Project description:53BP1 governs a specialized, context-specific branch of the classical non-homologous end joining DNA double-strand break repair pathway. Mice lacking 53bp1 (also known as Trp53bp1) are immunodeficient owing to a complete loss of immunoglobulin class-switch recombination, and reduced fidelity of long-range V(D)J recombination. The 53BP1-dependent pathway is also responsible for pathological joining events at dysfunctional telomeres, and its unrestricted activity in Brca1-deficient cellular and tumour models causes genomic instability and oncogenesis. Cells that lack core non-homologous end joining proteins are profoundly radiosensitive, unlike 53BP1-deficient cells, which suggests that 53BP1 and its co-factors act on specific DNA substrates. Here we show that 53BP1 cooperates with its downstream effector protein REV7 to promote non-homologous end joining during class-switch recombination, but REV7 is not required for 53BP1-dependent V(D)J recombination. We identify shieldin—a four-subunit putative single-stranded DNA-binding complex comprising REV7, c20orf196 (SHLD1), FAM35A (SHLD2) and FLJ26957 (SHLD3)— as the factor that explains this specificity. Shieldin is essential for REV7-dependent DNA end-protection and non-homologous end joining during class-switch recombination, and supports toxic non-homologous end joining in Brca1-deficient cells, yet is dispensable for REV7-dependent interstrand cross-link repair. The 53BP1 pathway therefore comprises distinct double-strand break repair activities within chromatin and single-stranded DNA compartments, which explains both the immunological differences between 53bp1- and Rev7- deficient mice and the context specificity of the pathway.
Project description:The poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) inhibitors are an exciting new class of agents that have shown efficacy in treating various cancers, especially these harboring BRCA1/2 mutations. The cancer associated BRCA1/2 mutations disrupt DNA double strand break (DSB) repair by homologous recombination (HR). PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have been applied to trigger synthetic lethality in BRCA1/2-mutated cancer cells by promoting accumulation of toxic DSBs. Unfortunately, PARP inhibitor (PARPi) resistance is common and develops through multiple mechanisms. Restoration of HR and/or stabilizing replication forks are two major mechanisms of PARPi resistance in BRCA1/2-mutated cells. To further understand the mechanisms of drug resistance to PARPi, we undertook an unbiased approach with a CRISPR-pooled library to screen new genes whose loss-of-function confers resistance to PARPi olaparib. We identified ZNF251, a transcription factor, and confirmed its loss-of-function led to the PARPi resistance in BRCA1-mutated breast and ovarian cancer lines. Elevated activities of both HR and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair were detected in cancer cells harboring BRCA1 mutation and ZNF251 deletion (BRCA1mut+ZNF251del) and were associated with enhanced expression of RAD51 and Ku70/Ku80, respectively. Furthermore, we showed that DNA-PKcs inhibitor restored sensitivity of BRCA1mut+ZNF251del cells to PARPi. Taken together, our study identified a novel gene whose loss of function conferred resistance to PARPi, providing new insight into signaling pathways that contribute to acquired resistance in BRCA1-mutated breast and ovarian cancers.
Project description:53BP1 regulates DNA end-joining in lymphocytes, diversifying immune antigen receptors. This involves nucleosome-bound 53BP1 at DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) recruiting RIF1 and shieldin, a poorly understood DNA-binding complex. The 53BP1-RIF1-shieldin axis is pathological in BRCA1-mutated cancers, blocking homologous recombination (HR) and driving illegitimate non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). However, how this axis regulates DNA end-joining and HR suppression remains unresolved. We investigated shieldin and its interplay with CST, a complex recently implicated in 53BP1-dependent activities. Immunophenotypically, mice lacking shieldin or CST are equivalent, with class-switch recombination co-reliant on both complexes. DNA damage-responsive signalling promotes shieldin-CST interaction, demonstrating shieldin as a DSB-specific CST adaptor. Furthermore, DNA polymerase ζ functions downstream of shieldin, establishing DNA fill-in synthesis as the physiological function of shieldin-CST. Lastly, 53BP1 suppresses HR and promotes NHEJ in BRCA1-deficient cells independently of shieldin. These findings showcase the resilience of the 53BP1 pathway, achieved through the collaboration of chromatin-bound 53BP1 complexes and DNA end-processing effector proteins.
Project description:Shieldin complex promotes DNA end joining and counters homologous recombination in BRCA1-null cells: Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometric analysis of protein interactors of GFP-C20orf196 and GFP-FAM35A
Project description:The Shieldin complex, consisting of SHLD1, SHLD2, SHLD3 and REV7, shields double strand DNA breaks (DSBs) from nucleolytic resection. The end-protecting activity of Shieldin promotes productive non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) in G1 but can threaten genome integrity during S-phase by blocking homologous recombination (HR). Curiously, the penultimate Shieldin component, SHLD1 is one of the least abundant mammalian proteins. Here, we report that the transcription factors THAP1, YY1 and HCF1 bind directly to the SHLD1 promoter, where they cooperatively maintain the low basal expression of SHLD1. Functionally, this transcriptional network ensures that SHLD1 protein levels are kept in check to enable a proper balance between end protection and end resection during physiological DSB repair. In the context of BRCA1 deficiency, loss of THAP1 dependent SHLD1 expression confers cross resistance to PARP inhibitor and cisplatin, and shorter progression free survival in ovarian cancer patients. In contrast, loss of THAP1 in BRCA2 deficient cells increases genome instability and correlates with improved responses to chemotherapy. Pathogenic THAP1 mutations are causatively linked to adult-onset torsion dystonia type 6 (DYT6) movement disorder, but the critical disease targets are unknown. We further demonstrate that murine models of Thap1-associated dystonia show reduced Shld1 expression concomitant with elevated levels of unresolved DNA damage in the brain. In summary, our study provides the first example of a transcriptional network that directly controls DSB repair choice and reveals a previously unsuspected link between DNA damage and dystonia.
