Genetic determinants of micronucleus formation in vivo.

Genomic instability arising from defective responses to DNA damage1 or mitotic chromosomal imbalances2 can lead to the sequestration of DNA in aberrant extranuclear structures called micronuclei (MN). Although MN are a hallmark of ageing and diseases associated with genomic instability, the catalogue of genetic players that regulate the generation of MN remains to be determined. Here we analyse 997 mouse mutant lines, revealing 145 genes whose loss significantly increases (n = 71) or decreases (n = 74) MN formation, including many genes whose orthologues are linked to human disease. We found that mice null for Dscc1, which showed the most significant increase in MN, also displayed a range of phenotypes characteristic of patients with cohesinopathy disorders. After validating the DSCC1-associated MN instability phenotype in human cells, we used genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening to define synthetic lethal and synthetic rescue interactors. We found that the loss of SIRT1 can rescue phenotypes associated with DSCC1 loss in a manner paralleling restoration of protein acetylation of SMC3. Our study reveals factors involved in maintaining genomic stability and shows how this information can be used to identify mechanisms that are relevant to human disease biology1.

DNA double-strand breaks: signaling, repair and the cancer connection.

To ensure the high-fidelity transmission of genetic information, cells have evolved mechanisms to monitor genome integrity. Cells respond to DNA damage by activating a complex DNA-damage-response pathway that includes cell-cycle arrest, the transcriptional and post-transcriptional activation of a subset of genes including those associated with DNA repair, and, under some circumstances, the triggering of programmed cell death. An inability to respond properly to, or to repair, DNA damage leads to genetic instability, which in turn may enhance the rate of cancer development. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly clear that deficiencies in DNA-damage signaling and repair pathways are fundamental to the etiology of most, if not all, human cancers. Here we describe recent progress in our understanding of how cells detect and signal the presence and repair of one particularly important form of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation-the DNA double-strand break (DSB). Moreover, we discuss how tumor suppressor proteins such as p53, ATM, Brca1 and Brca2 have been linked to such pathways, and how accumulating evidence is connecting deficiencies in cellular responses to DNA DSBs with tumorigenesis.

Genetic interaction between PARP and DNA-PK in V(D)J recombination and tumorigenesis.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) are DNA break-activated molecules, Although mice that lack PARP display no gross phenotype and normal DNA excision repair, they exhibit high levels of sister chromatid exchange, indicative of elevated recombination rates. Mutation of the gene for DNA-PK catalytic subunit (Prkdc) cases defective antigen receptor V(D)J recombination and arrests B- and T-lymphocyte development in severe combined immune-deficiency (SCID) mice. SCID V(D)J recombination can be partly rescued in T-lymphocytes by either DNA-damaging agents (gamma-irradiation and bieomycin) or a null mutation of the p53 gene, possibly because of transiently elevated DNA repair activity in response to DNA damage or to delayed apoptosis in the absence of p53. To determine whether the increased chromosomal recombination observed in PARP-deficient cells affects SCID V(D)J recombination, we generated mice lacking both PARP and DNA-PK. Here, we show that thymocytes of SCID mice express both CD4 and CD8 co-receptors, bypassing the SCID block. Double-mutant T-cells in the periphery express TCR beta, which is attributable to productive TCR beta joints. Double-mutant mice develop a high frequency of T-cell lymphoma. These results demonstrate that increased recombination activity after the loss of PARP anti-recombinogenic function can rescue V(D)J recombination in SCID mice and indicate that PARP and DNA-PK cooperate to minimize genomic damage caused by DNA strand breaks.

Functions of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in controlling telomere length and chromosomal stability.

In most eukaryotes, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) recognizes DNA strand interruptions generated in vivo. DNA binding by PARP triggers primarily its own modification by the sequential addition of ADP-ribose units to form polymers; this modification, in turn, causes the release of PARP from DNA ends. Studies on the effects of the disruption of the gene encoding PARP (Adprt1, formerly Adprp) in mice have demonstrated roles for PARP in recovery from DNA damage and in suppressing recombination processes involving DNA ends. Telomeres are the natural termini of chromosomes and are, therefore, potential targets of PARP. Here, by the use of two different techniques, we show that mice lacking PARP display telomere shortening compared with wild-type mice. Telomere shortening is seen in different genetic backgrounds and in different tissues, both from embryos and adult mice. In vitro telomerase activity, however, is not altered in Adprt1-/- mouse fibroblasts. Furthermore, cytogenetic analysis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts reveals that lack of PARP is associated with severe chromosomal instability, characterized by increased frequencies of chromosome fusions and aneuploidy. The absence of PARP does not affect the presence of single-strand overhangs, naturally present at the ends of telomeres. This study therefore reveals an unanticipated role for PARP in telomere length regulation and provides insights into its functions in maintaining genomic integrity.

DNA-PK, ATM and ATR as sensors of DNA damage: variations on a theme?

