Nibrin, a novel DNA double-strand break repair protein, is mutated in Nijmegen breakage syndrome

Genomic integrity and the repair of double-strand DNA breaks

The induction of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA by exposure to DNA damaging agents or as intermediates in normal cellular processes, creates a severe threat for the integrity of the genome. Unrepaired or incorrectly repaired DSBs lead to broken chromosomes and/or gross chromosomal rearrangements which are frequently associated with tumor formation in mammals. To maintain the integrity of the genome and to prevent the formation of chromosomal aberrations, several pathways exist in eukaryotes: homologous recombination (HR), non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and single-strand annealing (SSA). These mechanisms are conserved in evolution, but the relative contribution depends on the organism, cell type and stage of the cell cycle. In yeast, DSBs are primarily repaired via HR while in higher eukaryotes, both HR and NHEJ are important. In mammals, defects in both HR or NHEJ lead to a predisposition to cancer and at the cellular level, the frequency of chromosomal aberrations is increased. This review summarizes our current knowledge about DSB-repair with emphasis on recent progress in understanding the precise biochemical activities of individual proteins involved.

Chk2 activation dependence on Nbs1 after DNA damage

The checkpoint kinase Chk2 has a key role in delaying cell cycle progression in response to DNA damage. Upon activation by low-dose ionizing radiation (IR), which occurs in an ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent manner, Chk2 can phosphorylate the mitosis-inducing phosphatase Cdc25C on an inhibitory site, blocking entry into mitosis, and p53 on a regulatory site, causing G(1) arrest. Here we show that the ATM-dependent activation of Chk2 by gamma- radiation requires Nbs1, the gene product involved in the Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), a disorder that shares with AT a variety of phenotypic defects including chromosome fragility, radiosensitivity, and radioresistant DNA synthesis. Thus, whereas in normal cells Chk2 undergoes a time-dependent increased phosphorylation and induction of catalytic activity against Cdc25C, in NBS cells null for Nbs1 protein, Chk2 phosphorylation and activation are both defective. Importantly, these defects in NBS cells can be complemented by reintroduction of wild-type Nbs1, but neither by a carboxy-terminal deletion mutant of Nbs1 at amino acid 590, unable to form a complex with and to transport Mre11 and Rad50 in the nucleus, nor by an Nbs1 mutated at Ser343 (S343A), the ATM phosphorylation site. Chk2 nuclear expression is unaffected in NBS cells, hence excluding a mislocalization as the cause of failed Chk2 activation in Nbs1-null cells. Interestingly, the impaired Chk2 function in NBS cells correlates with the inability, unlike normal cells, to stop entry into mitosis immediately after irradiation, a checkpoint abnormality that can be corrected by introduction of the wild-type but not the S343A mutant form of Nbs1. Altogether, these findings underscore the crucial role of a functional Nbs1 complex in Chk2 activation and suggest that checkpoint defects in NBS cells may result from the inability to activate Chk2.

Manipulating the mammalian genome by homologous recombination

Gene targeting in mammalian cells has proven invaluable in biotechnology, in studies of gene structure and function, and in understanding chromosome dynamics. It also offers a potential tool for gene-therapeutic applications. Two limitations constrain the current technology: the low rate of homologous recombination in mammalian cells and the high rate of random (nontargeted) integration of the vector DNA. Here we consider possible ways to overcome these limitations within the framework of our present understanding of recombination mechanisms and machinery. Several studies suggest that transient alteration of the levels of recombination proteins, by overexpression or interference with expression, may be able to increase homologous recombination or decrease random integration, and we present a list of candidate genes. We consider potentially beneficial modifications to the vector DNA and discuss the effects of methods of DNA delivery on targeting efficiency. Finally, we present work showing that gene-specific DNA damage can stimulate local homologous recombination, and we discuss recent results with two general methodologies--chimeric nucleases and triplex-forming oligonucleotides--for stimulating recombination in cells.

A novel nucleolar protein, NIFK, interacts with the forkhead associated domain of Ki-67 antigen in mitosis

In a previous study, we demonstrated that the forkhead associated (FHA) domain of pKi-67 interacts with the novel kinesin-like protein, Hklp2 (Sueishi, M., Takagi, M., and Yoneda, Y. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 28888-28892). In this study, we report on the identification of a putative RNA-binding protein of 293 residues as another binding partner of the FHA domain of pKi-67 (referred to as NIFK for nucleolar protein interacting with the FHA domain of pKi-67). Human NIFK (hNIFK) interacted with the FHA domain of pKi-67 (Ki-FHA) efficiently in vitro when hNIFK was derived from mitotically arrested cells. In addition, a moiety of hNIFK was co-localized with pKi-67 at the peripheral region of mitotic chromosomes. The hNIFK domain that interacts with Ki-FHA was mapped in the yeast two-hybrid system to a portion encompassed by residues 226-269. In a binding assay utilizing Xenopus egg extracts, it was found that the mitosis-specific environment and two threonine residues within this portion of hNIFK (Thr-234 and Thr-238) were crucial for the efficient interaction of hNIFK and Ki-FHA, suggesting that hNIFK interacts with Ki-FHA in a mitosis-specific and phosphorylation-dependent manner. These findings provide a new clue to our understanding of the cellular function of pKi-67.

Structural biochemistry and interaction architecture of the DNA double-strand break repair Mre11 nuclease and Rad50-ATPase

To clarify functions of the Mre11/Rad50 (MR) complex in DNA double-strand break repair, we report Pyrococcus furiosus Mre11 crystal structures, revealing a protein phosphatase-like, dimanganese binding domain capped by a unique domain controlling active site access. These structures unify Mre11's multiple nuclease activities in a single endo/exonuclease mechanism and reveal eukaryotic macromolecular interaction sites by mapping human and yeast Mre11 mutations. Furthermore, the structure of the P. furiosus Rad50 ABC-ATPase with its adjacent coiled-coil defines a compact Mre11/Rad50-ATPase complex and suggests that Rad50-ATP-driven conformational switching directly controls the Mre11 exonuclease. Electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering, and ultracentrifugation data of human and P. furiosus MR reveal a dual functional complex consisting of a (Mre11)2/(Rad50)2 heterotetrameric DNA processing head and a double coiled-coil linker.

