Repair pathway choice for double-strand breaks

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixi Xu ◽  
Dongyi Xu

Abstract Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is at a constant risk of damage from endogenous substances, environmental radiation, and chemical stressors. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) pose a significant threat to genomic integrity and cell survival. There are two major pathways for DSB repair: nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). The extent of DNA end resection, which determines the length of the 3′ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) overhang, is the primary factor that determines whether repair is carried out via NHEJ or HR. NHEJ, which does not require a 3′ ssDNA tail, occurs throughout the cell cycle. 53BP1 and the cofactors PTIP or RIF1-shieldin protect the broken DNA end, inhibit long-range end resection and thus promote NHEJ. In contrast, HR mainly occurs during the S/G2 phase and requires DNA end processing to create a 3′ tail that can invade a homologous region, ensuring faithful gene repair. BRCA1 and the cofactors CtIP, EXO1, BLM/DNA2, and the MRE11–RAD50–NBS1 (MRN) complex promote DNA end resection and thus HR. DNA resection is influenced by the cell cycle, the chromatin environment, and the complexity of the DNA end break. Herein, we summarize the key factors involved in repair pathway selection for DSBs and discuss recent related publications.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salar Ahmad ◽  
Valerie Côté ◽  
Xue Cheng ◽  
Gaëlle Bourriquen ◽  
Vasileia Sapountzi ◽  
...  

AbstractThe NuA4 histone acetyltransferase complex, apart from its known role in gene regulation, has also been directly implicated in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), favoring homologous recombination (HR) in S/G2 during the cell cycle. Here, we investigate the antagonistic relationship of NuA4 with non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) factors. We show that budding yeast Rad9, the 53BP1 ortholog, can inhibit NuA4 acetyltransferase activity when bound to chromatin in vitro. While we previously reported that NuA4 is recruited at DSBs during the S/G2 phase, we can also detect its recruitment in G1 when genes for NHEJ factors Rad9, Yku80 and Nej1 are mutated. This is accompanied with the binding of single-strand DNA binding protein RPA and Rad52, indicating DNA end resection in G1 as well as recruitment of the HR machinery. This NuA4 recruitment to DSBs in G1 depends on both Xrs2 and Lcd1/Ddc2. Introducing an acetyltransferase defective allele in these NHEJ mutant backgrounds decreases their hyper-resection phenotype in G1. Interestingly, we identified two novel non-histone acetylation targets of NuA4, Nej1 and Yku80. Acetyl-mimicking mutant of Nej1 inhibits repair of DNA breaks by NHEJ, decreases its interaction with other core NHEJ factors such as Yku80 and Lif1 and favors end resection. Altogether, these results establish a strong reciprocal antagonistic regulatory function of NuA4 and NHEJ factors in repair pathway choice and suggests a role of NuA4 in alternative repair mechanism that involves DNA-end resection in G1.Author SummaryDNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are one of the most harmful form of DNA damage. Cells employ two major repair pathways to resolve DSBs: Homologous Recombination (HR) and Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ). Here we wanted to dissect further the role played by the NuA4 (Nucleosome acetyltransferase of histone H4) complex in the repair of DSBs. Budding yeast NuA4 complex, like its mammalian homolog TIP60 complex, has been shown to favor repair by HR. Here, we show that indeed budding yeast NuA4 and components of the NHEJ repair pathway share an antagonistic relationship. Deletion of NHEJ components enables increased recruitment of NuA4 in the vicinity of DSBs, where NuA4 favors the end resection process which is an underlying mechanism for HR repair. We also describe two independent modes responsible for the recruitment of NuA4 to DSB sites. Additionally, we also present two NHEJ core components as new targets of NuA4 acetyltransferase activity and suggest that these acetylation events can disassemble the NHEJ repair complex from DSBs, favoring repair by HR. Our study demonstrates the importance of NuA4 in the modulation of DSB repair pathway choice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (17) ◽  
pp. 9160-9179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soon Young Hwang ◽  
Mi Ae Kang ◽  
Chul Joon Baik ◽  
Yejin Lee ◽  
Ngo Thanh Hang ◽  
...  

