Lasers are frequently used in studies of the cellular response to DNA damage. However, they generate lesions whose spacing, frequency, and collisions with replication forks are rarely characterized. Here, we describe an approach that enables the determination of these parameters with laser localized interstrand crosslinks.
The DNA Damage Response (DDR) has been extensively characterized in studies of double strand breaks (DSBs) induced by laser micro beam irradiation in live cells. The DDR to helix distorting covalent DNA modifications, including interstrand DNA crosslinks (ICLs), is not as well defined. We have studied the DDR stimulated by ICLs, localized by laser photoactivation of immunotagged psoralens, in the nuclei of live cells. In order to address fundamental questions about adduct distribution and replication fork encounters, we combined laser localization with two other technologies. DNA fibers are often used to display the progress of replication forks by immunofluorescence of nucleoside analogues incorporated during short pulses. Immunoquantum dots have been widely employed for single molecule imaging. In the new approach, DNA fibers from cells carrying laser localized ICLs are spread onto microscope slides. The tagged ICLs are displayed with immunoquantum dots and the inter-lesion distances determined. Replication fork collisions with ICLs can be visualized and different encounter patterns identified and quantitated.
DNA is under constant assault from exogenous agents such as radiation, ultraviolet light, environmental toxins, combustion products, etc. Additionally, it is also attacked by endogenous radical species produced by oxidative metabolism. All of these have the potential to chemically or physically disrupt the integrity of DNA 1. Perturbations in the genome can activate the DNA Damage Response (DDR), a recruitment and post translational modification cascade with hundreds, if not thousands, of proteins and microRNAs involved in lesion repair, regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, senescence, and inflammatory pathways 2.
Most of our information about the DDR comes from studies with DSBs. This is in large part due to the availability of technologies for introducing breaks, including sequence specific breaks, in genomic DNA in living cells 3. In addition, the propensity of breaks to induce foci of DDR proteins, which can be displayed by immunofluorescence, has been very helpful for identifying the kinetics and requirements of responding proteins. One of the key technologies for studying the DDR was introduced by Bonner and colleagues, who used a laser beam to direct a stripe of DSBs in a "Region of Interest" (ROI) in the nuclei of living cells 4. In effect, they created a lengthy focus in which proteins of the DDR could be identified by immunofluorescence. This was illustrated by their demonstration of the strong stripe of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) in the laser exposed cells. Since then, the laser approach has been employed in numerous studies of the DDR induced by DSBs. Although powerful and popular, and the source of dramatic immunofluorescence images, it should be noted that in most experiments the laser intensity is adjusted so as to produce observable results, without concern for lesion identity, density, or spacing. Indeed, it can be difficult to make these estimates. Thus they are largely ignored, despite the multiplicity of lesions introduced into DNA by lasers 5. This contributes to the many contradictions in the literature 6.
In contrast to DSBs, most chemical modifications of DNA do not stimulate the formation of discrete foci of DDR proteins. This is important in the light of our current understanding of lesion frequencies. It has been estimated that human cells in culture incur as many as 50 DSBs per cell cycle, formed largely during S phase 7,8,9. Fewer are formed in non-proliferating cells. This contrasts with the number of nucleobase losses or modification events, which are in the tens of thousands per cell/day 1,10. Thus, we know most about the DDR induced by events that are relatively rare, and much less about those induced by helix distorting lesions, which in aggregate are far more common.
In order to address questions about the cellular response to covalent modifications of genomic DNA, we wanted to work with a helix distorting DNA adduct that had inherent DDR induction activity. Furthermore, to facilitate experimental design and interpretation we were interested in a structure whose introduction could be controlled with respect to time and was amenable to visualization. Accordingly, we developed a strategy based on psoralen. Psoralens are well characterized photoactive DNA intercalators favoring 5' TA:AT sites. Unlike other crosslinking agents such as nitrogen mustards and mitomycin C (MMC) they are not DNA reactive unless exposed to long wave UV (UVA) light. The intercalated molecules react with thymine bases on opposite strands to produce helix distorting interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) 11. With the trimethyl psoralen used in our experiments most products are ICLs, relatively few monoadducts are generated (less than 10%) 12, and intrastrand crosslinks between adjacent bases on one strand are not formed. Because they are powerful blocks to replication and transcription, psoralen and other crosslinking agents, like cis-platinum and MMC, are commonly used in chemotherapy. Thus psoralen enabled studies that followed the activation of the DDR by a helix distorting structure, and also provided insight into the cellular response to a compound with clinical importance.
We synthesized a reagent in which trimethyl psoralen was linked to digoxigenin (Dig), a plant sterol not found in mammalian cells and frequently used as an immunotag. The requirement for photoactivation permits localization by laser light (365 nm) of psoralen ICLs in defined ROI in nuclei in living cells. These can be displayed by immunofluorescence against the Dig tag. DNA repair and DDR proteins appeared in the stripes of laser localized ICLs 13,14.
