scholarly journals Rad51-mediated replication fork reversal is a global response to genotoxic treatments in human cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 208 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Zellweger ◽  
Damian Dalcher ◽  
Karun Mutreja ◽  
Matteo Berti ◽  
Jonas A. Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Replication Fork ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Chromosomal Breakage ◽  
Checkpoint Activation ◽  
Topoisomerase 1 ◽  
Molecular Features ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
Topoisomerase Poisons ◽  
Dna Synthesis Inhibitors

Replication fork reversal protects forks from breakage after poisoning of Topoisomerase 1. We here investigated fork progression and chromosomal breakage in human cells in response to a panel of sublethal genotoxic treatments, using other topoisomerase poisons, DNA synthesis inhibitors, interstrand cross-linking inducers, and base-damaging agents. We used electron microscopy to visualize fork architecture under these conditions and analyzed the association of specific molecular features with checkpoint activation. Our data identify replication fork uncoupling and reversal as global responses to genotoxic treatments. Both events are frequent even after mild treatments that do not affect fork integrity, nor activate checkpoints. Fork reversal was found to be dependent on the central homologous recombination factor RAD51, which is consistently present at replication forks independently of their breakage, and to be antagonized by poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase/RECQ1-regulated restart. Our work establishes remodeling of uncoupled forks as a pivotal RAD51-regulated response to genotoxic stress in human cells and as a promising target to potentiate cancer chemotherapy.

scholarly journals Cathepsin L plays a key role in SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans and humanized mice and is a promising target for new drug development

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao-Miao Zhao ◽  
Wei-Li Yang ◽  
Fang-Yuan Yang ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Wei-Jin Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Development ◽  
Cathepsin L ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Disease Course ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
First Time

AbstractTo discover new drugs to combat COVID-19, an understanding of the molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is urgently needed. Here, for the first time, we report the crucial role of cathepsin L (CTSL) in patients with COVID-19. The circulating level of CTSL was elevated after SARS-CoV-2 infection and was positively correlated with disease course and severity. Correspondingly, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection increased CTSL expression in human cells in vitro and human ACE2 transgenic mice in vivo, while CTSL overexpression, in turn, enhanced pseudovirus infection in human cells. CTSL functionally cleaved the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and enhanced virus entry, as evidenced by CTSL overexpression and knockdown in vitro and application of CTSL inhibitor drugs in vivo. Furthermore, amantadine, a licensed anti-influenza drug, significantly inhibited CTSL activity after SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection and prevented infection both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, CTSL is a promising target for new anti-COVID-19 drug development.

scholarly journals DNA2 in Chromosome Stability and Cell Survival—Is It All about Replication Forks?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3984
Author(s):  
Jessica J. R. Hudson ◽  
Ulrich Rass
Keyword(s):  
Replication Stress ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Replication Forks ◽  
Phenotypic Data ◽  
Checkpoint Activation ◽  
Dna Double Strand Break ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Okazaki Fragment Processing ◽  
Response And Recovery

The conserved nuclease-helicase DNA2 has been linked to mitochondrial myopathy, Seckel syndrome, and cancer. Across species, the protein is indispensable for cell proliferation. On the molecular level, DNA2 has been implicated in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, checkpoint activation, Okazaki fragment processing (OFP), and telomere homeostasis. More recently, a critical contribution of DNA2 to the replication stress response and recovery of stalled DNA replication forks (RFs) has emerged. Here, we review the available functional and phenotypic data and propose that the major cellular defects associated with DNA2 dysfunction, and the links that exist with human disease, can be rationalized through the fundamental importance of DNA2-dependent RF recovery to genome duplication. Being a crucial player at stalled RFs, DNA2 is a promising target for anti-cancer therapy aimed at eliminating cancer cells by replication-stress overload.

