Project description:DNA replication stress is a threat to genome integrity. The large SNF2-family of ATPases participates in preventing and mitigating DNA replication stress by employing their ATP-driven motor to remodel DNA or DNA-bound proteins. To understand the contribution of these ATPases in genome maintenance, we undertook CRISPR-based synthetic lethality screens with three SNF2-type ATPases: SMARCAL1, ZRANB3 and HLTF. Here we show that SMARCAL1 displays a profound synthetic lethal interaction with FANCM, another ATP-dependent translocase involved in DNA replication and genome stability. Their combined loss causes severe genome instability that we link to chromosome breakage at loci enriched in simple repeats, which are known to challenge replication fork progression. Our findings illuminate a critical genetic buffering mechanism that provides an essential function for maintaining genome integrity.
Project description:DNA replication stress is a threat to genome integrity. The large SNF2-family of ATPases participates in preventing and mitigating DNA replication stress by employing their ATP-driven motor to remodel DNA or DNA-bound proteins. To understand the contribution of these ATPases in genome maintenance, we undertook CRISPR-based synthetic lethality screens with three SNF2-type ATPases: SMARCAL1, ZRANB3 and HLTF. Here we show that SMARCAL1 displays a profound synthetic lethal interaction with FANCM, another ATP-dependent translocase involved in DNA replication and genome stability. Their combined loss causes severe genome instability that we link to chromosome breakage at loci enriched in simple repeats, which are known to challenge replication fork progression. Our findings illuminate a critical genetic buffering mechanism that provides an essential function for maintaining genome integrity.
Project description:DNA replication stress is a threat to genome integrity. The large SNF2-family of ATPases participates in preventing and mitigating DNA replication stress by employing their ATP-driven motor to remodel DNA or DNA-bound proteins. To understand the contribution of these ATPases in genome maintenance, we undertook CRISPR-based synthetic lethality screens with three SNF2-type ATPases: SMARCAL1, ZRANB3 and HLTF. Here we show that SMARCAL1 displays a profound synthetic lethal interaction with FANCM, another ATP-dependent translocase involved in DNA replication and genome stability. Their combined loss causes severe genome instability that we link to chromosome breakage at loci enriched in simple repeats, which are known to challenge replication fork progression. Our findings illuminate a critical genetic buffering mechanism that provides an essential function for maintaining genome integrity.
Project description:The DNA damage response (DDR) is a multi-faceted network of pathways that preserves genome stability. Unraveling the complementary interplay between these pathways remains a challenge. Here, we comprehensively mapped genetic interactions for all core DDR genes using combinatorial CRISPRi screening. We discovered myriad new connections, including interactions between cancer genes and small molecule targets. We focused on two of the strongest interactions: FEN1/LIG1:WDR48 and FANCM:SMARCAL1. First, we found that WDR48 works with USP1 to restrain overactive translesion synthesis in FEN1/LIG1-deficient cells, and that a preclinical inhibitor of USP1 specifically kills FEN1-deficient cells. Second, we found that SMARCAL1 and FANCM suppress DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation at TA-rich repeats in late-replicating regions that otherwise escape into mitosis and cause nuclear fragmentation. Our dataset provides a springboard for further mechanistic investigations into connections between DDR factors and suggests multiple interactions that could be exploited in cancer therapy.
Project description:Biallelic mutations of the chromatin regulator SMARCAL1 cause Schimke Immunoosseous Dysplasia (SIOD), characterized by severe growth defects and premature mortality. Atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia are common among SIOD patients, yet their onset and progression are poorly understood. Using an integrative approach involving proteomics, mouse models, and population genetics, we investigated SMARCAL1's role. We found that SmarcAL1 interacts with angiopoietin-like 3 (Angptl3), a key regulator of lipoprotein metabolism. In vitro and in vivo analyses demonstrate SmarcAL1's vital role in maintaining cellular lipid homeostasis. The observed translocation of SmarcAL1 to cytoplasmic peroxisomes suggests a potential regulatory role in lipid metabolism through gene expression. SmarcAL1 gene inactivation reduces the expression of key genes in cellular lipid catabolism. Population genetics investigations highlight significant associations between SMARCAL1 genetic variations and body mass index, along with lipid-related traits. This study underscores SMARCAL1's pivotal role in cellular lipid metabolism, likely contributing to the observed lipid phenotypes in SIOD patients.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE35551: Penetrance of biallelic SMARCAL1 mutations is associated with environmental and genetic disturbances of gene expression (1) GSE35552: Penetrance of biallelic SMARCAL1 mutations is associated with environmental and genetic disturbances of gene expression (2) GSE35553: Penetrance of biallelic SMARCAL1 mutations is associated with environmental and genetic disturbances of gene expression (3) Refer to individual Series
Project description:Biallelic mutations of the DNA annealing helicase SMARCAL1 (SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a-like 1) cause Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD, MIM 242900), an incompletely penetrant autosomal recessive disorder. Using human, Drosophila, and mouse models, we show that the proteins encoded by SMARCAL1 orthologues localize to transcriptionally active chromatin and modulate gene expression. We also show that similar to SIOD patients, deficiency of the SMARCAL1 orthologues alone is insufficient to cause disease in fruit flies and mice although such deficiency causes modest diffuse alterations in gene expression. Rather, disease manifests when SMARCAL1 deficiency interacts with genetic and environmental factors that further alter gene expression. We conclude that the SMARCAL1 annealing helicase buffers fluctuations in gene expression and that alterations in gene expression contribute to the penetrance of SIOD. For analysis of gene expression in primary cultured human dermal fibroblasts, 5.0 μg of total RNA from three biologically independent replicates was extracted from two SIOD (SD8 and SD60) and a control skin fibroblast cell lines, labeled and hybridized to Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Arrays.
Project description:Biallelic mutations of the DNA annealing helicase SMARCAL1 (SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a-like 1) cause Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD, MIM 242900), an incompletely penetrant autosomal recessive disorder. Using human, Drosophila, and mouse models, we show that the proteins encoded by SMARCAL1 orthologues localize to transcriptionally active chromatin and modulate gene expression. We also show that similar to SIOD patients, deficiency of the SMARCAL1 orthologues alone is insufficient to cause disease in fruit flies and mice although such deficiency causes modest diffuse alterations in gene expression. Rather, disease manifests when SMARCAL1 deficiency interacts with genetic and environmental factors that further alter gene expression. We conclude that the SMARCAL1 annealing helicase buffers fluctuations in gene expression and that alterations in gene expression contribute to the penetrance of SIOD. The RNA sequencing libraries were constructed from the liver RNA of 3-4-month Smarcal1del/del and wt female mice (n=3/group) at 20M-BM-0C and after 1 hour at 39.5M-BM-0C. These libraries were sequenced using the whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing procedure.