scholarly journals Werner's Syndrome Protein Is Required for Correct Recovery after Replication Arrest and DNA Damage Induced in S-Phase of Cell Cycle

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2412-2421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Pichierri ◽  
Annapaola Franchitto ◽  
Pasquale Mosesso ◽  
Fabrizio Palitti

Werner's syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that arises as a consequence of mutations in a gene coding for a protein that is a member of RecQ family of DNA helicases, WRN. The cellular function of WRN is still unclear, but on the basis of the cellular phenotypes of WS and of RecQ yeast mutants, its possible role in controlling recombination and/or in maintenance of genomic integrity during S-phase has been envisaged. With the use of two drugs, camptothecin and hydroxyurea, which produce replication-associated DNA damage and/or inhibit replication fork progression, we find that WS cells have a slower rate of repair associated with DNA damage induced in the S-phase and a reduced induction of RAD51 foci. As a consequence, WS cells undergo apoptotic cell death more than normal cells, even if they arrest and resume DNA synthesis at an apparently normal rate. Furthermore, we report that WS cells show a higher background level of DNA strand breaks and an elevated spontaneous induction of RAD51 foci. Our findings support the hypothesis that WRN could be involved in the correct resolution of recombinational intermediates that arise from replication arrest due to either DNA damage or replication fork collapse.

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 3198-3212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Z. Torres ◽  
Sandra L. Schnakenberg ◽  
Virginia A. Zakian

ABSTRACT Rrm3p is a 5′-to-3′ DNA helicase that helps replication forks traverse protein-DNA complexes. Its absence leads to increased fork stalling and breakage at over 1,000 specific sites located throughout the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome. To understand the mechanisms that respond to and repair rrm3-dependent lesions, we carried out a candidate gene deletion analysis to identify genes whose mutation conferred slow growth or lethality on rrm3 cells. Based on synthetic phenotypes, the intra-S-phase checkpoint, the SRS2 inhibitor of recombination, the SGS1/TOP3 replication fork restart pathway, and the MRE11/RAD50/XRS2 (MRX) complex were critical for viability of rrm3 cells. DNA damage checkpoint and homologous recombination genes were important for normal growth of rrm3 cells. However, the MUS81/MMS4 replication fork restart pathway did not affect growth of rrm3 cells. These data suggest a model in which the stalled and broken forks generated in rrm3 cells activate a checkpoint response that provides time for fork repair and restart. Stalled forks are converted by a Rad51p-mediated process to intermediates that are resolved by Sgs1p/Top3p. The rrm3 system provides a unique opportunity to learn the fate of forks whose progress is impaired by natural impediments rather than by exogenous DNA damage.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe de La Roche Saint-André ◽  
Vincent Géli

AbstractDNA replication is a highly regulated process that occurs in the context of chromatin structure and is sensitive to several histone post-translational modifications. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the histone methylase Set1 is responsible for the transcription-dependent deposition of H3K4 methylation (H3K4me) throughout the genome. Here we show that a combination of a hypomorphic replication mutation (orc5-1) with the absence of Set1 (set1Δ) compromises the progression through S phase, and this is associated with a large increase in DNA damage. The ensuing DNA damage checkpoint activation, in addition to that of the spindle assembly checkpoint, restricts the growth of orc5-1 set1Δ. Interestingly, orc5-1 set1Δ is sensitive to the lack of RNase H activity while a reduction of histone levels is able to counterbalance the loss of Set1. We propose that the recently described Set1-dependent mitigation of transcription-replication conflicts becomes critical for growth when the replication forks accelerate due to decreased origin firing in the orc5-1 background. Furthermore, we show that an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, likely a consequence of the elevated DNA damage, is partly responsible for the lethality in orc5-1 set1Δ.Author summaryDNA replication, that ensures the duplication of the genetic material, starts at discrete sites, termed origins, before proceeding at replication forks whose progression is carefully controlled in order to avoid conflicts with the transcription of genes. In eukaryotes, DNA replication occurs in the context of chromatin, a structure in which DNA is wrapped around proteins, called histones, that are subjected to various chemical modifications. Among them, the methylation of the lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4) is carried out by Set1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, specifically at transcribed genes. We report that, when the replication fork accelerates in response to a reduction of active origins, the absence of Set1 leads to accumulation of DNA damage. Because H3K4 methylation was recently shown to slow down replication at transcribed genes, we propose that the Set1-dependent becomes crucial to limit the occurrence of conflicts between replication and transcription caused by replication fork acceleration. In agreement with this model, stabilization of transcription-dependent structures or reduction histone levels, to limit replication fork velocity, respectively exacerbates or moderates the effect of Set1 loss. Last, but not least, we show that the oxidative stress associated to DNA damage is partly responsible for cell lethality.


