53BP1: function and mechanisms of focal recruitment

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 897-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer E. FitzGerald ◽  
Muriel Grenon ◽  
Noel F. Lowndes
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Dna Damage Checkpoint ◽  
Checkpoint Activation ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Nuclear Structures ◽  
Genotoxic Insult ◽  
Covalent Histone Modifications

53BP1 (p53-binding protein 1) is classified as a mediator/adaptor of the DNA-damage response, and is recruited to nuclear structures termed foci following genotoxic insult. In the present paper, we review the functions of 53BP1 in DNA-damage checkpoint activation and DNA repair, and the mechanisms of its recruitment and activation following DNA damage. We focus in particular on the role of covalent histone modifications in this process.

scholarly journals DNA Damage Response in Multiple Myeloma: The Role of the Tumor Microenvironment

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 504
Author(s):  
Takayuki Saitoh ◽  
Tsukasa Oda
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Genetic Instability ◽  
Dna Repair Mechanisms ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Repair Mechanisms

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy characterized by genomic instability. MM cells present various forms of genetic instability, including chromosomal instability, microsatellite instability, and base-pair alterations, as well as changes in chromosome number. The tumor microenvironment and an abnormal DNA repair function affect genetic instability in this disease. In addition, states of the tumor microenvironment itself, such as inflammation and hypoxia, influence the DNA damage response, which includes DNA repair mechanisms, cell cycle checkpoints, and apoptotic pathways. Unrepaired DNA damage in tumor cells has been shown to exacerbate genomic instability and aberrant features that enable MM progression and drug resistance. This review provides an overview of the DNA repair pathways, with a special focus on their function in MM, and discusses the role of the tumor microenvironment in governing DNA repair mechanisms.

scholarly journals Slx4 Regulates DNA Damage Checkpoint-dependent Phosphorylation of the BRCT Domain Protein Rtt107/Esc4

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 539-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania M. Roberts ◽  
Michael S. Kobor ◽  
Suzanne A. Bastin-Shanower ◽  
Miki Ii ◽  
Sonja A. Horte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Dna Damage Checkpoint ◽  
Checkpoint Activation ◽  
Alkylation Damage ◽  
Binding Partner ◽  
Replication Restart ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Domain Protein

RTT107 (ESC4, YHR154W) encodes a BRCA1 C-terminal-domain protein that is important for recovery from DNA damage during S phase. Rtt107 is a substrate of the checkpoint protein kinase Mec1, although the mechanism by which Rtt107 is targeted by Mec1 after checkpoint activation is currently unclear. Slx4, a component of the Slx1-Slx4 structure-specific nuclease, formed a complex with Rtt107. Deletion of SLX4 conferred many of the same DNA-repair defects observed in rtt107Δ, including DNA damage sensitivity, prolonged DNA damage checkpoint activation, and increased spontaneous DNA damage. These phenotypes were not shared by the Slx4 binding partner Slx1, suggesting that the functions of the Slx4 and Slx1 proteins in the DNA damage response were not identical. Of particular interest, Slx4, but not Slx1, was required for phosphorylation of Rtt107 by Mec1 in vivo, indicating that Slx4 was a mediator of DNA damage-dependent phosphorylation of the checkpoint effector Rtt107. We propose that Slx4 has roles in the DNA damage response that are distinct from the function of Slx1-Slx4 in maintaining rDNA structure and that Slx4-dependent phosphorylation of Rtt107 by Mec1 is critical for replication restart after alkylation damage.

Endometrial DNA damage response is modulated in endometriosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kashmira Bane ◽  
Junita Desouza ◽  
Diksha Shetty ◽  
Prakash Choudhary ◽  
Shalaka Kadam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Nuclear Antigen ◽  
Dna Repair Genes ◽  
Eutopic Endometrium ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Repair Genes

