C016 Expression analysis of proteins involved in the Non Homologous End Joining DNA repair mechanism, in the bone marrow of adult de novo myelodysplastic syndromes

Purpose of the study: Deregulated DNA repair is one of the hallmarks of cancers including Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), as it results in genomic instability. ATM gene functions as a sensor, activates cascade of events leading to stimulation of multiple DNA damage- responsive signaling pathways. Principal DNA repair mechanism activated in the hematopoietic stem cells is the Non Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) pathway. However, this pathway was shown to be error prone. Functional SNPs in the genes involved in DNA repair might influence the gene expression leading to altered DNA repair which might confer the risk to AML. Materials & Methods: This hospital-based case-control study included 225 AML patients and 326 cancer-free controls from South Indian population. Six polymorphisms of XRCC5, XRCC6, XRCC7 and ATM were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR- RFLP) method. Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS (version20v) and SNPSTAT online tool. Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis was also done to see the relationship between these genes. Results: We found that there was an elevated risk of AML associated with the XRCC5 VNTR 0R repeat and A allele of 2408G>A polymorphism (p-0.04 and p<0.0001 respectively), the frequencies of G allele (p-<0.0001) of XRCC6 -1310C>G and T allele (p-0.003) of ATM -5144A>T polymorphisms were also significantly increased in AML cases. Further, analyses of the variant genotypes with epidemiological and clinical variables revealed a significant association of the risk genotypes with development and progression of AML. Conclusion: The XRCC5 0R repeat, 2408G>A, XRCC6 -1310 C>G and ATM- 5144A>T polymorphisms, but not XRCC6 -61C>G and XRCC7 6721G>T polymorphisms, play an important role in the pathogenesis of AML. Figure Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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An essential role for the DNA breakage-repair protein Ku80 in programmed DNA rearrangements in Tetrahymena thermophila

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.e11-11-0952 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 2213-2225 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

I-Ting Lin ◽

Ju-Lan Chao ◽

Meng-Chao Yao

Keyword(s):

Dna Repair ◽

Dna Cleavage ◽

De Novo ◽

Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽

Chromosome Breakage ◽

Protective Role ◽

Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽

End Joining ◽

Dna Rearrangements ◽

Conjugation Process

Programmed DNA rearrangements are important processes present in many organisms. In the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila, DNA rearrangements occur during the sexual conjugation process and lead to the deletion of thousands of specific DNA segments and fragmentation of the chromosomes. In this study, we found that the Ku80 homologue, a conserved component of the nonhomologous end-joining process of DNA repair, was essential for these two processes. During conjugation, TKU80 was highly expressed and localized to the new macronucleus, where DNA rearrangements occur. Homokaryon TKU80-knockout mutants are unable to complete conjugation and produce progeny and are arrested at the two-micronuclei/two-macronuclei stage. Analysis of their DNA revealed failure to complete DNA deletion. However, the DNA-cutting step appeared to have occurred, as evidenced by the presence of circularized excised DNA. Moreover, chromosome breakage or de novo telomere addition was affected. The mutant appears to accumulate free DNA ends detectable by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assays that led to the degradation of most DNA in the developing macronucleus. These findings suggest that Tku80p may serve an end-protective role after DNA cleavage has occurred. Unexpectedly, the large heterochromatin structures that normally associate with DNA rearrangements failed to form without TKU80. Together the results suggest multiple roles for Tku80p and indicate that a Ku-dependent DNA-repair pathway is involved in programmed DNA rearrangements in Tetrahymena.

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