High-fidelity DNA ligation enforces accurate Okazaki fragment maturation during DNA replication

DNA ligase 1 (LIG1, Cdc9 in yeast) finalizes eukaryotic nuclear DNA replication by sealing Okazaki fragments using DNA end-joining reactions that strongly discriminate against incorrectly paired DNA substrates. Whether intrinsic ligation fidelity contributes to the accuracy of replication of the nuclear genome is unknown. Here, we show that an engineered low-fidelity LIG1Cdc9 variant confers a novel mutator phenotype in yeast typified by the accumulation of single base insertion mutations in homonucleotide runs. The rate at which these additions are generated increases upon concomitant inactivation of DNA mismatch repair, or by inactivation of the Fen1Rad27 Okazaki fragment maturation (OFM) nuclease. Biochemical and structural data establish that LIG1Cdc9 normally avoids erroneous ligation of DNA polymerase slippage products, and this protection is compromised by mutation of a LIG1Cdc9 high-fidelity metal binding site. Collectively, our data indicate that high-fidelity DNA ligation is required to prevent insertion mutations, and that this may be particularly critical following strand displacement synthesis during the completion of OFM.

PCNA ubiquitination protects stalled replication forks from DNA2-mediated degradation by regulating Okazaki fragment maturation and chromatin assembly

Upon genotoxic stress, PCNA ubiquitination allows for replication of damaged DNA by recruiting lesion-bypass DNA polymerases. However, PCNA is also ubiquitinated during normal S-phase progression. By employing ubiquitination-deficient 293T and RPE1 cells generated through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we show that this modification promotes cellular proliferation and suppression of genomic instability under normal growth conditions. Loss of PCNA-ubiquitination results in DNA2-mediated but MRE11-independent nucleolytic degradation of nascent DNA at stalled replication forks. This degradation is linked to defective gap-filling in the wake of the replication fork, and incomplete Okazaki fragment synthesis and maturation, thus interfering with efficient PCNA unloading by ATAD5 and subsequent nucleosomal deposition by CAF-1. Moreover, concomitant loss of PCNA-ubiquitination and BRCA2 results in a synergistic increase in nascent DNA degradation and sensitivity to PARP-inhibitors. In conclusion, we show that by ensuring efficient Okazaki fragment maturation, PCNA-ubiquitination protects fork integrity and promotes the resistance of BRCA-deficient cells to PARP-inhibitors.

RNase HIII Is Important for Okazaki Fragment Processing inBacillus subtilis

ABSTRACTRNA-DNA hybrids are common in chromosomal DNA. Persistent RNA-DNA hybrids result in replication fork stress, DNA breaks, and neurological disorders in humans. During replication, Okazaki fragment synthesis relies on frequent RNA primer placement, providing one of the most prominent forms of covalent RNA-DNA strandsin vivo. The mechanism of Okazaki fragment maturation, which involves RNA removal and subsequent DNA replacement, in bacteria lacking RNase HI remains unclear. In this work, we reconstituted repair of a linear model Okazaki fragmentin vitrousing purified recombinant enzymes fromBacillus subtilis. We showed that RNase HII and HIII are capable of incision on Okazaki fragmentsin vitroand that both enzymes show mild stimulation by single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB). We also showed that RNase HIII and DNA polymerase I provide the primary pathway for Okazaki fragment maturationin vitro. Furthermore, we found that YpcP is a 5′ to 3′ nuclease that can act on a wide variety of RNA- and DNA-containing substrates and exhibits preference for degrading RNA in model Okazaki fragments. Together, our data showed that RNase HIII and DNA polymerase I provide the primary pathway for Okazaki fragment maturation, whereas YpcP also contributes to the removal of RNA from an Okazaki fragmentin vitro.IMPORTANCEAll cells are required to resolve the different types of RNA-DNA hybrids that formin vivo. When RNA-DNA hybrids persist, cells experience an increase in mutation rate and problems with DNA replication. Okazaki fragment synthesis on the lagging strand requires an RNA primer to begin synthesis of each fragment. The mechanism of RNA removal from Okazaki fragments remains unknown in bacteria that lack RNase HI. We examined Okazaki fragment processingin vitroand found that RNase HIII in conjunction with DNA polymerase I represent the most efficient repair pathway. We also assessed the contribution of YpcP and found that YpcP is a 5′ to 3′ exonuclease that prefers RNA substrates with activity on Okazaki and flap substratesin vitro.

The GAN Exonuclease or the Flap Endonuclease Fen1 and RNase HII Are Necessary for Viability of Thermococcus kodakarensis

ABSTRACT Many aspects of and factors required for DNA replication are conserved across all three domains of life, but there are some significant differences surrounding lagging-strand synthesis. In Archaea, a 5′-to-3′ exonuclease, related to both bacterial RecJ and eukaryotic Cdc45, that associates with the replisome specifically through interactions with GINS was identified and designated GAN (for GINS-associated nuclease). Despite the presence of a well-characterized flap endonuclease (Fen1), it was hypothesized that GAN might participate in primer removal during Okazaki fragment maturation, and as a Cdc45 homologue, GAN might also be a structural component of an archaeal CMG (Cdc45, MCM, and GINS) replication complex. We demonstrate here that, individually, either Fen1 or GAN can be deleted, with no discernible effects on viability and growth. However, deletion of both Fen1 and GAN was not possible, consistent with both enzymes catalyzing the same step in primer removal from Okazaki fragments in vivo. RNase HII has also been proposed to participate in primer processing during Okazaki fragment maturation. Strains with both Fen1 and RNase HII deleted grew well. GAN activity is therefore sufficient for viability in the absence of both RNase HII and Fen1, but it was not possible to construct a strain with both RNase HII and GAN deleted. Fen1 alone is therefore insufficient for viability in the absence of both RNase HII and GAN. The ability to delete GAN demonstrates that GAN is not required for the activation or stability of the archaeal MCM replicative helicase. IMPORTANCE The mechanisms used to remove primer sequences from Okazaki fragments during lagging-strand DNA replication differ in the biological domains. Bacteria use the exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I, whereas eukaryotes and archaea encode a flap endonuclease (Fen1) that cleaves displaced primer sequences. RNase HII and the GINS-associated exonuclease GAN have also been hypothesized to assist in primer removal in Archaea. Here we demonstrate that in Thermococcus kodakarensis, either Fen1 or GAN activity is sufficient for viability. Furthermore, GAN can support growth in the absence of both Fen1 and RNase HII, but Fen1 and RNase HII are required for viability in the absence of GAN.