Project description:Purpose: Severe late normal tissue damage limits radiotherapy treatment regimens. This study aims to validate γ-H2AX foci decay ratios and induced expression levels of DNA double strand break (DSB) repair genes, found in a retrospective study, as possible predictors for late radiation toxicity. Methods and Materials: Prospectively, decay ratios (initial/residual γ-H2AX foci numbers) and genome-wide expression profiles were examined in ex vivo irradiated lymphocytes of 198 prostate cancer patients. All patients were followed ≥2 years after radiotherapy, clinical characteristics were assembled and toxicity was recorded using the Common Terminology Criteria (CTCAE) v4.0. Results: No clinical factors were correlated with late radiation toxicity. Analysis of γ-H2AX foci uncovered a negative correlation between the foci decay ratio and toxicity grade. Significantly smaller decay ratios were found in grade≥3 compared to grade 0 patients (p=0.02), indicating less efficient DNA-DSB repair in radio-sensitive patients. Moreover, utilizing a foci decay ratio threshold determined in our previous retrospective study correctly classified 23 of the 28 grade≥3 patients (sensitivity, 82%) and 9 of the 14 grade 0 patients (specificity, 64%). Grade of toxicity also correlated with a reduced induction of the homologous recombination (HR) repair gene-set. The difference in average fold induction of the HR gene-set was most pronounced between grade 0 and grade≥3 patients (p=0.008). Conclusions: Reduced responsiveness of HR repair genes to irradiation and inefficient DSB repair correlate with an increased risk of late radiation toxicity. Using a decay ratio classifier, we could correctly classify 82% of the patients with grade≥3 toxicity. Additional studies are required to further optimize and validate the foci decay assay and to assess its predictive value for late radiation toxicity in patients prostate cancer
Project description:DNA-Double strand breaks (DSBs) generated by radiation therapy represent the most efficient lesions to kill tumor cells, however, the inherent DSB repair efficiency of tumor cells can cause cellular radioresistance and impact on therapeutic outcome. Genes of DSB repair represent a target for cancer therapy since their down-regulation can impair the repair process making the cells more sensitive to radiation. In this study, we analyzed the combination of ionizing radiation (IR) along with microRNA-mediated targeting of genes involved in DSB repair to sensitize human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. MicroRNAs are natural occurring modulators of gene expression and therefore represent an attractive strategy to affect the expression of DSB repair genes. As possible IR-sensitizing targets genes we selected genes of homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway (i.e. RAD51, BRCA2, PRKDC, XRCC5, LIG1). We examined these genes to determine whether they may be real targets of selected miRNAs by functional and biological validation. The in vivo effectiveness of miRNA treatments has been examined in cells over-expressing miRNAs and treated with IR. Taken together, our results show that hsa-miR-96-5p and hsa-miR-874-3p can directly regulate the expression of target genes. When these miRNAs are combined with IR can decrease the survival of NSCLC cells to a higher extent than that exerted by radiation alone, and similarly to radiation combined with specific chemical inhibitors of HR and NHEJ repair pathway. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Project description:Precise double-strand break (DSB) signaling and repair is paramount for maintaining genome stability. Homologous recombination (HR) is the chosen DSB repair pathway when cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity is high, as it correlates well with the availability of an intact sister chromatid to be used as a template. However, the late stages of mitosis, anaphase and telophase, are paradoxical scenarios since high CDK levels favor HR repair despite sister chromatids being no longer aligned. To identify factors that specifically are involved in DSB repair in late mitosis, we have now undertaken a comparative proteomic analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and found that Msc1, a poorly characterized protein previously identified as important in meiotic HR, is significantly enriched upon both random and guided DSBs. We further show that the knockout mutant for MSC1 is more sensitive to DSBs in late mitosis, and that msc1Δ has a delayed repair of DBSs as indicated by increased Rad53 hyperphosphorylation, fewer Rad52 repair factories and slower HR completion. We have found that Msc1 is an NE protein that faces the NE lumen and tends to form patches in nuclear halves that contain Rad52 factories. Either depletion or overexpression of Msc1 leads to DSB-independent abnormal nuclear morphologies in late mitosis, including blebbing, compartmentalization and premature signs of karyokinesis. In this regard, one of the two Msc1 orthologs in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Les1, has been shown to regulate karyokinesis. We discuss how Msc1 may protect the late NE from abnormal events during DSB repair, providing a previously unreported link between NE homeostasis and DSB repair in late mitosis.
