scholarly journals Novel insights into RAD51 activity and regulation during homologous recombination and DNA replication

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 407-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen K. Godin ◽  
Meghan R. Sullivan ◽  
Kara A. Bernstein

In this review we focus on new insights that challenge our understanding of homologous recombination (HR) and Rad51 regulation. Recent advances using high-resolution microscopy and single molecule techniques have broadened our knowledge of Rad51 filament formation and strand invasion at double-strand break (DSB) sites and at replication forks, which are one of most physiologically relevant forms of HR from yeast to humans. Rad51 filament formation and strand invasion is regulated by many mediator proteins such as the Rad51 paralogues and the Shu complex, consisting of a Shu2/SWS1 family member and additional Rad51 paralogues. Importantly, a novel RAD51 paralogue was discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans, and its in vitro characterization has demonstrated a new function for the worm RAD51 paralogues during HR. Conservation of the human RAD51 paralogues function during HR and repair of replicative damage demonstrate how the RAD51 mediators play a critical role in human health and genomic integrity. Together, these new findings provide a framework for understanding RAD51 and its mediators in DNA repair during multiple cellular contexts.

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 2346-2357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto J. Pezza ◽  
Oleg N. Voloshin ◽  
Alexander A. Volodin ◽  
Kingsley A. Boateng ◽  
Marina A. Bellani ◽  
...  

Abstract Deletion of Hop2 in mice eliminates homologous chromosome synapsis and disrupts double-strand break (DSB) repair through homologous recombination. HOP2 in vitro shows two distinctive activities: when it is incorporated into a HOP2–MND1 complex it stimulates DMC1 and RAD51 recombination activities and the purified HOP2 alone is proficient in promoting strand invasion. We observed that a fraction of Mnd1−/− spermatocytes, which express HOP2 but apparently have inactive DMC1 and RAD51 due to lack of the HOP2–MND1 complex, exhibits a high level of chromosome synapsis and that most DSBs in these spermatocytes are repaired. This suggests that DSB repair catalyzed solely by HOP2 supports homologous chromosome pairing and synapsis. In addition, we show that in vitro HOP2 promotes the co-aggregation of ssDNA with duplex DNA, binds to ssDNA leading to unstacking of the bases, and promotes the formation of a three-strand synaptic intermediate. However, HOP2 shows distinctive mechanistic signatures as a recombinase. Namely, HOP2-mediated strand exchange does not require ATP and, in contrast to DMC1, joint molecules formed by HOP2 are more sensitive to mismatches and are efficiently dissociated by RAD54. We propose that HOP2 may act as a recombinase with specific functions in meiosis.


Author(s):  
Thomas R. Reich ◽  
Christian Schwarzenbach ◽  
Juliana Brandstetter Vilar ◽  
Sven Unger ◽  
Fabian Mühlhäusler ◽  
...  

AbstractTo clarify whether differential compartmentalization of Survivin impacts temozolomide (TMZ)-triggered end points, we established a well-defined glioblastoma cell model in vitro (LN229 and A172) and in vivo, distinguishing between its nuclear and cytoplasmic localization. Expression of nuclear export sequence (NES)-mutated Survivin (SurvNESmut-GFP) led to impaired colony formation upon TMZ. This was not due to enhanced cell death but rather due to increased senescence. Nuclear-trapped Survivin reduced homologous recombination (HR)-mediated double-strand break (DSB) repair, as evaluated by γH2AX foci formation and qPCR-based HR assay leading to pronounced induction of chromosome aberrations. Opposite, clones, expressing free-shuttling cytoplasmic but not nuclear-trapped Survivin, could repair TMZ-induced DSBs and evaded senescence. Mass spectrometry-based interactomics revealed, however, no direct interaction of Survivin with any of the repair factors. The improved TMZ-triggered HR activity in Surv-GFP was associated with enhanced mRNA and stabilized RAD51 protein expression, opposite to diminished RAD51 expression in SurvNESmut cells. Notably, cytoplasmic Survivin could significantly compensate for the viability under RAD51 knockdown. Differential Survivin localization also resulted in distinctive TMZ-triggered transcriptional pathways, associated with senescence and chromosome instability as shown by global transcriptome analysis. Orthotopic LN229 xenografts, expressing SurvNESmut exhibited diminished growth and increased DNA damage upon TMZ, as manifested by PCNA and γH2AX foci expression, respectively, in brain tissue sections. Consequently, those mice lived longer. Although tumors of high-grade glioma patients expressed majorly nuclear Survivin, they exhibited rarely NES mutations which did not correlate with survival. Based on our in vitro and xenograft data, Survivin nuclear trapping would facilitate glioma response to TMZ.


