The Yin and Yang of treating BRCA-deficient tumors.

The myriad changes that occur during the malignant progression of cancer cells present challenges to both clinicians and basic scientists. Two new studies in Nature underscore the central role of genome instability in tumor biology (Edwards et al., 2008; Sakai et al., 2008). These reports describe secondary changes in the BRCA2 locus that restore the wild-type reading frame and contribute to the development of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.

Gradual implementation of the meiotic recombination program via checkpoint pathways controlled by global DSB levels.

During meiosis, Spo11-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) are processed into crossovers, ensuring segregation of homologous chromosomes (homologs). Meiotic DSB processing entails 5' end resection and preferred strand exchange with the homolog rather than the sister chromatid (homolog bias). In many organisms, DSBs appear gradually along the genome. Here we report unexpected effects of global DSB levels on local recombination events. Early-occurring, low-abundance "scout" DSBs lack homolog bias. Their resection and interhomolog processing are controlled by the conserved checkpoint proteins Tel1(ATM) kinase and Pch2(TRIP13) ATPase. Processing pathways controlled by Mec1(ATR) kinase take over these functions only above a distinct DSB threshold, resulting in progressive strengthening of the homolog bias. We conclude that Tel1(ATM)/Pch2 and Mec1(ATR) DNA damage response pathways are sequentially activated during wild-type meiosis because of their distinct sensitivities to global DSB levels. Moreover, relative DSB order controls the DSB repair pathway choice and, ultimately, recombination outcome.

A mutant form of Dmc1 that bypasses the requirement for accessory protein Mei5-Sae3 reveals independent activities of Mei5-Sae3 and Rad51 in Dmc1 filament stability.

During meiosis, homologous recombination repairs programmed DNA double-stranded breaks. Meiotic recombination physically links the homologous chromosomes ("homologs"), creating the tension between them that is required for their segregation. The central recombinase in this process is Dmc1. Dmc1's activity is regulated by its accessory factors including the heterodimeric protein Mei5-Sae3 and Rad51. We use a gain-of-function dmc1 mutant, dmc1-E157D, that bypasses Mei5-Sae3 to gain insight into the role of this accessory factor and its relationship to mitotic recombinase Rad51, which also functions as a Dmc1 accessory protein during meiosis. We find that Mei5-Sae3 has a role in filament formation and stability, but not in the bias of recombination partner choice that favors homolog over sister chromatids. Analysis of meiotic recombination intermediates suggests that Mei5-Sae3 and Rad51 function independently in promoting filament stability. In spite of its ability to load onto single-stranded DNA and carry out recombination in the absence of Mei5-Sae3, recombination promoted by the Dmc1 mutant is abnormal in that it forms foci in the absence of DNA breaks, displays unusually high levels of multi-chromatid and intersister joint molecule intermediates, as well as high levels of ectopic recombination products. We use super-resolution microscopy to show that the mutant protein forms longer foci than those formed by wild-type Dmc1. Our data support a model in which longer filaments are more prone to engage in aberrant recombination events, suggesting that filament lengths are normally limited by a regulatory mechanism that functions to prevent recombination-mediated genome rearrangements.

RPA resolves conflicting activities of accessory proteins during reconstitution of Dmc1-mediated meiotic recombination.

Dmc1 catalyzes homology search and strand exchange during meiotic recombination in budding yeast and many other organisms including humans. Here we reconstitute Dmc1 recombination in vitro using six purified proteins from budding yeast including Dmc1 and its accessory proteins RPA, Rad51, Rdh54/Tid1, Mei5-Sae3 and Hop2-Mnd1 to promote D-loop formation between ssDNA and dsDNA substrates. Each accessory protein contributed to Dmc1's activity, with the combination of all six proteins yielding optimal activity. The ssDNA binding protein RPA plays multiple roles in stimulating Dmc1's activity including by overcoming inhibitory effects of ssDNA secondary structure on D-loop reactions, and by elongating D-loops. In addition, we demonstrate that RPA limits inhibitory interactions of Hop2-Mnd1 and Rdh54/Tid1 that otherwise occur during assembly of Dmc1-ssDNA nucleoprotein filaments. Finally, we report interactions between the proteins employed in the biochemical reconstitution including a direct interaction between Rad51 and Dmc1 that is enhanced by Mei5-Sae3.

The ATPase activity of E. coli RecA prevents accumulation of toxic complexes formed by erroneous binding to undamaged double stranded DNA.

