Project description:Class-switch recombination (CSR) diversifies antibodies for productive immune responses while maintaining stability of the B cell genome. Transcription at the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (Igh) locus targets CSRassociated DNA damage and is promoted by the BRCT domain-containing PTIP protein. Although PTIP is a unique component of the MLL3/MLL4 chromatin-modifying complex, the mechanisms for how PTIP promotes transcription remain unclear. Here we dissect the minimal structural requirements of PTIP and its different protein complexes using quantitative proteomics in primary lymphocytes. We find that PTIP functions in transcription and CSR separately from its association with the MLL3/MLL4 complex and from its localization to sites of DNA damage. We identify a tandem BRCT domain of PTIP that is sufficient for CSR and identify PA1 as its main functional protein partner. Collectively, we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that a PTIP-PA1 subcomplex functions independently from the MLL3/MLL4 complex to mediate transcription during CSR. These results further our understanding of how multi-functional chromatin-modifying complexes are organized by subcomplexes that harbor unique and distinct activities. Genome-wide analysis of histone modifications in PA1-WT and -KO mouse activated B cells
Project description:Class-switch recombination (CSR) diversifies antibodies for productive immune responses while maintaining stability of the B cell genome. Transcription at the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (Igh) locus targets CSRassociated DNA damage and is promoted by the BRCT domain-containing PTIP protein. Although PTIP is a unique component of the MLL3/MLL4 chromatin-modifying complex, the mechanisms for how PTIP promotes transcription remain unclear. Here we dissect the minimal structural requirements of PTIP and its different protein complexes using quantitative proteomics in primary lymphocytes. We find that PTIP functions in transcription and CSR separately from its association with the MLL3/MLL4 complex and from its localization to sites of DNA damage. We identify a tandem BRCT domain of PTIP that is sufficient for CSR and identify PA1 as its main functional protein partner. Collectively, we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that a PTIP-PA1 subcomplex functions independently from the MLL3/MLL4 complex to mediate transcription during CSR. These results further our understanding of how multi-functional chromatin-modifying complexes are organized by subcomplexes that harbor unique and distinct activities.
Project description:Given the prevalence of leishmaniasis and cancer, the co-existence of these two diseases may be merely coincidental. However, a number of epidemiological studies suggest that an association between these two entities does exist. Mammalian PES protein has been reported to be involved in different cellular processes such as cell cycle regulation. Its BRCT domain has been identified as a key factor in DNA damage-responsive checkpoints. We aimed to elucidate the hypothetical oncogenic character of this BRCT domain from Leishmania major PES protein (LmPES) on the host cells. For this purpose, we generated a lentivirus carrying this BRCT domain sequence (lentiBRCT) and a lentivirus expressing the lucifarese protein (lentiLuc), as control. Then, HEK293T mammal cells were infected with these lentivirus. Gene expression profiling analysis revealed that BRCT domain from LmPES protein altered the expression of proliferation, survival and chemoresistance related genes. In addition, RNA sequencing study showed a down-regulation of mitochondrial genes in the BRCT domain expressing cells triggering a mitochondrial dysfunction. Altogether, our results reinforce the idea that in eukaryotes, horizontal gene transfer may be also achieved by parasitism like Leishmania infection driving therefore to some crucial biological changes such as proliferation and drug resistance.
Project description:HS-10502 is a Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1)-specific selective inhibitor. The purpose if this study is to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and efficacy of HS-10502 in subjects with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutant or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) positive advanced solid tumors.
Project description:Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging regulators of genomic stability and human disease. However, the molecular mechanisms by which nuclear lncRNAs directly contribute to DNA damage responses remain largely unknown. Using RNA antisense purification coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry (RAP-qMS), we found that the lncRNA BGL3 binds to PARP1 and BARD1, exhibiting unexpected roles in homologous recombination. Mechanistically, BGL3 is recruited to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by PARP1 at an early time point, which requires its interaction with the DNA-binding domain of PARP1. BGL3 also binds the C-terminal BRCT domain and an internal region (amino acids 127-424) of BARD1, which mediates interaction of the BRCA1/BARD1 complex with its binding partners such as HP1γ and RAD51, resulting in BRCA1/BARD1 retention at DSBs. Cells depleted for BGL3 displayed genomic instability and were sensitive to DNA-damaging reagents.
Project description:Homologous recombination is required for proper segregation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis. It predominantly occurs at recombination hotspots that are defined by the DNA binding specificity of the PRDM9 protein. PRDM9 contains three domains which are typically different families of proteins involved in regulation of transcription in other proteins, yet, the role of PRDM9 in gene expression control has not been evaluated. Here we analyze the germline transcriptome of the Prdm9-/- male mice in comparison to Prdm9+/+ males and find no apparent differences in the mRNA and miRNA profiles. We further explore the role of PRDM9 in meiosis by analyzing the activity of PRDM9 lacking effect of the KRAB, SSXRD and post-SET zinc finger domains deletion mutants in a cell expression system and the KRAB domain deletion in mice. We found that although the post-SET zinc finger and the KRAB domains are not essential for the methyltransferase activity of PRDM9 in a cell culture expression systemin vitro, mice lacking the KRAB domain mutant mice domain show only residual PRDM9 methyltransferase activity and undergo meiotic arrest. In aggregate, our data indicate that these domains that are classically involved in gene regulation do not serve that role in PRDM9, but instead are involved in PRDM9 function has likely diverged from the typical function of a transcription factor and adapted the new role in setting the proper chromatin environment for initiation and completion of homologous recombination.
