Mutation Processes in 293-Based Clones Overexpressing the DNA Cytosine Deaminase APOBEC3B

PLoS One. 2016 May 10;11(5):e0155391. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155391. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Molecular, cellular, and clinical studies have combined to demonstrate a contribution from the DNA cytosine deaminase APOBEC3B (A3B) to the overall mutation load in breast, head/neck, lung, bladder, cervical, ovarian, and other cancer types. However, the complete landscape of mutations attributable to this enzyme has yet to be determined in a controlled human cell system. We report a conditional and isogenic system for A3B induction, genomic DNA deamination, and mutagenesis. Human 293-derived cells were engineered to express doxycycline-inducible A3B-eGFP or eGFP constructs. Cells were subjected to 10 rounds of A3B-eGFP exposure that each caused 80-90% cell death. Control pools were subjected to parallel rounds of non-toxic eGFP exposure, and dilutions were done each round to mimic A3B-eGFP induced population fluctuations. Targeted sequencing of portions of TP53 and MYC demonstrated greater mutation accumulation in the A3B-eGFP exposed pools. Clones were generated and microarray analyses were used to identify those with the greatest number of SNP alterations for whole genome sequencing. A3B-eGFP exposed clones showed global increases in C-to-T transition mutations, enrichments for cytosine mutations within A3B-preferred trinucleotide motifs, and more copy number aberrations. Surprisingly, both control and A3B-eGFP clones also elicited strong mutator phenotypes characteristic of defective mismatch repair. Despite this additional mutational process, the 293-based system characterized here still yielded a genome-wide view of A3B-catalyzed mutagenesis in human cells and a system for additional studies on the compounded effects of simultaneous mutation mechanisms in cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Death / genetics
  • Cell Engineering / methods*
  • Cell Line
  • Clone Cells
  • Cytidine Deaminase / genetics*
  • Cytidine Deaminase / metabolism
  • Cytosine / metabolism
  • DNA Mismatch Repair
  • Doxycycline / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genetic Vectors / chemistry
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / genetics*
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / metabolism
  • Mutation*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Thymine / metabolism
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • MYC protein, human
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Cytosine
  • APOBEC3B protein, human
  • Cytidine Deaminase
  • Doxycycline
  • Thymine