scholarly journals De novo phosphorylation of H2AX by WSTF regulates transcription-coupled homologous recombination repair

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 6299-6314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Hoon Ji ◽  
Sunwoo Min ◽  
Sunyoung Chae ◽  
Geun-Hyoung Ha ◽  
Yonghyeon Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Histone H2AX undergoes a phosphorylation switch from pTyr142 (H2AX-pY142) to pSer139 (γH2AX) in the DNA damage response (DDR); however, the functional role of H2AX-pY142 remains elusive. Here, we report a new layer of regulation involving transcription-coupled H2AX-pY142 in the DDR. We found that constitutive H2AX-pY142 generated by Williams-Beuren syndrome transcription factor (WSTF) interacts with RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and is associated with RNAPII-mediated active transcription in proliferating cells. Also, removal of pre-existing H2AX-pY142 by ATM-dependent EYA1/3 phosphatases disrupts this association and requires for transcriptional silencing at transcribed active damage sites. The following recovery of H2AX-pY142 via translocation of WSTF to DNA lesions facilitates transcription-coupled homologous recombination (TC-HR) in the G1 phase, whereby RAD51 loading, but not RPA32, utilizes RNAPII-dependent active RNA transcripts as donor templates. We propose that the WSTF-H2AX-RNAPII axis regulates transcription and TC-HR repair to maintain genome integrity.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasun Chakraborty ◽  
Kevin Hiom

AbstractDouble stranded DNA Breaks (DSB) that occur in highly transcribed regions of the genome are preferentially repaired by homologous recombination repair (HR). However, the mechanisms that link transcription with HR are unknown. Here we identify a critical role for DHX9, a RNA helicase involved in the processing of pre-mRNA during transcription, in the initiation of HR. Cells that are deficient in DHX9 are impaired in the recruitment of RPA and RAD51 to sites of DNA damage and fail to repair DSB by HR. Consequently, these cells are hypersensitive to treatment with agents such as camptothecin and Olaparib that block transcription and generate DSB that specifically require HR for their repair. We show that DHX9 plays a critical role in HR by promoting the recruitment of BRCA1 to RNA as part of the RNA Polymerase II transcription complex, where it facilitates the resection of DSB. Moreover, defects in DHX9 also lead to impaired ATR-mediated damage signalling and an inability to restart DNA replication at camptothecin-induced DSB. Together, our data reveal a previously unknown role for DHX9 in the DNA Damage Response that provides a critical link between RNA, RNA Pol II and the repair of DNA damage by homologous recombination.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
A. Brero ◽  
D. Koehler ◽  
T. Cremer ◽  
E. Wolf ◽  
V. Zakhartchenko

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are considered the most severe type of DNA lesions, because such lesions, if unrepaired, lead to a loss of genome integrity. Soon after induction of DSBs, chromatin surrounding the damage is modified by phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX, generating so-called γH2AX, which is a hallmark of DSBs (Takahashi et al. 2005 Cancer Lett. 229, 171–179). γH2AX appears to be a signal for the recruitment of proteins constituting the DNA repair machinery. Depending on the type of damage and the cell cycle stage of the affected cell, DSBs are repaired either by nonhomologous end joining or by homologous recombination using the sister chromatid DNA as template (Hoeijmakers 2001 Nature 411, 366–374). We used immunofluorescence to analyze chromatin composition during bovine development and found γH2AX foci in both male and female pronuclei of IVF embryos. The number and size of foci varied considerably between embryos and between the male and female pronuclei. To test whether the observed γH2AX foci represented sites of active DNA repair, we co-stained IVF zygotes for γH2AX and 3 different proteins involved in homologous recombination repair of DSBs: NBS1 (phosphorylated at amino acid serine 343), 53BP1, and Rad51. We found co-localization of γH2AX foci with phosphorylated NBS1 as well as with Rad51 but did not observe the presence of 53BP1 at γH2AX foci in IVF zygotes. Our finding shows the presence of DSBs in IVF zygotes and suggests the capability of homologous recombination repair. The lack of 53BP1, a component of homologous recombination repair, which usually co-localizes with γH2AX foci at exogenously induced DSBs (Schultz et al. 2000 J. Cell. Biol. 151, 1381–1390) poses the possibility that the mechanism present in early embryos differs substantially from that involved in DNA repair of DSBs in somatic cells.


Biologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mária Kovalská ◽  
Ida Petrovičová ◽  
František Strejček ◽  
Marian Adamkov ◽  
Erika Halašová ◽  
...  

AbstractThe early stages of embryonic development are maternally driven. As development proceeds, maternally inherited informational molecules decay, and embryogenesis becomes dependent on de novo synthesized RNAs of embryonic genome. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of de novo transcription in the development of embryos during embryonic genome activation. Autoradiography for detection of transcriptional activity and transmission electron microscopy were applied in in vitro produced bovine embryos cultured to the late 8-cell stage with or without (control group) α-amanitin, specific inhibitor of RNA-polymerases II and III transcription. The α-amanitin (AA) groups presented three sets of embryos cultivated with AA in different time intervals (6, 9 and 12 h). In control group, nucleoplasm and nucleolar structures displayed strong autoradiographic labeling and showed initial development of fibrillo-granular nucleoli. In α-amanitin groups, lack of autoradiographic labeling and disintegrated nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs) stage were observed. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) already in the early phases of embryonic genome activation has detrimental effect on nucleolar formation and embryo survival, what was shown for the first time.


2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 1979-1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. L. Chan ◽  
O. J. Marshall ◽  
R. Saffery ◽  
B. Won Kim ◽  
E. Earle ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 197 (12) ◽  
pp. 1767-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Reina-San-Martin ◽  
Simone Difilippantonio ◽  
Leif Hanitsch ◽  
Revati F. Masilamani ◽  
André Nussenzweig ◽  
...  

Changes in chromatin structure induced by posttranslational modifications of histones are important regulators of genomic function. Phosphorylation of histone H2AX promotes DNA repair and helps maintain genomic stability. Although B cells lacking H2AX show impaired class switch recombination (CSR), the precise role of H2AX in CSR and somatic hypermutation (SHM) has not been defined. We show that H2AX is not required for SHM, suggesting that the processing of DNA lesions leading to SHM is fundamentally different from CSR. Impaired CSR in H2AX−/− B cells is not due to alterations in switch region transcription, accessibility, or aberrant joining. In the absence of H2AX, short-range intra-switch region recombination proceeds normally while long-range inter-switch region recombination is impaired. Our results suggest a role for H2AX in regulating the higher order chromatin remodeling that facilitates switch region synapsis.


Chromosoma ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samadri Ghosh ◽  
Christian F. Lehner

AbstractIn many species, centromere identity is specified epigenetically by special nucleosomes containing a centromere-specific histone H3 variant, designated as CENP-A in humans and CID in Drosophila melanogaster. After partitioning of centromere-specific nucleosomes onto newly replicated sister centromeres, loading of additional CENP-A/CID into centromeric chromatin is required for centromere maintenance in proliferating cells. Analyses with cultured cells have indicated that transcription of centromeric DNA by RNA polymerase II is required for deposition of new CID into centromere chromatin. However, a dependence of centromeric CID loading on transcription is difficult to reconcile with the notion that the initial embryonic stages appear to proceed in the absence of transcription in Drosophila, as also in many other animal species. To address the role of RNA polymerase II–mediated transcription for CID loading in early Drosophila embryos, we have quantified the effects of alpha-amanitin and triptolide on centromeric CID-EGFP levels. Our analyses demonstrate that microinjection of these two potent inhibitors of RNA polymerase II–mediated transcription has at most a marginal effect on centromeric CID deposition during progression through the early embryonic cleavage cycles. Thus, we conclude that at least during early Drosophila embryogenesis, incorporation of CID into centromeres does not depend on RNA polymerase II–mediated transcription.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 150-150
Author(s):  
Justin Shaya ◽  
Aaron Lee ◽  
Angelo Cabal ◽  
Justine Panian ◽  
James Michael Randall ◽  
...  

