Project description:Deficiencies in the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene are the main cause of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 is involved in the Homologous Recombination DNA repair pathway, and, together with BARD1, forms a heterodimer with ubiquitin E3 activity. The relevance of the BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitin E3 activity for tumor suppression and DNA repair remains controversial and most efforts aimed to identify BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitination substrates rely on indirect evidence. Here, we observed that the BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitin E3 activity was not required for Homologous Recombination or resistance to Olaparib. Using TULIP2 methodology, which enables the direct identification of E3-specific ubiquitination substrates, we identified substrates for BRCA1/BARD1. We found that PCNA is ubiquitinated by BRCA1/BARD1 in unperturbed conditions independently of RAD18. PCNA ubiquitination by BRCA1/BARD1 avoids the formation of ssDNA gaps during DNA replication and promotes continuous DNA synthesis. These results address the controversy about the function of BRCA1/BARD1 E3 activity in Homologous Recombination.
Project description:Deficiencies in the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene are the main cause of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 is involved in the Homologous Recombination DNA repair pathway, and, together with BARD1, forms a heterodimer with ubiquitin E3 activity. The relevance of the BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitin E3 activity for tumor suppression and DNA repair remains controversial and most efforts aimed to identify BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitination substrates rely on indirect evidence. Here, we observed that the BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitin E3 activity was not required for Homologous Recombination or resistance to Olaparib. Using TULIP2 methodology, which enables the direct identification of E3-specific ubiquitination substrates, we identified substrates for BRCA1/BARD1. PCNA is ubiquitinated by BRCA1/BARD1 in unperturbed conditions independently of RAD18, avoiding the formation of ssDNA gaps during DNA replication and promoting replication fork stability upon replication stress, solving the controversy about the function of BRCA1/BARD1 E3 activity in Homologous Recombination.
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 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: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: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:The BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene encodes a multi-domain protein for which several functions have been described. These include a key role in homologous recombination repair (HRR) of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which is shared with two other high-risk hereditary breast cancer suppressors, BRCA2 and PALB2. Although both BRCA1 and BRCA2 interact with PALB2, BRCA1 missense variants affecting its PALB2-interacting coiled-coil domain are considered sequence variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS). Using genetically engineered mice, we now show that a BRCA1 coiled-coil domain VUS, Brca1 p.L1363P, disrupting the interaction with PALB2 leads to embryonic lethality and loss of breast cancer suppression. Brca1 p.L1363P mammary tumors develop with a similar latency as Brca1-null tumors, but show different histopathological features and more stable DNA copy number profiles. Nevertheless, Brca1 p.L1363P mammary tumors are HRR-incompetent and responsive to cisplatin and PARP inhibition.
Project description:The BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene encodes a multi-domain protein for which several functions have been described. These include a key role in homologous recombination repair (HRR) of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which is shared with two other high-risk hereditary breast cancer suppressors, BRCA2 and PALB2. Although both BRCA1 and BRCA2 interact with PALB2, BRCA1 missense variants affecting its PALB2-interacting coiled-coil domain are considered sequence variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS). Using genetically engineered mice, we now show that a BRCA1 coiled-coil domain VUS, Brca1 p.L1363P, disrupting the interaction with PALB2 leads to embryonic lethality and loss of breast cancer suppression. Brca1 p.L1363P mammary tumors develop with a similar latency as Brca1-null tumors, but show different histopathological features and more stable DNA copy number profiles. Nevertheless, Brca1 p.L1363P mammary tumors are HRR-incompetent and responsive to cisplatin and PARP inhibition.
Project description:Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) are a product of joint DNA molecules resolution, and are considered to require homologous recombination (HR). Canonical HR factors BRCA1, BRCA2 and RAD51 were indeed essential for SCE induction in response to irradiation-induced DNA breaks. By contrast, replication-blocking agents, including PARP inhibitors, induced SCEs independently of BRCA1, BRCA2 or RAD51. HR-independent SCEs were associated with incomplete DNA replication, as evidenced by post-replicative single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) accumulation and enrichment of PARP inhibitor-induced SCEs at common fragile sites (CFSs). Importantly, PARP-induced DNA lesions were transmitted into mitosis, pointing towards SCEs originating from mitotic processing of underreplicated DNA. We found polymerase theta to be associated to mitotic DNA lesions, to be required for SCE formation and to prevent chromosome fragmentation upon PARP inhibition in HR-defective cells. Combined, our data show that replication-blocking agents lead to underreplicated DNA in mitosis, which is processed into SCEs independently of canonical HR factors.
Project description:Inhibitors of PARP (PARPis) represent the first clinically approved anticancer agents targeting the DNA damage response. They have been approved as monotherapy and/or in combination and maintenance settings in different tumor types, including high-grade ovarian carcinomas. Their efficacy was first underlined in cells with functional inactivation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and this strong preclinical evidence prompted their clinical development in tumors with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. It was later demonstrated that PARPis were very effective in tumors displaying deficiency in homologous recombination (HR) repair beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2 loss of function. In addition, evidence from randomized clinical trials supports their efficacy also in tumors with intact HR repair, although to a lesser extent.