Biochemical properties of mammalian TREX1 and its association with DNA replication and inherited inflammatory disease

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Lindahl ◽  
Deborah E. Barnes ◽  
Yun-Gui Yang ◽  
Peter Robins
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated ◽  
Checkpoint Activation ◽  
Familial Chilblain Lupus ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Exonuclease 1

The major DNA-specific 3′–5′ exonuclease of mammalian cells is TREX1 (3′ repair exonuclease 1; previously called DNase III). The human enzyme is encoded by a single exon and, like many 3′ exonucleases, exists as a homodimer. TREX1 degrades ssDNA (single-stranded DNA) more efficiently than dsDNA (double-stranded DNA), and its catalytic properties are similar to those of Escherichia coli exonuclease X. However, TREX1 is only found in mammals and has an extended C-terminal domain containing a leucine-rich sequence required for its association with the endoplasmic reticulum. In normal S-phase and also in response to genotoxic stress, TREX1 at least partly redistributes to the cell nucleus. In a collaborative project, we have demonstrated TREX1 enzyme deficiency in Aicardi–Goutières syndrome. Subsequently, we have shown that AGS1 cells exhibit chronic ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated)-dependent checkpoint activation, and these TREX1-deficient cells accumulate ssDNA fragments of a distinct size generated during DNA replication. Other groups have shown that the syndromes of familial chilblain lupus as well as systemic lupus erythematosus, and the distinct neurovascular disorder retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy, can be caused by dominant mutations at different sites within the TREX1 gene.

Sensitivity of tumor cells deficient in the fanconi anemia pathway to inhibition of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10509-10509
Author(s):  
R. D. Kennedy ◽  
P. Stuckert ◽  
E. Archila ◽  
M. De LaVega ◽  
C. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Dna Damage Response ◽  
Fanconi Anemia ◽  
Ataxia Telangiectasia ◽  
Pancreatic Head ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated ◽  
Chromosomal Breakage ◽  
Damage Response

10509 Loss of the fanconi anemia (FA) pathway function has been described in a number of sporadic tumor types including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, head and neck and hematological malignancies. Functionally, the FA pathway responds to stalled DNA replication following DNA damage. Given the importance of the FA pathway in the response to DNA damage, we hypothesized that cells deficient in this pathway may become hyper-dependent on alternative DNA damage response pathways in order to respond to endogenous genotoxic stress such as occurs during metabolism. Therefore, targeting these alternative pathways could offer therapeutic strategies in FA pathway deficient tumors. To identify new therapeutic targets we treated FA pathway competent and deficient cells with a DNA damage response siRNA library, that individually knocked out 230 genes. We identified a number of gene targets that were specifically toxic to FA pathway deficient cells, amongst which was the DNA damage response kinase Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM). To test the requirement for ATM in FA pathway deficient cells, we interbred Fancg ± Atm± mice. Consistent with the siRNA screen result, Fancg-/- Atm-/- mice were non viable and Fancg± Atm-/- and Fancg-/- Atm ± progeny were less frequent that would have been expected. Several human cell lines with FA gene mutations were observed to have constitutive activation of ATM which was markedly reduced on correction with the appropriate wild-type FA gene. Interestingly, FA pathway deficient cells, including the FANCC mutant and FANCG mutant pancreatic cancer cell lines, were selectively sensitive to monotherapy with the ATM inhibitor KU55933, as measured by dose inhibition and colony count assays. FA pathway deficient cells also demonstrated an increased level of chromosomal breakage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis following KU55933 treatment when compared to FA pathway corrected cells. We conclude that FA pathway deficient cells have an increased requirement for ATM activation in order to respond to sporadic DNA damage. This offers the possibility that monotherapy with ATM inhibitors could be a therapeutic strategy for tumors that are deficient for the FA pathway. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Rad53 checkpoint kinase regulation of DNA replication fork rate via Mrc1 phosphorylation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison W. McClure ◽  
John F.X. Diffley
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Replication Fork ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Replication Initiation ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Replication Forks ◽  
Dna Replication Stress ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

SummaryThe Rad53 DNA checkpoint protein kinase plays multiple roles in the budding yeast cell response to DNA replication stress. Key amongst these is its enigmatic role in safeguarding DNA replication forks. Using DNA replication reactions reconstituted with purified proteins, we show Rad53 phosphorylation of Sld3/7 or Dbf4-dependent kinase blocks replication initiation whilst phosphorylation of Mrc1 or Mcm10 slows elongation. Mrc1 phosphorylation is necessary and sufficient to slow replication forks in complete reactions; Mcm10 phosphorylation can also slow replication forks, but only in the absence of unphosphorylated Mrc1. Mrc1 stimulates the unwinding rate of the replicative helicase, CMG, and Rad53 phosphorylation of Mrc1 prevents this. We show that a phosphorylation-mimicking Mrc1 mutant cannot stimulate replication in vitro and partially rescues the sensitivity of a rad53 null mutant to genotoxic stress in vivo. Our results show that Rad53 protects replication forks in part by antagonising Mrc1 stimulation of CMG unwinding.

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