Role of Nijmegen breakage syndrome protein in specific T-lymphocyte activation pathways

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a genetic disorder characterized by immunodeficiency, microcephaly, and "bird-like" facies. NBS shares some clinical features with ataxia telangiectasia (AT), including increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation, increased spontaneous and induced chromosome fragility, and strong predisposition to lymphoid cancers. The mutated gene that results in NBS codes for a novel double-stranded DNA break repair protein, named nibrin. In the present work, a Spanish NBS patient was extensively characterized at the immunological and the molecular DNA levels. He showed low CD3(+)-cell numbers and an abnormal low CD4(+) naive cell/CD4(+) memory cell ratio, previously described in AT patients and also described in the present report in the NBS patient. The proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro to mitogens is deficient in NBS patients, but the possible link among NBS mutations and the abnormal immune response is still unknown.

Rescue of a telomere length defect of Nijmegen breakage syndrome cells requires NBS and telomerase catalytic subunit

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a rare human disease displaying chromosome instability, radiosensitivity, cancer predisposition, immunodeficiency, and other defects [1, 2]. NBS is complexed with MRE11 and RAD50 in a DNA repair complex [3-5] and is localized to telomere ends in association with TRF proteins [6, 7]. We show that blood cells from NBS patients have shortened telomere DNA ends. Likewise, cultured NBS fibroblasts that exhibit a premature growth cessation were observed with correspondingly shortened telomeres. Introduction of the catalytic subunit of telomerase, TERT, was alone sufficient to increase the proliferative capacity of NBS fibroblasts. However, NBS, but not TERT, restores the capacity of NBS cells to survive gamma irradiation damage. Strikingly, NBS promotes telomere elongation in conjunction with TERT in NBS fibroblasts. These results suggest that NBS is a required accessory protein for telomere extension. Since NBS patients have shortened telomeres, these defects may contribute to the chromosome instability and disease associated with NBS patients.

Cellular responses to DNA damage

Cells are constantly under threat from the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of DNA damaging agents. These agents can either be exogenous or formed within cells. Environmental DNA-damaging agents include UV light and ionizing radiation, as well as a variety of chemicals encountered in foodstuffs, or as air- and water-borne agents. Endogenous damaging agents include methylating species and the reactive oxygen species that arise during respiration. Although diverse responses are elicited in cells following DNA damage, this review focuses on three aspects: DNA repair mechanisms, cell cycle checkpoints, and apoptosis. Because the areas of nucleotide excision repair and mismatch repair have been covered extensively in recent reviews, we restrict our coverage of the DNA repair field to base excision repair and DNA double-strand break repair.

Ataxia telangiectasia: new neurons and ATM

Despite the rarity of the human autosomal recessive disease ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) (affecting approximately 1/40000-1/100000), interest in the function of the mutated gene product (ATM) in this syndrome is intense. Mutation of this single gene can lead to a diverse array of features, including cancer, immune defects, infertility and radiosensitivity. However, it is the pronounced and debilitating neurodegeneration that is the hallmark of this disease. Thus, from a clinical perspective, it is ATM function in the nervous system that, arguably, is the most important to understand. Although the case for DNA damage as a causative factor for neurodegeneration in A-T is compelling, new data point to a possible link to defects in neurogenesis. Thus, whereas ATM is important for nervous system development, it could also be important for adult neurogenesis.

A DNA damage response pathway controlled by Tel1 and the Mre11 complex

We define a DNA damage checkpoint pathway in S. cerevisiae governed by the ATM homolog Tel1 and the Mre11 complex. In mitotic cells, the Tel1-Mre11 complex pathway triggers Rad53 activation and its interaction with Rad9, whereas in meiosis it acts via Rad9 and the Rad53 paralog Mre4/Mek1. Activation of the Tel1-Mre11 complex pathway checkpoint functions appears to depend upon the Mre11 complex as a damage sensor and, at least in meiotic cells, to depend on unprocessed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The DSB repair functions of the Mre11 complex are enhanced by the pathway, suggesting that the complex both initiates and is regulated by the Tel1-dependent DSB signal. These findings demonstrate that the diverse functions of the Mre11 complex in the cellular DNA damage response are conserved in mammals and yeast.

Frameshift mutations at mononucleotide repeats in RAD50 recombinational DNA repair gene in colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability

To identify additional genes targeted for microsatellite instability (MSI), we search for human genes which contain mononucleotide repeats in their coding region, selected 7 genes (RAD50, DNA-PKcs, FLASH, Apaf-1, XPG, CtIP, and MLSN1), and analyzed frameshift mutations in them. Here we report that 60% (3 out of 5) of human colorectal cancer cell lines exhibiting a high frequency of MSI (MSI-H) and 46% (6 out of 13) of MSI-H primary colorectal tumors had mutations in the (A)9 repeat of RAD50 recombinational repair gene. In contrast, no frameshift mutations were found in any of the 5 MSI-negative colorectal cancer cell lines, 8 colorectal tumors exhibiting a low frequency of MSI (MSI-L), or 28 MSI-negative colorectal tumors. No mutations were found in the mononucleotide repeats of 6 other genes, even in MSI-H cancers. These results suggest that RAD50 frameshift mutations may play a role in the tumorigenesis of MSI-H colorectal cancers.

Checkpoint and DNA-repair proteins are associated with the cores of mammalian meiotic chromosomes

Meiotic checkpoints are manifested through protein complexes capable of detecting an abnormality in chromosome metabolism and signaling it to effector molecules that subsequently delay or arrest the progression of meiosis. Some checkpoints act during the first meiotic prophase to monitor the repair of chromosomal DSBs, predominantly by meiotic recombination, or to ensure the correct establishment of synapsis and its well-timed dissolution. In mammals, a number of checkpoint and repair proteins localize to the meiotic chromosomal cores, sometimes in the context of the synaptonemal complex (SC). Here we discuss possible functions of these proteins in the accomplishment of meiotic recombination and normal progression of the meiotic pathway. Also, we present arguments for a structural role of cores and SCs in the assembly of the repair and checkpoint protein complexes on the chromosomes.

