ABSTRACT: Mutations in EGFR compromise hypoxia associated radiation resistance through impaired repair of replication fork associated DNA double-strand breaks
Project description:Using CRISPR/Cas9 nicking enzymes, we examine the interaction between the replication machinery and single strand breaks, one of the most common forms of endogenous DNA damage. We show that replication fork collapse at leading strand nicks generates resected single-ended double-strand breaks (seDSBs) that are repaired by homologous recombination (HR). If these seDSBs are not promptly repaired, arrival of adjacent forks creates double ended DSBs (deDSBs), which could drive genomic scarring in HR-deficient cancers. deDSBs can also be generated directly when the replication fork bypasses lagging strand nicks. Unlike deDSBs produced independently of replication, end-resection at nick-induced se/deDSBs is BRCA1-independent. Nevertheless, BRCA1 antagonizes 53BP1 suppression of RAD51 filament formation. These results highlight unique mechanisms that maintain replication fork stability.
Project description:In depth analysis of double strand break signaling was performed using mouse Pre-B cells and Human HCT116 cells. Our analysis included the induction of double strand breaks with ionizing radiation with the addition of ATM and DNA-PKcs inhibitors, alone and in combination.
Project description:High concentration of NaCl increases DNA breaks both in cell culture and in vivo. The breaks remain elevated as long as NaCl concentration remains high and are rapidly repaired when the concentration is lowered. Repair of the breaks after NaCl is reduced is accompanied by formation of foci containing phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX), which occurs around DNA double-strand breaks and contributes to their repair. By chromatin immunoprecipitation using anti-γH2AX antibody, followed by massive parallel sequencing (ChIP-Seq), we find that during repair of double–strand breaks induced by high NaCl, γH2AX is predominantly localized to regions of the genome devoid of genes (“gene deserts”), indicating that the high NaCl-induced double-strand breaks are located there. Localization to gene deserts helps explain why the DNA breaks are less harmful than are the random breaks induced by genotoxic agents such as UV radiation, ionizing radiation and oxidants. We propose that the universal presence of NaCl around animal cells has directly influenced the evolution of the structure of their genomes.
Project description:Transient obstruction of DNA polymerase progression activates the ATR checkpoint kinase, which suppresses fork breakage, strand resection, and RPA accumulation. Herein, we use a developed DNA break-detection assay, BrITL, to identify replication-problematic loci (RPLs) that become processed into persistent double-strand breaks across the mammalian genome from ATR inhibition.
Project description:Transient obstruction of DNA polymerase progression activates the ATR checkpoint kinase, which suppresses fork breakage, strand resection, and RPA accumulation. Herein, we use a developed DNA break-detection assay, BrITL, to identify replication-problematic loci that become processed into persistent double-strand breaks across the human genome from ATR inhibition.
Project description:We are investigating the transcriptional response of yeast to treatment with enediynes or gamma radiation, which generate different extents of double or single strand breaks in DNA. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying the DNA damage response in yeast Experiment Overall Design: Yeast were grown to mid log phase and treated with enediynes or gamma radiation (in biological triplicate) resulting in similar extents of cell killing. The responses were compared to each other and we have deciphered a gene expression profile that is specific for double and single strand breaks in DNA.
Project description:High concentration of NaCl increases DNA breaks both in cell culture and in vivo. The breaks remain elevated as long as NaCl concentration remains high and are rapidly repaired when the concentration is lowered. Repair of the breaks after NaCl is reduced is accompanied by formation of foci containing phosphorylated H2AX (M-NM-3H2AX), which occurs around DNA double-strand breaks and contributes to their repair. By chromatin immunoprecipitation using anti-M-NM-3H2AX antibody, followed by massive parallel sequencing (ChIP-Seq), we find that during repair of doubleM-bM-^@M-^Sstrand breaks induced by high NaCl, M-NM-3H2AX is predominantly localized to regions of the genome devoid of genes (M-bM-^@M-^\gene desertsM-bM-^@M-^]), indicating that the high NaCl-induced double-strand breaks are located there. Localization to gene deserts helps explain why the DNA breaks are less harmful than are the random breaks induced by genotoxic agents such as UV radiation, ionizing radiation and oxidants. We propose that the universal presence of NaCl around animal cells has directly influenced the evolution of the structure of their genomes. ChIP-Seq experiment to find locations of M-NM-3H2AX in mouse genome
Project description:Oncogenic mutations in the metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) have been found in a number of liquid and solid tumors. Their pathogenic mechanism of action involves production of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), an oncometabolite that acts in part by inhibiting members of a family of dioxygenases that modulate chromatin dynamics. Recent work has suggested that mutant IDH (mIDH) and 2HG also impact sensitivity to inhibitors of poly-ADP ribose polymerases (PARP) but the molecular basis for this sensitivity is unclear. Unlike PARP inhibitor-sensitive BRCA1/2 tumors which exhibit impaired homologous recombination, IDH-mutant tumors have a silent mutational profile and lack mutational signatures associated with impaired homologous recombination. Instead, 2HG-producing IDH mutations lead to heterochromatin-dependent slowing of DNA replication and increased replication stress, resulting in DNA double strand breaks. This replicative stress manifests as replication fork slowing but the breaks are repaired without a significant increase in the cellular mutation burden. Faithful resolution of replicative stress in IDH-mutant cells is dependent on poly-ADP ribosylation. Treatment with PARP inhibitors restores replication fork speed but results in incomplete repair of DNA breaks. These findings provide evidence of a requirement for PARP in the replication of heterochromatin and further validate PARP as a potential therapeutic target in IDH-mutant tumors.
Project description:We have designed a methodology for capture of DNA 3’ ends that allows mapping of resected DNA breaks, stalled replication forks and also normal replication fork progression. This Transferase-activated end ligation or TrAEL-seq method involves ligation of a functionalised linker to DNA 3’ ends followed by fragmentation, purification of adaptor ligated fragments, second adaptor ligation and library amplification. The major advantages of TrAEL-seq compared to other available methods are: i) an ability to map double strand breaks after resection, ii) excellent sensitivity and signal-to-noise in detecting replication fork stalling and iii) ability to map replication fork progression in unsynchronised, unlabelled populations of both yeast and mammalian cells. The samples provided here were selected to demonstrate different aspects of TrAEL-seq activity: the SfiI and dmc1 datasets shows capture of 3’ extended single strand DNA. The other yeast datasets show replication and replication fork stalling information. The RAF and RAF-GAL grown yeast samples show the effect transcriptional induction on replication fork progression. The hESC samples show the capacity to derive replication profiles from mammalian cells.