Project description:In the bacterium Escherichia coli, RecG directs DNA synthesis during the repair of DNA double-strand breaks by homologous recombination. Examination of RecA binding during double-strand break repair in Escherichia coli in the presence and absence of RecG protein
Project description:Sterile alpha motif and HD domain-containing protein 1 (SAMHD1) has a dNTPase-independent function in promoting DNA end resection to facilitate DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair by homologous recombination (HR); however, it is not known if upstream signaling events govern this activity. Here, we show that SAMHD1 is deacetylated by the SIRT1 sirtuin deacetylase, facilitating its binding with ssDNA at DSBs, to promote DNA end resection and HR. SIRT1 complexes with and deacetylates SAMHD1 at conserved lysine 354 (K354) specifically in response to DSBs. K354 deacetylation by SIRT1 promotes DNA end resection and HR but not SAMHD1 tetramerization or dNTPase activity. Mechanistically, K354 deacetylation by SIRT1 promotes SAMHD1 recruitment to DSBs and binding to ssDNA at DSBs, which in turn facilitates CtIP ssDNA binding, leading to promotion of genome integrity. Our findings define a mechanism governing the dNTPase-independent resection function of SAMHD1 by SIRT1 deacetylation in promoting HR and genome stability.
Project description:The Bloom syndrome DNA helicase BLM contributes to chromosome stability through its roles in double-strand break repair by homologous recombination and DNA replication fork restart during the replication stress response. Loss of BLM activity leads to Bloom syndrome, which is characterized by extraordinary cancer risk and small stature. Here, we have analyzed the composition of the BLM complex in unperturbed cells and identified a direct physical interaction with the Mcm6 subunit of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex by co-immunopecipitations using endogenous and recombinant proteins as well as two-hybrid analysis.
Project description:DNA double strand break (DSB) repair through homologous recombination (HR) is crucial to maintain genome stability. DSB resection generates a single strand DNA intermediate, which is crucial for the HR process. We used a synthetic DNA structure, mimicking a resection intermediate, as a bait to identify proteins involved in this process. Among these, LC/MS analysis identified the RNA binding protein, HNRNPD. We found that HNRNPD was able to bind chromatin, although this binding occurred independently of DNA damage. However, upon damage, HNRNPD re-localized to γH2Ax foci and its silencing impaired CHK1 S345 phosphorylation and the DNA end resection process. Indeed, HNRNPD silencing reduced the ssDNA fraction upon camptothecin treatment and AsiSI-induced DSB resection and reduced RPA32 S4/8 phosphorylation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HNRNPD knockout impaired in vitro DNA resection and sensitized cells to camptothecin and olaparib treatment. We found that HNRNPD interacts with the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein SAF-A previously associated with DNA damage repair. HNRNPD depletion resulted in an increased amount of RNA:DNA hybrids upon DNA damage . Both the expression of RNase H1 and RNA pol II inhibition recovered the ability to phosphorylate RPA32 S4/8 in HNRNPD knockout cells upon DNA damage, suggesting that RNA:DNA hybrid resolution likely rescues the defective DNA damage response of HNRNPD-depleted cells.
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: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:The shieldin (SHLD) complex, composed of SHLD1, SHLD2, SHLD3 and MAD2L2/REV7, acts downstream of 53BP1 to counteract DNA double-strand break (DSB) end-resection and promote non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). While 53BP1 is essential for immunoglobulin heavy chain class switch recombination (CSR), long-range V(D)J recombination and for repair of RAG-induced DSBs in XLF-deficient cells, the role of SHLD in these activities remains elusive. Here, we report that contrary to 53BP1, SHLD1 is dispensable for lymphocyte development and V(D)J recombination, even in the sensitized XLF-deficient background or for the joining of distant V(D)J segments. By contrast, SHLD1 restricts resection at AID-induced DSB ends in both NHEJ-proficient and NHEJ-deficient B cells, providing an end-protection mechanism that permits productive CSR. Finally, we show that this end-protection function is required for orientation-specific joining of AID-initiated DSBs. We propose that 53BP1 promotes V(D)J recombination and CSR through two distinct mechanisms; the synapsis of V(D)J segments and switch regions within chromatin independently of SHLD and the protection of AID-DSB ends against resection mediated by SHLD.