scholarly journals Managing Single-Stranded DNA during Replication Stress in Fission Yeast

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Sabatinos ◽  
Susan L. Forsburg

Replication fork stalling generates a variety of responses, most of which cause an increase in single-stranded DNA. ssDNA is a primary signal of replication distress that activates cellular checkpoints. It is also a potential source of genome instability and a substrate for mutation and recombination. Therefore, managing ssDNA levels is crucial to chromosome integrity. Limited ssDNA accumulation occurs in wild-type cells under stress. In contrast, cells lacking the replication checkpoint cannot arrest forks properly and accumulate large amounts of ssDNA. This likely occurs when the replication fork polymerase and helicase units are uncoupled. Some cells with mutations in the replication helicase (mcm-ts) mimic checkpoint-deficient cells, and accumulate extensive areas of ssDNA to trigger the G2-checkpoint. Another category of helicase mutant (mcm4-degron) causes fork stalling in early S-phase due to immediate loss of helicase function. Intriguingly, cells realize that ssDNA is present, but fail to detect that they accumulate ssDNA, and continue to divide. Thus, the cellular response to replication stalling depends on checkpoint activity and the time that replication stress occurs in S-phase. In this review we describe the signs, signals, and symptoms of replication arrest from an ssDNA perspective. We explore the possible mechanisms for these effects. We also advise the need for caution when detecting and interpreting data related to the accumulation of ssDNA.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Sabatinos ◽  
Susan L. Forsburg

Replication fork stalling generates a variety of responses, most of which cause an increase in single-stranded DNA. ssDNA is a primary signal of replication distress that activates cellular checkpoints. It is also a potential source of genome instability and a substrate for mutation and recombination. Therefore, managing ssDNA levels is crucial to chromosome integrity. Limited ssDNA accumulation occurs in wild-type cells under stress. In contrast, cells lacking the replication checkpoint cannot arrest forks properly and accumulate large amounts of ssDNA. This likely occurs when the replication fork polymerase and helicase units are uncoupled. Some cells with mutations in the replication helicase (mcm-ts) mimic checkpoint-deficient cells, and accumulate extensive areas of ssDNA to trigger the G2-checkpoint. Another category of helicase mutant (mcm4-degron) causes fork stalling in early S-phase due to immediate loss of helicase function. Intriguingly, cells realize that ssDNA is present, but fail to detect that they accumulate ssDNA, and continue to divide. Thus, the cellular response to replication stalling depends on checkpoint activity and the time that replication stress occurs in S-phase. In this review we describe the signs, signals, and symptoms of replication arrest from an ssDNA perspective. We explore the possible mechanisms for these effects. We also advise the need for caution when detecting and interpreting data related to the accumulation of ssDNA.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Reubens ◽  
Sophie Rozenzhak ◽  
Paul Russell

ABSTRACT DNA replication involves the inherent risk of genome instability, since replisomes invariably encounter DNA lesions or other structures that stall or collapse replication forks during the S phase. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the multi-BRCT domain protein Brc1, which is related to budding yeast Rtt107 and mammalian PTIP, plays an important role in maintaining genome integrity and cell viability when cells experience replication stress. The C-terminal pair of BRCT domains in Brc1 were previously shown to bind phosphohistone H2A (γH2A) formed by Rad3/ATR checkpoint kinase at DNA lesions; however, the putative scaffold interactions involving the N-terminal BRCT domains 1 to 4 of Brc1 have remained obscure. Here, we show that these domains bind Rhp18/Rad18, which is an E3 ubiquitin protein ligase that has crucial functions in postreplication repair. A missense allele in BRCT domain 4 of Brc1 disrupts binding to Rhp18 and causes sensitivity to replication stress. Brc1 binding to Rhp18 and γH2A are required for the Brc1 overexpression suppression of smc6-74, a mutation that impairs the Smc5/6 structural maintenance of chromosomes complex required for chromosome integrity and repair of collapsed replication forks. From these findings, we propose that Brc1 provides scaffolding functions linking γH2A, Rhp18, and Smc5/6 complex at damaged replication forks.


