Smc5/6-Mms21 prevents and eliminates inappropriate recombination intermediates in meiosis
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ABSTRACT: Repairing broken chromosomes via joint molecule (JM) intermediates is hazardous and therefore strictly controlled in most organisms. Also in budding yeast meiosis, where production of enough crossovers via JMs is imperative, only a subset of DNA breaks are repaired via JMs, closely regulated by the ZMM pathway. The other breaks are repaired to non-crossovers avoiding JM formation requiring BLM/Sgs1 helicase. "Rogue" JMs that escaped the ZMM pathway and BLM/Sgs1 are eliminated before metaphase by resolvases like Mus81-Mms4 to prevent chromosome nondisjunction.
Project description:Repairing broken chromosomes via joint molecule (JM) intermediates is hazardous and therefore strictly controlled in most organisms. Also in budding yeast meiosis, where production of enough crossovers via JMs is imperative, only a subset of DNA breaks are repaired via JMs, closely regulated by the ZMM pathway. The other breaks are repaired to non-crossovers avoiding JM formation requiring BLM/Sgs1 helicase. "Rogue" JMs that escaped the ZMM pathway and BLM/Sgs1 are eliminated before metaphase by resolvases like Mus81-Mms4 to prevent chromosome nondisjunction. 7 genome-wide meiotic ChIP-seq sets: 2 meiotic time points Smc6-myc DNA interaction (Smc6-ChIP), 2 meiotic time points Smc6-myc DNA interaction in the absence of induced recombination (Smc6-ChIP, spo11delta), 2 meiotic time points Sgs1-myc DNA interaction (Sgs1-ChIP), and 1 meiotic time point untagged as a negative control. (Corresponds to the main Figures 2 and 6, as well as to Figures S4, S7, in the associated publication.)
Project description:Meiotic crossover recombination is triggered by the formation of programmed double strand breaks (DSBs) catalyzed by the conserved Spo11 protein. Only a subset of these DSBs are repaired as crossovers, promoted by a group of eight evolutionarily conserved proteins, named ZMM. The synaptonemal complex (SC) that assembles between homologous chromosomes is composed of two axial elements, from which chromatin loops emanate, held together by a central region, composed of the central element and a transverse filament protein. In budding yeast, crossover formation is functionally linked to the formation of the SC, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here we found that the SC central element protein, Ecm11, mainly localizes on both DSB sites and sites that attach chromatin loops to the chromosome axis, in a way that strictly requires the ZMM protein Zip4. We further show that Zip4 directly interacts with Ecm11 and that point mutants that specifically abolish the Zip4-Ecm11 interaction loose Ecm11 binding to chromosomes and exhibit defective SC assembly. Interestingly, SC assembly can be partially rescued by artificially tethering interaction-defective Ecm11 to Zip4. This direct connection that ensures SC assembly from CO sites could be a way for the meiotic cell to shut down further DSB formation once enough recombination sites have been selected for crossovers, thereby preventing excess crossovers. Finally, we found that the mammalian ortholog of Zip4, TEX11, interacts with the SC central element TEX12, raising the possibility that this may be a general mechanism.
Project description:Wild type and sgs1 null yeast were grown under DNA damaging (with MMS) conditions or without treatment to log phase and their transcriptional profiles compared . The human aging diseases Werner and Bloom syndromes are a result of mutation of the WRN and BLM genes, respectively. The SGS1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is homologous to the human WRN and BLM genes of the RecQ DNA helicase family. Deletion of SGS1 results in accelerated yeast aging and a reduction in life span as well as cell cycle arrest. We demonstrate that SGS1 deletion, DNA damage, and stress show similar transcriptional responses in yeast. Our comparative analysis of the genome-wide expression response of SGS1 deletion, stress and DNA damage indicates parallel transcriptional responses to cellular insult and aging in yeast. Keywords: other
Project description:Wild type and sgs1 null yeast were grown under DNA damaging (with MMS) conditions or without treatment to log phase and their transcriptional profiles compared. The human aging diseases Werner and Bloom syndromes are a result of mutation of the WRN and BLM genes, respectively. The SGS1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is homologous to the human WRN and BLM genes of the RecQ DNA helicase family. Deletion of SGS1 results in accelerated yeast aging and a reduction in life span as well as cell cycle arrest. We demonstrate that SGS1 deletion, DNA damage, and stress show similar transcriptional responses in yeast. Our comparative analysis of the genome-wide expression response of SGS1 deletion, stress and DNA damage indicates parallel transcriptional responses to cellular insult and aging in yeast.