Project description:The moss Physcomitrella patens is remarkable for the ease with which mutant alleles of any gene can be generated by highly efficient homologous recombination-mediated gene targeting. Targeted transgene integration is believed to be mediated through the capture of transforming DNA by the homologous recombination DNA repair pathway. To identify components of this pathway in P. patens we have undertaken a transcriptomic analysis of the response to the sublethal induction of bleomycin-induced DNA double-strand breaks using massively parallel (Illumina) cDNA sequencing. Transcripts significantly increased in bleomycin-treated tissue include a number encoding conserved DNA-DSB components in both the homology-dependent pathway (including Rad51, CTiP, DNA ligase 1, Replication protein A, ATR) and the non-homologous end-joining pathway (including Xrcc4, DNA ligase 4, Ku70, Ku80, PARP). Differentially regulated cell-cycle components include up-regulated Rad9 and Hus1 DNA-damage-related checkpoint proteins and down-regulated D-type cyclins and B-type CDKs, commensurate with the imposition of a checkpoint in the G2 stage of the cell cycle characteristic of homology-dependent DNA-DSB repair. Comparison of the DNA damage transcriptome of P. patens with that of A. thaliana reveals significant up-regulation of a number of P. patens genes encoding ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling helicases of the SNF-2 class. These represent candidates for investigation of their role in mediating efficient gene targeting in P. patens. Gene expression profiling monitored by transcript abundance in control tissue and tissue treated with the DNA-DSB inducing agent, bleomycin
Project description:Classical non-homologous end-joining (C-NHEJ) is a major mammalian DNA double strand break (DSB) repair pathway. Core C-NHEJ factors, such as XRCC4, are required for joining DSB intermediates of the G1 phase-specific V(D)J recombination reaction in progenitor lymphocytes. Core factors also contribute to joining DSBs in cycling mature B-lineage cells, including DSBs generated during antibody class switch recombination (CSR) and DSBs generated by ionizing radiation (IR). The XLF C-NHEJ factor is dispensable for V(D)J recombination in normal cells, but, due to functional redundancy, is absolutely required for this process in cells deficient for the ATM DSB response factor. The recently identified PAralogue of XRCC4 and XLF (PAXX) factor has homology to these two proteins and variably contributes to IR-induced DSB repair in human and chicken cells. We now report that PAXX is dispensable for joining V(D)J recombination DSBs in G1-arrested mouse pro-B cell lines, dispensable for joining CSR-associated DSBs in a cycling mouse B cell line, and dispensable for normal IR-resistance in both G1-arrested and cycling pro-B lines. However, we find that combined deficiency for PAXX and XLF in G1-arrested pro-B lines abrogates DSB joining during V(D)J recombination and sensitizes the cells to IR exposure. Thus, PAXX provides core C-NHEJ factor-associated functions in the absence of XLF and vice versa in G1-arrested Pro-B cell lines. Finally, we also find that PAXX-deficiency has no impact on V(D)J recombination DSB joining in ATM-deficient pro-B lines. We discuss implications of these findings with respect to potential PAXX and XLF functions in C-NHEJ. Examination of CSR Switch mu-to-alpha junctions from mu bait DSBs using LAM-HTGTS and Illumina Miseq. Two clones of PAXX-/- and XLF-/- and 1 clone of Ligase4-/- were derived from the parental CH12F3 line; the second Ligase4-/- clone was acquired from Keifei Yu. Two clones of XLF-/-PAXX-/-CH12 cells were derived from one of the PAXX-/- clones. Three biological replicates were analyzed for each clone.
Project description:DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can be repaired by several pathways. In eukaryotes, repair pathway choice – the cellular decision making underlying DSB repair – occurs at the level of DSB resection and is controlled by the cell cycle. Upon cell cycle-dependent activation, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) phosphorylate resection proteins and thereby stimulate DSB resection and repair by homologous recombination (HR). We uncovered a novel role for the Dbf4-dependent kinase Cdc7 (DDK) in regulating HR and DNA end resection. We therefore analyzed phosphorylation substrates of DDK by phosphoproteomics, where we compared wild type, bob1-1 and bob1-1dbf4∆ cells in M-phase arrested S.cerevisiae.
