Project description:53BP1 governs a specialized, context-specific branch of the classical non-homologous end joining DNA double-strand break repair pathway. Mice lacking 53bp1 (also known as Trp53bp1) are immunodeficient owing to a complete loss of immunoglobulin class-switch recombination, and reduced fidelity of long-range V(D)J recombination. The 53BP1-dependent pathway is also responsible for pathological joining events at dysfunctional telomeres, and its unrestricted activity in Brca1-deficient cellular and tumour models causes genomic instability and oncogenesis. Cells that lack core non-homologous end joining proteins are profoundly radiosensitive, unlike 53BP1-deficient cells, which suggests that 53BP1 and its co-factors act on specific DNA substrates. Here we show that 53BP1 cooperates with its downstream effector protein REV7 to promote non-homologous end joining during class-switch recombination, but REV7 is not required for 53BP1-dependent V(D)J recombination. We identify shieldin—a four-subunit putative single-stranded DNA-binding complex comprising REV7, c20orf196 (SHLD1), FAM35A (SHLD2) and FLJ26957 (SHLD3)— as the factor that explains this specificity. Shieldin is essential for REV7-dependent DNA end-protection and non-homologous end joining during class-switch recombination, and supports toxic non-homologous end joining in Brca1-deficient cells, yet is dispensable for REV7-dependent interstrand cross-link repair. The 53BP1 pathway therefore comprises distinct double-strand break repair activities within chromatin and single-stranded DNA compartments, which explains both the immunological differences between 53bp1- and Rev7- deficient mice and the context specificity of the pathway.
Project description:RIF1 acts downstream of 53BP1 to coordinate DNA double strand break repair pathway choice between non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). Here we identified ASF1 as an endogenous RIF1-associated protein. We showed that ASF1 forms complex with RIF1 and regulates RIF1-dependent functions in DNA damage response.
Project description:Cell cycle is a major determinant of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway choice with homologous recombination (HR) that is most active in S phase cells and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) that dominates in G1 phase cells. A third less well-defined mechanism, 'alternative end-joining', has been shown to promote error-prone repair in NHEJ- or HR-deficient cells. Here, we have used a physiologic system of NHEJ-mediated genomic rearrangements induced by the site-specific RAG1/2 endonuclease in G1 cells to investigate the fate of unrepaired G1 DSBs upon entry into the cell cycle. We show that, in the absence of XRCC4, alternative end-joining rescues RAG-induced DSB repair and promotes chromosome translocations upon G1 cell cycle exit.
Project description:Cell cycle is a major determinant of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway choice with homologous recombination (HR) that is most active in S phase cells and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) that dominates in G1 phase cells. A third less well-defined mechanism, 'alternative end-joining', has been shown to promote error-prone repair in NHEJ- or HR-deficient cells. Here, we have used a physiologic system of NHEJ-mediated genomic rearrangements induced by the site-specific RAG1/2 endonuclease in G1 cells to investigate the fate of unrepaired G1 DSBs upon entry into the cell cycle. We show that, in the absence of XRCC4, alternative end-joining rescues RAG-induced DSB repair and promotes chromosome translocations upon G1 cell cycle exit.
Project description:In contrast to our extensive knowledge on covalent SUMO target proteins, we are limited in our understanding of proteins that bind SUMO family members in a non-covalent manner. We have identified interactors of different SUMO isoforms: monomeric SUMO1, monomeric SUMO2 or linear trimeric SUMO2 chains, using a mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach. We identified 382 proteins that bind to different SUMO isoforms mainly in a preferential manner. Interestingly, XRCC4 was the only DNA repair protein in our screen with a preference for SUMO2 trimers over mono-SUMO2 as well as the only protein in our screen that belongs to the Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) DNA double-strand break repair pathway. A functional SIM in XRCC4 regulated its recruitment to local sites of DNA damage and its phosphorylation in S320 by DNA-PKcs. Combined, our data highlight the importance of non-covalent and covalent sumoylation for DNA double-strand break repair via the NHEJ pathway and provides a resource of SUMO isoform interactors.