Author(s):  
James E. Haber ◽  
Gregorz Ira ◽  
Anna Malkova ◽  
Neal Sugawara

Since the pioneering model for homologous recombination proposed by Robin Holliday in 1964, there has been great progress in understanding how recombination occurs at a molecular level. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , one can follow recombination by physically monitoring DNA after the synchronous induction of a double–strand break (DSB) in both wild–type and mutant cells. A particularly well–studied system has been the switching of yeast mating–type ( MAT ) genes, where a DSB can be induced synchronously by expression of the site–specific HO endonuclease. Similar studies can be performed in meiotic cells, where DSBs are created by the Spo11 nuclease. There appear to be at least two competing mechanisms of homologous recombination: a synthesis–dependent strand annealing pathway leading to noncrossovers and a two–end strand invasion mechanism leading to formation and resolution of Holliday junctions (HJs), leading to crossovers. The establishment of a modified replication fork during DSB repair links gene conversion to another important repair process, break–induced replication. Despite recent revelations, almost 40 years after Holliday's model was published, the essential ideas he proposed of strand invasion and heteroduplex DNA formation, the formation and resolution of HJs, and mismatch repair, remain the basis of our thinking.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 314-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. Blackwood ◽  
Neil J. Rzechorzek ◽  
Sian M. Bray ◽  
Joseph D. Maman ◽  
Luca Pellegrini ◽  
...  

During DNA repair by HR (homologous recombination), the ends of a DNA DSB (double-strand break) must be resected to generate single-stranded tails, which are required for strand invasion and exchange with homologous chromosomes. This 5′–3′ end-resection of the DNA duplex is an essential process, conserved across all three domains of life: the bacteria, eukaryota and archaea. In the present review, we examine the numerous and redundant helicase and nuclease systems that function as the enzymatic analogues for this crucial process in the three major phylogenetic divisions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terren Chang ◽  
Xi Long ◽  
Shankar Shastry ◽  
Joseph William Parks ◽  
Michael D Stone

Telomeres are essential chromosome end capping structures that safeguard the genome from dangerous DNA processing events. DNA strand invasion occurs during vital transactions at telomeres, including telomere length maintenance by the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. During telomeric strand invasion, a single stranded guanine-rich (G-rich) DNA invades at a complimentary duplex telomere repeat sequence forming a displacement loop (D-loop) in which the displaced DNA consists of the same G-rich sequence as the invading single stranded DNA. Single stranded G-rich telomeric DNA readily folds into stable, compact, structures called G-quadruplexes (GQ) in vitro, and is anticipated to form within the context of a D-loop; however, evidence supporting this hypothesis is lacking. Here we report a magnetic tweezers assay that permits the controlled formation of telomeric D-loops (TDLs) within uninterrupted duplex human telomere DNA molecules of physiologically relevant lengths. Our results are consistent with a model wherein the displaced single stranded DNA of a TDL folds into a GQ. This study provides new insight into telomere structure and establishes a framework for development of novel therapeutics designed to target GQs at telomeres in cancer cells.


2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (19) ◽  
pp. 3121-3132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richa Gupta ◽  
Stewart Shuman ◽  
Michael S. Glickman

ABSTRACTMycobacteria encode three DNA double-strand break repair pathways: (i) RecA-dependent homologous recombination (HR), (ii) Ku-dependent nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ), and (iii) RecBCD-dependent single-strand annealing (SSA). Mycobacterial HR has two presynaptic pathway options that rely on the helicase-nuclease AdnAB and the strand annealing protein RecO, respectively. Ablation ofadnABorrecOindividually causes partial impairment of HR, but loss ofadnABandrecOin combination abolishes HR. RecO, which can accelerate annealing of single-stranded DNAin vitro, also participates in the SSA pathway. The functions of RecF and RecR, which, in other model bacteria, function in concert with RecO as mediators of RecA loading, have not been examined in mycobacteria. Here, we present a genetic analysis ofrecFandrecRin mycobacterial recombination. We find that RecF, like RecO, participates in the AdnAB-independent arm of the HR pathway and in SSA. In contrast, RecR is required for all HR in mycobacteria and for SSA. The essentiality of RecR as an agent of HR is yet another distinctive feature of mycobacterial DNA repair.IMPORTANCEThis study clarifies the molecular requirements for homologous recombination in mycobacteria. Specifically, we demonstrate that RecF and RecR play important roles in both the RecA-dependent homologous recombination and RecA-independent single-strand annealing pathways. Coupled with our previous findings (R. Gupta, M. Ryzhikov, O. Koroleva, M. Unciuleac, S. Shuman, S. Korolev, and M. S. Glickman, Nucleic Acids Res 41:2284–2295, 2013,http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gks1298), these results revise our view of mycobacterial recombination and place the RecFOR system in a central position in homology-dependent DNA repair.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (6) ◽  
pp. H2541-H2550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinbao Liu ◽  
Hanqiao Zheng ◽  
Mingxin Tang ◽  
Youn-Chul Ryu ◽  
Xuejun Wang