Combined immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, and postnatal growth deficiency in a Japanese girl

We report on an 11-year-old Japanese girl with combined immunodeficiency and chromosomal instability. She had postnatal growth deficiency and microcephaly, preaxial polydactyly of the left hand, and susceptibility to infections. Immunological studies showed marked lymphocytopenia (around 500/ll), reduced lymphocyte response to various mitogens, and reduced or absent serum IgA, IgG, and IgM. Cell biological studies of her primary skin fibroblasts demonstrated spontaneous chromosome aberrations and radiation hypersensitivity. The combination of immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, and radiation hypersensitivity as seen in the girl is present in both ataxia-telangiectasia and Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Ataxia-telangiectasia was excluded because of differences in clinical features and laboratory data. Likewise, Nijmegen breakage syndrome is unlikely to be the case because the characteristic face, hyperpigmented spots, and mental retardation present in the syndrome were missing in the girl. Sequence analysis of a Nijmegen breakage syndrome responsible gene, NBS1, revealed no mutations. A normal NBS1 product was also demonstrated by immunoblot analysis using an anti-NBS1 antibody. We propose that the disorder in the girl represents a new combination of combined immunodeficiency and chromosomal instability.

Complementation of chromosomal aberrations in AT/NBS hybrids: inadequacy of RDS as an endpoint in complementation studies with immortal NBS cells

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) and ataxia telangiectasia (AT) are rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorders characterized by radiosensitivity, chromosomal instability, immunodeficiency and proneness to cancer. Although the clinical features of both syndromes are quite distinct, the cellular characteristics are very similar. Cells from both NBS and AT patients are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation (IR), show elevated levels of chromosomal aberrations and display radioresistant DNA synthesis (RDS). The proteins defective in NBS and AT, NBS1 and ATM, respectively, are involved in the same pathway, but their exact relationship is not yet fully understood. Stumm et al. (Am. J. Hum. Genet. 60 (1997) 1246) have reported that hybrids of AT and NBS lymphoblasts were not complemented for chromosomal aberrations. In contrast, we found that X-ray-induced cell killing as well as chromosomal aberrations were complemented in proliferating NBS-1LBI/AT5BIVA hybrids, comparable to that in NBS-1LBI cells after transfer of a single human chromosome 8 providing the NBS1 gene. RDS observed in AT5BIVA cells was reduced in these hybrids to the level of that seen in immortal NBS-1LBI cells. However, the level of DNA synthesis, following ionizing radiation, in SV40 transformed wild-type cell lines was the same as in NBS-1LBI cells. Only primary wild-type cells showed stronger inhibition of DNA synthesis. In summary, these results clearly indicate that RDS cannot be used as an endpoint in functional complementation studies with immortal NBS-1LBI cells, whereas the cytogenetic assay is suitable for complementation studies with immortal AT and NBS cells.

No evidence for deletions of the NBS1 gene in lymphomas

Patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) have a high risk to develop malignant diseases, most frequently B-cell lymphomas. The NBS gene product, nibrin, is involved in DNA recombination repair, a function shared with known tumor suppressor genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2. This led us to investigate whether NBS acts as tumor suppressor gene in the development of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Therefore, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using a BAC clone containing the entire NBS1 region on eight B-cell and eight T-cell lymphomas, including one B-cell and two T-cell lymphomas with structural abnormalities of 8q. None of the tumors showed a deletion of the NBS1 gene, demonstrating that deletion of the NBS1 gene is not a major cause or a primary event in tumorigenesis of human B- and T-cell lymphomas.

How to make ends meet in V(D)J recombination

In most vertebrate species analyzed so far, the diversity of soluble or membrane-bound antigen-receptors expressed by B and T lymphocytes is generated by V(D)J recombination. During this process, the coding regions for the variable domains of antigen-receptors are created by the joining of subexons that are randomly selected from arrays of tandemly repeated V, D (sometimes) and J gene segments. This involves the site-specific cleavage of chromosomal DNA by the lymphocyte-specific recombination-activating gene (RAG)-1/2 proteins, which appear to have originated from an ancient transposable element. The DNA double-strand breaks created by RAG proteins are subsequently processed and rejoined by components of the nonhomologous DNA end-joining pathway, which is conserved in all eukaryotic organisms - from unicellular yeast up to highly complex mammalian species.

An alternative mode of translation permits production of a variant NBS1 protein from the common Nijmegen breakage syndrome allele

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a rare chromosomal-instability syndrome associated with cancer predisposition, radiosensitivity and radioresistant DNA synthesis-S phase checkpoint deficiency, which results in the failure to suppress DNA replication origins following DNA damage. Approximately 90% of NBS patients are homozygous for the 657del5 allele, a truncating mutation of NBS1 that causes premature termination at codon 219. Because null mutations in MRE11 and RAD50, which encode binding partners of NBS1, are lethal in vertebrates, and mouse Nbs1-null mutants are inviable, we tested the hypothesis that the NBS1 657del5 mutation was a hypomorphic defect. We showed that NBS cells contain the predicted 26-kD amino-terminal protein fragment, NBS1p26, and a 70-kD NBS1 protein (NBS1p70) lacking the native N terminus. The NBSp26 protein is not physically associated with the MRE11 complex, whereas the p70 species is physically associated with it. NBS1p70 is produced by internal translation initiation within the NBS1 mRNA using an open reading frame generated by the 657del5 frameshift. We propose that the common NBS1 allele encodes a partially functional protein that diminishes the severity of the NBS phenotype.

Molecular genetics of human microcephaly

Human microcephaly comprises a heterogeneous group of conditions that are characterized by a failure of normal brain growth. Microcephaly can be caused by many injurious or degenerative conditions, or by developmental malformations in which the growth of the brain is impaired as a result of defects in pattern formation, cell proliferation, cell survival, cell differentiation, or cell growth. These latter forms of congenital microcephaly are frequently inherited, usually as recessive traits, and are associated with mental retardation and sometimes epilepsy. Some of the genes that cause congenital microcephaly are likely to control crucial aspects of neural development, and may also be involved in the evolutionary explosion of cortical size that characterizes primates. There has recently been a rapid advance in the use of genetic mapping techniques to identify genetic loci responsible for microcephaly. Although several loci have been mapped, the condition is clearly genetically and clinically heterogeneous.