Project description:Brca1 is required for DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR) and normal embryonic development. Here we report that deletion of the DNA damage responsefactor 53BP1 overcomes embryonic lethality in Brca1-nullizygous mice, and rescues HR deficiency, as measured by hypersensitivity to PARP (polyADPribose polymerase) inhibition. However, Brca1,53BP1 double-deficient cells are hypersensitive to DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), indicating that BRCA1 has an additional role in DNA cross-link repair that is distinct from HR. Disruption of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) factor, Ku, promotes DNA repair in Brca1-deficient cells; however deletion of either Ku or 53BP1 exacerbates genomic instability in cells lacking FANCD2, a mediator of the Fanconi Anemia pathway for ICL repair. Brca1 therefore has two separate roles in ICL repair, whereas FANCD2 provides a key activity that can not be bypassed by ablation of 53BP1 or Ku. B cells were stimulated to undergo class switch recombination in vitro. Chromatin from B cells was harvested 72 hours post-stimulation and used for RPA ChIP to study the extent of resection of DNA DSBs.
Project description:BRCA1 deficiencies cause breast, ovarian and other cancers, and render tumours hypersensitive to PARP-inhibitors. To understand resistance mechanisms, we conducted whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 synthetic-viability/resistance screens in BRCA1-deficient breast cancer cells treated with PARP-inhibitors. Thus, we identified two previously uncharacterized proteins, C20orf196 and FAM35A, whose inactivation confers strong PARP-inhibitor resistance. Mechanistically, we show that C20orf196 and FAM35A form a complex, termed “Shieldin” (SHLD1/2), with FAM35A interacting with single-stranded DNA via its C-terminal OB-fold region. We establish that Shieldin promotes DNA double-strand break (DSB) end-joining, acting as the downstream effector of 53BP1/RIF1/MAD2L2 to restrict DSB resection and counteract homologous recombination in BRCA1-deficient cells by antagonising BRCA2/RAD51 loading. Notably, Shieldin inactivation further sensitises BRCA1-deficient cells to cisplatin, suggesting how defining the SHLD1/2 status of BRCA1-deficient tumours might aid patient stratification and yield new treatment opportunities. Highlighting this potential, we document reduced SHLD1/2 expression in human breast cancers displaying intrinsic or acquired PARP-inhibitor resistance.
Project description:Brca1 is required for DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR) and normal embryonic development. Here we report that deletion of the DNA damage responsefactor 53BP1 overcomes embryonic lethality in Brca1-nullizygous mice, and rescues HR deficiency, as measured by hypersensitivity to PARP (polyADPribose polymerase) inhibition. However, Brca1,53BP1 double-deficient cells are hypersensitive to DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), indicating that BRCA1 has an additional role in DNA cross-link repair that is distinct from HR. Disruption of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) factor, Ku, promotes DNA repair in Brca1-deficient cells; however deletion of either Ku or 53BP1 exacerbates genomic instability in cells lacking FANCD2, a mediator of the Fanconi Anemia pathway for ICL repair. Brca1 therefore has two separate roles in ICL repair, whereas FANCD2 provides a key activity that can not be bypassed by ablation of 53BP1 or Ku.
Project description:The 53BP1-RIF1 pathway antagonizes resection of DNA broken ends and confers PARP inhibitor sensitivity on BRCA1-mutated tumors. However, it is unclear how this pathway suppresses initiation of resection. Here, we identify ASF1 as a partner of RIF1 via an interacting manner similar to its interactions with histone chaperones CAF-1 and HIRA. ASF1 is recruited to distal chromatin flanking DNA breaks by 53BP1-RIF1 and promotes non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) using its histone chaperone activity. Epistasis analysis shows that ASF1 acts in the same NHEJ pathway as RIF1, but via a parallel pathway with the shieldin complex, which suppresses resection after initiation. Moreover, defects in end resection and homologous recombination (HR) in BRCA1-deficient cells are largely suppressed by ASF1 deficiency. Mechanistically, ASF1 compacts adjacent chromatin by heterochromatinization to protect broken DNA ends from BRCA1-mediated resection. Taken together, our findings identified a RIF1-ASF1 histone chaperone complex that promotes changes in high-order chromatin structure to stimulate the NHEJ pathway for DSB repair.
Project description:Mutations in the ATM tumor suppressor gene confer cellular hypersensitivity to various DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents. To explore genetic resistance mechanisms towards such drugs, we performed genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screens in cells treated with the DNA topoisomerase I poison topotecan. Our ensuing characterizations of hits established that loss of terminal components of the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) machinery or components of the BRCA1-A complex specifically confer topotecan resistance to ATM-deficient cells. Our findings indicate that hypersensitivity of ATM-mutant cells to topotecan or the poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib is due to delayed engagement of homologous recombination repair (HRR) at a subset of DNA-replication-fork associated single ended double-strand breaks (seDSBs), which allows non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) mediated repair, resulting in toxic chromosome fusions. Thus, restoration of legitimate repair in ATM-deficient cells – either by preventing the DNA ligation step of NHEJ or by enhancing HRR engagement by deregulating the BRCA1-A complex – markedly suppresses this toxicity. We conclude that the crucial role for ATM at seDSBs is to prevent toxic LIG4-mediated NHEJ at damaged replication forks. Furthermore, our observation that suppressor mutations in ATM-mutant backgrounds are fundamentally different to those that operate in BRCA1-mutant scenarios suggests new opportunities for patient stratification in the clinic, as well as additional therapeutic vulnerabilities that might be exploited in drug-resistant cancers.