Studying RNA-DNA interactome by Red-C identifies noncoding RNAs associated with various chromatin types and reveals transcription dynamics.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) participate in various biological processes, including regulating transcription and sustaining genome 3D organization. Here, we present a method termed Red-C that exploits proximity ligation to identify contacts with the genome for all RNA molecules present in the nucleus. Using Red-C, we uncovered the RNA-DNA interactome of human K562 cells and identified hundreds of ncRNAs enriched in active or repressed chromatin, including previously undescribed RNAs. Analysis of the RNA-DNA interactome also allowed us to trace the kinetics of messenger RNA production. Our data support the model of co-transcriptional intron splicing, but not the hypothesis of the circularization of actively transcribed genes.

Hypoosmotic stress induces R loop formation in nucleoli and ATR/ATM-dependent silencing of nucleolar transcription.

The contribution of nucleoli to the cellular stress response has been discussed for over a decade. Stress-induced inhibition of RNA polymerase I-dependent transcription is hypothesized as a possible effector program in such a response. In this study, we report a new mechanism by which ribosomal DNA transcription can be inhibited in response to cellular stress. Specifically, we demonstrate that mild hypoosmotic stress induces stabilization of R loops in ribosomal genes and thus provokes the nucleoli-specific DNA damage response, which is governed by the ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase. Activation of ATR in nucleoli strongly depends on Treacle, which is needed for efficient recruitment/retention of TopBP1 in nucleoli. Subsequent ATR-mediated activation of ATM results in repression of nucleolar transcription.

Mechanism of heat stress-induced cellular senescence elucidates the exclusive vulnerability of early S-phase cells to mild genotoxic stress.

Heat stress is one of the best-studied cellular stress factors; however, little is known about its delayed effects. Here, we demonstrate that heat stress induces p21-dependent cellular senescence-like cell cycle arrest. Notably, only early S-phase cells undergo such an arrest in response to heat stress. The encounter of DNA replication forks with topoisomerase I-generated single-stranded DNA breaks resulted in the generation of persistent double-stranded DNA breaks was found to be a primary cause of heat stress-induced cellular senescence in these cells. This investigation of heat stress-induced cellular senescence elucidates the mechanisms underlying the exclusive sensitivity of early S-phase cells to ultra-low doses of agents that induce single-stranded DNA breaks.

Heat shock-induced dissociation of TRF2 from telomeres does not initiate a telomere-dependent DNA damage response.

Telomeric repeat binding factor 2 (TRF2) is a well-studied shelterin complex subunit that plays a major role in the protection of chomosome ends and the prevention of the telomere-associated DNA damage response. We show that heat shock induces the dissociation of TRF2 from telomeres in human primary and cancer cell cultures. TRF2 is not simply degraded in response to heat shock, but redistributed thoughout the nucleoplasm. This TRF2 depletion/redistribution does not initiate the DNA damage response at chomosome termini.

Mechanisms of heat shock response in mammals.

Heat shock (HS) is one of the best-studied exogenous cellular stresses. The cellular response to HS utilizes ancient molecular networks that are based primarily on the action of stress-induced heat shock proteins and HS factors. However, in one way or another, all cellular compartments and metabolic processes are involved in such a response. In this review, we aimed to summarize the experimental data concerning all aspects of the HS response in mammalian cells, such as HS-induced structural and functional alterations of cell membranes, the cytoskeleton and cellular organelles; the associated pathways that result in different modes of cell death and cell cycle arrest; and the effects of HS on transcription, splicing, translation, DNA repair, and replication.

Treacle and TOPBP1 control replication stress response in the nucleolus.

Replication stress is one of the main sources of genome instability. Although the replication stress response in eukaryotic cells has been extensively studied, almost nothing is known about the replication stress response in nucleoli. Here, we demonstrate that initial replication stress-response factors, such as RPA, TOPBP1, and ATR, are recruited inside the nucleolus in response to drug-induced replication stress. The role of TOPBP1 goes beyond the typical replication stress response; it interacts with the low-complexity nucleolar protein Treacle (also referred to as TCOF1) and forms large Treacle-TOPBP1 foci inside the nucleolus. In response to replication stress, Treacle and TOPBP1 facilitate ATR signaling at stalled replication forks, reinforce ATR-mediated checkpoint activation inside the nucleolus, and promote the recruitment of downstream replication stress response proteins inside the nucleolus without forming nucleolar caps. Characterization of the Treacle-TOPBP1 interaction mode leads us to propose that these factors can form a molecular platform for efficient stress response in the nucleolus.

Chromatin Trapping of Factors Involved in DNA Replication and Repair Underlies Heat-Induced Radio- and Chemosensitization.