The DDR activated by the high laser intensities used to produce DSBs could be due to isolated or clustered damage 15,16. Consequently, the relevance of results from these experiments to naturally occurring lesions, present at much lower concentration, is uncertain. To address similar questions about psoralen adduct frequency and spacing in DNA, we took advantage of DNA fiber technology 17 and immunoquantum dots. Quantum dots are much brighter than fluorescent dyes and are not bleached by exposure to light. Thus they are frequently used for single molecule imaging 18, an application for which fluorescent dyes are insufficiently bright. Individual DNA fibers can be stretched on glass slides and can be displayed by immunofluorescence against nucleoside analogues incorporated during incubations prior to cell harvest. We treated cells with Dig-psoralen and exposed the ROI to laser micro irradiation. Fibers were prepared from the cells and individual Dig-psoralen adducts could be visualized with the immunoquantum dots. Exposing the cells to nucleoside analogues for relatively short times (20-60 min) permits the display of replication tracts in the vicinity of the laser localized ICLs.
1. Preparation of Dig-TMP
2. Laser Localized Dig-TMP ICLs
3. Harvest of Cells and Stretching of DNA Fibers
4. Fiber Imaging by Fluorescence Microscopy
Laser localized Dig-TMP (Figure 1A) ICLs can be displayed by immunofluorescence against the Dig-tag linked to the psoralen. Although the laser can be directed to strike in an area of any contour, stripes are not "natural" shapes in cells, and legitimate signals can be easily distinguished from artifacts due to non-specific binding by primary or secondary antibodies. This feature is helpful when using antibodies of less than perfect specificity. An example of the well known marker of the DDR, γ-H2AX, in a stripe of Dig-TMP ICLs is shown in Figure 1B.
The immunofluorescence of the Dig tagged lesions in the laser stripes does not allow any conclusions as to the frequency and spacing of adducts. In order to make this determination cells were incubated with CldU for 24 h prior to introduction of the ICLs. The staining against the CldU permits the visualization of the Dig tagged lesions on long fibers and yields clearer fiber patterns than direct stains such as DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) or YOYO {1,1'-(4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4,8-diazaundecamethylene)bis[4-[(3-methylbenzo-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)methylidene]-l,4-dihydroquinolinium] tetraiodide}. After introduction of ICLs by laser photoactivation, fibers were spread from the targeted cells. The analysis of the Dig signals on the fibers such as those shown in Figure 2 revealed that the inter ICL distances ranged from less than 10 kb to greater than 160 kb, as described in our recent publication 21. There was no evidence for clustered adducts. Thus the stripe of the Dig tag, and the accumulation of the DDR proteins in the stripe, reflected the presence of well separated lesions, at least as measured along the extended DNA. Considered in terms of cellular chromatin if the ICLs formed in nucleosomal arrays, with a 6 fold compression of extended DNA length, they would still be separated by the equivalent of approximately 1.6 kb of DNA.
Experiments featuring laser induced DNA damage generally follow the induction of the DDR. These experiments are rarely concerned with questions regarding DNA replication. On the other hand, DNA fiber assays are typically used for studies of replication. Exposure of cells to short pulses of halogenated nucleoside analogues results in their incorporation into DNA. Immunofluorescence analysis of DNA fibers reveals tracts of incorporated analogues representing recent DNA synthesis. It was of interest to ask if DNA replication occurred in the laser localized ICL stripes, and if so, what would be the pattern of replication in the vicinity of the ICLs? Cells were incubated for 24 h with CldU to facilitate display of long fibers. Laser localized ICLs were introduced into cells followed by a 1 h pulse of IdU. DNA fibers were prepared from the targeted cells and the Dig tagged ICLs and the replication tracts displayed. The results indicated that laser activation of the psoralen does not shut down replication or affect the overall frequency of replication patterns. Replication occurred on one side, and also on both sides of the ICLs, with the double sided patterns in a 4:1 majority as we have recently shown 21.
Figure 1: Generation of Laser Localized Dig-TMP ICLs. (A) Structure of Dig-trimethyl psoralen. (B) Accumulation of γ-H2AX (green) in ROI containing laser localized ICLs (Dig, red). The nucleus is stained with DAPI (blue). The brightfield photo shows a cell partially on the mark made by the diamond pen. Note the nucleoli, and the placement of the ROI outside them. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2: DNA Fibers with Laser Localized Dig-TMP Signals. (A) Cells were incubated for 24 h with CldU to label DNA. Then laser localized ICLs were introduced and (B) the cells were harvested and fibers spread. (C, D) The Dig signals were displayed with an immunoquantum dot (red) and the CldU by immunofluorescence (green). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
The laser localization technology requires the use of adherent cells with nuclei that are visible in bright field microscopy. We have tried to attach nonadherent cells, such as primary lymphocytes, or loosely adherent cultured cells such as AD293, to the glass surface with cell adhesive preparations such as polylysine or collagen, or more complex mixtures. Although these treatments may bind the cells to the surface, we find that they generally stay rounded making it very difficult to focus into the nuclei. Furthermore, the cells often fail to survive the initial wash after the removal of the growth medium. However, within the requirement for adherent cells, we have successfully used a broad range of standard cell lines as well as primary cells for these studies. It is useful to test cells for mycoplasma contamination. We find that cell responses are altered by these infections.