Project description:The human Werner and Bloom syndromes (WS and BS) are caused by deficiencies in the WRN and BLM RecQ helicases, respectively. WRN, BLM and their S. cerevisiae homologue Sgs1, are particularly active in vitro in unwinding G-quadruplex DNA (G4-DNA), a family of non-canonical nucleic acid structures formed by certain G-rich sequences. Recently, mRNA levels from loci containing potential G-quadruplex-forming sequences (PQS) were found to be preferentially altered in sgs1 mutants, suggesting that G4-DNA targeting by Sgs1 directly affects gene expression. Here, we extend these findings to human cells. Using microarrays to measure mRNAs obtained from human fibroblasts deficient for various RecQ family helicases, we observe significant associations between loci that are upregulated in WS or BS cells and loci that have PQS. No such PQS associations were observed for control expression datasets, however. Furthermore, upregulated genes in WS and BS showed no or dramatically reduced associations with sequences similar to PQS but that have considerably reduced potential to form intramolecular G4-DNA. These findings indicate that, like Sgs1, WRN and BLM can regulate transcription globally by targeting G4-DNA.
Project description:Crossing over between homologs is critical for the stable segregation of chromosomes during the first meiotic division. S. cerevisiae Mer3 (HFM1 in mammals) is a SF2 helicase and member of the ZMM group of proteins, that facilitates the formation of the majority of crossovers during meiosis. Here we describe the structural organisation of Mer3 and using AlphaFold modelling and XL-MS we further characterise the previously described interaction with Mlh1-Mlh2. We find that Mer3 also forms a previously undescribed complex with the recombination regulating factors Top3 and Rmi1 and that this interaction is competitive with Sgs1BLM helicase in a phospho-dependent manner. Using in vitro reconstituted D-loop assays we show that Mer3 inhibits the anti-recombination activity of Sgs1 helicase, but only in the presence of Dmc1. Thus we provide a mechanism whereby Mer3 interacts with a network of proteins to protect Dmc1 derived D-loops from dissolution.
Project description:DNA repair by homologous recombination is under stringent cell cycle control. This includes the last step of the reaction, disentanglement of DNA joint molecules (JMs). Previous work has established that JMs resolving nucleases are activated specifically at the onset of mitosis. In case of budding yeast Mus81-Mms4, this cell cycle stage-specific activation is known to depend on phosphorylation by CDK and Cdc5 kinases. Here, we show that a third cell cycle kinase, Cdc7-Dbf4 (DDK), targets Mus81-Mms4 in conjunction with Cdc5 - both kinases bind to as well as phosphorylate Mus81-Mms4 in an interdependent manner. Moreover, DDK-mediated phosphorylation of Mms4 is strictly required for Mus81 activation in mitosis, establishing DDK as a novel regulator of homologous recombination. The scaffold protein Rtt107, which is part of the Mus81-Mms4 complex, interacts with Cdc7 and thereby targets DDK and Cdc5 to the complex enabling full Mus81 activation. Therefore, Mus81 activation in mitosis involves at least three cell cycle kinases, Cdk1, Cdc5 and DDK. Furthermore, tethering of the kinases in a stable complex with Mus81 is critical for efficient JM resolution
Project description:Smc5/6 is essential for genome structural integrity by yet unknown mechanisms. Here we find that Smc5/6 co-localizes with the DNA crossed-strand processing complex Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 (STR) at genomic regions known as natural pausing sites (NPSs) where it facilitates Top3 retention. Individual depletions of STR subunits and Smc5/6 cause similar accumulation of joint molecules (JMs) composed of reversed forks, double Holliday Junctions and hemicatenanes, indicative of Smc5/6 regulating Sgs1 and Top3 DNA processing activities. We isolate an intra-allelic suppressor of smc6-56 proficient in Top3 retention but affected in pathways that act complementarily with Sgs1 and Top3 to resolve JMs arising at replication termination. Upon replication stress, the smc6-56 suppressor requires STR and Mus81-Mms4 functions for recovery, but not Srs2 and Mph1 helicases that prevent maturation of recombination intermediates. Thus, Smc5/6 functions jointly with Top3 and STR to mediate replication completion and influences the function of other DNA crossed-strand processing enzymes at NPSs.