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 4374-4382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Yin ◽  
Alexandra Monica Locovei ◽  
Gennaro D'Urso

In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, blocks to DNA replication elongation trigger the intra-S phase checkpoint that leads to the activation of the Cds1 kinase. Cds1 is required to both prevent premature entry into mitosis and to stabilize paused replication forks. Interestingly, although Cds1 is essential to maintain the viability of mutants defective in DNA replication elongation, mutants defective in DNA replication initiation require the Chk1 kinase. This suggests that defects in DNA replication initiation can lead to activation of the DNA damage checkpoint independent of the intra-S phase checkpoint. This might result from reduced origin firing that leads to an increase in replication fork stalling or replication fork collapse that activates the G2 DNA damage checkpoint. We refer to the Chk1-dependent, Cds1-independent phenotype as the rid phenotype (for replication initiation defective). Chk1 is active in rid mutants, and rid mutant viability is dependent on the DNA damage checkpoint, and surprisingly Mrc1, a protein required for activation of Cds1. Mutations in Mrc1 that prevent activation of Cds1 have no effect on its ability to support rid mutant viability, suggesting that Mrc1 has a checkpoint-independent role in maintaining the viability of mutants defective in DNA replication initiation.


Oncogene ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (44) ◽  
pp. 5921-5932 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Shimura ◽  
M Toyoshima ◽  
S K Adiga ◽  
T Kunoh ◽  
H Nagai ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 279 (19) ◽  
pp. 20067-20075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine J. Merrick ◽  
Dean Jackson ◽  
John F. X. Diffley

Eukaryotic cells respond to DNA damage within the S phase by activating an intra-S checkpoint: a response that includes reducing the rate of DNA synthesis. In yeast cells this can occur via checkpoint-dependent inhibition of origin firing and stabilization of ongoing forks, together with a checkpoint-independent slowing of fork movement. In higher eukaryotes, however, the mechanism by which DNA synthesis is reduced is less clear. We have developed strategies based on DNA fiber labeling that allow the quantitative assessment of rates of replication fork movement, origin firing, and fork stalling throughout the genome by examining large numbers of individually labeled replication forks. We show that exposing S phase cells to ionizing radiation induces a transient block to origin firing but does not affect fork rate or fork stalling. Alkylation damage by methyl methane sulfonate causes a slowing of fork movement and a high rate of fork stalling, in addition to inducing a block to new origin firing. Nucleotide depletion by hydroxyurea also reduces replication fork rate and increases stalling; moreover, in contrast to a recent report, we show that hydroxyurea induces a strong block to new origin firing. The DNA fiber labeling strategy provides a powerful new approach to analyze the dynamics of DNA replication in a perturbed S phase.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1701-1705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Divya Ramalingam Iyer ◽  
Nicholas Rhind

Cell-cycle checkpoints are generally global in nature: one unattached kinetochore prevents the segregation of all chromosomes; stalled replication forks inhibit late origin firing throughout the genome. A potential exception to this rule is the regulation of replication fork progression by the S-phase DNA damage checkpoint. In this case, it is possible that the checkpoint is global, and it slows all replication forks in the genome. However, it is also possible that the checkpoint acts locally at sites of DNA damage, and only slows those forks that encounter DNA damage. Whether the checkpoint regulates forks globally or locally has important mechanistic implications for how replication forks deal with damaged DNA during S-phase.


2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Jones ◽  
Eva Petermann

Prevention and repair of DNA damage is essential for maintenance of genomic stability and cell survival. DNA replication during S-phase can be a source of DNA damage if endogenous or exogenous stresses impair the progression of replication forks. It has become increasingly clear that DNA-damage-response pathways do not only respond to the presence of damaged DNA, but also modulate DNA replication dynamics to prevent DNA damage formation during S-phase. Such observations may help explain the developmental defects or cancer predisposition caused by mutations in DNA-damage-response genes. The present review focuses on molecular mechanisms by which DNA-damage-response pathways control and promote replication dynamics in vertebrate cells. In particular, DNA damage pathways contribute to proper replication by regulating replication initiation, stabilizing transiently stalled forks, promoting replication restart and facilitating fork movement on difficult-to-replicate templates. If replication fork progression fails to be rescued, this may lead to DNA damage and genomic instability via nuclease processing of aberrant fork structures or incomplete sister chromatid separation during mitosis.


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