scholarly journals Disruption of Chromatin Dynamics by Hypotonic Stress Suppresses HR and Shifts DSB Processing to Error-Prone SSA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 10957
Author(s):  
Lisa Marie Krieger ◽  
Emil Mladenov ◽  
Aashish Soni ◽  
Marilen Demond ◽  
Martin Stuschke ◽  
...  

The processing of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) depends on the dynamic characteristics of chromatin. To investigate how abrupt changes in chromatin compaction alter these dynamics and affect DSB processing and repair, we exposed irradiated cells to hypotonic stress (HypoS). Densitometric and chromosome-length analyses show that HypoS transiently decompacts chromatin without inducing histone modifications known from regulated local chromatin decondensation, or changes in Micrococcal Nuclease (MNase) sensitivity. HypoS leaves undisturbed initial stages of DNA-damage-response (DDR), such as radiation-induced ATM activation and H2AX-phosphorylation. However, detection of ATM-pS1981, γ-H2AX and 53BP1 foci is reduced in a protein, cell cycle phase and cell line dependent manner; likely secondary to chromatin decompaction that disrupts the focal organization of DDR proteins. While HypoS only exerts small effects on classical nonhomologous end-joining (c-NHEJ) and alternative end-joining (alt-EJ), it markedly suppresses homologous recombination (HR) without affecting DNA end-resection at DSBs, and clearly enhances single-strand annealing (SSA). These shifts in pathway engagement are accompanied by decreases in HR-dependent chromatid-break repair in the G2-phase, and by increases in alt-EJ and SSA-dependent chromosomal translocations. Consequently, HypoS sensitizes cells to ionizing radiation (IR)-induced killing. We conclude that HypoS-induced global chromatin decompaction compromises regulated chromatin dynamics and genomic stability by suppressing DSB-processing by HR, and allowing error-prone processing by alt-EJ and SSA.

2007 ◽  
Vol 177 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoya Uematsu ◽  
Eric Weterings ◽  
Ken-ichi Yano ◽  
Keiko Morotomi-Yano ◽  
Burkhard Jakob ◽  
...  

The DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKCS) plays an important role during the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). It is recruited to DNA ends in the early stages of the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) process, which mediates DSB repair. To study DNA-PKCS recruitment in vivo, we used a laser system to introduce DSBs in a specified region of the cell nucleus. We show that DNA-PKCS accumulates at DSB sites in a Ku80-dependent manner, and that neither the kinase activity nor the phosphorylation status of DNA-PKCS influences its initial accumulation. However, impairment of both of these functions results in deficient DSB repair and the maintained presence of DNA-PKCS at unrepaired DSBs. The use of photobleaching techniques allowed us to determine that the kinase activity and phosphorylation status of DNA-PKCS influence the stability of its binding to DNA ends. We suggest a model in which DNA-PKCS phosphorylation/autophosphorylation facilitates NHEJ by destabilizing the interaction of DNA-PKCS with the DNA ends.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 5485-5498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Michael Howard ◽  
Ilaria Ceppi ◽  
Roopesh Anand ◽  
Roger Geiger ◽  
Petr Cejka

Abstract DNA double-strand breaks are repaired by end-joining or homologous recombination. A key-committing step of recombination is DNA end resection. In resection, phosphorylated CtIP first promotes the endonuclease of MRE11–RAD50–NBS1 (MRN). Subsequently, CtIP also stimulates the WRN/BLM–DNA2 pathway, coordinating thus both short and long-range resection. The structure of CtIP differs from its orthologues in yeast, as it contains a large internal unstructured region. Here, we conducted a domain analysis of CtIP to define the function of the internal region in DNA end resection. We found that residues 350–600 were entirely dispensable for resection in vitro. A mutant lacking these residues was unexpectedly more efficient than full-length CtIP in DNA end resection and homologous recombination in vivo, and consequently conferred resistance to lesions induced by the topoisomerase poison camptothecin, which require high MRN–CtIP-dependent resection activity for repair. This suggested that the internal CtIP region, further mapped to residues 550–600, may mediate a negative regulatory function to prevent over resection in vivo. The CtIP internal deletion mutant exhibited sensitivity to other DNA-damaging drugs, showing that upregulated resection may be instead toxic under different conditions. These experiments together identify a region within the central CtIP domain that negatively regulates DNA end resection.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naihan Xu ◽  
Yuanzhi Lao ◽  
Yaou Zhang ◽  
David A. Gillespie