2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 402-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rene Rodriguez ◽  
Mark Meuth

Cells respond to DNA replication stress by triggering cell cycle checkpoints, repair, or death. To understand the role of the DNA damage response pathways in determining whether cells survive replication stress or become committed to death, we examined the effect of loss of these pathways on cellular response to agents that slow or arrest DNA synthesis. We show that replication inhibitors such as excess thymidine, hydroxyurea, and camptothecin are normally poor inducers of apoptosis. However, these agents become potent inducers of death in S-phase cells upon small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of the checkpoint kinase Chk1. This death response is independent of p53 and Chk2. p21-deficient cells, on the other hand, produce a more robust apoptotic response upon Chk1 depletion. p21 is normally induced only late after thymidine treatment. In Chk1-depleted cells p21 induction occurs earlier and does not require p53. Thus, Chk1 plays a primary role in the protection of cells from death induced by replication fork stress, whereas p21 mediates through its role in regulating entry into S phase. These findings are of potential importance to cancer therapy because we demonstrate that the efficacy of clinically relevant agents can be enhanced by manipulation of these signaling pathways.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Colding ◽  
Jacob Autzen ◽  
Boris Pfander ◽  
Michael Lisby

DNA replication stress is a source of genome instability and a replication checkpoint has evolved to enable fork stabilisation and completion of replication during stress. Mediator of the replication checkpoint 1 (Mrc1) is the primary mediator of this response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mrc1 is partially sequestered in the intranuclear quality control compartment (INQ) upon methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)-induced replication stress. Here we show that Mrc1 re-localizes from the replication fork to INQ during replication stress. Sequestration of Mrc1 in INQ is facilitated by the Btn2 chaperone and the Cdc48 segregase is required to release Mrc1 from INQ during recovery from replication stress. Consistently, we show that Cdc48 colocalizes with Mrc1 in INQ and we find that Mrc1 is recognized by the Cdc48 cofactors Ufd1 and Otu1, which contribute to clearance of Mrc1 from INQ. Our findings suggest that INQ localization of Mrc1 and Cdc48 function to facilitate replication stress recovery by transiently sequestering the replication checkpoint mediator Mrc1 and explains our observation that Btn2 and Cdc48 are required for efficient replication restart following MMS-induced replication stress.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Reubens ◽  
Sophie Rozenzhak ◽  
Paul Russell

ABSTRACTDNA replication involves the inherent risk of genome instability, as replisomes invariably encounter DNA lesions or other structures that stall or collapse replication forks during S-phase. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the multi-BRCT domain protein Brc1, which is related to budding yeast Rtt107 and mammalian PTIP, plays an important role in maintaining genome integrity and cell viability when cells experience replication stress. The C-terminal pair of BRCT domains in Brc1 were previously shown to bind phospho-histone H2A (γH2A) formed by Rad3/ATR checkpoint kinase at DNA lesions; however, the putative scaffold interactions involving the N-terminal BRCT domains 1-4 of Brc1 have remained obscure. Here we show that these domains bind Rhp18/Rad18, which is an E3 ubiquitin protein ligase that has crucial functions in postreplication repair. A missense allele in BRCT domain 4 of Brc1 disrupts binding to Rhp18 and causes sensitivity to replication stress. Brc1 binding to Rhp18 and γH2A are required for the Brc1-overexpression suppression of smc6-74, which impairs the Smc5/6 structural maintenance of chromosomes complex required for chromosome integrity and repair of collapsed replication forks. From these findings we propose that Brc1 provides scaffolding functions linking γH2A, Rhp18, and Smc5/6 complex at damaged replication forks.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayuko Goto ◽  
Mariko Sasaki ◽  
Takehiko Kobayashi

ABSTRACTRegulation of replication origins is important for complete duplication of the genome, but the effect of origin activation on the cellular response to replication stress is poorly understood. The budding yeast ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) forms tandem repeats and undergoes replication fork arrest at the replication fork barrier (RFB), inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and genome instability accompanied by copy number alterations. Here we demonstrate that the S-phase cyclin Clb5 promotes rDNA stability. Absence of Clb5 led to reduced efficiency of replication initiation in rDNA but had little effect on the amount of replication forks arrested at the RFB, suggesting that arrival of the converging fork is delayed and forks are more stably arrested at the RFB. Deletion of CLB5 affected neither DSB formation nor its repair at the RFB, but led to an accumulation of recombination intermediates. Therefore, arrested forks at the RFB may be subject to DSB-independent, recombination-dependent rDNA instability. The rDNA instability in clb5Δ was not completely suppressed by the absence of Fob1, which is responsible for fork arrest at the RFB. Thus, Clb5 establishes the proper interval for active replication origins and shortens the travel distance for DNA polymerases, which may reduce Fob1-independent DNA damage.