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Is the DNA damage response (DDR) dysregulated in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER Endometrial expression of genes involved in DDR is modulated in women with endometriosis, compared to those without the disease. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Ectopic endometriotic lesions are reported to harbour somatic mutations, thereby hinting at dysregulation of DDR and DNA repair pathways. However, it remains inconclusive whether the eutopic endometrium also manifests dysregulated DDR in endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION For this case–control study conducted between 2015 and 2019, eutopic endometrial (E) samples (EE- from women with endometriosis, CE- from women without endometriosis) were collected in either mid-proliferative (EE-MP, n = 23; CE-MP, n = 17) or mid-secretory (EE-MS, n = 17; CE-MS, n = 9) phases of the menstrual cycle. This study compares: (i) DNA damage marker localization, (ii) expression of DDR genes and (iii) expression of DNA repair genes in eutopic endometrial samples from women with and without endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The study included (i) 40 women (aged 31.9 ± 0.81 years) with endometriosis and (ii) 26 control women (aged 31.4 ± 1.02 years) without endometriosis. Eutopic endometrial samples from the two groups were divided into different parts for histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, RNA extraction, protein extraction and comet assays. Eighty-four genes of relevance in the DNA damage signalling pathway were evaluated for their expression in eutopic endometrial samples, using RT2 Profiler PCR arrays. Validations of the expression of two GADD (Growth Arrest DNA Damage Inducible) proteins - GADD45A and GADD45G were carried out by immunoblotting. DNA damage was assessed by immunohistochemical localization of γ-H2AFX (a phosphorylated variant of histone H2AX) and 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine). RNA sequencing data from mid-proliferative (EE-MP, n = 4; CE-MP, n = 3) and mid-secretory phase (EE-MS and CE-MS, n = 4 each) endometrial samples were scanned to compare the expression status of all the genes implicated in human DNA repair. PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) expression was determined to assess endometrial proliferation. Residual DNA damage in primary endometrial cells was checked by comet assays. Public datasets were also scanned for the expression of DDR and DNA repair genes as our RNASeq data were limited by small sample size. All the comparisons were made between phase-matched endometrial samples from women with and without endometriosis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Endometrial expression of DDR genes and intensity of immunolocalized γ-H2AFX were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in EE, compared to CE samples. DDR proteins, especially those belonging to the GADD family, were found to be differentially abundant in EE, as compared to CE. These patterns were evident in both mid-proliferative and mid-secretory phases. Intriguingly, higher DDR was associated with increased cell proliferation in EE-MP, compared to CE-MP. Furthermore, among the differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) encoded by DNA repair genes, the majority showed up-regulation in EE-MP, compared to CE-MP. Interestingly, CE-MP and EE-MP had a comparable percentage (P > 0.05) of cells with residual DNA damage. However, unlike the mid-proliferative phase data, many DETs encoded by DNA repair genes were down-regulated in EE-MS, compared to CE-MS. An analysis of the phase-matched control and endometriosis samples included in the GSE51981 dataset available in the Gene Expression Omnibus database also revealed significant (P < 0.05) alterations in the expression of DDR and DNA repair genes in EE, compared to CE. LARGE-SCALE DATA N/A LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The study was conducted on a limited number of endometrial samples. Also, the study does not reveal the causes underlying dysregulated DDR in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Alterations in the expression of DDR and DNA repair genes indirectly suggest that eutopic endometrium, as compared to its healthy counterpart, encounters DNA damage-inducing stimuli, either of higher strength or for longer duration in endometriosis. It will be worthwhile to identify the nature of such stimuli and also explore the role of higher genomic insults and dysregulated DDR/DNA repair in the origin and/or progression of endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study was supported by the Department of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India. No conflict of interest is declared.

scholarly journals RT2 PCR array screening reveals distinct perturbations in DNA damage response signaling in FUS-associated motor neuron disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haibo Wang ◽  
Suganya Rangaswamy ◽  
Manohar Kodavati ◽  
Joy Mitra ◽  
Wenting Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Motor Neuron ◽  
Motor Neuron Disease ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Spinal Cord Tissue ◽  
Sporadic Als ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Als Patients

