scholarly journals Zinc finger protein ZNF384 is an adaptor of Ku to DNA during classical non-homologous end-joining

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Kaur Singh ◽  
Rebecca Smith ◽  
Magdalena B. Rother ◽  
Anton J. L. de Groot ◽  
Wouter W. Wiegant ◽  
...  

AbstractDNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are among the most deleterious types of DNA damage as they can lead to mutations and chromosomal rearrangements, which underlie cancer development. Classical non-homologous end-joining (cNHEJ) is the dominant pathway for DSB repair in human cells, involving the DNA-binding proteins XRCC6 (Ku70) and XRCC5 (Ku80). Other DNA-binding proteins such as Zinc Finger (ZnF) domain-containing proteins have also been implicated in DNA repair, but their role in cNHEJ remained elusive. Here we show that ZNF384, a member of the C2H2 family of ZnF proteins, binds DNA ends in vitro and is recruited to DSBs in vivo. ZNF384 recruitment requires the poly(ADP-ribosyl) polymerase 1 (PARP1)-dependent expansion of damaged chromatin, followed by binding of its C2H2 motifs to the exposed DNA. Moreover, ZNF384 interacts with Ku70/Ku80 via its N-terminus, thereby promoting Ku70/Ku80 assembly and the accrual of downstream cNHEJ factors, including APLF and XRCC4/LIG4, for efficient repair at DSBs. Altogether, our data suggest that ZNF384 acts as a ‘Ku-adaptor’ that binds damaged DNA and Ku70/Ku80 to facilitate the build-up of a cNHEJ repairosome, highlighting a role for ZNF384 in DSB repair and genome maintenance.

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6436-6446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena T. Bhoite ◽  
David J. Stillman

ABSTRACT The Swi5 zinc finger and the Pho2 homeodomain DNA-binding proteins bind cooperatively to the HO promoter.Pho2 (also known as Bas2 or Grf10) activates transcription of diverse genes, acting with multiple distinct DNA-binding proteins. We have performed a genetic screen to identify amino acid residues in Swi5 that are required for synergistic transcriptional activation of a reporter construct in vivo. Nine unique amino acid substitutions within a 24-amino-acid region of Swi5, upstream of the DNA-binding domain, reduce expression of promoters that require both Swi5 and Pho2 for activation. In vitro DNA binding experiments show that the mutant Swi5 proteins bind DNA normally, but some mutant Swi5 proteins (resulting from SWI5* mutations) show reduced cooperative DNA binding with Pho2. In vivo experiments show that these SWI5* mutations sharply reduce expression of promoters that require both SWI5 and PHO2, while expression of promoters that require SWI5 but arePHO2 independent is largely unaffected. This suggests that these SWI5* mutations do not affect the ability of Swi5 to bind DNA or activate transcription but specifically affect the region of Swi5 required for interaction with Pho2. Two-hybrid experiments show that amino acids 471 to 513 of Swi5 are necessary and sufficient for interaction with Pho2 and that the SWI5* point mutations cause a severe reduction in this two-hybrid interaction. Analysis of promoter activation by these mutants suggests that this small region of Swi5 has at least two distinct functions, conferring specificity for activation of the HO promoter and for interaction with Pho2.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1805-1814
Author(s):  
H Wang ◽  
D J Stillman

The yeast SIN3 gene (also known as SDI1, UME4, RPD1, and GAM2) has been identified as a transcriptional regulator. Previous work has led to the suggestion that SIN3 regulates transcription via interactions with DNA-binding proteins. Although the SIN3 protein is located in the nucleus, it does not bind directly to DNA in vitro. We have expressed a LexA-SIN3 fusion protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and show that this fusion protein represses transcription from heterologous promoters that contain lexA operators. The predicted amino acid sequence of the SIN3 protein contains four copies of a paired amphipathic helix (PAH) motif, similar to motifs found in HLH (helix-loop-helix) and TPR (tetratricopeptide repeat) proteins, and these motifs are proposed to be involved in protein-protein interactions. We have conducted a deletion analysis of the SIN3 gene and show that the PAH motifs are required for SIN3 activity. Additionally, the C-terminal region of the SIN3 protein is sufficient for repression activity in a LexA-SIN3 fusion, and deletion of a PAH motif in this region inactivates this repression activity. A model is presented in which SIN3 recognizes specific DNA-binding proteins in vivo in order to repress transcription.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1230-1244
Author(s):  
W Reith ◽  
C Ucla ◽  
E Barras ◽  
A Gaud ◽  
B Durand ◽  
...  