The Escherichia coli RecA protein catalyzes the central step of homologous recombination using its homology search and strand exchange activity. RecA is a DNA-dependent ATPase, but its homology search and strand exchange activities are largely independent of its ATPase activity. ATP hydrolysis converts a high affinity DNA binding form, RecA-ATP, to a low affinity form RecA-ADP, thereby supporting an ATP hydrolysis-dependent dynamic cycle of DNA binding and dissociation. We provide evidence for a novel function of RecA's dynamic behavior; RecA's ATPase activity prevents accumulation of toxic complexes caused by direct binding of RecA to undamaged regions of dsDNA. We show that a mutant form of RecA, RecA-K250N, previously shown to be toxic to E. coli, is a loss-of-function ATPase-defective mutant. We use a new method for detecting RecA complexes involving nucleoid surface spreading and immunostaining. The method allows detection of damage-induced RecA foci; STED microscopy revealed these to typically be between 50 and 200 nm in length. RecA-K250N, and other toxic variants of RecA, form spontaneous DNA-bound complexes that are independent of replication and of accessory proteins required to load RecA onto tracts of ssDNA in vivo, supporting the hypothesis that RecA's expenditure of ATP serves an error correction function.

Swi2/Snf2-related translocases prevent accumulation of toxic Rad51 complexes during mitotic growth.

Purified DNA translocases Rdh54 and Rad54 can dissociate complexes formed by eukaryotic RecA-like recombinases on double-stranded DNA. Here, we show that Rad51 complexes are dissociated by these translocases in mitotic cells. Rad51 overexpression blocked growth of cells deficient in Rdh54 activity. This toxicity was associated with accumulation of Rad51 foci on undamaged chromatin. At normal Rad51 levels, rdh54 deficiency resulted in slight elevation of Rad51 foci. A triple mutant lacking Rdh54, Rad54, and a third Swi2/Snf2 homolog Uls1 accumulated Rad51 foci, grew slowly, and suffered chromosome loss. Thus, Uls1 and Rad54 can partially substitute for Rdh54 in the removal of toxic, nondamage-associated Rad51-DNA complexes. Additional data suggest that the function of Rdh54 and Rad54 in removal of Rad51 foci is significantly specialized; Rad54 predominates for removal of damage-associated foci, and Rdh54 predominates for removal of nondamage-associated foci.

Small Rad51 and Dmc1 Complexes Often Co-occupy Both Ends of a Meiotic DNA Double Strand Break.

The Eukaryotic RecA-like proteins Rad51 and Dmc1 cooperate during meiosis to promote recombination between homologous chromosomes by repairing programmed DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Previous studies showed that Rad51 and Dmc1 form partially overlapping co-foci. Here we show these Rad51-Dmc1 co-foci are often arranged in pairs separated by distances of up to 400 nm. Paired co-foci remain prevalent when DSBs are dramatically reduced or when strand exchange or synapsis is blocked. Super-resolution dSTORM microscopy reveals that individual foci observed by conventional light microscopy are often composed of two or more substructures. The data support a model in which the two tracts of ssDNA formed by a single DSB separate from one another by distances of up to 400 nm, with both tracts often bound by one or more short (about 100 nt) Rad51 filaments and also by one or more short Dmc1 filaments.

DNA damage response clamp 9-1-1 promotes assembly of ZMM proteins for formation of crossovers and synaptonemal complex.

Formation of crossovers between homologous chromosomes during meiosis is positively regulated by the ZMM proteins (also known as SIC proteins). DNA damage checkpoint proteins also promote efficient formation of interhomolog crossovers. Here, we examined, in budding yeast, the meiotic role of the heterotrimeric DNA damage response clamp composed of Rad17, Ddc1 and Mec3 (known as '9-1-1' in other organisms) and a component of the clamp loader, Rad24 (known as Rad17 in other organisms). Cytological analysis indicated that the 9-1-1 clamp and its loader are not required for the chromosomal loading of RecA homologs Rad51 or Dmc1, but are necessary for the efficient loading of ZMM proteins. Interestingly, the loading of ZMM proteins onto meiotic chromosomes was independent of the checkpoint kinase Mec1 (the homolog of ATR) as well as Rad51. Furthermore, the ZMM member Zip3 (also known as Cst9) bound to the 9-1-1 complex in a cell-free system. These data suggest that, in addition to promoting interhomolog bias mediated by Rad51-Dmc1, the 9-1-1 clamp promotes crossover formation through a specific role in the assembly of ZMM proteins. Thus, the 9-1-1 complex functions to promote two crucial meiotic recombination processes, the regulation of interhomolog recombination and crossover formation mediated by ZMM.