Abstract The pleiotropic CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) plays a role in homologous recombination (HR) repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). However, the precise mechanistic role of CTCF in HR remains largely unclear. Here, we show that CTCF engages in DNA end resection, which is the initial, crucial step in HR, through its interactions with MRE11 and CtIP. Depletion of CTCF profoundly impairs HR and attenuates CtIP recruitment at DSBs. CTCF physically interacts with MRE11 and CtIP and promotes CtIP recruitment to sites of DNA damage. Subsequently, CTCF facilitates DNA end resection to allow HR, in conjunction with MRE11–CtIP. Notably, the zinc finger domain of CTCF binds to both MRE11 and CtIP and enables proficient CtIP recruitment, DNA end resection and HR. The N-terminus of CTCF is able to bind to only MRE11 and its C-terminus is incapable of binding to MRE11 and CtIP, thereby resulting in compromised CtIP recruitment, DSB resection and HR. Overall, this suggests an important function of CTCF in DNA end resection through the recruitment of CtIP at DSBs. Collectively, our findings identify a critical role of CTCF at the first control point in selecting the HR repair pathway.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1430
Author(s):  
Ian Yannuzzi ◽  
Margaret A. Butler ◽  
Joel Fernandez ◽  
Jeannine R. LaRocque

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are a particularly genotoxic type of DNA damage that can result in chromosomal aberrations. Thus, proper repair of DSBs is essential to maintaining genome integrity. DSBs can be repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), where ends are processed before joining through ligation. Alternatively, DSBs can be repaired through homology-directed repair, either by homologous recombination (HR) or single-strand annealing (SSA). Both types of homology-directed repair are initiated by DNA end resection. In cultured human cells, the protein CtIP has been shown to play a role in DNA end resection through its interactions with CDK, BRCA1, DNA2, and the MRN complex. To elucidate the role of CtIP in a multicellular context, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was used to create a DmCtIPΔ allele in Drosophila melanogaster. Using the DSB repair reporter assay direct repeat of white (DR-white), a two-fold decrease in HR in DmCtIPΔ/Δ mutants was observed when compared to heterozygous controls. However, analysis of HR gene conversion tracts (GCTs) suggests DmCtIP plays a minimal role in determining GCT length. To assess the function of DmCtIP on both short (~550 bp) and long (~3.6 kb) end resection, modified homology-directed SSA repair assays were implemented, resulting in a two-fold decrease in SSA repair in both short and extensive end resection requirements in the DmCtIPΔ/Δ mutants compared to heterozygote controls. Through these analyses, we affirmed the importance of end resection on DSB repair pathway choice in multicellular systems, described the function of DmCtIP in short and extensive DNA end resection, and determined the impact of end resection on GCT length during HR.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-307
Author(s):  
Petr Cejka ◽  
Lorraine S. Symington

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are cytotoxic lesions that threaten genome integrity and cell viability. Typically, cells repair DSBs by either nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). The relative use of these two pathways depends on many factors, including cell cycle stage and the nature of the DNA ends. A critical determinant of repair pathway selection is the initiation of 5′→3′ nucleolytic degradation of DNA ends, a process referred to as DNA end resection. End resection is essential to create single-stranded DNA overhangs, which serve as the substrate for the Rad51 recombinase to initiate HR and are refractory to NHEJ repair. Here, we review recent insights into the mechanisms of end resection, how it is regulated, and the pathological consequences of its dysregulation.


Cell Reports ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiming Lu ◽  
Raghavendra A. Shamanna ◽  
Guido Keijzers ◽  
Roopesh Anand ◽  
Lene Juel Rasmussen ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judit Domingo-Prim ◽  
Martin Endara-Coll ◽  
Franziska Bonath ◽  
Sonia Jimeno ◽  
Rosario Prados-Carvajal ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Scherzer ◽  
Fosco Giordano ◽  
Maria Sol&eacute Ferran ◽  
Lena Str&oumlm

Homologous recombination (HR) enables cells to overcome the threat of DNA double strand breaks (DSB), allowing for repair without the loss of genetic information. Central to the HR repair process is the de novo loading of Cohesin around a DSB by its loader complex Scc2/4. Although Cohesin′s accumulation at these sites has been well studied, the prerequisites leading to Scc2/4 recruitment during the repair process are still elusive. Here we investigate which factors are required for recruitment of Scc2 around DSBs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To address this question, we combined ChIP-qPCR with a GAL-inducible HO-endonuclease system to generate a site specific DSB in vivo. We find that Scc2 recruitment relies on γH2A and Tel1, but as opposed to Cohesin, not on Mec1. We further demonstrate that binding of Scc2 depends on and coincides with DNA end resection. Although affected by the impact on resection, this recruitment of Scc2 is not directly facilitated by the RSC, SWR1 or INO80 complexes. Our results shed light on the intricate DSB repair cascade leading to the recruitment of Scc2/4 and the subsequent loading of Cohesin.


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