DNA-binding and strand-annealing activities of human Mre11: implications for its roles in DNA double-strand break repair pathways

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in eukaryotic cells can be repaired by non-homologous end-joining or homologous recombination. The complex containing the Mre11, Rad50 and Nbs1 proteins has been implicated in both DSB repair pathways, even though they are mechanistically different. To get a better understanding of the properties of the human Mre11 (hMre11) protein, we investigated some of its biochemical activities. We found that hMre11 binds both double- and single-stranded (ss)DNA, with a preference for ssDNA. hMre11 does not require DNA ends for efficient binding. Interestingly, hMre11 mediates the annealing of complementary ssDNA molecules. In contrast to the annealing activity of the homologous recombination protein hRad52, the activity of hMre11 is abrogated by the ssDNA binding protein hRPA. We discuss the possible implications of the results for the role(s) of hMre11 in both DSB repair pathways.

RINT-1, a novel Rad50-interacting protein, participates in radiation-induced G(2)/M checkpoint control

Rad50, an structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein family member, participates in a variety of cellular processes, including DNA double-strand break repair, cell cycle checkpoint activation, telomere maintenance, and meiosis. Disruption of Rad50 in mice leads to lethality during early embryogenesis, indicating its essential function in normal proliferating cells. In addition to its ability to form a complex with the DNA double-strand break repair proteins Mre11 and NBS1, Rad50 may interact with other cellular proteins to execute its full range of biological activities. A novel 87-kDa protein named RINT-1 was identified using the C-terminal region of human Rad50 as the bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Human RINT-1 shares sequence homology with a novel protein identified in Drosophila melanogaster, including a coiled-coil domain within its N-terminal 150 amino acids, a conserved central domain of about 350 amino acids, and a C-terminal region of 90 amino acids exhibiting 35--38% identity. The conserved central and C-terminal regions of RINT-1 are required for its interaction with Rad50. While Rad50 and RINT-1 are both expressed throughout the cell cycle, RINT-1 specifically binds to Rad50 only during late S and G(2)/M phases, suggesting that RINT-1 may be involved in cell cycle regulation. Consistent with this possibility, MCF-7 cells expressing an N-terminally truncated RINT-1 protein displayed a defective radiation-induced G(2)/M checkpoint. These results suggest that RINT-1 may play a role in the regulation of cell cycle control after DNA damage.

C. elegans mre-11 is required for meiotic recombination and DNA repair but is dispensable for the meiotic G(2) DNA damage checkpoint

We investigated the roles of Caenorhabditis elegans MRE-11 in multiple cellular processes required to maintain genome integrity. Although yeast Mre11 is known to promote genome stability through several diverse pathways, inviability of vertebrate cells that lack Mre11 has hindered elucidation of the in vivo roles of this conserved protein in metazoan biology. Worms homozygous for an mre-11 null mutation are viable, allowing us to demonstrate in vivo requirements for MRE-11 in meiotic recombination and DNA repair. In mre-11 mutants, meiotic crossovers are not detected, and oocyte chromosomes lack chiasmata but appear otherwise intact. gamma-irradiation of mre-11 mutant germ cells during meiotic prophase eliminates progeny survivorship and induces chromosome fragmentation and other cytologically visible abnormalities, indicating a defect in repair of radiation-induced chromosome damage. Whereas mre-11 mutant germ cells are repair-deficient, they retain function of the meiotic G(2) DNA damage checkpoint that triggers germ cell apoptosis in response to ionizing radiation. Although mre-11/mre-11 animals derived from heterozygous parents are viable and produce many embryos, there is a marked drop both in the number and survivorship of embryos produced by succeeding generations. This progressive loss of fecundity and viability indicates that MRE-11 performs a function essential for maintaining reproductive capacity in the species.

Distinct functional domains of nibrin mediate Mre11 binding, focus formation, and nuclear localization

The inherited chromosomal instability disorder Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) results from truncating mutations in the NBS1 gene, which encodes the protein nibrin. Nibrin is part of a nuclear multiprotein complex that also contains the DNA repair proteins Mre11 and Rad50. Upon irradiation, this complex redistributes within the nucleus, forming distinct foci that have been implicated as sites of DNA repair. In NBS cells, nibrin is absent and Mre11 and Rad50 are cytoplasmic. In this study, the interacting domains on nibrin and Mre11 were mapped using the yeast two-hybrid system and expression of epitope-tagged constructs in NBS fibroblasts. Deletion of the carboxy-terminal 101 amino acids of nibrin eliminated its ability to interact with Mre11 and to complement the radiation sensitivity of NBS cells. However, this truncated form of nibrin could localize to the nucleus and form radiation-inducible foci. Expression of a carboxy-terminal 354-amino-acid fragment of nibrin was sufficient to direct the nuclear localization of nibrin, as well as that of Mre11 and Rad50. Despite providing some partial complementation of the radiation-sensitive phenotype, the nibrin-Mre11-Rad50 complexes in these cells were unable to form foci. These results indicate that nibrin directs not only the nuclear localization of the nibrin-Mre11-Rad50 complexes but also radiation-induced focus formation. However, direct interaction between nibrin and Mre11 is required for normal cellular survival postirradiation. Distinct domains of nibrin are required for each of these functions, focus formation, nuclear localization, and Mre11 interaction.

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.

Suppression of spontaneous chromosomal rearrangements by S phase checkpoint functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cancer cells show increased genome rearrangements, although it is unclear what defects cause these rearrangements. Mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae RFC5, DPB11, MEC1, DDC2 MEC3, RAD53, CHK1, PDS1, and DUN1 increased the rate of genome rearrangements up to 200-fold whereas mutations in RAD9, RAD17, RAD24, BUB3, and MAD3 had little effect. The rearrangements were primarily deletion of a portion of a chromosome arm along with TEL1-dependent addition of a new telomere. tel1 mutations increased the proportion of translocations observed, and in some cases showed synergistic interactions when combined with mutations that increased the genome rearrangement rate. These data suggest that one role of S phase checkpoint functions in normal cells is to suppress spontaneous genome rearrangements resulting from DNA replication errors.