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative motor neuron disease that has been linked to defective DNA repair. Many familial ALS patients harbor autosomal dominant mutations in the gene encoding the RNA/DNA binding protein ‘fused in sarcoma’ (FUS) commonly inducing its cytoplasmic mislocalization. Recent reports from our group and others demonstrate a role of FUS in maintaining genome integrity and the DNA damage response (DDR). FUS interacts with many DDR proteins and may regulate their recruitment at damage sites. Given the role of FUS in RNA transactions, here we explore whether FUS also regulates the expression of DDR factors. We performed RT2 PCR arrays for DNA repair and DDR signaling pathways in CRISPR/Cas9 FUS knockout (KO) and shRNA mediated FUS knockdown (KD) cells, which revealed significant (> 2-fold) downregulation of BRCA1, DNA ligase 4, MSH complex and RAD23B. Importantly, similar perturbations in these factors were also consistent in motor neurons differentiated from an ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line with a FUS-P525L mutation, as well as in postmortem spinal cord tissue of sporadic ALS patients with FUS pathology. BRCA1 depletion has been linked to neuronal DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) accumulation and cognitive defects. The ubiquitin receptor RAD23 functions both in nucleotide excision repair and proteasomal protein clearance pathway and is thus linked to neurodegeneration. Together, our study suggests that the FUS pathology perturbs DDR signaling via both its direct role and the effect on the expression of DDR genes. This underscors an intricate connections between FUS, genome instability, and neurodegeneration.

Involvement of Death-Associated Protein Kinases In DNA Damage Responses of B-ALL Cells.

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 3369-3369
Author(s):  
Magali Humbert ◽  
Michaela Medova ◽  
Barbara Geering ◽  
Wieslawa Blank-Liss ◽  
Hans-Uwe Simon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Gamma Irradiation ◽  
Protein Kinases ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Dna Damage Responses

Abstract Abstract 3369 Intact DNA damage response pathways are important for genomic fidelity of cells in order to avoid tumor formation. On the other hand, inhibition of DNA repair provides an important mechanism to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of DNA damaging agents such as gamma-irradiation. Thus, it is important to identify novel players in DNA damage response that might represent novel targets for combination therapies. Death-associated protein kinases (DAPK) are serine/threonine kinases believed to be involved in cell death and autophagy mechanisms, whereby particularly the role of DAPK1 has previously been investigated. The DAPK family is composed of five members: DAPK1, DAPK2 (or DRP-1), DAPK3 (or ZIP kinase), DRAK1 and DRAK2. DAPK1 and DAPK2 share 80% homology in the catalytic domain. Generally, the role of DAPK in DNA damage responses is not well studied. To analyze the role of DAPK1 and DAPK2 in response to gamma-irradiation, we used p53 wild-type REH B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells as a model. In response to irradiation, DAPK1 protein expression increased paralleled by an increased of total p53, phospho-Ser20-p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1. DAPK2 expression, however, did not increase. Since upregulation of p21WAF1/CIP1, a classical p53 target in response to DNA damage leads to cell cycle arrest, we asked whether knocking down DAPK1 or DAPK2 might affect the cell cycle. Interestingly, knocking down DAPK2 but not DAPK1 led to a significant increase of S-phase cells upon irradiation. Moreover, knocking down DAPK2 attenuated the induction of DAPK1 upon irradiation indicating a DAPK2-DAPK1 cascade in DNA damage responses. Next, given the significant role of p21WAF1/CIP1 and p53 in DNA damage responses, we tested if DAPK2 might directly participate in a novel signaling pathway by interacting with these proteins. Indeed, pull down assays revealed that p21WAF1/CIP1 and p53 are novel DAPK2 interacting proteins. Clearly, further experiments are needed to define the DAPK2-DAPK1-p53- p21WAF1/CIP1 network in DNA repair pathways. In conclusion, we identified a novel role for DAPK1 and DAPK2 in DNA damage responses of B-ALL cells and propose a novel DAPK2/DAPK1/p53/ p21WAF1/CIP1 DNA damage regulatory pathway. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals SET8 Is a Potential Therapeutic Target in MM

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 4435-4435
Author(s):  
Herviou Laurie ◽  
Fanny Izard ◽  
Elke De Bruyne ◽  
Eva Desmedt ◽  
Anqi Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Myeloma Cells ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Damage Response

