A histidine in the β-CASP domain of Artemis is critical for its full in vitro and in vivo functions

Structure and Function of SNM1 Family Nucleases

Three human nucleases, SNM1A, SNM1B/Apollo, and SNM1C/Artemis, belong to the SNM1 gene family. These nucleases are involved in various cellular functions, including homologous recombination, nonhomologous end-joining, cell cycle regulation, and telomere maintenance. These three proteins share a similar catalytic domain, which is characterized as a fused metallo-β-lactamase and a CPSF-Artemis-SNM1-PSO2 domain. SNM1A and SNM1B/Apollo are exonucleases, whereas SNM1C/Artemis is an endonuclease. This review contains a summary of recent research on SNM1's cellular and biochemical functions, as well as structural biology studies. In addition, protein structure prediction by the artificial intelligence program AlphaFold provides a different view of the proteins' non-catalytic domain features, which may be used in combination with current results from X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM to understand their mechanism more clearly.

Could β-Lactam Antibiotics Block Humoral Immunity?

It has been reported that treatment with β-lactam antibiotics induces leukopenia and candidemia, worsens the clinical response to anticancer immunotherapy and decreases immune response to vaccination. β-lactamases can cleave β-lactam antibiotics by blocking their activity. Two distincts superfamilies of β-lactamases are described, the serine β-lactamases and the zinc ion dependent metallo-β-lactamases. In human, 18 metallo-β-lactamases encoding genes (hMBLs) have been identified. While the physiological role of most of them remains unknown, it is well established that the SNM1A, B and C proteins are involved in DNA repair. The SNM1C/Artemis protein is precisely associated in the V(D)J segments rearrangement, that leads to immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor variable regions, which have a crucial role in the immune response. Thus in humans, SNM1C/Artemis mutation is associated with severe combined immunodeficiency characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia deficient cellular immunity and opportunistic infections. While catalytic site of hMBLs and especially that of the SNM1 family is highly conserved, in vitro studies showed that some β-lactam antibiotics, and precisely third generation of cephalosporin and ampicillin, inhibit the metallo-β-lactamase proteins SNM1A & B and the SNM1C/Artemis protein complex. By analogy, the question arises as to whether β-lactam antibiotics can block the SNM1C/Artemis protein in humans inducing transient immunodeficiency. We reviewed here the literature data supporting this hypothesis based on in silico, in vitro and in vivo evidences. Understanding the impact of β-lactam antibiotics on the immune cell will offer new therapeutic clues and new clinical approaches in oncology, immunology, and infectious diseases.

Structural and mechanistic insights into the Artemis endonuclease and strategies for its inhibition

Artemis (SNM1C/DCLRE1C) is an endonuclease that plays a key role in development of B- and T-lymphocytes and in dsDNA break repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). Artemis is phosphorylated by DNA-PKcs and acts to open DNA hairpin intermediates generated during V(D)J and class-switch recombination. Artemis deficiency leads to congenital radiosensitive severe acquired immune deficiency (RS-SCID). Artemis belongs to a superfamily of nucleases containing metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) and β-CASP (CPSF-Artemis-SNM1-Pso2) domains. We present crystal structures of the catalytic domain of wildtype and variant forms of Artemis, including one causing RS-SCID Omenn syndrome. The catalytic domain of the Artemis has similar endonuclease activity to the phosphorylated full-length protein. Our structures help explain the predominantly endonucleolytic activity of Artemis, which contrasts with the predominantly exonuclease activity of the closely related SNM1A and SNM1B MBL fold nucleases. The structures reveal a second metal binding site in its β-CASP domain unique to Artemis, which is amenable to inhibition by compounds including ebselen. By combining our structural data with that from a recently reported Artemis structure, we were able model the interaction of Artemis with DNA substrates. The structures, including one of Artemis with the cephalosporin ceftriaxone, will help enable the rational development of selective SNM1 nuclease inhibitors.