The focal plane of the laser is important. The goal is to place the ICLs within the nucleus. Too high and the photoactivation will be above the nucleus; too low and it will be on the glass. We find it useful to sharpen the focus of the DIC image at the intersection of the cytoplasm and the nucleus.
The fiber assays are not difficult, but require some practice before interpretable fields are recovered. It is important to implement this technique properly. The number of cells recovered from the laser experiments is low and each sample is used in its entirety on a single slide. Consequently it is essential to maximize the yield from each experiment, as samples cannot be split, with aliquots saved for later analysis. However, hundreds of events can be recovered from a single sample. Two features of the procedure are of central importance. One is the rate of flow of the cell lysate down the slide. If too fast, much of the DNA will run off the slide. The quality of the glass slides is also critical. We occasionally receive lots that are ineffective. Consequently each new lot must be tested prior to use.
As is true for all laboratory manipulations the reliability of commercial reagents-antibodies, immunoquantum dots, etc., is always a concern. These are not always stable and experimental failure is usually traced to problems with one or another reagent. The immunoquantum dots are particularly problematic and more than one lot may need to be tested in order to identify one that is acceptable. Ineffective lots are marked by high background signals. These are not associated with fibers and will be seen on regions of the slide that have no DNA.
The use of lasers to introduce local DNA damage has become quite popular since it was introduced by the Bonner group 4. In those, and most subsequent experiments the laser power settings are set so as to induce the DDR directly. We have used a power setting sufficiently low such that the activation of the DDR is dependent on both laser and psoralen. As discussed above, the separation between psoralen adducts argues that we are looking at the response to individual events. While the number of ICLs that are formed by endogenous crosslinking agents is not known, we note that the localization of the psoralen adducts does not kill the cells, as they are able to remove the psoralen adducts within 6-8 h (unpublished data) and are present and healthy 24 h later. Thus this approach is much less toxic to cells than protocols that require exposure to agents that introduce DNA damage throughout the nucleus and mitochondria.
The laser/psoralen combination introduce a helix distorting structure that activate the DDR. In this regard the results obtained from this approach are applicable to a range of helix distorting lesions, given the cascading nature of the DDR, following the activation of the ATM/DNAPK/ATR kinases 22. In this regard the DNA fiber approach described here could be extended to any DNA structure that can be detected by immunologic or chemical or biochemical means that can be displayed by fluorescence. These could include UV photoproducts 23, bulky alkylators 24, G quadruplexes 25, and oxidative lesions 5.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute on Aging (Z01 AG000746-08) and the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund.
Digoxigenin NHS ester | Sigma-Aldrich | 11333054001 | |
Chloro-psoralen | Berry and Associates | PS 5000 | |
diaminoglycol | Sigma-Aldrich | 369519 | 4,7,10-Trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine |
Chloroform | Acros Organics | 423550040 | |
Methanol | Fisher Scientific | A4524 | |
Ammonium solution | Sigma-Aldrich | 5002 | |
TLC plates | Analtech, Inc. | P02511 | |
Flass glass column 24/40, 100ml | Chemglass Life Sciences | CG-1196-02 | |
Nikon T2000_E2 spinning disk confocal microscope, equipped with automated stage and environmental control chamber and plate holder | Perkin Elmer | With Volocity Software | |
Micropoint Galvo | Andor Technologies | with a Nitrogen pulsed laser | |
dye cell | Andor Technologies | MP-2250-2-365 | |
365 dye | Andor Technologies | MP-27-365-DYE | |
IdU | Sigma-Aldrich | 17125 | |
35mm glass botomm plates 1.5 coverslip, 10mm glass diameter, uncoated | Matek | P35G-1.5-10-C | |
microscope slides | New Comer Supply | Part # 5070 | New Silane Slides |
Mouse anti BrdU antibody (IdU) | BD Biosciences | 347580 | 1 in 40 |
Rat anti BrdU Antibody (CldU) | Abcam | ab6326 | 1 in 200 |
Rabbit anti Dig antibody | ThermoFisher Scientific | 710019 | 1 in 200 |
Q-dot 655 goat anti Rabbit IgG | ThermoFisher Scientific | Q-11421MP | 1 in 5000 |
AF647- goat anti Rat IgG | Jackson Immunoresearch | 112-605-167 | 1 in 100 |
AF488-goat anti mouse IgG | Jackson Immunoresearch | 115-545-166 | 1 in 100 |
Zeiss epifluorescent microscope A200 | Zeiss | with Axiovision software | |
Q-dot 655 filter | Chroma | 39107 |