Caffeine inhibits gene conversion by displacing Rad51 from ssDNA.

Efficient repair of chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination relies on the formation of a Rad51 recombinase filament that forms on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) created at DSB ends. This filament facilitates the search for a homologous donor sequence and promotes strand invasion. Recently caffeine treatment has been shown to prevent gene targeting in mammalian cells by increasing non-productive Rad51 interactions between the DSB and random regions of the genome. Here we show that caffeine treatment prevents gene conversion in yeast, independently of its inhibition of the Mec1(ATR)/Tel1(ATM)-dependent DNA damage response or caffeine's inhibition of 5' to 3' resection of DSB ends. Caffeine treatment results in a dosage-dependent eviction of Rad51 from ssDNA. Gene conversion is impaired even at low concentrations of caffeine, where there is no discernible dismantling of the Rad51 filament. Loss of the Rad51 filament integrity is independent of Srs2's Rad51 filament dismantling activity or Rad51's ATPase activity and does not depend on non-specific Rad51 binding to undamaged double-stranded DNA. Caffeine treatment had similar effects on irradiated HeLa cells, promoting loss of previously assembled Rad51 foci. We conclude that caffeine treatment can disrupt gene conversion by disrupting Rad51 filaments.

Caffeine impairs resection during DNA break repair by reducing the levels of nucleases Sae2 and Dna2.

In response to chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs), eukaryotic cells activate the DNA damage checkpoint, which is orchestrated by the PI3 kinase-like protein kinases ATR and ATM (Mec1 and Tel1 in budding yeast). Following DSB formation, Mec1 and Tel1 phosphorylate histone H2A on serine 129 (known as γ-H2AX). We used caffeine to inhibit the checkpoint kinases after DSB induction. We show that prolonged phosphorylation of H2A-S129 does not require continuous Mec1 and Tel1 activity. Unexpectedly, caffeine treatment impaired homologous recombination by inhibiting 5' to 3' end resection, independent of Mec1 and Tel1 inhibition. Caffeine treatment led to the rapid loss, by proteasomal degradation, of both Sae2, a nuclease that plays a role in early steps of resection, and Dna2, a nuclease that facilitates one of two extensive resection pathways. Sae2's instability is evident in the absence of DNA damage. A similar loss is seen when protein synthesis is inhibited by cycloheximide. Caffeine treatment had similar effects on irradiated HeLa cells, blocking the formation of RPA and Rad51 foci that depend on 5' to 3' resection of broken chromosome ends. Our findings provide insight toward the use of caffeine as a DNA damage-sensitizing agent in cancer cells.

RAD54 family translocases counter genotoxic effects of RAD51 in human tumor cells.

The RAD54 family DNA translocases have several biochemical activities. One activity, demonstrated previously for the budding yeast translocases, is ATPase-dependent disruption of RAD51-dsDNA binding. This activity is thought to promote dissociation of RAD51 from heteroduplex DNA following strand exchange during homologous recombination. In addition, previous experiments in budding yeast have shown that the same activity of Rad54 removes Rad51 from undamaged sites on chromosomes; mutants lacking Rad54 accumulate nonrepair-associated complexes that can block growth and lead to chromosome loss. Here, we show that human RAD54 also promotes the dissociation of RAD51 from dsDNA and not ssDNA. We also show that translocase depletion in tumor cell lines leads to the accumulation of RAD51 on chromosomes, forming complexes that are not associated with markers of DNA damage. We further show that combined depletion of RAD54L and RAD54B and/or artificial induction of RAD51 overexpression blocks replication and promotes chromosome segregation defects. These results support a model in which RAD54L and RAD54B counteract genome-destabilizing effects of direct binding of RAD51 to dsDNA in human tumor cells. Thus, in addition to having genome-stabilizing DNA repair activity, human RAD51 has genome-destabilizing activity when expressed at high levels, as is the case in many human tumors.

Meiotic crossover control by concerted action of Rad51-Dmc1 in homolog template bias and robust homeostatic regulation.

