestion with the uracil DNA glycosylase of a uracil-containing oligonucleotide which was inserted in the single-stranded vector. After replication in monkey COS7 cells able to support DNA replication of the vector, the plasmid progeny were isolated in bacteria.

Mutation spectrum of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-damaged single-stranded shuttle vector DNA transfected into monkey cells.

4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) is a potent mutagen and carcinogen which induces two main guanine adducts at positions C8 and N2. We recently determined the mutation spectrum induced by the ultimate metabolite of 4NQO, acetoxy-4-aminoquinolone 1-oxide in the M13lacZ'/E. coli lacZ delta M15 alpha-complementation assay.

Mutagenesis in monkey cells of a vector containing a single d(GPG) cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) adduct placed on codon 13 of the human H-ras proto-oncogene.

Cisplatin (cis-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2]) is a widely used antitumor agent whose mutagenic activity raises the possibility of the induction of secondary cancer as a result of treatment. Mutation of the proto-oncogene H-ras is found in more than 30% of all human tumors, where it has been postulated to contribute to the initiation and progression of human cancers. Activating mutations in the H-ras gene are predominantly single-base substitutions, most frequently at codons 12, 13 and 61.

The ERCC2/DNA repair protein is associated with the class II BTF2/TFIIH transcription factor.

ERCC2 is involved in the DNA repair syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) group D and was found to copurify with the RNA polymerase II (B) transcription factor BTF2/TFIIH that possesses a bidirectional helicase activity. Antibodies directed towards the 89 kDa (ERCC3) or the p62 subunit of BTF2 are able to either immunoprecipitate ERCC2 or shift the polypeptide in a glycerol gradient. Conversely, an antibody directed towards ERCC2 also retains or shifts BTF2.

Can we predict solar ultraviolet radiation as the causal event in human tumours by analysing the mutation spectra of the p53 gene?

The tumour suppressor gene, p53, has proved to be one of the genes most often modified in human cancers. These alterations consist mainly of point mutations located in the evolutionarily conserved sequences which render the protein inactive for its normal biological functions. In fact the p53 gene presents nearly 300 potential mutation sites whose analysis should enable the correlation of specific mutation spectra with different causal agents in cancer development.

Specific UV-induced mutation spectrum in the p53 gene of skin tumors from DNA-repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum patients.

The UV component of sunlight is the major carcinogen involved in the etiology of skin cancers. We have studied the rare, hereditary syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), which is characterized by a very high incidence of cutaneous tumors on exposed skin at an early age, probably due to a deficiency in excision repair of UV-induced lesions. It is interesting to determine the UV mutation spectrum in XP skin tumors in order to correlate the absence of repair of specific DNA lesions and the initiation of skin tumors.

A new nucleotide-excision-repair gene associated with the disorder trichothiodystrophy.

The sun-sensitive, cancer-prone genetic disorder xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is associated in most cases with a defect in the ability to carry out excision repair of UV damage. Seven genetically distinct complementation groups (i.e.

Decrease in catalase activity and loss of the 11p chromosome arm in the course of SV40 transformation of human fibroblasts.

The activity of catalase, a key enzyme in cell detoxication of oxygen derivatives, was studied in SV40 transformed human fibroblasts. A cytogenetic study was performed in parallel to establish a quantification of 11p arm on which the corresponding gene is mapped. mRNA amounts were determined by Northern blotting.

Implication of uracil in spontaneous mutagenesis on a single-stranded shuttle vector replicated in mammalian cells.

Almost all spontaneous point mutations found on a single-stranded shuttle vector after its transfection and replication in monkey cells were located at cytosine residues. In order to understand this very specific type of targeting we have studied the possible implication of uracil residues in the induction of these spontaneous mutations. The single-stranded shuttle vector pCF3A carrying the supF tRNA gene as a mutagenesis target has been allowed to replicate in mammalian COS7 cells, mutations being screened in bacteria using the beta-galactosidase assay.

Characterization of a c-met proto-oncogene activated in human xeroderma pigmentosum cells after treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG).

Human xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) fibroblasts were transformed with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The transformed cells, called ASKMN, were immortalized, grew in agar and were tumorigenic in nude mice. A trp-met oncogene was identified in ASKMN cells, after transfection of high molecular weight DNA on 3T3 mouse cells.

UV-induced mutations in a shuttle vector replicated in repair deficient trichothiodystrophy cells differ with those in genetically-related cancer prone xeroderma pigmentosum.