The Akt family of serine/threonine protein kinases are key regulators of multiple aspects of cell behaviour, including proliferation, survival, metabolism, and tumorigenesis. Growth-factor-activated Akt signalling promotes progression through normal, unperturbed cell cycles by acting on diverse downstream factors involved in controlling the G1/S and G2/M transitions. Remarkably, several recent studies have also implicated Akt in modulating DNA damage responses and genome stability. High Akt activity can suppress ATR/Chk1 signalling and homologous recombination repair (HRR) via direct phosphorylation of Chk1 or TopBP1 or, indirectly, by inhibiting recruitment of double-strand break (DSB) resection factors, such as RPA, Brca1, and Rad51, to sites of damage. Loss of checkpoint and/or HRR proficiency is therefore a potential cause of genomic instability in tumor cells with high Akt. Conversely, Akt is activated by DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in a DNA-PK- or ATM/ATR-dependent manner and in some circumstances can contribute to radioresistance by stimulating DNA repair by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Akt therefore modifies both the response to and repair of genotoxic damage in complex ways that are likely to have important consequences for the therapy of tumors with deregulation of the PI3K-Akt-PTEN pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena B. Rother ◽  
Stefania Pellegrino ◽  
Rebecca Smith ◽  
Marco Gatti ◽  
Cornelia Meisenberg ◽  
...  

AbstractChromatin structure is dynamically reorganized at multiple levels in response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Yet, how the different steps of chromatin reorganization are coordinated in space and time to differentially regulate DNA repair pathways is insufficiently understood. Here, we identify the Chromodomain Helicase DNA Binding Protein 7 (CHD7), which is frequently mutated in CHARGE syndrome, as an integral component of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) DSB repair pathway. Upon recruitment via PARP1-triggered chromatin remodeling, CHD7 stimulates further chromatin relaxation around DNA break sites and brings in HDAC1/2 for localized chromatin de-acetylation. This counteracts the CHD7-induced chromatin expansion, thereby ensuring temporally and spatially controlled ‘chromatin breathing’ upon DNA damage, which we demonstrate fosters efficient and accurate DSB repair by controlling Ku and LIG4/XRCC4 activities. Loss of CHD7-HDAC1/2-dependent cNHEJ reinforces 53BP1 assembly at the damaged chromatin and shifts DSB repair to mutagenic NHEJ, revealing a backup function of 53BP1 when cNHEJ fails.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Sejla Salic ◽  
Marc Wiedner ◽  
Paul Datlinger ◽  
Patrick Essletzbichler ◽  
...  

Abstract The mutagenic repair of Cas9 generated breaks is thought to predominantly rely on non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), leading to insertions and deletions within DNA that culminate in gene knock-out (KO). In this study, by taking focused as well as genome-wide approaches, we show that this pathway is dispensable for the repair of such lesions. Genetic ablation of NHEJ is fully compensated for by alternative end joining (alt-EJ), in a POLQ-dependent manner, resulting in a distinct repair signature with larger deletions that may be exploited for large-scale genome editing. Moreover, we show that cells deficient for both NHEJ and alt-EJ were still able to repair CRISPR-mediated DNA double-strand breaks, highlighting how little is yet known about the mechanisms of CRISPR-based genome editing.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doraid T. Sadideen ◽  
Baowei Chen ◽  
Manal Basili ◽  
Montaser Shaheen

AbstractDNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are repair by homology-based repair or non-homologous end joining and multiple sub-pathways exist. 53BP1 is a key DNA double strand break repair protein that regulates repair pathway choice. It is key for joining DSBs during immunoglobulin heavy chain class switch recombination. Here we identify USP47 as a deubiquitylase that associates with and regulates 53BP1 function. USP47 loss results in 53BP1 instability in proteasome dependent manner, and defective 53BP1 ionizing radiation induced foci (IRIF). USP47 catalytic activity is required for maintaining 53BP1 protein level. Similar to 53BP1, USP47 depletion results in sensitivity to DNA DSB inducing agents and defective immunoglobulin CSR. Our findings establish a function for USP47 in DNA DSB repair at least partially through 53BP1.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Sims ◽  
Gregory P. Copenhaver ◽  
Peter Schlögelhofer