The DNA damage signalling pathway is a core element of the cellular response to genotoxic insult, and its components play key roles in defending against neoplastic transformation. Recent work has indicated that the human ATM and ATR proteins, and their yeast homologues, are intimately involved in sensing DNA damage, suggesting parallels with the DNA double-strand break repair enzyme DNA-PK.

Regulating transcription factor activity by phosphorylation.

The initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II is controlled by transcription factors. Changes in gene transcription are brought about by regulating the activity of these factors. Phosphorylation of transcription factors as a regulatory mechanism is both rapid and readily reversible. Furthermore, because a transcription factor can be targeted by many protein kinases and phosphatases, phosphorylation can effectively integrate information carried by multiple signal transduction pathways, thus providing opportunities for great versatility and flexibility in gene regulation.

The TATA-binding protein: a general transcription factor in eukaryotes and archaebacteria.

The TATA-binding protein TBP appears to be essential for all transcription in eukaryotic cell nuclei, which suggests that its function was established early in evolution. Archaebacteria constitute a kingdom of organisms distinct from eukaryotes and eubacteria. Archaebacterial gene regulatory sequences often map to TATA box-like motifs. Here it is shown that the archaebacterium Pyrococcus woesei expresses a protein with structural and functional similarity to eukaryotic TBP molecules. This suggests that TBP's role in transcription was established before the archaebacterial and eukaryotic lineages diverged and that the transcription systems of archaebacteria and eukaryotes are fundamentally homologous.

Differential regulation of RNA polymerases I, II, and III by the TBP-binding repressor Dr1.

RNA polymerases I, II, and III each use the TATA-binding protein (TBP). Regulators that target this shared factor may therefore provide a means to coordinate the activities of the three nuclear RNA polymerases. The repressor Dr1 binds to TBP and blocks the interaction of TBP with polymerase II- and polymerase III-specific factors. This enables Dr1 to coordinately regulate transcription by RNA polymerases II and III. Under the same conditions, Dr1 does not inhibit polymerase I transcription. By selectively repressing polymerases II and III, Dr1 may shift the physiological balance of transcriptional output in favor of polymerase I.

Polar overdominance at the ovine callipyge locus.

An inheritable muscular hypertrophy was recently described in sheep and shown to be determined by the callipyge gene mapped to ovine chromosome 18. Here, the callipyge phenotype was found to be characterized by a nonmendelian inheritance pattern, referred to as polar overdominance, where only heterozygous individuals having inherited the callipyge mutation from their sire express the phenotype. The possible role of parental imprinting in the determinism of polar overdominance is envisaged.

Ku80: product of the XRCC5 gene and its role in DNA repair and V(D)J recombination.

The radiosensitive mutant xrs-6, derived from Chinese hamster ovary cells, is defective in DNA double-strand break repair and in ability to undergo V(D)J recombination. The human XRCC5 DNA repair gene, which complements this mutant, is shown here through genetic and biochemical evidence to be the 80-kilodalton subunit of the Ku protein. Ku binds to free double-stranded DNA ends and is the DNA-binding component of the DNA-dependent protein kinase. Thus, the Ku protein is involved in DNA repair and in V(D)J recombination, and these results may also indicate a role for the Ku-DNA-dependent protein kinase complex in those same processes.

DNA end-joining: from yeast to man.

DNA non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a crucial process that has been conserved highly throughout eukaryotic evolution. At its heart is a multiprotein complex containing the KU70-KU80 heterodimer. Recent work has identified additional proteins involved in this pathway, providing insights into the mechanism of NHEJ and revealing exciting links with the control of transcription, telomere length and chromatin structure.

DNA double-strand break repair and V(D)J recombination: involvement of DNA-PK.

Two processes involving DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the repair of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation, and V(D)J recombination, the genomic rearrangement that creates antigen-receptor diversity in vertebrates. Recent evidence indicates that DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), which is activated by DNA ends, is a central component of both the DNA DSB repair and V(D)J recombination machineries.

Protein kinases and DNA damage.

Failure to remove DNA damage is potentially lethal. Eukaryotic cells have therefore devised highly effective ways of detecting and repairing DNA lesions. Recent evidence indicates that protein kinases play essential roles in recognizing DNA damage and in transducing DNA damage signals to bring about changes in cellular metabolism that facilitate DNA repair.

The recognition of DNA damage.

DNA strand breaks are potentially mutagenic and must, therefore, be recognized and repaired. Recent work has identified DNA polymerase epsilon, Ku, and proteins such as DNA-PKcs, Mec1 and Tel1 as key players in DNA damage recognition pathways. Studies on these and other factors have provided important insights into the mechanisms of DNA repair and how DNA damage signals are transduced to the transcription and cell cycle machineries. This work also suggests how deficiencies in DNA damage detection systems can result in genetic instability and cancer.