Project description:Homologous recombination is the key process that generates genetic diversity and drives evolution. SPO11 protein triggers recombination by introducing DNA double stranded breaks at discreet areas of the genome called recombination hotspots. The hotspot locations are largely determined by the DNA binding specificity of the PRDM9 protein in human, mice and most other mammals. In budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae, which lacks a Prdm9 gene, meiotic breaks are formed opportunistically in the regions of accessible chromatin, primarily at gene promoters. The genome-wide distribution of hotspots in this organism can be altered by tethering Spo11 protein to Gal4 recognition sequences in the strain expressing Spo11 attached to the DNA binding domain of the Gal4 transcription factor. To establish whether similar re-targeting of meiotic breaks can be achieved in PRDM9-containing organisms we have generated a Gal4BD-Spo11 mouse that expresses SPO11 protein joined to the DNA binding domain of yeast Gal4. We have mapped the genome-wide distribution of the recombination initiation sites in the Gal4BD-Spo11 mice. More than two hundred of the hotspots in these mice were novel and were likely defined by Gal4BD, as the Gal4 consensus motif was clustered around the centers in these hotspots. Surprisingly, meiotic DNA breaks in the Gal4BD-Spo11 mice were significantly depleted near the ends of chromosomes. The effect is particularly striking at the pseudoautosomal region of the X and Y chromosomes – normally the hottest region in the genome. Our data suggest that specific, yet-unidentified factors influence the initiation of meiotic recombination at subtelomeric chromosomal regions. Detection of meiotic double strand breaks in mice with a hypomorphic Spo11 allele.
Project description:LSH/DDM1 enzymes are required for DNA methylation in higher eukaryotes and have poorly defined roles in genome maintenance in yeast, plants, and animals. The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is a tractable system that encodes a single LSH/DDM1 homolog (NCU06306). We report that the Neurospora LSH/DDM1 enzyme is encoded by mutagen sensitive-30 (mus-30), a locus identified in a genetic screen over 25 years ago. We show that MUS-30-deficient cells have normal DNA methylation, but are hypersensitive to the DNA damaging agent MMS (methyl methanesulfonate). MUS-30 is a nuclear protein, consistent with its predicted role as a chromatin remodeling enzyme, and levels of MUS-30 are increased following DNA damage. MUS-30 co-purifies with Neurospora WDR76, a homolog of yeast Changed Mutation Rate-1 and mammalian WD40 repeat domain 76. Deletion of wdr76 rescued MMS-hypersensitivity of Dmus-30 strains, demonstrating that the MUS-30-WDR76 interaction is functionally important. DNA damage-sensitivity of Dmus-30 is also partially suppressed by deletion of methyl adenine glycosylase-1, a component of the base excision repair machinery (BER); however, the rate of BER is not affected in Dmus-30 strains. It was reported that mammalian LSH is required for efficient double strand break (DSB) repair. We found that MUS-30-deficient cells were not defective for DSB repair, and we observed a negative genetic interaction between Dmus-30 and Dmei-3, the Neurospora RAD51 homolog required for homologous recombination. These data are consistent with a role for MUS-30 that is independent of DSB repair. Our findings demonstrate that LSH/DDM1 enzymes are key regulators of genome stability in eukaryotes. crf5-1 isolates (two replicates each from the F1 and F2 generation) were grown in Vogel's minimal medium for 48 hours. As a control, two replicates of the wildtype strain were grown under identical conditions.
Project description:During meiosis, crossover recombination is essential to link homologous chromosomes and drive faithful chromosome segregation. Crossover recombination is non-random across the genome, and centromere-proximal crossovers are associated with an increased risk of aneuploidy, including Trisomy 21 in humans. Here, we identify the conserved Ctf19/CCAN kinetochore sub-complex as a major factor that minimizes potentially deleterious centromere-proximal crossovers in budding yeast. We uncover multi-layered suppression of pericentromeric recombination by the Ctf19 complex, operating across distinct chromosomal distances. The Ctf19 complex prevents meiotic DNA break formation, the initiating event of recombination, proximal to the centromere. The Ctf19 complex independently drives the enrichment of cohesin throughout the broader pericentromere to suppress crossovers, but not DNA breaks. This non-canonical role of the kinetochore in defining a chromosome domain that is refractory to crossovers adds a new layer of functionality by which the kinetochore prevents the incidence of chromosome segregation errors that generate aneuploid gametes. Two samples total: two biological replicate Spo11-oligo maps of S. cerevisiae SK1 mcm21 null mutant
Project description:A Phase 2, open-label, single-arm trial to evaluate the response of rucaparib in participants with various solid tumors and with deleterious mutations in Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) genes.