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare genetic disease associated in approximately 50% of patients with DNA repair deficiency analogous to that found in xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XP-D) patients. Although XP-D patients exhibit a very high level of skin cancer on sun-exposed parts, TTD is not associated with cancer. We analysed UV-induced mutations in TTD cells and compared them to data in XP-D in order to determine if the molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis can explain the discrepancies between these two syndromes.

Genetic heterogeneity of the excision repair defect associated with trichothiodystrophy.

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by brittle hair with reduced sulfur content, mental and physical retardation, a peculiar face and ichthyosis. Photosensitivity has been reported in approximately 20% of the cases in the literature. DNA repair investigations demonstrated that clinical photosensitivity is usually associated with an enhancement of the cellular UV-sensitivity and that the repair defect is in the same gene as in patients from group D of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP).

High mutation frequency in ras genes of skin tumors isolated from DNA repair deficient xeroderma pigmentosum patients.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients are clinically characterized by a very high incidence of skin cancers on exposed skin, at an early age. XP cells in vitro are strongly deficient in excision-repair and highly mutagenized by UV light. We were, therefore, interested in measuring mutation frequency and in determining mutation spectra in patients' tumors exposed to UV lesions.

Prenatal diagnosis in a subset of trichothiodystrophy patients defective in DNA repair.

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by brittle hair with reduced sulphur content, and mental and physical retardation. Numerous additional clinical features may be present, producing a very heterogeneous syndrome. Many cases exhibit ichthyosis and photosensitivity.

Mutagenicity of a unique apurinic/apyrimidinic site in mammalian cells.

Abasic sites are common DNA lesions produced either spontaneously or as a consequence of the action of some genotoxic agent. The mutagenic properties of a unique abasic site replicated in mammalian cells have been studied using a shuttle vector. A plasmid, able to replicate both in mammalian cells and in bacteria, carrying a unique abasic site chemically synthesized has been constructed.

Description of a new amplifiable shuttle vector for mutagenesis studies in human cells: application to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced mutation spectrum.

In order to analyze the mechanisms of mutagenesis in human cells, we have established a human 293 cell-derived line containing a permanent mutagenesis target, the bacterial lacZ' gene, on an episomal EBV/SV40-based shuttle vector. This plasmid was maintained at a low copy number per cell which rendered it closer to an endogenous gene as compared to the usual transient shuttle vectors. Transient amplification of vectors, inside the host cell due to expression of the SV40 T-antigen, allowed the recovery of a large number of bacterial colonies transformed by plasmids extracted from human cells.

Flow cytometric detection of drugs altering the DNA methylation pattern.

We have developed a model system for assessing the demethylating potential of external agents. Disruption in the DNA methylation pattern was evaluated at the translational level of the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase coding gene (lacZ). We have constructed a clonal cell line (A4/4 cells) derived from the adenovirus-transformed human embryonic kidney 293 strain.

Single stranded DNA-vectors for analyzing processing of DNA damage induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Previous studies indicate that single stranded DNA vectors could be used in different organisms to study mutagenesis induced by DNA damaging agents. We applied this approach to study mutagenesis induced by 4NQO lesions. The use of ssDNA, on which the ultimate metabolite of 4NQO (Ac-4HAQO) induces mainly C8-guanine adducts, allowed us to find a correlation between G-transversions and the dGuo-C8-AQO adduct.

Mutation spectrum of heat-induced abasic sites on a single-stranded shuttle vector replicated in mammalian cells.

The mutational potency of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites induced by heat-treatment under acidic conditions has been studied in mammalian cells. Abasic sites were induced on a single-stranded DNA shuttle vector carrying the supF tRNA gene, eliminating, therefore, any ambiguity concerning the damaged strand. This vector was able to replicate both in mammalian cells and in bacteria where the mutations induced in animal cells on the supF tRNA gene were screened by the white/blue beta-galactosidase assay in the presence of isopropyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-beta-D-galactoside.

Mutagenesis by O6 meG residues within codon 12 of the human Ha-ras proto-oncogene in monkey cells.

The first or/and the second guanines of the human Ha-ras codon 12 (normally GGC) were substituted by O6 meG residues and the modified sequence was subsequently introduced into an SV40-based shuttle vector able to replicate in both simian cells and bacteria. After replication in simian COS7 cells (proficient in O6-alkyl-guanine transferase), plasmid DNA was extracted and mutations were screened in E. coli DH5 alpha cells.