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RNA processing proteins regulate Mec1/ATR activation by promoting generation of RPA-coated ssDNA.

ABSTRACT: Eukaryotic cells respond to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by activating a checkpoint that depends on the protein kinases Tel1/ATM and Mec1/ATR. Mec1/ATR is activated by RPA-coated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which arises upon nucleolytic degradation (resection) of the DSB. Emerging evidences indicate that RNA processing factors play critical, yet poorly understood, roles in genomic stability. Here, we provide evidence that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA decay factors Xrn1, Rrp6 and Trf4 regulate Mec1/ATR activation by promoting generation of RPA-coated ssDNA. The lack of Xrn1 inhibits ssDNA generation at the DSB by preventing the loading of the MRX complex. By contrast, DSB resection is not affected in the absence of Rrp6 or Trf4, but their lack impairs the recruitment of RPA, and therefore of Mec1, to the DSB. Rrp6 and Trf4 inactivation affects neither Rad51/Rad52 association nor DSB repair by HR, suggesting that full Mec1 activation requires higher amount of RPA-coated ssDNA than HR-mediated repair. Noteworthy, deep transcriptome analyses do not identify common misregulated gene expression that could explain the observed phenotypes. Our results provide a novel link between RNA processing and genome stability.

ORGANISM(S): Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PROVIDER: GSE63444 | GEO | 2014/11/20

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA267766

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The DNA damage checkpoint senses the presence of DNA lesions and controls the cellular response thereto. A crucial DNA damage signal is single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which is frequently found at sites of DNA damage and recruits the sensor checkpoint kinase Mec1-Ddc2. However, how this signal – and therefore the cells’ DNA damage load – is quantified, is poorly understood. Here, we use genetic manipulation of DNA end resection at a site-specific DNA double-strand break (DSB) in budding yeast to generate quantitatively different DNA damage (ssDNA) signals. Interestingly, two major targets of the Mec1-Ddc2 kinase – Rad53 and γH2A – differ in their response to the ssDNA signal, indicating distinct signalling circuits within the checkpoint. The local checkpoint signalling circuit leading to γH2A phosphorylation is non-quantitative and unresponsive to increased amounts of damage-associated Mec1-Ddc2 kinase. In contrast, the global checkpoint signalling circuit, which triggers Rad53 activation, integrates the ssDNA signal quantitatively. We find that not only Mec1-Ddc2 association, but also loading of the 9-1-1 co-sensor complex is enhanced during ongoing resection. Moreover, we can uncouple global checkpoint activation from the amount of Mec1-Ddc2 kinase at the lesion by using mutant conditions that hyper-activate the 9-1-1 signalling axis and at the same time show reduced amounts of damage-associated Mec1-Ddc2 kinase. We therefore propose that a key function of the 9-1-1 complex and the downstream checkpoint mediators is to generate a checkpoint response, which is quantitative and proportional to the cellular DNA damage load. The DNA damage checkpoint senses the presence of DNA lesions and controls the cellular response thereto. A crucial DNA damage signal is single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which is frequently found at sites of DNA damage and recruits the sensor checkpoint kinase Mec1-Ddc2. However, how this signal – and therefore the cells’ DNA damage load – is quantified, is poorly understood. Here, we use genetic manipulation of DNA end resection at a site-specific DNA double-strand break (DSB) in budding yeast to generate quantitatively different DNA damage (ssDNA) signals. Interestingly, two major targets of the Mec1-Ddc2 kinase – Rad53 and γH2A – differ in their response to the ssDNA signal, indicating distinct signalling circuits within the checkpoint. The local checkpoint signalling circuit leading to γH2A phosphorylation is non-quantitative and unresponsive to increased amounts of damage-associated Mec1-Ddc2 kinase. In contrast, the global checkpoint signalling circuit, which triggers Rad53 activation, integrates the ssDNA signal quantitatively. We find that not only Mec1-Ddc2 association, but also loading of the 9-1-1 co-sensor complex is enhanced during ongoing resection. Moreover, we can uncouple global checkpoint activation from the amount of Mec1-Ddc2 kinase at the lesion by using mutant conditions that hyper-activate the 9-1-1 signalling axis and at the same time show reduced amounts of damage-associated Mec1-Ddc2 kinase. We therefore propose that a key function of the 9-1-1 complex and the downstream checkpoint mediators is to generate a checkpoint response, which is quantitative and proportional to the cellular DNA damage load.

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RNA processing proteins regulate Mec1/ATR activation by promoting generation of RPA-coated ssDNA.

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