Project description:Rif1 is involved in telomere homeostasis, DNA replication timing, and DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway choice from yeast to human. The molecular mechanisms that enable Rif1 to fulfill its diverse roles remain to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that Rif1 is S-acylated within its conserved N-terminal domain at cysteine residues C466 and C473 by the DHHC family palmitoyl acyltransferase Pfa4. Rif1 S-acylation facilitates the accumulation of Rif1 at DSBs, the attenuation of DNA end-resection, and DSB repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). These findings identify S-acylation as a posttranslational modification regulating DNA repair. S-acylated Rif1 mounts a localized DNA-damage response proximal to the inner nuclear membrane, revealing a mechanism of compartmentalized DSB repair pathway choice by sequestration of a fatty acylated repair factor at the inner nuclear membrane.
Project description:Determining the balance between DNA double strand break repair (DSBR) pathways is essential for understanding treatment response in cancer. We report a novel method for simultaneously measuring non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination (HR), and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ). This approach revealed enhanced MMEJ and HR in glioblastoma (GBM) xenograft models with acquired temozolomide (TMZ) resistance. Knockdown of proteins in either pathway enhanced killing by TMZ, and a targeted screen identified pharmacological-grade dual HR/MMEJ inhibitors, including AZD1390, an ATM kinase inhibitor. AZD1390 suppressed DSB end resection, blocked phosphorylation of end protection proteins in response to DNA damage, and potentiated TMZ in treatment-naïve and treatment-resistant models. TP53-mutant GBMs were most susceptible to AZD1390 in combination with DNA-damaging agents due to elevated ATM-dependent HR/MMEJ, preferential activation of these pathways in response to DNA damage, and a defective G2/M checkpoint, which caused these GBMs to enter mitosis despite unrepaired DNA damage, leading to cell death via apoptosis. This report establishes ATM-dependent HR and MMEJ as targetable resistance mechanisms in TP53-mutant GBM and establishes an approach for simultaneously measuring multiple DSBR pathways in treatment selection and oncology research.
Project description:Histone variant macroH2A1.1 enhances non-homologous end joining-dependent DNA double-strand-break repair and reprogramming efficiency of human iPSC
Project description:Cells have developed effective mechanisms, namely homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), to repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are considered to be the most deleterious type of damage that can challenge genome integrity. While these pathways coexist to repair DSBs, the mechanisms by which one of these pathways is chosen to repair a particular DSB remain unclear. Here, we show that the chromatin context in which a break occurs participates in this choice and that transcriptionnaly active chromatin channels repair to HR. By using a human cell line expressing a restriction enzyme fused to the ligand binding domain of the oestrogen receptor (AsiSI-ER)2,3, together with a genome wide chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) approach, we establish that distinct DSBs induced across the genome are not necessarily repaired by the same pathway. Indeed, we identify an HR-prone subset of DSBs that recruit the HR protein RAD51, undergo resection, and rely on RAD51 for efficient repair. These DSBs are located in actively transcribed genes, and repair at such DSBs can be switched to RAD51-independent repair pathway upon transcriptional inhibition. Moreover, we show that HR is targeted to transcribed loci thanks to the elongation-associated H3K36me3 histone mark. Indeed depletion of HYPB, the main H3K36 tri methyltransferase severally impedes the use of HR at those DSBs. Our study, thereby demonstrates a clear role for chromatin in DSB repair pathway choice in human cells.
Project description:DNA damage response (DDR) is instrumental for maintaining genome stability and its deregulation predisposes to carcinogenesis, while revealing attractive targets for innovative therapies. Chromatin governs the DNA repair process via the interplay among different layers consisting of DNA, histones post-translational modifications (hPTMs), and chromatin-associated proteins. Here we employ multi-layered proteomics to follow, during double-strand break repair, chromatin-mediated interactions of repair proteins, signatures of hPTMs, and the DNA-bound proteome. In particular, we functionally attribute novel chromatin-associated proteins to non-homologous end-joining or homologous recombination (HR) repair, we reveal susceptibility to PARP inhibitor treatment upon knockdown of ATAD2, TPX2 and EHMT2, and we profile hPTMs at γH2AX-mononucleosomes. Moreover, through the integration of these multiple chromatin layers we identify a potential role for EHMT2-mediated monomethylation of H3K56 in HR. Collectively, our results provide an innovative chromatin-centered view of the DDR process, while representing a valuable resource for the use of PARP inhibitors in cancer.