During meiosis, repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by recombination promotes pairing of homologous chromosomes and their connection by crossovers. Two DNA strand-exchange proteins, Rad51 and Dmc1, are required for meiotic recombination in many organisms. Studies in budding yeast imply that Rad51 acts to regulate Dmc1's strand exchange activity, while its own exchange activity is inhibited. However, in a dmc1 mutant, elimination of inhibitory factor, Hed1, activates Rad51's strand exchange activity and results in high levels of recombination without participation of Dmc1. Here we show that Rad51-mediated meiotic recombination is not subject to regulatory processes associated with high-fidelity chromosome segregation. These include homolog bias, a process that directs strand exchange between homologs rather than sister chromatids. Furthermore, activation of Rad51 does not effectively substitute for Dmc1's chromosome pairing activity, nor does it ensure formation of the obligate crossovers required for accurate homolog segregation. We further show that Dmc1's dominance in promoting strand exchange between homologs involves repression of Rad51's strand-exchange activity. This function of Dmc1 is independent of Hed1, but requires the meiotic kinase, Mek1. Hed1 makes a relatively minor contribution to homolog bias, but nonetheless this is important for normal morphogenesis of synaptonemal complexes and efficient crossing-over especially when DSB numbers are decreased. Super-resolution microscopy shows that Dmc1 also acts to organize discrete complexes of a Mek1 partner protein, Red1, into clusters along lateral elements of synaptonemal complexes; this activity may also contribute to homolog bias. Finally, we show that when interhomolog bias is defective, recombination is buffered by two feedback processes, one that increases the fraction of events that yields crossovers, and a second that we propose involves additional DSB formation in response to defective homolog interactions. Thus, robust crossover homeostasis is conferred by integrated regulation at initiation, strand-exchange and maturation steps of meiotic recombination.

The third exon of the budding yeast meiotic recombination gene HOP2 is required for calcium-dependent and recombinase Dmc1-specific stimulation of homologous strand assimilation.

During meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the HOP2 and MND1 genes are essential for recombination. A previous biochemical study has shown that budding yeast Hop2-Mnd1 stimulates the activity of the meiosis-specific strand exchange protein ScDmc1 only 3-fold, whereas analogous studies using mammalian homologs show >30-fold stimulation. The HOP2 gene was recently discovered to contain a second intron that lies near the 3'-end. We show that both HOP2 introns are efficiently spliced during meiosis, forming a predominant transcript that codes for a protein with a C-terminal sequence different from that of the previously studied version of the protein. Using the newly identified HOP2 open reading frame to direct synthesis of wild type Hop2 protein, we show that the Hop2-Mnd1 heterodimer stimulated Dmc1 D-loop activity up to 30-fold, similar to the activity of mammalian Hop2-Mnd1. ScHop2-Mnd1 stimulated ScDmc1 activity in the presence of physiological (micromolar) concentrations of Ca(2+) ions, as long as Mg(2+) was also present at physiological concentrations, leading us to hypothesize that ScDmc1 protomers bind both cations in the active Dmc1 filament. Co-factor requirements and order-of-addition experiments suggested that Hop2-Mnd1-mediated stimulation of Dmc1 involves a process that follows the formation of functional Dmc1-ssDNA filaments. In dramatic contrast to mammalian orthologs, the stimulatory activity of budding yeast Hop2-Mnd1 appeared to be specific to Dmc1; we observed no Hop2-Mnd1-mediated stimulation of the other budding yeast strand exchange protein Rad51. Together, these results support previous genetic experiments indicating that Hop2-Mnd1 specifically stimulates Dmc1 during meiotic recombination in budding yeast.

Real-time solution measurement of RAD51- and RecA-mediated strand assimilation without background annealing.

RAD51 is the central strand exchange recombinase in somatic homologous recombination, providing genomic stability and promoting resistance to DNA damage. An important tool for mechanistic studies of RAD51 is the D-loop or strand assimilation assay, which measures the ability of RAD51-coated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) to search for, invade and exchange ssDNA strands with a homologous duplex DNA target. As cancer cells generally overexpress RAD51, the D-loop assay has also emerged as an important tool in oncologic drug design programs for targeting RAD51. Previous studies have adapted the traditional gel-based D-loop assay by using fluorescence-based substrates, which in principle allow for use in high-throughput screening platforms. However, these existing D-loop methods depend on linear oligonucleotide DNA duplex targets, and these substrates enable recombinase-independent ssDNA annealing that can obscure the recombinase-dependent strand assimilation signal. This compelled us to fundamentally re-design this assay, using a fluorescent target substrate that consists of a covalently closed linear double-hairpin dsDNA. This new microplate-based method represents a fast, inexpensive and non-radioactive alternative to existing D-loop assays. It provides accurate kinetic analysis of strand assimilation in high-throughput and performs well with human RAD51 and Escherichia coli RecA protein. This advance will aid in both mechanistic studies of homologous recombination and drug screening programs.

RecA homology search is promoted by mechanical stress along the scanned duplex DNA.