Structural analysis of the catalytic domain of Artemis endonuclease/SNM1C reveals distinct structural features

The endonuclease Artemis is responsible for opening DNA hairpins during V(D)J recombination and for processing a subset of pathological DNA double-strand breaks. Artemis is an attractive target for the development of therapeutics to manage various B cell and T cell tumors, because failure to open DNA hairpins and accumulation of chromosomal breaks may reduce the proliferation and viability of pre-T and pre-B cell derivatives. However, structure-based drug discovery of specific Artemis inhibitors has been hampered by a lack of crystal structures. Here, we report the structure of the catalytic domain of recombinant human Artemis. The catalytic domain displayed a polypeptide fold similar overall to those of other members in the DNA cross-link repair gene SNM1 family and in mRNA 3'-end-processing endonuclease CPSF-73, containing metallo-β-lactamase and β-CASP domains and a cluster of conserved histidine and aspartate residues capable of binding two metal atoms in the catalytic site. As in SNM1A, only one zinc ion was located in the Artemis active site. However, Artemis displayed several unique features. Unlike in other members of this enzyme class, a second zinc ion was present in the β-CASP domain that leads to structural reorientation of the putative DNA-binding surface and extends the substrate-binding pocket to a new pocket, pocket III. Moreover, the substrate-binding surface exhibited a dominant and extensive positive charge distribution compared with that in the structures of SNM1A and SNM1B, presumably because of the structurally distinct DNA substrate of Artemis. The structural features identified here may provide opportunities for designing selective Artemis inhibitors.

End-processing nucleases and phosphodiesterases: An elite supporting cast for the non-homologous end joining pathway of DNA double-strand break repair

Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is an error-prone DNA double-strand break repair pathway that is active throughout the cell cycle. A substantial fraction of NHEJ repair events show deletions and, less often, insertions in the repair joints, suggesting an end-processing step comprising the removal of mismatched or damaged nucleotides by nucleases and other phosphodiesterases, as well as subsequent strand extension by polymerases. A wide range of nucleases, including Artemis, Metnase, APLF, Mre11, CtIP, APE1, APE2 and WRN, are biochemically competent to carry out such double-strand break end processing, and have been implicated in NHEJ by at least circumstantial evidence. Several additional DNA end-specific phosphodiesterases, including TDP1, TDP2 and aprataxin are available to resolve various non-nucleotide moieties at DSB ends. This review summarizes the biochemical specificities of these enzymes and the evidence for their participation in the NHEJ pathway.

Functional analysis of naturally occurring DCLRE1C mutations and correlation with the clinical phenotype of ARTEMIS deficiency

BACKGROUND

The endonuclease ARTEMIS, which is encoded by the DCLRE1C gene, is a component of the nonhomologous end-joining pathway and participates in hairpin opening during the V(D)J recombination process and repair of a subset of DNA double-strand breaks. Patients with ARTEMIS deficiency usually present with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and cellular radiosensitivity, but hypomorphic mutations can cause milder phenotypes (leaky SCID).

OBJECTIVE

We sought to correlate the functional effect of human DCLRE1C mutations on phenotypic presentation in patients with ARTEMIS deficiency.

METHODS

We studied the recombination and DNA repair activity of 41 human DCLRE1C mutations in Dclre1c(-/-) v-abl kinase-transformed pro-B cells retrovirally engineered with a construct that allows quantification of recombination activity by means of flow cytometry. For assessment of DNA repair efficacy, resolution of γH2AX accumulation was studied after ionizing radiation.

RESULTS

Low or absent activity was detected for mutations causing a typical SCID phenotype. Most of the patients with leaky SCID were compound heterozygous for 1 loss-of-function and 1 hypomorphic allele, with significant residual levels of recombination and DNA repair activity. Deletions disrupting the C-terminus result in truncated but partially functional proteins and are often associated with leaky SCID. Overexpression of hypomorphic mutants might improve the functional defect.

