scholarly journals A single checkpoint pathway eliminates mouse oocytes with dna damage or chromosome synapsis failure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera D. Rinaldi ◽  
Ewelina Bolcun-Filas ◽  
Hiroshi Kogo ◽  
Hiroki Kurahashi ◽  
John C. Schimenti

Pairing and synapsis of homologous chromosomes during meiosis is crucial for producing genetically normal gametes, and is dependent upon repair of SPO11-induced double stranded breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination. To prevent transmission of genetic defects, diverse organisms have evolved mechanisms to eliminate meiocytes containing unrepaired DSBs or unsynapsed chromosomes. Here, we show that the CHK2 (CHEK2)-dependent DNA damage checkpoint culls not only recombination-defective mouse oocytes, but also SPO11-deficient oocytes that are severely defective in homolog synapsis. The checkpoint is triggered by spontaneous DSBs that arise in late prophase I, accumulating above the checkpoint activation threshold (∼10 DSBs) because presence of HORMAD1/2 on unsynapsed chromosome axes prevents their repair. Furthermore, Hormad2 deletion rescued fertility and meiotic DSB repair of oocytes containing a synapsis-proficient, non-crossover recombination defective mutation in a gene (Trip13) required for removal of HORMADs from synapsed chromosomes, indicating that a substantial fraction of meiotic DSBs are normally repaired by intersister recombination in mice.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera D. Rinaldi ◽  
Jordana C. Bloom ◽  
John C. Schimenti

ABSTRACTEukaryotic organisms have evolved mechanisms to prevent the accumulation of cells bearing genetic aberrations. This is especially crucial for the germline, because fecundity, and fitness of progeny would be adversely affected by an excessively high mutational incidence. The process of meiosis poses unique problems for mutation avoidance, due to the requirement for SPO11-induced programmed double strand breaks (DSBs) in recombination-driven pairing and segregation of homologous chromosomes. Mouse meiocytes bearing unrepaired meiotic DSBs or unsynapsed chromosomes are eliminated before completing meiotic prophase I. In previous work, we showed that checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2; CHEK2), a canonical DNA damage response protein, is crucial for eliminating not only oocytes defective in meiotic DSB repair (e.g. Trip13Gt mutants), but also asynaptic Spo11−/− oocytes that accumulate a threshold level of spontaneous DSBs. However, rescue of such oocytes by Chk2 deficiency was incomplete, raising the possibility that a parallel checkpoint pathway(s) exists. Here, we show that mouse oocytes lacking both TAp63 and TRP53 protects nearly all Spo11−/− and Trip13Gt/Gt oocytes from elimination. We present evidence that checkpoint kinase I (CHK1; CHEK1), which is known to signal to TRP53, also becomes activated by persistent DSBs in oocytes, and to an increased degree when CHK2 is absent. The combined data indicate that nearly all oocytes reaching a threshold level of unrepaired DSBs are eliminated by a semi-redundant pathway of CHK1/CHK2 signaling to TRP53/TAp63.


Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 215 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera D. Rinaldi ◽  
Jordana C. Bloom ◽  
John C. Schimenti

Eukaryotic organisms have evolved mechanisms to prevent the accumulation of cells bearing genetic aberrations. This is especially crucial for the germline, because fecundity and fitness of progeny would be adversely affected by an excessively high mutational incidence. The process of meiosis poses unique problems for mutation avoidance because of the requirement for SPO11-induced programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) in recombination-driven pairing and segregation of homologous chromosomes. Mouse meiocytes bearing unrepaired meiotic DSBs or unsynapsed chromosomes are eliminated before completing meiotic prophase I. In previous work, we showed that checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2; CHEK2), a canonical DNA damage response protein, is crucial for eliminating not only oocytes defective in meiotic DSB repair (e.g., Trip13Gt mutants), but also Spo11−/− oocytes that are defective in homologous chromosome synapsis and accumulate a threshold level of spontaneous DSBs. However, rescue of such oocytes by Chk2 deficiency was incomplete, raising the possibility that a parallel checkpoint pathway(s) exists. Here, we show that mouse oocytes lacking both p53 (TRP53) and the oocyte-exclusive isoform of p63, TAp63, protects nearly all Spo11−/− and Trip13Gt/Gt oocytes from elimination. We present evidence that checkpoint kinase I (CHK1; CHEK1), which is known to signal to TRP53, also becomes activated by persistent DSBs in oocytes, and to an increased degree when CHK2 is absent. The combined data indicate that nearly all oocytes reaching a threshold level of unrepaired DSBs are eliminated by a semiredundant pathway of CHK1/CHK2 signaling to TRP53/TAp63.


