Project description:The eukaryotic RNA processing factor Y14 participates in double-strand break (DSB) repair via its RNA-dependent interaction with the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) complex. We identified the long non-coding RNA HOTAIRM1 as a candidate that mediates this interaction. HOTAIRM1 localized to DNA damage sites induced by ionizing radiation. Depletion of HOTAIRM1 delayed the recruitment of DNA damage response and repair factors to DNA lesions and reduced DNA repair efficiency. Identification of the HOTAIRM1 interactome revealed a large set of RNA processing factors including mRNA surveillance factors. The surveillance factors Upf1 and SMG6 localized to DNA damage sites in a HOTAIRM1-dependent manner. Depletion of Upf1 or SMG6 increased the level of DSB-induced non-coding transcripts at damaged sites, indicating a pivotal role for Upf1/SMG6-mediated RNA degradation in DNA repair. We conclude that HOTAIRM1 serves as an assembly scaffold for both DNA repair and RNA processing factors that act in concert to repair DSBs.
Project description:Targetted metabolomics in U2OS PRDX1 WT and PRDX1-/- While cellular metabolism impacts the DNA damage response, a systematic understanding of the metabolic requirements that are crucial for DNA damage repair has yet to be achieved. Here, we investigate the metabolic enzymes and processes that are essential when cells are exposed to DNA damage. By integrating functional genomics with chromatin proteomics and metabolomics, we provide a detailed description of the interplay between cellular metabolism and the DNA damage response. Subsequent analysis identified Peroxiredoxin 1, PRDX1, as fundamental for DNA damage repair. During the DNA damage response, PRDX1 translocates to the nucleus where it is required to reduce DNA damage-induced nuclear reactive oxygen species levels. Moreover, PRDX1 controls aspartate availability, which is required for the DNA damage repair-induced upregulation of de novo nucleotide synthesis. Loss of PRDX1 leads to an impairment in the clearance of γΗ2ΑΧ nuclear foci, accumulation of replicative stress and cell proliferation defects, thus revealing a crucial role for PRDX1 as a DNA damage surveillance factor.
Project description:Ultraviolet (UV) light radiation induces the formation of bulky photoproducts in the DNA that interfere with replication and transcription. Recent studies showed that exposure of human cells to UV light globally affects transcription and alternative splicing, however, the signaling pathways and mechanisms that link UV light-induced DNA damage to RNA metabolism regulation remain poorly understood. Here, we provide a systems view on protein phosphorylation patterns induced by UV light, and uncover the dependencies of phosphorylation events on the canonical DNA damage signaling mediated by ATM/ATR or p38 MAP kinase pathway. We identify RNA binding proteins as primary targets and 14-3-3 family as direct readers of p38-MK2-dependent phosphorylation induced by UV light. Moreover, we show that MK2 phosphorylates the RNA binding subunit of the NELF complex NELFE on S115. NELFE phosphorylation promotes the recruitment of 14-3-3 and rapid dissociation of the NELF complex from chromatin that is accompanied with an increase in transcriptional elongation.
Project description:Small RNA-seq on MCF10A, HCT116 and HCT116p53-/- cell lines after induction of DNA damage (5 Gy Irradiation). Small RNA-seq on MCF10A, HCT116 and HCT116p53-/- at 4 and 24 hours after induction of DNA damage (5 Gy Irradiation), done in duplicate with respective control (0 hour) using illumina Genome Analyzer IIx
Project description:Data in support of Vohhodina et al. "BRCA1 maintains telomere integrity through suppression of TERRA RNA and TERRA R-loop-induced DNA damage"
Project description:Cells have evolved a robust and highly regulated DNA damage response to preserve their genomic integrity. Although increasing evidence highlights the relevance of RNA regulation, our understanding of its impact on a fully efficient DNA damage response remains limited. Here, through a targeted CRISPR-knockout screen, we identified RNA binding proteins and modifiers that participate in mediating the p53 response. Among the top hits, m6A reader YTHDC1 was identified as a master regulator of p53 expression. YTHDC1 binds to the transcription start sites ofTP53and other genes involved in DNA damage response, promoting their transcriptional elongation. YTHDC1 deficiency leads to reducedTP53expression, and also retention of introns leading to aberrant protein production of key DNA damage factors. While intron retention is dependent on m6A, YTHDC1 favoursTP53transcriptionalpause-release independently of m6A. Depletion of YTHDC1 causes genomic instability and aberrant cancer cell proliferation mediated by genes regulated by YTHDC1. Our results uncover YTHDC1 as an orchestrator of the DNA damage response through distinct mechanisms of co-transcriptional mRNA regulation.
Project description:The endonuclease Dicer is a key component of the human RNA interference (RNAi) pathway and known for its role in cytoplasmic micro RNA (miRNA) production. Recent findings suggest that non-canonical Dicer generates small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) to mediate the DNA damage response (DDR). Here we show that human Dicer is phosphorylated in the platform-PAZ-connector helix cassette (S1016) upon induction of DNA damage. Phosphorylated Dicer (p-Dicer) accumulates in the nucleus and is recruited to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). We further demonstrate that turnover of damage-induced nuclear dsRNA requires additional phosphorylation of carboxy-terminal Dicer residues (S1728 and S1852). DNA damage-induced nuclear Dicer accumulation is conserved in mammals. Dicer depletion causes spontaneous DNA damage and delays DNA repair. Taken together, we place Dicer in context of the DDR by demonstrating DNA damage-inducible phospho-switch that causes localised processing of nuclear dsRNA by p-Dicer to promote DNA repair.
Project description:Neurons harbor high levels of endogenous single strand DNA breaks (SSBs) that are targeted to neuronal enhancers and correlate with marks of DNA demethylation. To determine the source of SSBs at neuronal enhancers, we depleted the thymidine DNA glycosylase TDG, which excises TET-mediated oxidized methylcytidines 5fC and 5caC, to produce unmodified C. In differentiating neurons, induced degradation of TDG led to the disappearance of SSBs, demonstrating the existence of ongoing TET‑mediated oxidation. Using an independent model of macrophage differentiation from reprogrammed pre-B cells, we demonstrate that TET/TDG-mediated active demethylation may be a general mechanism underlying post-mitotic lineage specification. We find that macrophage differentiation prefers short patch base excision repair (SP-BER) to fill-in single nucleotide gaps, whereas neurons also frequently utilize the long-patch (LP-BER) sub-pathway. By measuring the distribution of SSBs relative to sites of oxidized cytosine, we observed that stretches of 2-30 bases are synthesized distal from the methylated CpG site during repair. Disrupting gap-filling using anti-neoplastic nucleoside analogs resulted in continuous DNA damage/repair events at enhancers each resolving within 1-2 hours, but ultimately triggering neuronal cell death. This DNA damage response and toxicity was dependent on TDG activity. Thus, TET-mediated active DNA demethylation promotes endogenous DNA damage at regulatory elements, a process which normally contributes to cell identity but can also provoke neurotoxicity following anti-cancer treatments.