Sources of variation in patient response to radiation treatment

PURPOSE

To investigate sources of variation in radiosensitivity displayed by cancer patients and blood donors using the leukocyte apoptosis assay.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Probes were obtained from 105 healthy blood donors, 48 cancer patients displaying normal sensitivity to radiotherapy, 12 cancer patients displaying hypersensitivity to radiotherapy, 12 Ataxia telangiectasia blood donors, and 4 additional individuals with genetic diseases of potentially modified radiosensitivity; 2 neurofibromatosis (NF) donors, a Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) donor, and an Immunodeficiency, Chromosome fragility, Facial anomaly syndrome (ICF) donor. Heparinized blood was diluted in medium, irradiated, and left to incubate for 48 h. CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte DNA was stained with propidium iodide and the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Radiation-induced apoptosis depended on age and cell type. Cohorts of hypersensitive cancer patients, NBS and AT donors displayed compromised apoptotic response. An asymmetric apoptotic response of T-lymphocytes was observed in an ICF donor and a cryptic hypersensitivity donor. Two NF donors displayed no abnormal sensitivity to radiotherapy but compromised apoptotic T-cell response to X-rays.

CONCLUSION

Our studies reveal 4 physiologic sources of variation in radiation response-2 are genetic: cryptic hypersensitivity and hereditary disease, and 2 are epigenetic: cell type and donor age. They emphasize the important role of proteins involved in the recognition and repair of DNA double-strand breaks in determining the response of individuals to radiotherapy.

Reverse genetic studies of homologous DNA recombination using the chicken B-lymphocyte line, DT40

DT40 is an avian leucosis virus-transformed chicken B-lymphocyte line which exhibits high ratios of targeted to random integration of transfected DNA constructs. This efficient targeted integration may be related to the ongoing diversification of the variable segment of the immunoglobulin gene through homologous DNA recombination-controlled gene conversion. DT40s are a convenient model system for making gene-targeted mutants. Another advantage is the relative tractability of these cells, which makes it possible to disrupt multiple genes in a single cell and to generate conditionally gene-targeted mutants including temperature-sensitive mutants. There are strong phenotypic similarities between murine and DT40 mutants of various genes involved in DNA recombination. These similarities confirm that the DT40 cell line is a reasonable model for the analysis of vertebrate DNA recombination, despite obvious concerns associated with the use of a transformed cell line, which may have certain cell-line-specific characteristics. Here we describe our studies of homologous DNA recombination in vertebrate somatic cells using reverse genetics in DT40 cells.

Targeted disruption of the Nijmegen breakage syndrome gene NBS1 leads to early embryonic lethality in mice

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a rare autosomal recessive human disease whose clinical features include growth retardation, immunodeficiency, and increased susceptibility to lymphoid malignancies. Cells from NBS patients exhibit gamma-irradiation sensitivity, S-phase checkpoint defects, and genomic instability. Recently, it was demonstrated that this chromosomal breakage syndrome is caused by mutations in the NBS1 gene that result in a total loss of full-length NBS1 expression. Here we report that in contrast to the viability of NBS patients, targeted inactivation of NBS1 in mice leads to early embryonic lethality in utero and is associated with poorly developed embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. Mutant blastocysts showed greatly diminished expansion of the inner cell mass in culture, and this finding suggests that NBS1 mediates essential functions during proliferation in the absence of externally induced damage. Together, our results indicate that the complex phenotypes observed in NBS patients and cell lines may not result from a complete inactivation of NBS1 but may instead result from hypomorphic truncation mutations compatible with cell viability.

The forkhead-associated domain of NBS1 is essential for nuclear foci formation after irradiation but not essential for hRAD50[middle dot]hMRE11[middle dot]NBS1 complex DNA repair activity

NBS1 (p95), the protein responsible for Nijmegen breakage syndrome, shows a weak homology to the yeast Xrs2 protein at the N terminus region, known as the forkhead-associated (FHA) domain and the BRCA1 C terminus domain. The protein interacts with hMRE11 to form a complex with a nuclease activity for initiation of both nonhomologous end joining and homologous recombination. Here, we show in vivo direct evidence that NBS1 recruits the hMRE11 nuclease complex into the cell nucleus and leads to the formation of foci by utilizing different functions from several domains. The amino acid sequence at 665-693 on the C terminus of NBS1, where a novel identical sequence with yeast Xrs2 protein was found, is essential for hMRE11 binding. The hMRE11-binding region is necessary for both nuclear localization of the complex and for cellular radiation resistance. On the other hand, the FHA domain regulates nuclear foci formation of the multiprotein complex in response to DNA damage but is not essential for nuclear transportation of the complex and radiation resistance. Because the FHA/BRCA1 C terminus domain is widely conserved in eukaryotic nuclear proteins related to the cell cycle, gene regulation, and DNA repair, the foci formation could be associated with many phenotypes of Nijmegen breakage syndrome other than radiation sensitivity.

Expression of genes involved in repair of DNA double-strand breaks in normal and tumor tissues

BACKGROUND

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are the major lethal lesions induced by ionizing radiation. The capability for DNA DSB repair is crucial for inherent radiosensitivity of tumor and normal cells. DNA-PKcs, Ku 70, Ku 85, Xrcc4, and Nbs1 play a critical role in DNA DSB repair.

