Epigenetic DNA Modification N-Methyladenine Inhibits DNA Replication by DNA Polymerase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phage PaP1.

N-methyladenine (6mA), a newly identified epigenetic modification, plays important roles in regulation of various biological processes. However, the effect of 6mA on DNA replication has been little addressed. In this work, we investigated how 6mA affected DNA replication by DNA polymerase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phage PaP1 (gp90 exo). The presence of 6mA, as well as its intermediate hypoxanthine (Hyp), inhibited DNA replication by gp90 exo. The 6mA reduced dTTP incorporation efficiency by 10-fold and inhibited next-base extension efficiency by 100-fold. Differently, dCTP was preferentially incorporated opposite Hyp among four dNTPs. Gp90 exo reduced the extension priority beyond the 6mA:T pair rather than the 6mA:C mispair and preferred to extend beyond Hyp:C rather than the Hyp:T pair. Incorporation of dTTP opposite 6mA and dCTP opposite Hyp showed fast burst phases. The burst rate and burst amplitude were both reduced for 6mA compared with unmodified A. Moreover, the total incorporation efficiency ( k/ K) was decreased for dTTP incorporation opposite 6mA and dCTP incorporation opposite Hyp compared with dTTP incorporation opposite A. 6mA reduced the incorporation rate ( k), and Hyp increased the dissociation constant ( K). However, 6mA or Hyp on template did not affect the binding of DNA polymerase to DNA in binary or ternary complexes. This work provides new insight into the inhibited effects of epigenetic modification of 6mA on DNA replication in PaP1.