150 Background: Little is known about the clinical course of patients (pts) with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) who harbor alterations in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway. Here, we examine the outcomes of men with mHSPC with HRR alterations. Methods: Single center, retrospective analysis of men with mHSPC who underwent next generation sequencing from 2015-2020. The primary endpoint was to assess the time from diagnosis of mHSPC to onset of castrate resistance (mCRPC), as defined by PCWG3 criteria, in pts with HRR alterations vs wild type (WT). Both somatic and germline HRR alterations were permitted. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to assess the effect of HRR alterations on time to mCRPC. Secondary endpoints included time to mCRPC stratified by HRR gene and time to treatment failure (TTF) in HRR altered vs WT pts, stratified by therapy. Results: We identified 151 men with mHSPC for the study. Median age was 66 years and 62% (n = 93) had de novo metastatic disease. 25% (n = 37) had HRR alterations detected and the most common alterations were in BRCA2 (n = 15), ATM (n = 10), CDK12 (n = 7). 78.4% (n = 29) of alterations were somatic and 13.5% (n = 5) of pts had co-alterations in 2 HRR genes. Time to mCRPC was significantly decreased in pts with HRR alterations vs WT (12.7 vs 16.1 mos, HR- 1.95, p- 0.02). In multivariate analysis, the effect of HRR alterations on time to mCRPC remained statistically significant when adjusting for age, mHSPC therapy, presence of visceral metastases, and PSA (adjusted HR- 1.69, p-0.02). Stratified by individual HRR gene, pts with BRCA2, CDK12, or co-occurring alterations had significantly decreased time to mCRPC compared to other HRR alterations (Table). In terms of mHSPC therapy, 45.7% were treated with ADT alone, 27.8% with an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI), and 26.5% with docetaxel. TTF was inferior in HRR altered vs WT pts (10.8 vs 13.8 mos, p-0.004, HR- 1.84). Stratified by therapy, TTF was inferior in HRR altered vs WT pts treated with ADT alone (8.9 vs 13.3 mos, p- 0.019, HR-1.94) and there was no significant difference in TTF in HRR altered vs WT pts treated with either the addition of an ARSI or docetaxel. Conclusions: HRR alterations are associated with worsened outcomes in mHSPC patients. Given the established role of PARP inhibitors in mCRPC, these data highlight an opportunity to explore the use of PARP inhibitors in mHSPC to potentially improve outcomes. [Table: see text]


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1838
Author(s):  
Magdalena Szatkowska ◽  
Renata Krupa

Ionizing radiation may be of both artificial and natural origin and causes cellular damage in living organisms. Radioactive isotopes have been used significantly in cancer therapy for many years. The formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is the most dangerous effect of ionizing radiation on the cellular level. After irradiation, cells activate a DNA damage response, the molecular path that determines the fate of the cell. As an important element of this, homologous recombination repair is a crucial pathway for the error-free repair of DNA lesions. All components of DNA damage response are regulated by specific microRNAs. MicroRNAs are single-stranded short noncoding RNAs of 20–25 nt in length. They are directly involved in the regulation of gene expression by repressing translation or by cleaving target mRNA. In the present review, we analyze the biological mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate cell response to ionizing radiation-induced double-stranded breaks with an emphasis on DNA repair by homologous recombination, and its main component, the RAD51 recombinase. On the other hand, we discuss the ability of DNA damage response proteins to launch particular miRNA expression and modulate the course of this process. A full understanding of cell response processes to radiation-induced DNA damage will allow us to develop new and more effective methods of ionizing radiation therapy for cancers, and may help to develop methods for preventing the harmful effects of ionizing radiation on healthy organisms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1517-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Polak ◽  
Federico Simone ◽  
Joseph J. Kaberlein ◽  
Roger T. Luo ◽  
Michael J. Thirman

The (11;19)(q23;p13.1) translocation in acute leukemia results in the formation of a chimeric MLL-ELL fusion protein. ELL is an RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) transcriptional elongation factor that interacts with the recently identified EAF1 protein. Here, we show that ELL and EAF1 are components of Cajal bodies (CBs). Although ELL and EAF1 colocalize with p80 coilin, the signature protein of CBs, ELL and EAF1 do not exhibit a direct physical interaction with p80 coilin. Treatment of cells with actinomycin D, DRB, or α-amanitin, specific inhibitors of Pol II, disperses ELL and EAF1 from CBs, indicating that localization of ELL and EAF1 in CBs is dependent on active transcription by Pol II. The concentration of ELL and EAF1 in CBs links the transcriptional elongation activity of ELL to the RNA processing functions previously identified in CBs. Strikingly, CBs are disrupted in MLL-ELL leukemia. EAF1 and p80 coilin are delocalized from CBs in murine MLL-ELL leukemia cells and in HeLa cells transiently transfected with MLL-ELL. Nuclear and cytoplasmic fractionation revealed diminished expression of p80 coilin and EAF1 in the nuclei of MLL-ELL leukemia cells. These studies are the first demonstration of a direct role of CB components in leukemogenesis.


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