ATM is required for the repair of Topotecan-induced replication-associated double-strand breaks.

PURPOSE: DNA replication is a promising target for anti-cancer therapies. Therefore, the understanding of replication-associated DNA repair mechanisms is of great interest. One key factor of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is the PIK kinase Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) but it is still unclear whether ATM is involved in the repair of replication-associated DSBs. Here, we focused on the involvement of ATM in homology-directed repair (HDR) of indirect DSBs associated with replication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Experiments were performed using ATM-deficient and -proficient human cells. Replication-associated DSBs were induced with Topotecan (TPT) and compared with γ-irradiation (IR). Cell survival was measured by clonogenic assay. Overall DSB repair and HDR were evaluated by detecting residual γH2AX/53BP1 and Rad51 foci, respectively. Cell cycle distribution was analysed by flow cytometry and protein expression by Western blot. RESULTS: ATM-deficiency leads to enhanced numbers of residual DSBs, resulting in a pronounced S/G2-block and decreased survival upon TPT-treatment. In common with IR, persisting Rad51 foci were detected following TPT-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that ATM is essentially required for the completion of HR-mediated repair of TPT-induced DSBs formed indirectly at replication forks.

Radiation-induced double-strand breaks require ATM but not Artemis for homologous recombination during S-phase.

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired by two distinct pathways, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). The endonuclease Artemis and the PIK kinase Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM), mutated in prominent human radiosensitivity syndromes, are essential for repairing a subset of DSBs via NHEJ in G1 and HR in G2. Both proteins have been implicated in DNA end resection, a mandatory step preceding homology search and strand pairing in HR. Here, we show that during S-phase Artemis but not ATM is dispensable for HR of radiation-induced DSBs. In replicating AT cells, numerous Rad51 foci form gradually, indicating a Rad51 recruitment process that is independent of ATM-mediated end resection. Those DSBs decorated with Rad51 persisted through S- and G2-phase indicating incomplete HR resulting in unrepaired DSBs and a pronounced G2 arrest. We demonstrate that in AT cells loading of Rad51 depends on functional ATR/Chk1. The ATR-dependent checkpoint response is most likely activated when the replication fork encounters radiation-induced single-strand breaks leading to generation of long stretches of single-stranded DNA. Together, these results provide new insight into the role of ATM for initiation and completion of HR during S- and G2-phase. The DSB repair defect during S-phase significantly contributes to the radiosensitivity of AT cells.

Simian virus 40 activates ATR-Delta p53 signaling to override cell cycle and DNA replication control.

During infection, simian virus 40 (SV40) attempts to take hold of the cell, while the host responds with various defense systems, including the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated/ATM-Rad3 related (ATM/ATR)-mediated DNA damage response pathways. Here we show that upon viral infection, ATR directly activates the p53 isoform Δp53, leading to upregulation of the Cdk inhibitor p21 and downregulation of cyclin A-Cdk2/1 (AK) activity, which force the host to stay in the replicative S phase. Moreover, downregulation of AK activity is a prerequisite for the generation of hypophosphorylated, origin-competent DNA polymerase α-primase (hypo-Polα), which is, unlike AK-phosphorylated Polα (P-Polα), recruited by SV40 large T antigen (T-Ag) to initiate viral DNA replication. Prevention of the downregulation of AK activity by inactivation of ATR-Δp53-p21 signaling significantly reduced the T-Ag-interacting hypo-Polα population and, accordingly, SV40 replication efficiency. Moreover, the ATR-Δp53 pathway facilitates the proteasomal degradation of the 180-kDa catalytic subunit of the non-T-Ag-interacting P-Polα, giving rise to T-Ag-interacting hypo-Polα. Thus, the purpose of activating the ATR-Δp53-p21-mediated intra-S checkpoint is to maintain the host in S phase, an optimal environment for SV40 replication, and to modulate the host DNA replicase, which is indispensable for viral amplification.

The human RNA polymerase II-associated factor 1 (hPaf1): a new regulator of cell-cycle progression.

