Double strand break (DSB) repair pathways in plants and their application in genome engineering

2021 ◽  
pp. 27-62
Author(s):  
Natalja Beying ◽  
◽  
Carla Schmidt ◽  
Holger Puchta ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Plant Cells ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Repair Mechanisms ◽  
Repair Pathways ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

In genome engineering, after targeted induction of double strand breaks (DSBs) researchers take advantage of the organisms’ own repair mechanisms to induce different kinds of sequence changes into the genome. Therefore, understanding of the underlying mechanisms is essential. This chapter will review in detail the two main pathways of DSB repair in plant cells, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) and sum up what we have learned over the last decades about them. We summarize the different models that have been proposed and set these into relation with the molecular outcomes of different classes of DSB repair. Moreover, we describe the factors that have been identified to be involved in these pathways. Applying this knowledge of DSB repair should help us to improve the efficiency of different types of genome engineering in plants.

scholarly journals Regulatory and Functional Involvement of Long Non-Coding RNAs in DNA Double-Strand Break Repair Mechanisms

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1506
Author(s):  
Angelos Papaspyropoulos ◽  
Nefeli Lagopati ◽  
Ioanna Mourkioti ◽  
Andriani Angelopoulou ◽  
Spyridon Kyriazis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Repair Mechanisms ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Repair Pathways ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
Living Organisms

Protection of genome integrity is vital for all living organisms, particularly when DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) occur. Eukaryotes have developed two main pathways, namely Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) and Homologous Recombination (HR), to repair DSBs. While most of the current research is focused on the role of key protein players in the functional regulation of DSB repair pathways, accumulating evidence has uncovered a novel class of regulating factors termed non-coding RNAs. Non-coding RNAs have been found to hold a pivotal role in the activation of DSB repair mechanisms, thereby safeguarding genomic stability. In particular, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have begun to emerge as new players with vast therapeutic potential. This review summarizes important advances in the field of lncRNAs, including characterization of recently identified lncRNAs, and their implication in DSB repair pathways in the context of tumorigenesis.

Arabidopsis DNA double-strand break repair pathways

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 964-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.E. West ◽  
W.M. Waterworth ◽  
P.A. Sunderland ◽  
C.M. Bray
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Break ◽  
Repair Pathways ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
Transcript Profiles

DSBs (double-strand breaks) are one of the most serious forms of DNA damage that can occur in a cell's genome. DNA replication in cells containing DSBs, or following incorrect repair, may result in the loss of large amounts of genetic material, aneuploid daughter cells and cell death. There are two major pathways for DSB repair: HR (homologous recombination) uses an intact copy of the damaged region as a template for repair, whereas NHEJ (non-homologous end-joining) rejoins DNA ends independently of DNA sequence. In most plants, NHEJ is the predominant DSB repair pathway. Previously, the Arabidopsis NHEJ mutant atku80 was isolated and found to display hypersensitivity to bleomycin, a drug that causes DSBs in DNA. In the present study, the transcript profiles of wild-type and atku80 mutant plants grown in the presence and absence of bleomycin are determined by microarray analysis. Several genes displayed very strong transcriptional induction specifically in response to DNA damage, including the characterized DSB repair genes AtRAD51 and AtBRCA1. These results identify novel candidate genes that encode components of the DSB repair pathways active in NHEJ mutant plants.

Impact of chromatin context on Cas9-induced DNA double-strand break repair pathway balance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Schep ◽  
Eva K. Brinkman ◽  
Christ Leemans ◽  
Xabier Vergara ◽  
Ben Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Double Strand Break ◽  
Repair Pathway ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Dna Double Strand Break ◽  
Repair Pathways ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
The Impact

AbstractDNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is mediated by multiple pathways, including classical non-homologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ) and several homology-driven repair pathways. This is particularly important for Cas9-mediated genome editing, where the outcome critically depends on the pathway that repairs the break. It is thought that the local chromatin context affects the pathway choice, but the underlying principles are poorly understood. Using a newly developed multiplexed reporter assay in combination with Cas9 cutting, we systematically measured the relative activities of three DSB repair pathways as function of chromatin context in >1,000 genomic locations. This revealed that NHEJ is broadly biased towards euchromatin, while microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ) is more efficient in specific heterochromatin contexts. In H3K27me3-marked heterochromatin, inhibition of the H3K27 methyltransferase EZH2 shifts the balance towards NHEJ. Single-strand templated repair (SSTR), often used for precise CRISPR editing, competes with MMEJ, and this competition is weakly associated with chromatin context. These results provide insight into the impact of chromatin on DSB repair pathway balance, and guidance for the design of Cas9-mediated genome editing experiments.

scholarly journals DNA Substrate Dependence of p53-Mediated Regulation of Double-Strand Break Repair

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 6306-6317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuray Akyüz ◽  
Gisa S. Boehden ◽  
Silke Süsse ◽  
Andreas Rimek ◽  
Ute Preuss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
P53 Expression ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Single Strand Breaks ◽  
Multistep Process ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining

ABSTRACT DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) arise spontaneously after the conversion of DNA adducts or single-strand breaks by DNA repair or replication and can be introduced experimentally by expression of specific endonucleases. Correct repair of DSBs is central to the maintenance of genomic integrity in mammalian cells, since errors give rise to translocations, deletions, duplications, and expansions, which accelerate the multistep process of tumor progression. For p53 direct regulatory roles in homologous recombination (HR) and in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) were postulated. To systematically analyze the involvement of p53 in DSB repair, we generated a fluorescence-based assay system with a series of episomal and chromosomally integrated substrates for I-SceI meganuclease-triggered repair. Our data indicate that human wild-type p53, produced either stably or transiently in a p53-negative background, inhibits HR between substrates for conservative HR (cHR) and for gene deletions. NHEJ via microhomologies flanking the I-SceI cleavage site was also downregulated after p53 expression. Interestingly, the p53-dependent downregulation of homology-directed repair was maximal during cHR between sequences with short homologies. Inhibition was minimal during recombination between substrates that support reporter gene reconstitution by HR and NHEJ. p53 with a hotspot mutation at codon 281, 273, 248, 175, or 143 was severely defective in regulating DSB repair (frequencies elevated up to 26-fold). For the transcriptional transactivation-inactive variant p53(138V) a defect became apparent with short homologies only. These results suggest that p53 plays a role in restraining DNA exchange between imperfectly homologous sequences and thereby in suppressing tumorigenic genome rearrangements.

scholarly journals To Join or Not to Join: Decision Points Along the Pathway to Double-Strand Break Repair vs. Chromosome End Protection

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Ackerson ◽  
Carlan Romney ◽  
P. Logan Schuck ◽  
Jason A. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Genome Stability ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Decision Points ◽  
Chromosome Fusions ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
Dna Ends

The regulation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and telomeres are diametrically opposed in the cell. DSBs are considered one of the most deleterious forms of DNA damage and must be quickly recognized and repaired. Telomeres, on the other hand, are specialized, stable DNA ends that must be protected from recognition as DSBs to inhibit unwanted chromosome fusions. Decisions to join DNA ends, or not, are therefore critical to genome stability. Yet, the processing of telomeres and DSBs share many commonalities. Accordingly, key decision points are used to shift DNA ends toward DSB repair vs. end protection. Additionally, DSBs can be repaired by two major pathways, namely homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). The choice of which repair pathway is employed is also dictated by a series of decision points that shift the break toward HR or NHEJ. In this review, we will focus on these decision points and the mechanisms that dictate end protection vs. DSB repair and DSB repair choice.

scholarly journals A genetically encoded inhibitor of 53BP1 to stimulate homology-based gene editing

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marella D. Canny ◽  
Leo C.K. Wan ◽  
Amélie Fradet-Turcotte ◽  
Alexandre Orthwein ◽  
Nathalie Moatti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
G1 Cells ◽  
Programmable Nucleases ◽  
End Resection

AbstractThe expanding repertoire of programmable nucleases such as Cas9 brings new opportunities in genetic medicine1–3. In many cases, these nucleases are engineered to induce a DNA double-strand break (DSB) to stimulate precise genome editing by homologous recombination (HR). However, HR efficiency is nearly always hindered by competing DSB repair pathways such as non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). HR is also profoundly suppressed in non-replicating cells, thus precluding the use of homology-based genome engineering in a wide variety4 of cell types. Here, we report the development of a genetically encoded inhibitor of 53BP1 (known as TP53BP1), a regulator of DSB repair pathway choice5. 53BP1 promotes NHEJ over HR by suppressing end resection, the formation of 3-prime single-stranded DNA tails, which is the rate-limiting step in HR initiation. 53BP1 also blocks the recruitment of the HR factor BRCA1 to DSB sites in G1 cells4,6. The inhibitor of 53BP1 (or i53) was identified through the screening of a massive combinatorial library of engineered ubiquitin variants by phage display7. i53 binds and occludes the ligand binding site of the 53BP1 Tudor domain with high affinity and selectivity, blocking its ability to accumulate at sites of DNA damage. i53 is a potent selective inhibitor of 53BP1 and enhances gene targeting and chromosomal gene conversion, two HR-dependent reactions. Finally, i53 can also activate HR in G1 cells when combined with the activation of end-resection and KEAP1 inhibition. We conclude that 53BP1 inhibition is a robust tool to enhance precise genome editing by canonical HR pathways.

scholarly journals Applications of machine learning to solve genetics problems

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kehinde Sowunmi ◽  
Victor Nnanna Nweze ◽  
Soyebo Titilayo Abiola ◽  
Okosesi Ebunoluwa Ajibike ◽  
Adesiyan Ayobami Lawal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Zinc Finger Nucleases ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Pearson Coefficient ◽  
Repair Mechanisms ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
Applications Of Machine Learning