Project description:The human Werner and Bloom syndromes (WS and BS) are caused by deficiencies in the WRN and BLM RecQ helicases, respectively. WRN, BLM and their S. cerevisiae homologue Sgs1, are particularly active in vitro in unwinding G-quadruplex DNA (G4-DNA), a family of non-canonical nucleic acid structures formed by certain G-rich sequences. Recently, mRNA levels from loci containing potential G-quadruplex-forming sequences (PQS) were found to be preferentially altered in sgs1 mutants, suggesting that G4-DNA targeting by Sgs1 directly affects gene expression. Here, we extend these findings to human cells. Using microarrays to measure mRNAs obtained from human fibroblasts deficient for various RecQ family helicases, we observe significant associations between loci that are upregulated in WS or BS cells and loci that have PQS. No such PQS associations were observed for control expression datasets, however. Furthermore, upregulated genes in WS and BS showed no or dramatically reduced associations with sequences similar to PQS but that have considerably reduced potential to form intramolecular G4-DNA. These findings indicate that, like Sgs1, WRN and BLM can regulate transcription globally by targeting G4-DNA. Cell culture conditions and media Human fibroblast cell strains (WS: AG05229, AG12795, AG12797; BS: GM02932, GM03402, GM16891; RTS: AG18371, AG18375, AG05013; Normal/Wild-type: AG04054, AG06310, AG09975) were obtained from the Coriell Repository (Camden, NJ), from donors matched for gender and of similar ages, and were at similar passage levels. Cells were cultured in MEM supplemented with Earle’s salts, 20% fetal bovine serum, 1x penicillin/streptomycin, and 1x fungizone in 3% O2 at 37oC and harvested for RNA extraction during active growth and at ~ 80% confluence. GeneChip microarray expression Total RNA from the 12 fibroblast cell strains was isolated by extraction with TRIzol (Invitrogen) and purified using the RNeasy system (Qiagen). Total RNA was amplified by in vitro transcription using the Ovation RNA Amplification System V2 (NuGen). The resultant cDNA was fragmented and labeled using the FL-Ovation cDNA Biotin Module V2 (NuGen), and then purified using QIAquick columns (Qiagen), as specified by the Ovation System manual. Labeled probe was hybridized to Affymetrix U133A 2.0 GeneChips, and ultimately scanned using an Axon GenePix array scanner. Statistical analysis of microarray expression experiment The output files were normalized by Robust Multiarray Average (RMA), using the R package GCRMA and gene expression levels were log2-transformed.
Project description:In meiosis, an excess number of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), the initiating DNA lesion, is formed compared to the number of crossovers, one of their repair products that creates the physical links between homologs and allows their correct segregation. It is not known if all DSB hotspots are also crossover hotspots, or if the ratio between DSB and crossovers varies with the chromosomal location. Here, to systematically investigate variation in the DSB/crossover ratio, we have established the genome-wide map of the Zip3 protein binding sites in budding yeast meiosis. We show that Zip3 associates with DSB sites when these are engaged into repair by crossing over, and that Zip3 binding frequency at DSB reflects its tendency to be repaired as a crossover. We further show that the relative amount of Zip3 per DSB varies with the chromosomal location and identify chromosomal features associated with high or low Zip3 per DSB ratio. Among these is the negative regulation by proximity to a centromere and positive by the proximity to axis-associated sequences. This work opens interesting perspectives to understand the role of these extra DSB that are not frequently used for crossover and our findings may extend to mammals that have a large excess of DSB compared to crossovers. ChIP-chip experiment in meiotic diploid SK1 yeast cells - two biological replicates