A RecA-single-stranded DNA (RecA-ssDNA) filament searches a genome for sequence homology by rapidly binding and unbinding double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) until homology is found. We demonstrate that pulling on the opposite termini (3' and 5') of one of the two DNA strands in a dsDNA molecule stabilizes the normally unstable binding of that dsDNA to non-homologous RecA-ssDNA filaments, whereas pulling on the two 3', the two 5', or all four termini does not. We propose that the 'outgoing' strand in the dsDNA is extended by strong DNA-protein contacts, whereas the 'complementary' strand is extended by the tension on the base pairs that connect the 'complementary' strand to the 'outgoing' strand. The stress resulting from different levels of tension on its constitutive strands causes rapid dsDNA unbinding unless sufficient homology is present.

RI-1: a chemical inhibitor of RAD51 that disrupts homologous recombination in human cells.

Homologous recombination serves multiple roles in DNA repair that are essential for maintaining genomic stability. We here describe RI-1, a small molecule that inhibits the central recombination protein RAD51. RI-1 specifically reduces gene conversion in human cells while stimulating single strand annealing. RI-1 binds covalently to the surface of RAD51 protein at cysteine 319 that likely destabilizes an interface used by RAD51 monomers to oligomerize into filaments on DNA. Correspondingly, the molecule inhibits the formation of subnuclear RAD51 foci in cells following DNA damage, while leaving replication protein A focus formation unaffected. Finally, it potentiates the lethal effects of a DNA cross-linking drug in human cells. Given that this inhibitory activity is seen in multiple human tumor cell lines, RI-1 holds promise as an oncologic drug. Furthermore, RI-1 represents a unique tool to dissect the network of reaction pathways that contribute to DNA repair in cells.

The epistatic relationship between BRCA2 and the other RAD51 mediators in homologous recombination.

RAD51 recombinase polymerizes at the site of double-strand breaks (DSBs) where it performs DSB repair. The loss of RAD51 causes extensive chromosomal breaks, leading to apoptosis. The polymerization of RAD51 is regulated by a number of RAD51 mediators, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD52, SFR1, SWS1, and the five RAD51 paralogs, including XRCC3. We here show that brca2-null mutant cells were able to proliferate, indicating that RAD51 can perform DSB repair in the absence of BRCA2. We disrupted the BRCA1, RAD52, SFR1, SWS1, and XRCC3 genes in the brca2-null cells. All the resulting double-mutant cells displayed a phenotype that was very similar to that of the brca2-null cells. We suggest that BRCA2 might thus serve as a platform to recruit various RAD51 mediators at the appropriate position at the DNA-damage site.

Chk2 homolog Mek1 limits exonuclease 1-dependent DNA end resection during meiotic recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The conserved Rad2/XPG family 5'-3' exonuclease, exonuclease 1 (Exo1), plays many roles in DNA metabolism including during resolution of DNA double-strand breaks via homologous recombination. Prior studies provided evidence that the end resection activity of Exo1 is downregulated in yeast and mammals by Cdk1/2 family cyclin-dependent and checkpoint kinases, including budding yeast kinase Rad53 which functions in mitotic cells. Here, we provide evidence that the master meiotic kinase Mek1, a paralog of Rad53, limits 5'-3' single-strand resection at the sites of programmed meiotic DNA breaks. Mutational analysis suggests that the mechanism of Exo1 suppression by Mek1 differs from that of Rad53.

Chk2 homologue Mek1 limits Exo1-dependent DNA end resection during meiotic recombination in S. cerevisiae.

The conserved Rad2/XPG family 5'-3' exonuclease, Exonuclease 1 (Exo1), plays many roles in DNA metabolism including during resolution of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) via homologous recombination. Prior studies provided evidence that the end-resection activity of Exo1 is downregulated in yeast and mammals by Cdk1/2 family cyclin-dependent and checkpoint kinases, including budding yeast kinase Rad53 which functions in mitotic cells. Here we provide evidence that the master meiotic kinase Mek1, a paralogue of Rad53, limits 5'-3' single strand resection at the sites of programmed meiotic DNA breaks. Mutational analysis suggests that the mechanism of Exo1 suppression by Mek1 differs from that of Rad53. Article Summary: Meiotic recombination involves formation of programmed DNA double strand breaks followed by 5' to 3' single strand specific resection by nucleases including Exo1. We find that the activity of budding yeast Exo1 is downregulated during meiotic recombination by the master meiotic kinase Mek1. The mechanism of downregulation of Exo1 by Mek1 in meiosis does not depend on the same phospho-sites as those used by the mitotic kinase Rad53, a relative of Mek1 that downregulates Exo1 in mitosis.