Abstract Epigenetic regulation mechanisms - such as histone marks, DNA methylation and miRNA - are often misregulated in cancers and are associated with tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell disease that accumulates within the bone marrow. Epigenetic modifications in MM are associated not only with cancer development and progression, but also with resistance to chemotherapy. This epigenetic plasticity can be targeted with epidrugs, nowadays used in treatment of several cancers. We recently identified a significant overexpression of the lysine histone methyltransferase SETD8 in MM cells (HMCLs; N=40) compared with normal plasma cells (N=5) (P<0.001). SETD8 (also known as SET8, PR-Set7, KMT5A) is the sole enzyme responsible for the monomethylation of histone H4 at lysine 20 (H4K20me1) which has been linked to chromatin compaction and cell-cycle regulation. In addition, SETD8 induces the methylation of non-histone proteins, such as the replication factor PCNA, the tumor suppressor P53 and its stabilizing protein Numb. While SETD8-mediated methylation of P53 and Numb inhibits apoptosis, PCNA methylation upon SETD8 enhances the interaction with the Flap endonuclease FEN1 and promotes cancer cell proliferation. SETD8 is also implicated in DNA damage response, helping 53BP1 recruitment at DNA double-strand breaks. Consistent with this, overexpression of SETD8 is found in various types of cancer and has been directly implicated in breast cancer invasiveness and metastasis. A role of SETD8 in development of MM has however never been described. We found that high SETD8 expression is associated with a poor prognosis in 2 independent cohorts of newly diagnosed patients (UAMS-TT2 cohort - N=345 and UAMS-TT3 cohort - N=158). Specific SETD8 inhibition with UNC-0379 inhibitor, causing its degradation and H4K20me1 depletion, leads to significant growth inhibition of HMCLs (N=10) and the murine cell lines 5T33MM and 5TGM1. MM cells treated with UNC-0379 presented a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest after 24h of treatment, followed by apoptosis 48h later. To confirm that SETD8 inhibition is as efficient on primary MM cells from patients, primary MM cells (N=8) were co-cultured with their bone marrow microenvironment and recombinant IL-6 and treated for 4 days with UNC-0379. Interestingly, treatment of MM patient samples with UNC-0379 reduces the percentage of myeloma cells (65%; P<0.005) without significantly affecting the non-myeloma cells, suggesting a specific addiction of primary myeloma cells to SETD8 activity. Melphalan is an alkylating agent commonly used in MM treatment. As SETD8 is known to be involved in the DNA damage response, we investigated the effect of its combination with Melphalan on HMCLs. Results show that this particular drug combination strongly enhances double strand breaks in HMCLs monitored using 53BP1 foci formation and gH2AX detection. This result emphasizes a potential role of SETD8 in DNA repair in MM cells. Furthermore, GSEA analysis of patients with high SETD8 expression highlighted a significant enrichment of genes involved in DNA repair, MYC-MAX targets and MAPK pathway. Our study is the first to demonstrate the importance of SETD8 for MM cells survival and suggest that SETD8 inhibition represent a promising strategy to improve conventional treatment of MM with DNA damaging agents. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals DNA Damage Response-Independent Role for MDC1 in Maintaining Genomic Stability

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiguo Li ◽  
Chen Shao ◽  
Yifan Kong ◽  
Colin Carlock ◽  
Nihal Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Elevated Level ◽  
Genomic Stability ◽  
Mitotic Progression ◽  
Checkpoint Activation ◽  
Damage Response

ABSTRACT MDC1 is a central player in checkpoint activation and subsequent DNA repair following DNA damage. Although MDC1 has been studied extensively, many of its known functions, to date, pertain to the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. Herein we report a novel function of phosphorylated MDC1 that is independent of ATM and DNA damage and is required for proper mitotic progression and maintenance of genomic stability. We demonstrate that MDC1 is an in vivo target of Plk1 and that phosphorylated MDC1 is dynamically localized to nuclear envelopes, centrosomes, kinetochores, and midbodies. Knockdown of MDC1 or abrogation of Plk1 phosphorylation of MDC1 causes a delay of the prometaphase-metaphase transition. It is significant that mice with reduced levels of MDC1 showed an elevated level of spontaneous tumors in aged animals. Our results demonstrate that MDC1 also plays a fundamentally significant role in maintenance of genomic stability through a DDR-independent pathway.

scholarly journals Role of Small GTPase RhoA in DNA Damage Response

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
Chibin Cheng ◽  
Daniel Seen ◽  
Chunwen Zheng ◽  
Ruijie Zeng ◽  
Enmin Li
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Traditional Function ◽  
Cell Transforming

Accumulating evidence has suggested a role of the small GTPase Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) in DNA damage response (DDR) in addition to its traditional function of regulating cell morphology. In DDR, 2 key components of DNA repair, ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) and flap structure-specific endonuclease 1 (FEN1), along with intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to regulate RhoA activation. In addition, Rho-specific guanine exchange factors (GEFs), neuroepithelial transforming gene 1 (Net1) and epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (Ect2), have specific functions in DDR, and they also participate in Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1)/RhoA interaction, a process which is largely unappreciated yet possibly of significance in DDR. Downstream of RhoA, current evidence has highlighted its role in mediating cell cycle arrest, which is an important step in DNA repair. Unraveling the mechanism by which RhoA modulates DDR may provide more insight into DDR itself and may aid in the future development of cancer therapies.