METHODS

We immunohistochemically investigated the expression of DNA-PKcs, Ku 70, Ku85, Xrcc4, and Nbs1 in 134 specimens from various normal and tumor tissues with different radiosensitivity.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Immunopositivity to Ku70, Ku85, DNA-PKcs, Xrcc4, and Nbs1 was found in all tumor tissues examined. The staining for Ku70, Ku85, and DNA-PKcs was nuclear; but, for Xrcc4 and Nbs1, it was nuclear and cytoplasmic. There were no apparent differences in the expression of these five proteins among cancerous tissues and the corresponding normal tissues. No apparent differences in nuclear staining intensity were detected in the expression of these five proteins among tumor tissues with different radiosensitivity, although non-Hodgkins' lymphoma (B or T cell) tended to show a lower expression than the others. The stromal cells generally expressed these five proteins at much lower frequency than either tumor or epithelial cells in both tumor and normal tissues.

p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) is an early participant in the cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks

p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1), a protein proposed to function as a transcriptional coactivator of the p53 tumor suppressor, has BRCT domains with high homology to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad9p DNA damage checkpoint protein. To examine whether 53BP1 has a role in the cellular response to DNA damage, we probed its intracellular localization by immunofluorescence. In untreated primary cells and U2OS osteosarcoma cells, 53BP1 exhibited diffuse nuclear staining; whereas, within 5-15 min after exposure to ionizing radiation (IR), 53BP1 localized at discreet nuclear foci. We propose that these foci represent sites of processing of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), because they were induced by IR and chemicals that cause DSBs, but not by ultraviolet light; their peak number approximated the number of DSBs induced by IR and decreased over time with kinetics that parallel the rate of DNA repair; and they colocalized with IR-induced Mre11/NBS and gamma-H2AX foci, which have been previously shown to localize at sites of DSBs. Formation of 53BP1 foci after irradiation was not dependent on ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS1), or wild-type p53. Thus, the fast kinetics of 53BP1 focus formation after irradiation and the lack of dependency on ATM and NBS1 suggest that 53BP1 functions early in the cellular response to DNA DSBs.

Lessons learned from BRCA1 and BRCA2

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are breast cancer susceptibility genes. Mutations within BRCA1 and BRCA1 are responsible for most familial breast cancer cases. Targeted deletion of Brca1 or Brca2 in mice has revealed an essential function for their encoded products, BRCA1 and BRCA2, in cell proliferation during embryogenesis. Mouse models established from conditional expression of mutant Brca1 alleles develop mammary gland tumors, providing compelling evidence that BRCA1 functions as a breast cancer suppressor. Human cancer cells and mouse cells deficient in BRCA1 or BRCA2 exhibit radiation hypersensitivity and chromosomal abnormalities, thus revealing a potential role for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the maintenance of genetic stability through participation in the cellular response to DNA damage. Functional analyses of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene products have established their dual participation in transcription regulation and DNA damage repair. Potential insight into the molecular basis for these functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 has been provided by studies that implicate these two tumor suppressors in both the maintenance of genetic stability and the regulation of cell growth and differentiation.

V(D)J rearrangement in Nijmegen breakage syndrome

Repair of DNA double-strand breaks is essential for maintenance of genomic stability, and is specifically required for rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell receptor (TCR) loci during development of the immune system. Abnormalities in these repair processes also contribute to oncogenic chromosomal rearrangements that underlie many lymphoid malignancies. Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by immunodeficiency, radiation sensitivity, and increased predisposition to lymphoid cancers bearing oncogenic Ig and TCR locus translocations. NBS patients fail to produce nibrin, a protein required for the nuclear localization and function of a DNA repair complex that includes Mre11 and Rad50. Mre11 has biochemical properties that suggest a potential role in V(D)J recombination. We studied V(D)J recombination in NBS cells in vitro and in vivo, using cell lines and peripheral blood leukocyte DNA from NBS patients. We found that NBS cells were competent to rejoin signal substrates with normal efficiency and high fidelity. Coding substrates were similarly rejoined efficiently, and coding end structures appeared normal. In B cells from NBS patients, the spectrums of IgH CDR3 regions were diverse and normally distributed. Moreover, the lengths and composition of Igkappa VJ joins and IgH VDJ joins derived from NBS and normal subjects were indistinguishable. Our data indicate that nibrin plays no essential role in V(D)J recombination and is not required for the generation of an apparently diverse B cell repertoire.

The many substrates and functions of ATM

As its name suggests, the ATM--'ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated'--gene is responsible for the rare disorder ataxia-telangiectasia. Patients show various abnormalities, mainly in their responses to DNA damage, but also in other cellular processes. Although it is hard to understand how a single gene product is involved in so many physiological processes, a clear picture is starting to emerge.

Lessons from human progeroid syndromes

A number of human genes have been identified in which mutations can lead to the accelerated emergence of features of senescence. Studies of these genes, and of the functions of their protein products, may lead to a clearer understanding of the nature of senescence, and could provide clues for ways in which ageing might be retarded.

Four radiation hypersensitivity cases and their implications for clinical radiotherapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Over a 20 year period, four out of 2000 paediatric radiotherapy patients, treated at St. Bartholomew's Hospital (three with lymphoma, one with angiosarcoma), have revealed extreme/fatal clinical hypersensitivity in normal tissues.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Cellular hypersensitivity was confirmed in vitro and attributed to the ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) gene in cases I and II, a newly described defect in the DNA ligase 4 gene in case III, and a novel and as yet incompletely defined, molecular defect in case IV who presented with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP).

RESULTS

The severe clinical hypersensitivity preceded the cellular and molecular analysis, but did not manifest as a clinically exaggerated normal tissue reaction until 3+ weeks after the start of a conventionally fractionated course of radiotherapy, by which time the latent damage had been inflicted. There were no clinical stigmata to alert the clinician to a predisposing syndrome in two patients (cases I and II). We point out that approximately 20% of A-T patients are classified as variants with delayed expression of clinical symptoms, and case II falls into this category.

CONCLUSIONS

As lymphoma (incidence, one in 100000 children) constituted the majority of the diagnoses, questions arise as to: (1), the probability of other centres having experienced and being presented in the future with similar problems (particularly bearing in mind that other oncologically predisposing radiosensitivity syndromes have not been not represented in our experience); and (2), the appropriateness, efficiency and applicability of predictive assays. Unambiguous cellular radiosensitivity would have been apparent from clonal assays on fibroblast cultures from all four cases prior to treatment, but such assays take 4-6 weeks to produce results. While estimates of chromosome damage or clonal assays on pre-treatment blood derived cells would be faster, there is a health economics issue as to the general applicability of such 'screening' assays.