BACKGROUND: The human PAF (hPAF) complex is part of the RNA polymerase II transcription apparatus and regulates multiple steps in gene expression. Further, the yeast homolog of hPaf1 has a role in regulating the expression of a subset of genes involved in the cell-cycle. We therefore investigated the role of hPaf1 during progression of the cell-cycle. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: Herein, we report that the expression of hPaf1, a subunit of the hPAF complex, increases with cell-cycle progression and is regulated in a cell-cycle dependant manner. hPaf1 specifically regulates a subclass of genes directly implicated in cell-cycle progression during G1/S, S/G2, and G2/M. In prophase, hPaf1 aligns in filament-like structures, whereas in metaphase it is present within the pole forming a crown-like structure, surrounding the centrosomes. Moreover, hPaf1 is degraded during the metaphase to anaphase transition. In the nucleus, hPaf1 regulates the expression of cyclins A1, A2, D1, E1, B1, and Cdk1. In addition, expression of hPaf1 delays DNA replication but favors the G2/M transition, in part through microtubule assembly and mitotic spindle formation. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results identify hPaf1 and the hPAF complex as key regulators of cell-cycle progression. Mutation or loss of stoichiometry of at least one of the members may potentially lead to cancer development.

The MDM2 ubiquitination signal in the DNA-binding domain of p53 forms a docking site for calcium calmodulin kinase superfamily members.

Genetic and biochemical studies have shown that Ser(20) phosphorylation in the transactivation domain of p53 mediates p300-catalyzed DNA-dependent p53 acetylation and B-cell tumor suppression. However, the protein kinases that mediate this modification are not well defined. A cell-free Ser(20) phosphorylation site assay was used to identify a broad range of calcium calmodulin kinase superfamily members, including CHK2, CHK1, DAPK-1, DAPK-3, DRAK-1, and AMPK, as Ser(20) kinases. Phosphorylation of a p53 transactivation domain fragment at Ser(20) by these enzymes in vitro can be mediated in trans by a docking site peptide derived from the BOX-V domain of p53, which also harbors the ubiquitin signal for MDM2. Evaluation of these calcium calmodulin kinase superfamily members as candidate Ser(20) kinases in vivo has shown that only CHK1 or DAPK-1 can stimulate p53 transactivation and induce Ser(20) phosphorylation of p53. Using CHK1 as a prototypical in vivo Ser(20) kinase, we demonstrate that (i) CHK1 protein depletion using small interfering RNA can attenuate p53 phosphorylation at Ser(20), (ii) an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-BOX-V fusion peptide can attenuate Ser(20) phosphorylation of p53 in vivo, (iii) the EGFP-BOX-V fusion peptide can selectively bind to CHK1 in vivo, and (iv) the Deltap53 spliced variant lacking the BOX-V motif is refractory to Ser(20) phosphorylation by CHK1. These data indicate that the BOX-V motif of p53 has evolved the capacity to bind to enzymes that mediate either p53 phosphorylation or ubiquitination, thus controlling the specific activity of p53 as a transcription factor.

A novel human p53 isoform is an essential element of the ATR-intra-S phase checkpoint.

The archetypal human tumor suppressor p53 is considered to have unique transactivation properties. The assumption is based on the fact that additionally identified human p53 isoforms lack transcriptional activity. However, we provide evidence for the existence of an alternatively spliced p53 isoform (Deltap53) that exerts its transcriptional activity independent from p53. In contrast to p53, Deltap53 transactivates the endogenous p21 and 14-3-3sigma but not the mdm2, bax, and PIG3 promoter. Cell cycle studies showed that Deltap53 displays its differential transcriptional activity only in damaged S phase cells. Upon activation of the ATR-intra-S phase checkpoint, Deltap53, but not p53, transactivates the Cdk inhibitor p21. Induction of p21 results in downregulation of cyclin A-Cdk activity and accordingly attenuation of S phase progression. Data demonstrate that the Deltap53-p21-cyclin A-Cdk pathway is crucial to facilitate uncoupling of repair and replication events, indicating that Deltap53 is an essential element of the ATR-intra-S phase checkpoint.