CONCLUSIONS

Correlation between the nature and location of DCLRE1C mutations, functional activity, and the clinical phenotype has been observed. Hypomorphic variants that have been reported in the general population can be disease causing if combined in trans with a loss-of-function allele. Therapeutic strategies aimed at inducing overexpression of hypomorphic alleles might be beneficial.

The spatial organization of non-homologous end joining: from bridging to end joining

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repairs DNA double-strand breaks generated by DNA damage and also those occurring in V(D)J recombination in immunoglobulin and T cell receptor production in the immune system. In NHEJ DNA-PKcs assembles with Ku heterodimer on the DNA ends at double-strand breaks, in order to bring the broken ends together and to assemble other proteins, including DNA ligase IV (LigIV), required for DNA repair. Here we focus on structural aspects of the interactions of LigIV with XRCC4, XLF, Artemis and DNA involved in the bridging and end-joining steps of NHEJ. We begin with a discussion of the role of XLF, which interacts with Ku and forms a hetero-filament with XRCC4; this likely forms a scaffold bridging the DNA ends. We then review the well-defined interaction of XRCC4 with LigIV, and discuss the possibility of this complex interrupting the filament formation, so positioning the ligase at the correct positions close to the broken ends. We also describe the interactions of LigIV with Artemis, the nuclease that prepares the ends for ligation and also interacts with DNA-PK. Lastly we review the likely affects of Mendelian mutations on these multiprotein assemblies and their impacts on the form of inherited disease.

The many faces of Artemis-deficient combined immunodeficiency - Two patients with DCLRE1C mutations and a systematic literature review of genotype-phenotype correlation

Defective V(D)J recombination and DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair severely impair the development of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. Most patients manifest a severe combined immunodeficiency during infancy. We report 2 siblings with combined immunodeficiency (CID) and immunodysregulation caused by compound heterozygous Artemis mutations, including an exon 1-3 deletion generating a null allele, and a missense change (p.T71P). Skin fibroblasts demonstrated normal DSB repair by gamma-H2AX analysis, supporting the predicted hypomorphic nature of the p.T71P allele. In addition to these two patients, 12 patients with Artemis-deficient CID were previously reported. All had significant morbidities including recurrent infections, autoimmunity, EBV-associated lymphoma, and carcinoma despite having hypomorphic mutants with residual Artemis expression, V(D)J recombination or DSB repair capacity. Nine patients underwent stem cell transplant and six survived, while four patients who did not receive transplant died. The progressive nature of immunodeficiency and genomic instability accounts for poor survival, and early HSCT should be considered.

Characterization of the human SNM1A and SNM1B/Apollo DNA repair exonucleases

Human SNM1A and SNM1B/Apollo have both been implicated in the repair of DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) by cellular studies, and SNM1B is also required for telomere protection. Here, we describe studies on the biochemical characterization of the SNM1A and SNM1B proteins. The results reveal some fundamental differences in the mechanisms of the two proteins. Both SNM1A and SNM1B digest double-stranded and single-stranded DNA with a 5'-to-3' directionality in a reaction that is stimulated by divalent cations, and both nucleases are inhibited by the zinc chelator o-phenanthroline. We find that SNM1A has greater affinity for single-stranded DNA over double-stranded DNA that is not observed with SNM1B. Although both proteins demonstrate a low level of processivity on low molecular weight DNA oligonucleotide substrates, when presented with high molecular weight DNA, SNM1A alone is rendered much more active, being capable of digesting kilobase-long stretches of DNA. Both proteins can digest past ICLs induced by the non-distorting minor groove cross-linking agent SJG-136, albeit with SNM1A showing a greater capacity to achieve this. This is consistent with the proposal that SNM1A and SNM1B might exhibit some redundancy in ICL repair. Together, our work establishes differences in the substrate selectivities of SNM1A and SNM1B that are likely to be relevant to their in vivo roles and which might be exploited in the development of selective inhibitors.

