Biomaterial Database

Mechanisms of caffeine inhibition of DNA repair in E. coli. 1990

C P Selby, and A Sancar

Department of Biochemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.

Caffeine inhibits excision repair and photoreactivation in E. coli in vivo. We used purified E. coli enzymes and DNase I footprinting to study the mechanism of inhibition in vitro. Photolyase binds to pyrimidine dimers in DNA in a radiation-independent process. Upon irradiation of this enzyme-substrate complex with photoreactivating light, pyrimidine dimers are reverted to their constituent pyrimidine monomers. Using an oligonucleotide containing a thymine dimer at a unique site, we found that caffeine associates with the substrate and inhibits photoreactivation by blocking the binding of photolyase to the dimer. ABC excinuclease catalyses early events of excision repair; recognition of covalently modified DNA and incision of the phosphodiester backbone on both sides of the modification. The UvrA subunit is involved in the damage recognition process, which we studied using an oligonucleotide containing a unique psoralen adduct. UvrA binds to the adduct and protects 33 base pairs surrounding the adduct from DNase I digestion. In the presence of caffeine, the DNaseI footprint of UvrA covers the entire oligonucleotide; thus, caffeine promotes the binding of UvrA to undamaged DNA. UvrA subunits "trapped" by caffeine would be unable to catalyze repair. The intercalators ethidium bromide and chloroquine also promoted UvrA binding to DNA, so it may be caffeine's ability to intercalate into DNA that results in the trapping of UvrA. Thus, as a consequence of its interaction with DNA, caffeine inhibits these repair systems in E. coli by two entirely different mechanisms, by promoting the nonspecific binding of the nucleotide excision repair enzyme and by interfering with specific binding of the photoreactivating enzyme.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007364	Intercalating Agents	Agents that are capable of inserting themselves between the successive bases in DNA, thus kinking, uncoiling or otherwise deforming it and therefore preventing its proper functioning. They are used in the study of DNA.	Intercalating Agent,Intercalating Ligand,Intercalative Compound,Intercalator,Intercalators,Intercalating Ligands,Intercalative Compounds,Agent, Intercalating,Agents, Intercalating,Compound, Intercalative,Compounds, Intercalative,Ligand, Intercalating,Ligands, Intercalating
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D002110	Caffeine	A methylxanthine naturally occurring in some beverages and also used as a pharmacological agent. Caffeine's most notable pharmacological effect is as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing alertness and producing agitation. It also relaxes SMOOTH MUSCLE, stimulates CARDIAC MUSCLE, stimulates DIURESIS, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Several cellular actions of caffeine have been observed, but it is not entirely clear how each contributes to its pharmacological profile. Among the most important are inhibition of cyclic nucleotide PHOSPHODIESTERASES, antagonism of ADENOSINE RECEPTORS, and modulation of intracellular calcium handling.	1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine,Caffedrine,Coffeinum N,Coffeinum Purrum,Dexitac,Durvitan,No Doz,Percoffedrinol N,Percutaféine,Quick-Pep,Vivarin,Quick Pep,QuickPep
D004249	DNA Damage	Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS.	DNA Injury,DNA Lesion,DNA Lesions,Genotoxic Stress,Stress, Genotoxic,Injury, DNA,DNA Injuries
D004255	Deoxyribodipyrimidine Photo-Lyase	An enzyme that catalyzes the reactivation by light of UV-irradiated DNA. It breaks two carbon-carbon bonds in PYRIMIDINE DIMERS in DNA.	DNA Photolyase,DNA Photoreactivating Enzyme,Photoreactivating Enzyme,Photoreactivation Enzyme,DNA Photolyases,Deoxyribodipyrimidine Photolyase,Photolyase,Photolyases,Deoxyribodipyrimidine Photo Lyase,Photo-Lyase, Deoxyribodipyrimidine,Photolyase, DNA,Photolyase, Deoxyribodipyrimidine,Photolyases, DNA,Photoreactivating Enzyme, DNA
D004260	DNA Repair	The removal of DNA LESIONS and/or restoration of intact DNA strands without BASE PAIR MISMATCHES, intrastrand or interstrand crosslinks, or discontinuities in the DNA sugar-phosphate backbones.	DNA Damage Response
D004269	DNA, Bacterial	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of bacteria.	Bacterial DNA
D004706	Endodeoxyribonucleases	A group of enzymes catalyzing the endonucleolytic cleavage of DNA. They include members of EC 3.1.21.-, EC 3.1.22.-, EC 3.1.23.- (DNA RESTRICTION ENZYMES), EC 3.1.24.- (DNA RESTRICTION ENZYMES), and EC 3.1.25.-.
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D006367	HeLa Cells	The first continuously cultured human malignant CELL LINE, derived from the cervical carcinoma of Henrietta Lacks. These cells are used for, among other things, VIRUS CULTIVATION and PRECLINICAL DRUG EVALUATION assays.	Cell, HeLa,Cells, HeLa,HeLa Cell