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) degrades abnormal proteins and most unneeded normal proteins, thereby playing a critical role in protein homeostasis in the cell. Proteasome inhibition is effective in treating certain forms of cancer, while UPS dysfunction is increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of many severe and yet common diseases. It has been previously shown that doxorubicin (Dox) enhances the degradation of a UPS surrogate substrate in mouse hearts. To address the underlying mechanism, in the present study, we report that 1) Dox not only enhances the degradation of an exogenous UPS reporter (GFPu) but also antagonizes the proteasome inhibitor-induced accumulation of endogenous substrates (e.g., β-catenin and c-Jun) of the UPS in cultured NIH 3T3 cells and cardiomyocytes; 2) Dox facilitates the in vitro degradation of GFPu and c-Jun by the reconstituted UPS via the enhancement of proteasomal function; 3) Dox at a therapeutically relevant dose directly stimulates the peptidase activities of purified 20S proteasomes; and 4) Dox increases, whereas proteasome inhibition decreases, E3 ligase COOH-terminus of heat shock protein cognate 70 in 3T3 cells via a posttranscriptional mechanism. These new findings suggest that Dox activates the UPS by acting directly on both the ubiquitination apparatus and proteasome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Makino ◽  
Lisa Marie Fröhlich ◽  
Tobias Sinnberg ◽  
Corinna Kosnopfel ◽  
Birgit Sauer ◽  
...  

Abstract Rad51 is an essential factor of the homologous recombination DNA repair pathway and therefore plays an important role in maintaining genomic stability. We show that RAD51 and other homologous recombination repair genes are overexpressed in metastatic melanoma cell lines and in melanoma patient samples, which correlates with reduced survival of melanoma patients. In addition, Rad51 expression in melanoma cells was regulated on a transcriptional level by the MAPK signaling pathway with Elk1 as the main downstream transcriptional effector. Most strikingly, melanoma cells which developed resistance towards MAPK inhibitors could be efficiently targeted by Rad51 inhibitors similar to their sensitive counterparts, leading to DNA damage, G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, the treatment of MAPK inhibitor resistant cells with Rad51 inhibitors enhances the susceptibility of these cells for MAPK inhibitor treatment in vitro and in vivo. These data indicate that Rad51 plays a critical role in the survival of metastatic melanoma cells and is a promising target for the therapy of melanoma irrespective of its MAPK inhibitor resistance status.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dilworth ◽  
Fade Gong ◽  
Kyle Miller ◽  
Christopher J. Nelson

FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) alter the conformation of proteins via cis–trans isomerization of prolyl-peptide bonds. While this activity can be demonstrated in vitro, the intractability of detecting prolyl isomerization events in cells has limited our understanding of the biological processes regulated by FKBPs. Here we report that FKBP25 is an active participant in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). FKBP25 influences DSB repair pathway choice by promoting homologous recombination (HR) and suppressing single-strand annealing (SSA). Consistent with this observation, cells depleted of FKBP25 form fewer Rad51 repair foci in response to etoposide and ionizing radiation, and they are reliant on the SSA repair factor Rad52 for viability. We find that FKBP25’s catalytic activity is required for promoting DNA repair, which is the first description of a biological function for this enzyme activity. Consistent with the importance of the FKBP catalytic site in HR, rapamycin treatment also impairs homologous recombination, and this effect is at least in part independent of mTor. Taken together these results identify FKBP25 as a component of the DNA DSB repair pathway.


2017 ◽  
Vol 199 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bénédicte Michel ◽  
Steven J. Sandler

ABSTRACT In bacteria, replication forks assembled at a replication origin travel to the terminus, often a few megabases away. They may encounter obstacles that trigger replisome disassembly, rendering replication restart from abandoned forks crucial for cell viability. During the past 25 years, the genes that encode replication restart proteins have been identified and genetically characterized. In parallel, the enzymes were purified and analyzed in vitro, where they can catalyze replication initiation in a sequence-independent manner from fork-like DNA structures. This work also revealed a close link between replication and homologous recombination, as replication restart from recombination intermediates is an essential step of DNA double-strand break repair in bacteria and, conversely, arrested replication forks can be acted upon by recombination proteins and converted into various recombination substrates. In this review, we summarize this intense period of research that led to the characterization of the ubiquitous replication restart protein PriA and its partners, to the definition of several replication restart pathways in vivo, and to the description of tight links between replication and homologous recombination, responsible for the importance of replication restart in the maintenance of genome stability.


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