Project description:In the bacterium Escherichia coli, RecG directs DNA synthesis during the repair of DNA double-strand breaks by homologous recombination. Chromosomal marker frequency analysis (MFA) following induction of a DSB in the absence and presence of RecG
Project description:Repair of DNA double-strand break (DSB) is critical for the maintenance of genome integrity. We have previously shown that a class of DSB-induced small RNAs (diRNAs) facilitates homologous recombination (HR)-mediated DSB repair in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we show that INVOLVED IN DE NOVO 2 (IDN2), a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) binding protein involved in small RNA-directed DNA methylation, is required for DSB repair in Arabidopsis. We find that IDN2 interacts with the heterotrimeric replication protein A (RPA) complex. Depletion of IDN2 or the diRNA-binding ARGONAUTE 2 (AGO2) leads to increased accumulation of RPA at DSB sites and mislocalization of the recombination factor RAD51. These findings support a model in which IDN2 interacts with RPA and facilitates the release of RPA from ssDNA tails and subsequent recruitment of RAD51 at DSB sites to promote DSB repair.
Project description:DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are highly cytotoxic DNA lesions, whose accurate repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR) is crucial for genome integrity and is strongly influenced by the local chromatin environment. Here, we identify SCAI (Suppressor of Cancer Cell Invasion) as a 53BP1-interacting chromatin-associated protein that promotes the functionality of several DSB repair pathways in mammalian cells. SCAI undergoes prominent enrichment at DSB sites through dual mechanisms involving 53BP1-dependent recruitment to DSB-surrounding chromatin and 53BP1-independent accumulation at resected DSBs. Cells lacking SCAI display reduced DSB repair capacity, hypersensitivity to DSB-inflicting agents and genome instability. We demonstrate that SCAI is a mediator of 53BP1-dependent repair of heterochromatin-associated DSBs, facilitating ATM kinase signaling at DSBs in repressive chromatin environments. Moreover, we establish an important role of SCAI in meiotic recombination, as SCAI deficiency in mice leads to germ cell loss and subfertility associated with impaired retention of the DMC1 recombinase on meiotic chromosomes. Collectively, our findings uncover SCAI as a physiologically important component of both NHEJ- and HR-mediated pathways that potentiates DSB repair efficiency in specific chromatin contexts.
Project description:Classical non-homologous end-joining (C-NHEJ) is a major mammalian DNA double strand break (DSB) repair pathway. Core C-NHEJ factors, such as XRCC4, are required for joining DSB intermediates of the G1 phase-specific V(D)J recombination reaction in progenitor lymphocytes. Core factors also contribute to joining DSBs in cycling mature B-lineage cells, including DSBs generated during antibody class switch recombination (CSR) and DSBs generated by ionizing radiation (IR). The XLF C-NHEJ factor is dispensable for V(D)J recombination in normal cells, but, due to functional redundancy, is absolutely required for this process in cells deficient for the ATM DSB response factor. The recently identified PAralogue of XRCC4 and XLF (PAXX) factor has homology to these two proteins and variably contributes to IR-induced DSB repair in human and chicken cells. We now report that PAXX is dispensable for joining V(D)J recombination DSBs in G1-arrested mouse pro-B cell lines, dispensable for joining CSR-associated DSBs in a cycling mouse B cell line, and dispensable for normal IR-resistance in both G1-arrested and cycling pro-B lines. However, we find that combined deficiency for PAXX and XLF in G1-arrested pro-B lines abrogates DSB joining during V(D)J recombination and sensitizes the cells to IR exposure. Thus, PAXX provides core C-NHEJ factor-associated functions in the absence of XLF and vice versa in G1-arrested Pro-B cell lines. Finally, we also find that PAXX-deficiency has no impact on V(D)J recombination DSB joining in ATM-deficient pro-B lines. We discuss implications of these findings with respect to potential PAXX and XLF functions in C-NHEJ.