RECQL4 is not critical for firing of human DNA replication origins
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ABSTRACT: RECQL4, a member of the RecQ helicase family, plays a role in maintaining genomic stability, but its precise function remains unclear. The N-terminus of RECQL4 has similarity to Sld2, a protein required for the firing of DNA replication origins in budding yeast. Consistent with this sequence similarity, Xenopus RECQL4 has been implicated in initiating DNA replication in oocyte extracts. To determine whether human RECQL4 is required for firing of DNA replication origins, we generated cells in which both RECQL4 alleles were targeted, resulting in either lack of protein expression (Knock-Out) or expression of a full-length, mutant protein lacking helicase activity (Helicase Dead). Surprisingly, both the RECQL4 Knock-Out and Helicase Dead cells were viable and exhibited essentially identical origin firing profiles as the parental cells. Analysis of the rate of fork progression revealed normal rates in the RECQL4 Knock Out cells, but decreased rates in the RECQL4 inactive cells. Thus, while budding yeast Sld2 is required for DNA replication origin firing, our evidence suggest that human RECQL4 has assumed a role in the regulation of replication fork progression.
Project description:Mammalian DNA replication relies on various DNA helicases and nuclease activities to ensure accurate genetic duplication, but how different helicase and nuclease activities are properly directed remains unclear. Here, we identify the ubiquitin-specific protease, USP50, as a chromatin-associated protein required to promote ongoing replication, fork restart, telomere maintenance, cellular survival following hydroxyurea or pyridostatin treatment, and suppression of DNA breaks near GC-rich sequences. We find that USP50 supports proper WRN: FEN1 localisation at or near stalled replication forks. Nascent DNA in cells lacking USP50 shows increased association of the DNA2 nuclease and RECQL4 and RECQL5 helicases and replication defects in cells lacking USP50, or FEN1 are driven by these proteins. Consequently, suppression of DNA2 or RECQL4/5 improves USP50-depleted cell resistance to agents inducing replicative stress and restores telomere stability. These data define an unexpected regulatory protein that promotes the balance of helicase and nuclease use at ongoing and stalled replication forks..
Project description:The influence of mono-ubiquitylation of histone H2B (H2Bub) on transcription via nucleosome reassembly has been widely documented. Recently, it has also been shown that H2Bub promotes recovery from replication stress; however, the underling molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that H2B ubiquitylation coordinates activation of the intra-S replication checkpoint and chromatin re-assembly, in order to limit fork progression and DNA damage in the presence of replication stress. In particular, we show that the absence of H2Bub affects replication dynamics (enhanced fork progression and reduced origin firing), leading to γH2A accumulation and increased hydroxyurea sensitivity. Further genetic analysis indicates a role for H2Bub in transducing Rad53 phosphorylation. Concomitantly, we found that a change in replication dynamics is not due to a change in dNTP level, but is mediated by reduced Rad53 activation and destabilization of the RecQ helicase Sgs1 at the fork. Furthermore, we demonstrate that H2Bub facilitates the dissociation of the histone chaperone Asf1 from Rad53, and nucleosome reassembly behind the fork is compromised in cells lacking H2Bub. Taken together, these results indicate that the regulation of H2B ubiquitylation is a key event in the maintenance of genome stability, through coordination of intra-S checkpoint activation, chromatin assembly and replication fork progression. S.cerevisiae oligonucleotide microarrays were provided by Affymetrix (S.cerevisiae Tiling 1.0R, P/N 900645). BrdU and proteins ChIP-chip analyses were carried out as described (Fachinetti et al., M Cell, 2010).
Project description:Across eukaryotes, inhibition of the progression of the DNA replication machinery causes an S-phase checkpoint response. This response regulates multiple processes, including inhibition of replication initiation and fork stabilisation. How these events are coordinated remains poorly understood. Here we show that the replicative helicase component Cdc45 targets the checkpoint kinase Rad53 to distinct replication complexes in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Rad53 binds to FHA-interaction motifs in an unstructured loop region of Cdc45, which is phosphorylated by Rad53 itself, and this interaction is necessary for the inhibition of origin firing through Sld3. In addition to regulating replication initiation, Cdc45 also recruits Rad53 to stalled replication forks, which we demonstrate is important for the response to replication stress. Finally we show that a Cdc45 mutation that is orthologous to an allele found in patients with Meier-Gorlin Syndrome disrupts the functional interaction with Rad53. Together we present a single mechanism by which Rad53 targets replication initiation and elongation complexes, which may be relevant to human disease.
Project description:The maintenance of genome stability relies on the coordinated control of origin activation and replication fork progression. How the interplay between these processes impacts human genetic disease and cancer remains incompletely characterized. Here we initially show that mouse cells lacking Pole4 and featuring Pole instability exhibit impaired genome-wide activation of DNA replication origins, in a origin location-independent manner. Lack of POLE4 leads to proteasome-dependent Pole degradation prior to CMG (CDC45/MCM2-7/GINS) helicase formation and origin activation. Strikingly, Trp53 ablation in primary Pole4 knock-out cells increased Pole levels and origin activation and reduced DNA damage levels in a transcription-dependent manner. Transcriptome analysis of primary Trp53 knock out cells revealed that the TRP53-CDKN1A/P21 axis maintains appropriate levels of replication initiation factors and CDK activity during unchallenged S-phase. Loss of this control mechanism deregulates origin activation, perturbs genome-wide replication fork progression and induces fork stalling and DNA damage. Thus, while our data support an impaired origin activation model for genetic diseases affecting CMG formation, we propose that loss of the TRP53-CDKN1A/P21 tumour suppressor axis induces inappropriate origin activation and deregulates genome wide fork progression. This phenomenon has broad implications for genetic instability and therapeutic targeting in cancer.