AbstractThe development of precise DNA editing nucleases that induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) - including zinc finger nucleases, TALENs, and CRISPR/Cas systems - has revolutionized gene editing and genome engineering. Endogenous DNA DSB repair mechanisms are often leveraged to enhance editing efficiency and precision. While the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) DNA DSB repair pathways have already been the topic of an excellent deal of investigation, an alternate pathway, microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ), remains relatively unexplored. However, the MMEJ pathway’s ability to supply reproducible and efficient deletions within the course of repair makes it a perfect pathway to be used in gene knockouts. (Microhomology Evoked Deletion Judication EluciDation) may be a random forest machine learning-based method for predicting the extent to which the location of a targeted DNA DSB are going to be repaired using the MMEJ repair pathway. On an independent test set of 24 HeLa cell DSB sites, MEDJED achieved a Pearson coefficient of correlation (PCC) of 81.36%, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 10.96%, and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of13.09%. This performance demonstrates MEDJED’s value as a tool for researchers who wish to leverage MMEJ to supply efficient and precise gene knock outs.

Targeting DNA Double-Strand Break (DSB) Repair to Counteract Tumor Radio-resistance

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 891-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yucui Zhao ◽  
Siyu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Strand Break ◽  
Double Strand Break ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Dna Damages ◽  
Dna Double Strand Break ◽  
Repair Pathways ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
Made In

During the last decade, advances of radiotherapy (RT) have been made in the clinical practice of cancer treatment. RT exerts its anticancer effect mainly via leading to the DNA Double-Strand Break (DSB), which is one of the most toxic DNA damages. Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) and Homologous Recombination (HR) are two major DSB repair pathways in human cells. It is known that dysregulations of DSB repair elicit a predisposition to cancer and probably result in resistance to cancer therapies including RT. Therefore, targeting the DSB repair presents an attractive strategy to counteract radio-resistance. In this review, we describe the latest knowledge of the two DSB repair pathways, focusing on several key proteins contributing to the repair, such as DNA-PKcs, RAD51, MRN and PARP1. Most importantly, we discuss the possibility of overcoming radiation resistance by targeting these proteins for therapeutic inhibition. Recent tests of DSB repair inhibitors in the laboratory and their translations into clinical studies are also addressed.

scholarly journals Harnessing DSB repair to promote efficient homology-dependent and -independent prime editing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Peterka ◽  
Nina Akrap ◽  
Songyuan Li ◽  
Sandra Wimberger ◽  
Pei-Pei Hsieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Dsb Repair ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Large Deletions ◽  
Dna Double Strand Break ◽  
Repair Mechanisms ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining ◽  
Genomic Insertions

Prime editing recently emerged as a next-generation approach for precise genome editing. Here we exploit DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair to develop two novel strategies that install precise genomic insertions using an SpCas9 nuclease-based prime editor (PEn). We first demonstrate that PEn coupled to a regular prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) efficiently promotes short genomic insertions through a homology-dependent DSB repair mechanism. While PEn editing lead to increased levels of by-products, it rescued pegRNAs that performed poorly with a nickase-based prime editor. We also present a small molecule approach that yielded increased product purity of PEn editing. Next, we developed a homology-independent PEn editing strategy by engineering a single primed insertion gRNA (springRNA) which installs genomic insertions at DSBs through the non-homologous end joining pathway (NHEJ). Lastly, we show that PEn-mediated insertions at DSBs prevent Cas9-induced large chromosomal deletions and provide evidence that continuous Cas9-mediated cutting is one of the mechanisms by which Cas9-induced large deletions arise. Altogether, this work expands the current prime editing toolbox by leveraging distinct DNA repair mechanisms including NHEJ, which represents the primary pathway of DSB repair in mammalian cells.

scholarly journals Structural basis for proficient oxidized ribonucleotide insertion in double strand break repair

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joonas A. Jamsen ◽  
Akira Sassa ◽  
Lalith Perera ◽  
David D. Shock ◽  
William A. Beard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Nucleotide Pools ◽  
Nucleotide Insertion ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining

AbstractReactive oxygen species (ROS) oxidize cellular nucleotide pools and cause double strand breaks (DSBs). Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) attaches broken chromosomal ends together in mammalian cells. Ribonucleotide insertion by DNA polymerase (pol) μ prepares breaks for end-joining and this is required for successful NHEJ in vivo. We previously showed that pol μ lacks discrimination against oxidized dGTP (8-oxo-dGTP), that can lead to mutagenesis, cancer, aging and human disease. Here we reveal the structural basis for proficient oxidized ribonucleotide (8-oxo-rGTP) incorporation during DSB repair by pol μ. Time-lapse crystallography snapshots of structural intermediates during nucleotide insertion along with computational simulations reveal substrate, metal and side chain dynamics, that allow oxidized ribonucleotides to escape polymerase discrimination checkpoints. Abundant nucleotide pools, combined with inefficient sanitization and repair, implicate pol μ mediated oxidized ribonucleotide insertion as an emerging source of widespread persistent mutagenesis and genomic instability.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document