AbstractRibosomal RNA genes are arranged in large arrays with hundreds of rDNA units in tandem. These highly repetitive DNA elements pose a risk to genome stability since they can undergo non-allelic exchanges. During meiosis DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are induced as part of the regular program to generate gametes. Meiotic DSBs initiate homologous recombination (HR) which subsequently ensures genetic exchange and chromosome disjunction.In Arabidopsis thaliana we demonstrate that all 45S rDNA arrays become transcriptionally active and are recruited into the nucleolus early in meiosis. This shields the rDNA from acquiring canonical meiotic chromatin modifications, meiotic cohesin and meiosis-specific DSBs. DNA breaks within the rDNA arrays are repaired in a RAD51-independent, but LIG4-dependent manner, establishing that it is non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) that maintains rDNA integrity during meiosis. Utilizing ectopically integrated rDNA repeats we validate our findings and demonstrate that the rDNA constitutes a HR-refractory genome environment.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulong Li ◽  
Alexander J. Hartemink ◽  
David MacAlpine

Origins of DNA replication are specified by the ordered recruitment of replication factors in a cell cycle dependent manner. The assembly of the pre-replicative complex in G1 and the pre-initiation complex prior to activation in S-phase are well characterized; however, the interplay between the assembly of these complexes and the local chromatin environment is less well understood. To investigate the dynamic changes in chromatin organization at and surrounding replication origins, we used micrococcal nuclease (MNase) to generate genome-wide chromatin occupancy profiles of nucleosomes, transcription factors and replication proteins through consecutive cell cycles in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. During each G1 phase of two consecutive cell cycles, we observed the downstream repositioning of the origin-proximal +1 nucleosome and an increase in protected DNA fragments spanning the ARS consensus sequence (ACS) indicative of pre-RC assembly. We also found that the strongest correlation between the chromatin occupancy at the ACS and origin efficiency occurred in early S-phase consistent with the rate limiting formation of the Cdc45-Mcm2-7-GINS (CMG) complex being a determinant of origin activity. Finally, we observed nucleosome disruption and disorganization emanating from replication origins and traveling with the elongating replication forks across the genome in S-phase, likely reflecting the disassembly and assembly of chromatin ahead of and behind the replication fork, respectively. These results provide insights into cell cycle-regulated chromatin dynamics and how they relate to the regulation of origin activity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-307
Author(s):  
Petr Cejka ◽  
Lorraine S. Symington

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are cytotoxic lesions that threaten genome integrity and cell viability. Typically, cells repair DSBs by either nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). The relative use of these two pathways depends on many factors, including cell cycle stage and the nature of the DNA ends. A critical determinant of repair pathway selection is the initiation of 5′→3′ nucleolytic degradation of DNA ends, a process referred to as DNA end resection. End resection is essential to create single-stranded DNA overhangs, which serve as the substrate for the Rad51 recombinase to initiate HR and are refractory to NHEJ repair. Here, we review recent insights into the mechanisms of end resection, how it is regulated, and the pathological consequences of its dysregulation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jone Michelena ◽  
Stefania Pellegrino ◽  
Vincent Spegg ◽  
Matthias Altmeyer

AbstractDNA double-strand breaks can be repaired by two competing mechanisms, non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). Whether one or the other repair pathway is favored depends on the availability of an undamaged template DNA that allows for homology-directed repair. The tumor suppressor proteins 53BP1 and BRCA1 are considered antagonistic players in this repair pathway choice, as 53BP1 restrains DNA end resection, whereas BRCA1, together with its partner protein BARD1, displaces 53BP1 from damaged replicated chromatin and promotes HR. How cells switch from a 53BP1-dominated to a BRCA1-dominated response as they progress through the cell cycle is incompletely understood. Here we reveal, using high-throughput microscopy and applying single cell normalization to control for increased genome size as cells replicate their DNA, that 53BP1 recruitment to damaged replicated chromatin is inefficient in both BRCA1-proficient and BRCA1-deficient cells, in comparison to 53BP1 accumulation at damaged unreplicated chromatin. These findings substantiate a dual switch model from a 53BP1-dominated response in unreplicated chromatin to a BRCA1-BARD1-dominated response in replicated chromatin, in which replication-coupled dilution of 53BP1’s binding mark H4K20me2 functionally cooperates with BRCA1-BARD1-mediated suppression of 53BP1 binding. More generally, we suggest that appropriate normalization of single cell data, e.g. to DNA content, provides additional layers of information, which can be critical for quantifying and interpreting cellular phenotypes.


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