Closing the gaps among a web of DNA repair disorders

As recently as six years ago, three human diseases with similar phenotypes were mistakenly believed to be caused by a single genetic defect. The three diseases, Ataxia-telangiectasia, Nijmegen breakage syndrome, and an AT-like disorder are now known, however, to have defects in three separate genes: ATM, NBS1, and MRE11. Furthermore, new recent studies have shown now that all three gene products interact; the ATM kinase phosphorylates NBS1, which, in turn, associates with MRE11 to regulate DNA repair. Remarkably or expectedly, depending on one's point of view, the similarity in disease phenotypes is evidently due to defects in a common DNA repair pathway.

The molecular basis of FHA domain:phosphopeptide binding specificity and implications for phospho-dependent signaling mechanisms

Forkhead-associated (FHA) domains are a class of ubiquitous signaling modules that appear to function through interactions with phosphorylated target molecules. We have used oriented peptide library screening to determine the optimal phosphopeptide binding motifs recognized by several FHA domains, including those within a number of DNA damage checkpoint kinases, and determined the X-ray structure of Rad53p-FHA1, in complex with a phospho-threonine peptide, at 1.6 A resolution. The structure reveals a striking similarity to the MH2 domains of Smad tumor suppressor proteins and reveals a mode of peptide binding that differs from SH2, 14-3-3, or PTB domain complexes. These results have important implications for DNA damage signaling and CHK2-dependent tumor suppression, and they indicate that FHA domains play important and unsuspected roles in S/T kinase signaling mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Mre11 and Rad50 from Pyrococcus furiosus: cloning and biochemical characterization reveal an evolutionarily conserved multiprotein machine

The processing of DNA double-strand breaks is a critical event in nucleic acid metabolism. This is evidenced by the severity of phenotypes associated with deficiencies in this process in multiple organisms. The core component involved in double-strand break repair in eukaryotic cells is the Mre11-Rad50 protein complex, which includes a third protein, p95, in humans and Xrs2 in yeasts. Homologues of Mre11 and Rad50 have been identified in all kingdoms of life, while the Nbs1 protein family is found only in eukaryotes. In eukaryotes the Mre11-Rad50 complex has nuclease activity that is modulated by the addition of ATP. We have isolated the Mre11 and Rad50 homologues from the thermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus and demonstrate that the two proteins exist in a large, heat-stable complex that possesses single-strand endonuclease activity and ATP-dependent double-strand-specific exonuclease activity. These findings verify the identification of the P. furiosus Rad50 and Mre11 homologues and demonstrate that functional homologues with similar biochemical properties exist in all kingdoms of life.

Normal V(D)J recombination in cells from patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome

The majority of antigen receptor diversity in mammals is generated by V(D)J recombination. During this process DNA double strand breaks are introduced at recombination signals by lymphoid specific RAG1/2 proteins generating blunt ended signal ends and hairpinned coding ends. Rejoining of all DNA ends requires ubiquitously expressed DNA repair proteins, such as Ku70/86 and DNA ligase IV/XRCC4. In addition, the formation of coding joints depends on the function of the scid gene encoding the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase, DNA-PK(CS), that is somehow required for processing of coding end hairpins. Recently, it was shown that purified RAG1/2 proteins can cleave DNA hairpins in vitro, but the same activity was also described for a protein complex of the DNA repair proteins Nbs1/Mre11/Rad50. This leaves the possibility that either protein complex might be involved in coding end processing in V(D)J recombination. We have therefore analyzed V(D)J recombination in cells from patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome, carrying a mutation in the nbs1 gene. We find that V(D)J recombination frequencies and the quality of signal and coding joining are comparable to wild-type controls, as analyzed by a cellular V(D)J recombination assay. In addition, we did not detect significant differences in CDR3 sequences of endogenous Ig lambdaL and kappaL chain gene loci cloned from peripheral blood lymphocytes of an NBS patient and of healthy individuals. These findings suggest that the Nbs1/Mre11/Rad50 complex is not involved in coding end processing of V(D)J recombination.

NBS1 and TRF1 colocalize at promyelocytic leukemia bodies during late S/G2 phases in immortalized telomerase-negative cells. Implication of NBS1 in alternative lengthening of telomeres

Nijmegen breakage syndrome, a chromosomal instability disorder, is characterized in part by cellular hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation. The NBS1 gene product, p95 (NBS1 or nibrin) forms a complex with Rad50 and Mre11. Cells deficient in the formation of this complex are defective in DNA double-strand break repair, cell cycle checkpoint control, and telomere length maintenance. How the NBS1 complex is involved in telomere length maintenance remains unclear. Here we show that the C-terminal region of NBS1 interacts directly with a telomere repeat binding factor, TRF1, by both yeast two-hybrid and in vivo DNA-coimmunoprecipitation assays. NBS1 and Mre11 colocalize with TRF1 at promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies in immortalized telomerase-negative cell lines, but rarely in telomerase-positive cell lines. The translocation of NBS1 to PML bodies occurs specifically during late S to G(2) phases of the cell cycle and coincides with active DNA synthesis in these NBS1-containing PML bodies. These results suggest that NBS1 may be involved in alternative lengthening of telomeres in telomerase-negative immortalized cells.

A new X-ray sensitive CHO cell mutant of ionizing radiation group 7,XR-C2, that is defective in DSB repair but has only a mild defect in V(D)J recombination

The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex plays a key role in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and V(D)J recombination. Using a genetic approach we have isolated cell mutants sensitive to ionizing radiation (IR) in the hope of elucidating the mechanism and components required for these pathways. We describe here, an X-ray-sensitive and DSB repair defective Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, XR-C2, which was assigned to the X-Ray Cross Complementation (XRCC) group 7. This group of mutants is defective in the XRCC7/SCID/Prkdc gene, which encodes the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-PKcs). Despite the fact that XR-C2 cells expressed normal levels of DNA-PKcs protein, no DNA-PK catalytic activity could be observed in XR-C2, confirming the genetic analyses that these cells harbor a dysfunctional gene for DNA-PKcs. In contrast to other IR group 7 mutants, which contain undetectable or low levels of DNA-PKcs protein and which show a severe defect in V(D)J recombination, XR-C2 cells manifested only a mild defect in both coding and signal junction formation. The unique phenotype of the XR-C2 mutant suggests that a normal level of kinase activity is critical for radiation resistance but not for V(D)J recombination, whereas the overall structure of the DNA-PKcs protein appears to be of great importance for this process.

