Shift of DNA polymerase alpha nuclear distribution and activity in apoptotic human leukaemia cells

The changes in the distribution of DNA polymerase a in nuclei from HL-60 cells treated with Methotrexate (MTX) for up to 15 hr. were checked by means of both confocal analysis and electron microscopy analysis. The results provided evidence that, relative to controls, in the MTX treated cells the enzyme undergoes a topographical rearrangement throughout the nucleus, showing a pattern of distribution which calls to mind the nuclear matrix structure. The ''in vitro'' analysis of DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma activities revealed that, in nuclei from control cells, DNA polymerase alpha was the principal DNA polymerase driving this ''in vitro'' system, while after 15 hr. of MTX treatment its activity was largely decreased and replaced by DNA polymerase beta, which is believed to be associated with DNA repair. Taken together, these results suggest that among the intracellular processes elicited by MTX-induced apoptosis in HL60 cells, the redistribution of DNA polymerase a and the stimulation of DNA polymerase beta activity might represent an extreme attempt of the cell to preserve the replicative machinery during fragmentation and chromatin margination. (C) 1997 Academic Press.