Hyperthermia has been used as an adjuvant treatment for radio- and chemotherapy for decades. In addition to its effects on perfusion and oxygenation of cancer tissues, hyperthermia can enhance the efficacy of DNA-damaging treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although it is believed that the adjuvant effects are based on hyperthermia-induced dysfunction of DNA repair systems, the mechanisms of these dysfunctions remain elusive. Here, we propose that elevated temperatures can induce chromatin trapping (c-trapping) of essential factors, particularly those involved in DNA repair, and thus enhance the sensitization of cancer cells to DNA-damaging therapeutics. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we identified proteins that could potentially undergo c-trapping in response to hyperthermia. Functional analyses of several identified factors involved in DNA repair demonstrated that c-trapping could indeed be a mechanism of hyperthermia-induced transient deficiency of DNA repair systems. Based on our proteomics data, we showed for the first time that hyperthermia could inhibit maturation of Okazaki fragments and activate a corresponding poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-dependent DNA damage response. Together, our data suggest that chromatin trapping of factors involved in DNA repair and replication contributes to heat-induced radio- and chemosensitization.

Synthetically Lethal Interactions of ATM, ATR, and DNA-PKcs.

Synthetic lethality occurs when simultaneous perturbations of two genes or molecular processes result in a loss of cell viability. The number of known synthetically lethal interactions is growing steadily. We review here synthetically lethal interactions of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR), and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). These kinases are appropriate for synthetic lethal therapies because their genes are frequently mutated in cancer, and specific inhibitors are currently in clinical trials. Understanding synthetically lethal interactions of a particular gene or gene family can facilitate predicting new synthetically lethal interactions, therapy toxicity, and mechanisms of resistance, as well as defining the spectrum of tumors amenable to these therapeutic approaches.

Small molecule compounds that induce cellular senescence.

To date, dozens of stress-induced cellular senescence phenotypes have been reported. These cellular senescence states may differ substantially from each other, as well as from replicative senescence through the presence of specific senescence features. Here, we attempted to catalog virtually all of the cellular senescence-like states that can be induced by low molecular weight compounds. We summarized biological markers, molecular pathways involved in senescence establishment, and specific traits of cellular senescence states induced by more than fifty small molecule compounds.

Early S-phase cell hypersensitivity to heat stress.

Heat stress is one of the best-studied exogenous stress factors; however little is known about its delayed effects. Recently, we have shown that heat stress induces cellular senescence-like G2 arrest exclusively in early S-phase cells. The mechanism of this arrest includes the generation of heat stress-induced single-stranded DNA breaks, the collision of replication forks with these breaks and the formation of difficult-to-repair double-stranded DNA breaks. However, the early S phase-specific effects of heat stress are not limited to the induction of single-stranded DNA breaks. Here, we report that HS induces partial DNA re-replication and centrosome amplification. We suggest that HS-induced alterations in the expression levels of the genes encoding the replication licensing factors are the primary source of such perturbations. Notably, these processes do not contribute to acquisition of a senescence-like phenotype, although they do elicit postponed effects. Specifically, we found that the HeLa cells can escape from the heat stress-induced cellular senescence-like G2 arrest, and the mitosis they enter is multipolar due to the amplified centrosomes.

Inducing cellular senescence in vitro by using genetically encoded photosensitizers.

Cellular senescence, a form of cell cycle arrest, is one of the cellular responses to different types of exogenous and endogenous damage. The senescence phenotype can be induced in vitro by oncogene overexpression and/or DNA damage. Recently, we have reported a novel mechanism of cellular senescence induction by mild genotoxic stress. Specifically, we have shown that the formation of a small number of DNA lesions in normal and cancer cells during S phase leads to cellular senescence-like arrest within the same cell cycle. Here, based on this mechanism, we suggest an approach to remotely induce premature senescence in human cell cultures using short-term light irradiation. We used the genetically encoded photosensitizers, tandem KillerRed and miniSOG, targeted to chromatin by fusion to core histone H2B to induce moderate levels of DNA damage by light in S phase cells. We showed that the cells that express the H2B-fused photosensitizers acquire a senescence phenotype upon illumination with the appropriate light source. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both chromatin-targeted tandem KillerRed (produces O2¯) and miniSOG (produces 1O2) induce single-stranded DNA breaks upon light illumination. Interestingly, miniSOG was also able to induce double-stranded DNA breaks.

Dual effect of heat shock on DNA replication and genome integrity.

Heat shock (HS) is one of the better-studied exogenous stress factors. However, little is known about its effects on DNA integrity and the DNA replication process. In this study, we show that in G1 and G2 cells, HS induces a countable number of double-stranded breaks (DSBs) in the DNA that are marked by γH2AX. In contrast, in S-phase cells, HS does not induce DSBs but instead causes an arrest or deceleration of the progression of the replication forks in a temperature-dependent manner. This response also provoked phosphorylation of H2AX, which appeared at the sites of replication. Moreover, the phosphorylation of H2AX at or close to the replication fork rescued the fork from total collapse. Collectively our data suggest that in an asynchronous cell culture, HS might affect DNA integrity both directly and via arrest of replication fork progression and that the phosphorylation of H2AX has a protective effect on the arrested replication forks in addition to its known DNA damage signaling function.