Linking DNA damage and neurodegeneration

Many human pathological conditions with genetic defects in DNA damage responses are also characterized by neurological deficits. These neurological deficits can manifest themselves during many stages of development, suggesting an important role for DNA repair or processing during the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Although the molecular neuropathology associated with such deficits is largely unknown, many of the responsible gene defects have been identified. The current rapid progress in elucidation of molecular details following gene identification should provide further insight into the importance of DNA processing in nervous system function.

[Clinical aspects of research in radiobiology. Past and future directions]

Over the last ten years the impact of fundamental radiation biology into daily radiotherapy has been of concern chiefly to fractionation, prediction of radiation response, tumour oxygenation, intrinsic radiosensitivity including genetic approaches, and the determinants of the outcome of chemoradiotherapy combinations. Future goals will rely on sophisticated approaches, based on the progress of molecular and cellular biology and the characterisation of new targets for radiation. Some of these novel advances will be discussed.

A novel human rad54 homologue, Rad54B, associates with Rad51

Members of the SNF2/SWI2 family, characterized with sequence motifs similar to those found in DNA and RNA helicases, play roles in various aspects of cellular fundamental processes such as transcriptional regulation, chromosome stability, nucleotide excision repair, and recombination. We have isolated a novel member of the human SNF2/SWI2 family, RAD54B, which is highly homologous to mammalian RAD54. The RAD54 gene is a member of the RAD52 epistasis group which is involved in the recombinational repair of DNA damage. Here we demonstrate that human Rad54B (hRad54B), like human Rad54 (hRad54), associates with human Rad51 (hRad51). Both hRad54B and hRad54 associate with hRad51 through their NH(2)-terminal domains, but there are differences in their ways of association with hRad51. In contrast to Rad54, whose association with Rad51 is induced by ionizing radiation, Rad54B associates with Rad51 constitutively in immunoprecipitation experiments. Also, the failure to detect the interaction between hRad54B and hRad51 in the yeast two-hybrid assay suggests that their interaction, unlike that between hRad54 and hRad51, may be indirect. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that hRad54B formed nuclear foci that colocalized with hRad51, hRad54, and BRCA1. These findings suggest that Rad54B may be functionally distinct from Rad54, although it may play an active role in recombination processes in concert with other members of the RAD52 epistasis group.

The MRE11-NBS1-RAD50 pathway is perturbed in SV40 large T antigen-immortalized AT-1, AT-2 and HL-1 cardiomyocytes

To investigate molecular controls of cardiomyocyte proliferation, we utilized cardiomyocytes induced to proliferate indefinitely by SV40 large T antigen (T-ag). In the T-ag-immortalized AT-1, AT-2 and HL-1 cardiomyocytes, normal cellular proteins associating with T-ag and p53 were identified, isolated and micro-sequenced. Peptide sequencing revealed that proteins of 90, 100 and 160 kDa were homologs of MRE11, NBS1 and RAD50, respectively. These three proteins play critical roles in the detection and repair of DNA double-strand breaks, activation of cell cycle checkpoints and telomere maintenance. In this report, we describe the cDNA cloning and double-strand sequencing of the rat homologs of MRE11, NBS1 and RAD50. We also determined the mRNA and protein levels of MRE11, NBS1 and RAD50 at different stages of heart development and in different tissues. MRE11 mRNA was only detected in the immortalized cardiomyocytes and in the testes. Although the 90 kDa MRE11 protein was seen in most samples examined, it was only detected at extremely low levels in proliferating cardiomyocytes (normal and immortalized). The 6.0 kb MRE11-related mRNA transcript (MRT) was seen in all samples examined. Levels of both NBS1 and RAD50 mRNA transcripts peaked in the heart at postnatal day 10. NBS1 mRNA levels were at very low levels in the T-ag-immortalized AT-1, AT-2 and HL-1 cells but NBS1 protein was observed at extremely high levels. We propose that SV40 large T antigen's interaction with the MRE11-NBS1-RAD50 pathway and with p53 ablates critical cell cycle checkpoints and that this is one of the major factors involved in the ability of this oncoprotein to immortalize cardiomyocytes.

Autozygosity mapping of a seckel syndrome locus to chromosome 3q22. 1-q24

Seckel syndrome (MIM 210600) is an autosomal recessive disorder of low birth weight, severe microcephaly, and dysmorphic facial appearance with receding forehead, prominent nose, and micrognathia. We have performed a genomic screen in two consanguineous families of Pakistani origin and found that the disorder segregates with markers between loci D3S1316 and D3S3710, which map to chromosome 3q22.1-q24. Analysis using HOMOZ/MAPMAKER gave a maximum LOD score of 8.72. All five affected individuals were homozygous for the same allele, for two adjacent polymorphic markers within the region segregating with the disease, narrowing the region to 12 cM.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD6 group is composed of an error-prone and two error-free postreplication repair pathways

The RAD6 postreplication repair and mutagenesis pathway is the only major radiation repair pathway yet to be extensively characterized. It has been previously speculated that the RAD6 pathway consists of two parallel subpathways, one error free and another error prone (mutagenic). Here we show that the RAD6 group genes can be exclusively divided into three rather than two independent subpathways represented by the RAD5, POL30, and REV3 genes; the REV3 pathway is largely mutagenic, whereas the RAD5 and the POL30 pathways are deemed error free. Mutants carrying characteristic mutations in each of the three subpathways are phenotypically indistinguishable from a single mutant such as rad18, which is defective in the entire RAD6 postreplication repair/tolerance pathway. Furthermore, the rad18 mutation is epistatic to all single or combined mutations in any of the above three subpathways. Our data also suggest that MMS2 and UBC13 play a key role in coordinating the response of the error-free subpathways; Mms2 and Ubc13 form a complex required for a novel polyubiquitin chain assembly, which probably serves as a signal transducer to promote both RAD5 and POL30 error-free postreplication repair pathways. The model established by this study will facilitate further research into the molecular mechanisms of postreplication repair and translesion DNA synthesis. In view of the high degree of sequence conservation of the RAD6 pathway genes among all eukaryotes, the model presented in this study may also apply to mammalian cells and predicts links to human diseases.