Project description:Replication forks temporarily or terminally pause at hundreds of hard-to-replicate regions around the genome. A conserved pair of budding yeast replisome components Tof1-Csm3 (fission yeast Swi1-Swi3 and human TIMELESS-TIPIN) acts as a ‘molecular brake’ and promotes fork slowdown at proteinaceous replication fork barriers (RFBs), while the accessory helicase Rrm3 assists the replisome in removing protein obstacles. Here we show that Tof1-Csm3 complex promotes fork pausing independently of Rrm3 helicase by recruiting topoisomerase I (Top1) to the replisome. Topoisomerase II (Top2) partially compensates for the pausing decrease in cells when Top1 is lost from the replisome. The C-terminus of Tof1 is specifically required for Top1 recruitment to the replisome and fork pausing but not for DNA replication checkpoint (DRC) activation. We propose that forks pause at proteinaceous RFBs through a ‘sTOP’ mechanism (‘slowing down with TOPoisomerases I-II’), which we show also contributes to protecting cells from topoisomerase-blocking agents.
Project description:[original title] Chromosome replication initiates at multiple replicons and terminates when forks converge. In Escherichia coli, the Tus-TER complex mediates polar fork converging at the terminator region and aberrant termination events challenge chromosome integrity and segregation. Since in eukaryotes termination is less characterized, we used budding yeast to identify the factors assisting fork fusion at replicating chromosomes. Using genomic and mechanistic studies we have identified and characterized 71 chromosomal termination regions (TERs). TERs contain fork pausing elements that influence fork progression and merging. The Rrm3 DNA helicase assists fork progression across TERs counteracting the accumulation of X-shaped structures. The Top2 DNA topoisomerase associates at TERs in S-phase and G2/M facilitates fork fusion and prevents DNA breaks and genome rearrangements at TERs. We propose that in eukaryotes replication fork barriers, Rrm3 and Top2 coordinate replication fork progression and fusion at termination regions thus counteracting abnormal genomic transitions. Signal tracks in BED format suitable for visualization on the UCSC genome browser can be found at http://bio.ifom-ieo-campus.it/supplementary/Fachinetti_et_al_MOLCELL_2010
Project description:The influence of mono-ubiquitylation of histone H2B (H2Bub) on transcription via nucleosome reassembly has been widely documented. Recently, it has also been shown that H2Bub promotes recovery from replication stress; however, the underling molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that H2B ubiquitylation coordinates activation of the intra-S replication checkpoint and chromatin re-assembly, in order to limit fork progression and DNA damage in the presence of replication stress. In particular, we show that the absence of H2Bub affects replication dynamics (enhanced fork progression and reduced origin firing), leading to γH2A accumulation and increased hydroxyurea sensitivity. Further genetic analysis indicates a role for H2Bub in transducing Rad53 phosphorylation. Concomitantly, we found that a change in replication dynamics is not due to a change in dNTP level, but is mediated by reduced Rad53 activation and destabilization of the RecQ helicase Sgs1 at the fork. Furthermore, we demonstrate that H2Bub facilitates the dissociation of the histone chaperone Asf1 from Rad53, and nucleosome reassembly behind the fork is compromised in cells lacking H2Bub. Taken together, these results indicate that the regulation of H2B ubiquitylation is a key event in the maintenance of genome stability, through coordination of intra-S checkpoint activation, chromatin assembly and replication fork progression.
Project description:Yeast Sen1Senataxin is a RNA/DNA helicase that preserves replication forks across RNA Polymerase II-transcribed genes by counteracting RNA:DNA hybrids accumulation. We show that in Sen1-depleted cells early forks clashing head-on with transcription halt, and impair progression of sister forks within the same replicon. Unsolved replication-transcription collisions trigger the local firing of dormant origins that rescue arrested forks. In sen1 mutants the MRX and Mrc1/Ctf4-complexes protect those forks clashing with transcription by preventing genotoxic fork-resection events mediated by the Exo1 nuclease. Hence, sister forks within the same replicon remain coupled when one of the two forks halts. This is different when forks encounter double strand breaks. Moreover, the local firing of dormant origins is not prevented by checkpoint activation but depends on delayed adjacent forks. Furthermore, a productive head-on clash between replication and transcription requires the tuning of origin firing and coordination between Sen1, the MRX and Mrc1/Ctf4-complexes and Exo1.
Project description:DDX17 is a DEAD-box RNA helicase protein which is involved in many aspects of RNA metabolism, from gene transcription to RNA processing and decay. As a simple approach to identify DDX17 target genes, we carried out a transcriptome analysis of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y following DDX17 gene knock-down