Author(s):  
Hao-Wen Hsiao ◽  
Chi-Chun Yang ◽  
Hisao Masai

AbstractHuman cells need to cope with the stalling of DNA replication to complete replication of the entire genome to minimize genome instability. They respond to “replication stress” by activating the conserved ATR-Claspin-Chk1 replication checkpoint pathway. The stalled replication fork is detected and stabilized by the checkpoint proteins to prevent disintegration of the replication fork, to remove the lesion or problems that are causing fork block, and to facilitate the continuation of fork progression. Claspin, a factor conserved from yeasts to human, plays a crucial role as a mediator that transmits the replication fork arrest signal from the sensor kinase, ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR), to the effector kinase, Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1). Claspin interacts with multiple kinases and replication factors and facilitates efficient replication fork progression and initiation during the normal course of DNA replication as well. It interacts with Cdc7 kinase through the acidic patch segment near the C-terminus and this interaction is critical for efficient phosphorylation of Mcm in non-cancer cells and also for checkpoint activation. Phosphorylation of Claspin by Cdc7, recruited to the acidic patch, regulates the conformation of Claspin through affecting the intramolecular interaction between the N- and C-terminal segments of Claspin. Abundance of Claspin is regulated at both mRNA and protein levels (post-transcriptional regulation and protein stability) and affects the extent of replication checkpoint. In this article, we will discuss how the ATR-Claspin-Chk1 regulates normal and stressed DNA replication and provide insight into the therapeutic potential of targeting replication checkpoint for efficient cancer cell death.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 1097-1097
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Takagi ◽  
Junya Unno ◽  
Thoru Kiyono ◽  
Fumiko Honda ◽  
Hirobumi Teraoka ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1097 Poster Board I-119 Hydroxyurea (HU) is an antineoplastic drug used in hematological malignancies, specifically polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis or chronic myelogenous leukemia. HU targets cells that are actively replicating DNA by inhibit ing ribonucleotide reductase, which causes an imbalance in the deoxynucleotide triphosphate pool. Stalled replication forks lead to the production of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which in some cases is converted to DSBs by unknown mechanisms, an event that is termed replication fork collapse. however, the precise mechanism for DSB induction and the cellular response to persistent replication fork stalling are not fully understood. We show that DSBs are generated in an Artemis nuclease-dependent manner following prolonged stalling caused by exposure to HU, with subsequent activation of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) signaling pathway. DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity, a prerequisite for the endonuclease activity of Artemis, is also required for DSB generation and subsequent ATM activation. Our findings indicate a novel function of Artemis as a molecular switch that converts single-stranded DNA lesions into DSBs, thereby activating an ATM-dependent fail-safe mechanism following prolonged replication fork stalling. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayuko Goto ◽  
Mariko Sasaki ◽  
Takehiko Kobayashi

ABSTRACT Regulation of replication origins is important for complete duplication of the genome, but the effect of origin activation on the cellular response to replication stress is poorly understood. The budding yeast rRNA gene (rDNA) forms tandem repeats and undergoes replication fork arrest at the replication fork barrier (RFB), inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and genome instability accompanied by copy number alterations. Here, we demonstrate that the S-phase cyclin Clb5 promotes rDNA stability. Absence of Clb5 led to reduced efficiency of replication initiation in rDNA but had little effect on the number of replication forks arrested at the RFB, suggesting that arrival of the converging fork is delayed and forks are more stably arrested at the RFB. Deletion of CLB5 affected neither DSB formation nor its repair at the RFB but led to homologous recombination-dependent rDNA instability. Therefore, arrested forks at the RFB may be subject to DSB-independent, recombination-dependent rDNA instability. The rDNA instability in clb5Δ was not completely suppressed by the absence of Fob1, which is responsible for fork arrest at the RFB. Thus, Clb5 establishes the proper interval for active replication origins and shortens the travel distance for DNA polymerases, which may reduce Fob1-independent DNA damage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong Min Kim ◽  
Susan L. Forsburg

ABSTRACT Upon replication fork arrest, the replication checkpoint kinase Cds1 is stimulated to preserve genome integrity. Robust activation of Cds1 in response to hydroxyurea prevents the endonuclease Mus81 from cleaving the stalled replication fork inappropriately. However, we find that the response is different in temperature-sensitive mcm4 mutants, affecting a subunit of the MCM replicative helicase. We show that Cds1 inhibition of Mus81 promotes genomic instability and allows mcm4-dg cells to evade cell cycle arrest. Cds1 regulation of Mus81 activity also contributes to the formation of the replication stress-induced DNA damage markers replication protein A (RPA) and Ku. These results identify a surprising role for Cds1 in driving DNA damage and disrupted chromosomal segregation under certain conditions of replication stress.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document