2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1026-1036.e2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera D. Rinaldi ◽  
Ewelina Bolcun-Filas ◽  
Hiroshi Kogo ◽  
Hiroki Kurahashi ◽  
John C. Schimenti

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 2046-2059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Paciotti ◽  
Michela Clerici ◽  
Giovanna Lucchini ◽  
Maria Pia Longhese

DDC2 is a novel component of the DNA integrity checkpoint pathway, which is required for proper checkpoint response to DNA damage and to incomplete DNA replication. Moreover, Ddc2 overproduction causes sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and checkpoint defects. Ddc2 physically interacts with Mec1 and undergoes Mec1-dependent phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo. The phosphorylation of Ddc2 takes place in late S phase and in G2 phase during an unperturbed cell cycle and is further increased in response to DNA damage. Because Ddc2 phosphorylation does not require any other known tested checkpoint factors but Mec1, the Ddc2–Mec1 complex might respond to the presence of some DNA structures independently of the other known checkpoint proteins. Our findings suggest that Ddc2 may be the functional homolog of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rad26, strengthening the hypothesis that the mechanisms leading to checkpoint activation are conserved throughout evolution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 1948-1958
Author(s):  
Kyoo-young Lee ◽  
Su Hyung Park

AbstractEukaryotic sliding clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) plays a critical role as a processivity factor for DNA polymerases and as a binding and acting platform for many proteins. The ring-shaped PCNA homotrimer and the DNA damage checkpoint clamp 9-1-1 are loaded onto DNA by clamp loaders. PCNA can be loaded by the pentameric replication factor C (RFC) complex and the CTF18-RFC-like complex (RLC) in vitro. In cells, each complex loads PCNA for different purposes; RFC-loaded PCNA is essential for DNA replication, while CTF18-RLC-loaded PCNA participates in cohesion establishment and checkpoint activation. After completing its tasks, PCNA is unloaded by ATAD5 (Elg1 in yeast)-RLC. The 9-1-1 clamp is loaded at DNA damage sites by RAD17 (Rad24 in yeast)-RLC. All five RFC complex components, but none of the three large subunits of RLC, CTF18, ATAD5, or RAD17, are essential for cell survival; however, deficiency of the three RLC proteins leads to genomic instability. In this review, we describe recent findings that contribute to the understanding of the basic roles of the RFC complex and RLCs and how genomic instability due to deficiency of the three RLCs is linked to the molecular and cellular activity of RLC, particularly focusing on ATAD5 (Elg1).


Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 1055-1067
Author(s):  
Steven D Harris ◽  
Peter R Kraus

Abstract In Aspergillus nidulans, germinating conidia undergo multiple rounds of nuclear division before the formation of the first septum. Previous characterization of temperature-sensitive sepB and sepJ mutations showed that although they block septation, they also cause moderate defects in chromosomal DNA metabolism. Results presented here demonstrate that a variety of other perturbations of chromosomal DNA metabolism also delay septum formation, suggesting that this is a general cellular response to the presence of sublethal DNA damage. Genetic evidence is provided that suggests that high levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activity are required for septation in A. nidulans. Consistent with this notion, the inhibition of septum formation triggered by defects in chromosomal DNA metabolism depends upon Tyr-15 phosphorylation of the mitotic cdk p34nimX. Moreover, this response also requires elements of the DNA damage checkpoint pathway. A model is proposed that suggests that the DNA damage checkpoint response represents one of multiple sensory inputs that modulates p34nimX activity to control the timing of septum formation.


2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 539-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania M. Roberts ◽  
Michael S. Kobor ◽  
Suzanne A. Bastin-Shanower ◽  
Miki Ii ◽  
Sonja A. Horte ◽  
...  

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.


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