Cancer predisposition. Ataxia-telangiectasia at the crossroads.

ATM, the gene product mutated in the cancer susceptibility syndrome ataxia-telangiectasia, is related to proteins involved in DNA repair and cell-cycle control, perhaps explaining how ATM prevents carcinogenesis.

DNA repair: the Nijmegen breakage syndrome protein.

The gene mutated in Nijmegen breakage syndrome, a chromosome instability disorder, has been identified and sequenced. The protein product of this gene forms a complex with hMre11 and hRad50--proteins that are involved in repairing double-strand breaks in DNA.

DNA repair: how Ku makes ends meet.

The recently determined crystal structure of the Ku heterodimer, in both DNA-bound and unbound forms, has shed new light on the mechanism by which this protein fulfills its key role in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks.

Lif1p targets the DNA ligase Lig4p to sites of DNA double-strand breaks.

DNA ligases catalyse the joining of DNA single- and double-strand breaks. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cdc9p is a homologue of mammalian DNA ligase I and is required for DNA replication, recombination and single-strand break repair. The other yeast ligase, Lig4p/Dnl4p, is a homologue of mammalian DNA ligase IV, and functions in the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway of DNA double-strand break repair [1] [2] [3] [4]. Lig4p interacts with Lif1p, the yeast homologue of the human ligase IV-associated protein, XRCC4 [5]. This interaction takes place through the carboxy-terminal domain of Lig4p and is required for Lig4p stability. We show that the carboxy-terminal interaction region of Lig4p is necessary for NHEJ but, when fused to Cdc9p, is insufficient to confer NHEJ function to Cdc9p. Also, Lif1p stimulates the in vitro catalytic activity of Lig4p in adenylation and DNA ligation. Nevertheless, Lig4p is inactive in NHEJ in the absence of Lif1p in vivo, even when Lig4p is stably expressed. We show that Lif1p binds DNA in vitro and, through in vivo cross-linking and chromatin immuno precipitation assays, demonstrate that it targets Lig4p to chromosomal DNA double-strand breaks. Furthermore, this targeting requires another key NHEJ protein, Ku.

Mammalian DNA double-strand break repair protein XRCC4 interacts with DNA ligase IV.

BACKGROUND: Mammalian cells deficient in the XRCC4 DNA repair protein are impaired in DNA double-strand break repair and are consequently hypersensitive to ionising radiation. These cells are also defective in site-specific V(D)J recombination, a process that generates the diversity of antigen receptor genes in the developing immune system. These features are shared by cells lacking components of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). Although the XRCC4 gene has been cloned, the function(s) of XRCC4 in DNA end-joining has remained elusive. RESULTS: We found that XRCC4 is a nuclear phosphoprotein and was an effective substrate in vitro for DNA-PK. Human XRCC4 associated extremely tightly with another protein(s) even in the presence of 1 M NaCl. Co-immunoprecipitation and adenylylation assays demonstrated that this associated factor was the recently identified human DNA ligase IV. Consistent with this, XRCC4 and DNA ligase IV copurified exclusively and virtually quantitatively over a variety of chromatographic steps. Protein mapping studies revealed that XRCC4 interacted with ligase IV via the unique carboxy-terminal ligase IV extension that comprises two tandem BRCT (BRCA1 carboxyl terminus) homology motifs, which are also found in other DNA repair-associated factors and in the breast cancer susceptibility protein BRCA1. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide a function for the carboxy-terminal region of ligase IV and suggest that BRCT domains of other proteins may mediate contacts between DNA repair components. In addition, our data implicate mammalian ligase IV in V(D)J recombination and the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage, and provide a model for the potentiation of these processes by XRCC4.

DNA damage triggers disruption of telomeric silencing and Mec1p-dependent relocation of Sir3p.

In eukaryotic cells, surveillance mechanisms detect and respond to DNA damage by triggering cell-cycle arrest and inducing the expression of DNA-repair genes [1]. In budding yeast, a single DNA double-strand break (DSB) is sufficient to trigger cell-cycle arrest [2]. One highly conserved pathway for repairing DNA DSBs is DNA non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), which depends on the DNA end-binding protein Ku [3]. NHEJ also requires the SIR2, SIR3 and SIR4 gene products [4] [5], which are responsible for silencing at telomeres and the mating-type loci [6]. Because of the link between NHEJ and the Sir proteins, we investigated whether DNA damage influences telomeric silencing. We found that DNA damage triggers the reversible loss of telomeric silencing and relocation of Sir3p from telomeres. Complete Sir3p relocation was triggered by a single DNA DSB, suggesting that the singal is amplified. Consistent with this idea, Sir3p relocation depended on the DNA damage-signalling components Ddc1p and Mec1p. Thus, signalling of DNA damage may release Sir3p from telomeres and permit its subsequent association with other nuclear subdomains to regulate transcription, participate in DNA repair and/or enhance genomic stability by other mechanisms.