RFX1 is a transactivator of human hepatitis B virus enhancer I. We show here that RFX1 belongs to a previously unidentified family of DNA-binding proteins of which we have cloned three members, RFX1, RFX2, and RFX3, from humans and mice. Members of the RFX family constitute the nuclear complexes that have been referred to previously as enhancer factor C, EP, methylation-dependent DNA-binding protein, or rpL30 alpha. RFX proteins share five strongly conserved regions which include the two domains required for DNA binding and dimerization. They have very similar DNA-binding specificities and heterodimerize both in vitro and in vivo. mRNA levels for all three genes, particularly RFX2, are elevated in testis. In other cell lines and tissues, RFX mRNA levels are variable, particularly for RFX2 and RFX3. RFX proteins share several novel features, including new DNA-binding and dimerization motifs and a peculiar dependence on methylated CpG dinucleotides at certain sites.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (15) ◽  
pp. 6772-6788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Rothfels ◽  
Jason C. Tanny ◽  
Enikö Molnar ◽  
Helena Friesen ◽  
Cosimo Commisso ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The divergently transcribed DIT1 and DIT2 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which belong to the mid-late class of sporulation-specific genes, are subject to Ssn6-Tup1-mediated repression in mitotic cells. The Ssn6-Tup1 complex, which is required for repression of diverse sets of coordinately regulated genes, is known to be recruited to target genes by promoter-specific DNA-binding proteins. In this study, we show that a 42-bp negative regulatory element (NRE) present in the DIT1-DIT2 intergenic region consists of two distinct subsites and that a multimer of each subsite supports efficient Ssn6-Tup1-dependent repression of a CYC1-lacZ reporter gene. By genetic screening procedures, we identified DFG16, YGR122w, VPS36, and the DNA-binding proteins Rim101 and Nrg1 as potential mediators of NRE-directed repression. We show that Nrg1 and Rim101 bind simultaneously to adjacent target sites within the NRE in vitro and act as corepressors in vivo. We have found that the ability of Rim101 to be proteolytically processed to its active form and mediate NRE-directed repression not only depends on the previously characterized RIM signaling pathway but also requires Dfg16, Ygr122w, and components of the ESCRT trafficking pathway. Interestingly, Rim101 was processed in bro1 and doa4 strains but was unable to mediate efficient repression.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1230-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Reith ◽  
C Ucla ◽  
E Barras ◽  
A Gaud ◽  
B Durand ◽  
...  

RFX1 is a transactivator of human hepatitis B virus enhancer I. We show here that RFX1 belongs to a previously unidentified family of DNA-binding proteins of which we have cloned three members, RFX1, RFX2, and RFX3, from humans and mice. Members of the RFX family constitute the nuclear complexes that have been referred to previously as enhancer factor C, EP, methylation-dependent DNA-binding protein, or rpL30 alpha. RFX proteins share five strongly conserved regions which include the two domains required for DNA binding and dimerization. They have very similar DNA-binding specificities and heterodimerize both in vitro and in vivo. mRNA levels for all three genes, particularly RFX2, are elevated in testis. In other cell lines and tissues, RFX mRNA levels are variable, particularly for RFX2 and RFX3. RFX proteins share several novel features, including new DNA-binding and dimerization motifs and a peculiar dependence on methylated CpG dinucleotides at certain sites.


Author(s):  
Melanie A Sparks ◽  
Saurabh P Singh ◽  
Peter M Burgers ◽  
Roberto Galletto

Abstract G-quadruplexes (G4s) are stable secondary structures that can lead to the stalling of replication forks and cause genomic instability. Pif1 is a 5′ to 3′ helicase, localized to both the mitochondria and nucleus that can unwind G4s in vitro and prevent fork stalling at G4 forming sequences in vivo. Using in vitro primer extension assays, we show that both G4s and stable hairpins form barriers to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA polymerases δ and γ, respectively. However, while single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) readily promote replication through hairpins, SSBs are only effective in promoting replication through weak G4s. Using a series of G4s with increasing stabilities, we reveal a threshold above which G4 through-replication is inhibited even with SSBs present, and Pif1 helicase is required. Because Pif1 moves along the template strand with a 5′-3′-directionality, head-on collisions between Pif1 and polymerase δ or γ result in the stimulation of their 3′-exonuclease activity. Both nuclear RPA and mitochondrial SSB play a protective role during DNA replication by preventing excessive DNA degradation caused by the helicase-polymerase conflict.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1805-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wang ◽  
D J Stillman

The yeast SIN3 gene (also known as SDI1, UME4, RPD1, and GAM2) has been identified as a transcriptional regulator. Previous work has led to the suggestion that SIN3 regulates transcription via interactions with DNA-binding proteins. Although the SIN3 protein is located in the nucleus, it does not bind directly to DNA in vitro. We have expressed a LexA-SIN3 fusion protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and show that this fusion protein represses transcription from heterologous promoters that contain lexA operators. The predicted amino acid sequence of the SIN3 protein contains four copies of a paired amphipathic helix (PAH) motif, similar to motifs found in HLH (helix-loop-helix) and TPR (tetratricopeptide repeat) proteins, and these motifs are proposed to be involved in protein-protein interactions. We have conducted a deletion analysis of the SIN3 gene and show that the PAH motifs are required for SIN3 activity. Additionally, the C-terminal region of the SIN3 protein is sufficient for repression activity in a LexA-SIN3 fusion, and deletion of a PAH motif in this region inactivates this repression activity. A model is presented in which SIN3 recognizes specific DNA-binding proteins in vivo in order to repress transcription.


2006 ◽  
Vol 345 (3) ◽  
pp. 1149-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Ihara ◽  
Masayasu Mie ◽  
Hisakage Funabashi ◽  
Fumio Takahashi ◽  
Tatsuya Sawasaki ◽  
...  

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