scholarly journals The Major Tegument Protein of Bovine Herpesvirus 1, VP8, Interacts with DNA Damage Response Proteins and Induces Apoptosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharmin Afroz ◽  
Ravendra Garg ◽  
Michel Fodje ◽  
Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Bovine Herpesvirus 1 ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Herpesvirus 1 ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

ABSTRACTVP8, theUL47gene product in bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1), is a major tegument protein that is essential for virus replicationin vivo. The major DNA damage response protein, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), phosphorylates Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS1) and structural maintenance of chromosome-1 (SMC1) proteins during the DNA damage response. VP8 was found to interact with ATM and NBS1 during transfection and BoHV-1 infection. However, VP8 did not interfere with phosphorylation of ATM in transfected or BoHV-1-infected cells. In contrast, VP8 inhibited phosphorylation of both NBS1 and SMC1 in transfected cells, as well as in BoHV-1-infected cells, but not in cells infected with a VP8 deletion mutant (BoHV-1ΔUL47). Inhibition of NBS1 and SMC1 phosphorylation was observed at 4 h postinfection by nuclear VP8. Furthermore, UV light-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) repair was reduced in the presence of VP8, and VP8 in fact enhanced etoposide or UV-induced apoptosis. This suggests that VP8 blocks the ATM/NBS1/SMC1 pathway and inhibits DNA repair. VP8 induced apoptosis in VP8-transfected cells through caspase-3 activation. The fact that BoHV-1 is known to induce apoptosis through caspase-3 activation is in agreement with this observation. The role of VP8 was confirmed by the observation that BoHV-1 induced significantly more apoptosis than BoHV-1ΔUL47. These data reveal a potential role of VP8 in the modulation of the DNA damage response pathway and induction of apoptosis during BoHV-1 infection.IMPORTANCETo our knowledge, the effect of BoHV-1 infection on the DNA damage response has not been characterized. Since BoHV-1ΔUL47 was previously shown to be avirulentin vivo, VP8 is critical for the progression of viral infection. We demonstrated that VP8 interacts with DNA damage response proteins and disrupts the ATM-NBS1-SMC1 pathway by inhibiting phosphorylation of DNA repair proteins NBS1 and SMC1. Furthermore, interference of VP8 with DNA repair was correlated with decreased cell viability and increased DNA damage-induced apoptosis. These data show that BoHV-1 VP8 developed a novel strategy to interrupt the ATM signaling pathway and to promote apoptosis. These results further enhance our understanding of the functions of VP8 during BoHV-1 infection and provide an additional explanation for the reduced virulence of BoHV-1ΔUL47.

scholarly journals Beyond the Double-Strand Breaks: The Role of DNA Repair Proteins in Cancer Stem-Cell Regulation

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 4818
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Nathansen ◽  
Felix Meyer ◽  
Luise Müller ◽  
Marc Schmitz ◽  
Kerstin Borgmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Tumor Evolution ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Dna Repair Proteins

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are pluripotent and highly tumorigenic cells that can re-populate a tumor and cause relapses even after initially successful therapy. As with tissue stem cells, CSCs possess enhanced DNA repair mechanisms. An active DNA damage response alleviates the increased oxidative and replicative stress and leads to therapy resistance. On the other hand, mutations in DNA repair genes cause genomic instability, therefore driving tumor evolution and developing highly aggressive CSC phenotypes. However, the role of DNA repair proteins in CSCs extends beyond the level of DNA damage. In recent years, more and more studies have reported the unexpected role of DNA repair proteins in the regulation of transcription, CSC signaling pathways, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, DNA damage signaling plays an essential role in the immune response towards tumor cells. Due to its high importance for the CSC phenotype and treatment resistance, the DNA damage response is a promising target for individualized therapies. Furthermore, understanding the dependence of CSC on DNA repair pathways can be therapeutically exploited to induce synthetic lethality and sensitize CSCs to anti-cancer therapies. This review discusses the different roles of DNA repair proteins in CSC maintenance and their potential as therapeutic targets.

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