title: Biochemical and kinetic characterization of the DNA helicase and exonuclease activities of werner syndrome protein.
abstract: The WRN gene, defective in the premature aging and genome instability disorder Werner syndrome, encodes a protein with DNA helicase and exonuclease activities. In this report, cofactor requirements for WRN catalytic activities were examined. WRN helicase performed optimally at an equimolar concentration (1 mm) of Mg(2+) and ATP with a K(m) of 140 microm for the ATP-Mg(2+) complex. The initial rate of WRN helicase activity displayed a hyperbolic dependence on ATP-Mg(2+) concentration. Mn(2+) and Ni(2+) substituted for Mg(2+) as a cofactor for WRN helicase, whereas Fe(2+) or Cu(2+) (10 microm) profoundly inhibited WRN unwinding in the presence of Mg(2+).Zn(2+) (100 microm) was preferred over Mg(2+) as a metal cofactor for WRN exonuclease activity and acts as a molecular switch, converting WRN from a helicase to an exonuclease. Zn(2+) strongly stimulated the exonuclease activity of a WRN exonuclease domain fragment, suggesting a Zn(2+) binding site in the WRN exonuclease domain. A fluorometric assay was used to study WRN helicase kinetics. The initial rate of unwinding increased with WRN concentration, indicating that excess enzyme over DNA substrate improved the ability of WRN to unwind the DNA substrate. Under presteady state conditions, the burst amplitude revealed a 1:1 ratio between WRN and DNA substrate, suggesting an active monomeric form of the helicase. These are the first reported kinetic parameters of a human RecQ unwinding reaction based on real time measurements, and they provide mechanistic insights into WRN-catalyzed DNA unwinding.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.forename: Joshua A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sommers
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Brosh
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D002460:Cell Line; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D005092:Exonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta; D007477:Ions; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D053484:RecQ Helicases; D013997:Time Factors; D000071657:Werner Syndrome Helicase
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004247:DNA; D007501:Iron; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D005092:Exonucleases; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C506725:RECQL protein, human; D004265:DNA Helicases; D053484:RecQ Helicases; C098785:WRN protein, human; D000071657:Werner Syndrome Helicase; D008274:Magnesium