DR2417, a hypothetical protein characterized as a novel β-CASP family nuclease in radiation resistant bacterium, Deinococcus radiodurans

BACKGROUND

Deinococcus radiodurans survives extreme doses of radiations contributed by efficient DNA repair pathways. DR2417 (DncA) was detected separately both in a pool of nucleotide binding proteins and multiprotein complex isolated from cells undergoing DNA repair.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

DR_2417m ORF was sequenced and amino acid sequence of DncA was search for structural similarities with other proteins and functional motifs. Recombinant DncA was characterized for its DNA metabolic functions in vitro and its role in radiation resistance.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Sequencing of DR_2417m did not show the reported frame shift at 996th nucleotide position of this gene. DncA showed similarities with β-CASP family nucleases. Recombinant protein acted efficiently on dsDNA and showed an Mn2+ dependent 3'→5' exonuclease and ssDNA/dsDNA junction endonuclease activities while a very low level activity on RNA. The DNase activity of this protein was inhibited in presence of ATP. Its transcription was induced upon γ radiation exposure and a reduction in its copy number resulted in reduced growth rate and loss of γ radiation resistance in Deinococcus.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that DncA was a novel nuclease of β CASP family having a strong dsDNA end processing activity and it seems to be an essential gene required for both growth and γ radiation resistance of this bacterium.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Traditionally DncA should have shown both DNase and RNase functions as other members of β CASP family nucleases. A strong DNase and poor RNase activity possibly made it functionally significant in the radioresistance of D. radiodurans, which would be worth investigating independently.

Coordination of DNA-PK activation and nuclease processing of DNA termini in NHEJ

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), particularly those induced by ionizing radiation (IR), are complex lesions that can be cytotoxic if not properly repaired. IR-induced DSB often have DNA termini modifications, including thymine glycols, ring fragmentation, 3'-phosphoglycolates, 5'-hydroxyl groups, and abasic sites. Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is a major pathway responsible for the repair of these complex breaks. Proteins involved in NHEJ include the Ku 70/80 heterodimer, DNA-PKcs, processing proteins including Artemis and DNA polymerases μ and λ, XRCC4, DNA ligase IV, and XLF. We will discuss the role of the physical and functional interactions of DNA-PK as a result of activation, with an emphasis on DNA structure, chemistry, and sequence. With the diversity of IR induced DSB, it is becoming increasingly clear that multiple DNA processing enzymes are likely necessary for effective repair of a break. We will explore the roles of several important processing enzymes, with a focus on the nuclease Artemis and its role in processing diverse DSB. The effect of DNA termini on both DNA-PK and Artemis activity will be analyzed from a structural and biochemical view.

A hypomorphic Artemis human disease allele causes aberrant chromosomal rearrangements and tumorigenesis

The Artemis gene encodes a DNA nuclease that plays important roles in non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), a major double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway in mammalian cells. NHEJ factors repair general DSBs as well as programmed breaks generated during the lymphoid-specific DNA rearrangement, V(D)J recombination, which is required for lymphocyte development. Mutations that inactivate Artemis cause a human severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome associated with cellular radiosensitivity. In contrast, hypomorphic Artemis mutations result in combined immunodeficiency syndromes of varying severity, but, in addition, are hypothesized to predispose to lymphoid malignancy. To elucidate the distinct molecular defects caused by hypomorphic compared with inactivating Artemis mutations, we examined tumor predisposition in a mouse model harboring a targeted partial loss-of-function disease allele. We find that, in contrast to Artemis nullizygosity, the hypomorphic mutation leads to increased aberrant intra- and interchromosomal V(D)J joining events. We also observe that dysfunctional Artemis activity combined with p53 inactivation predominantly predisposes to thymic lymphomas harboring clonal translocations distinct from those observed in Artemis nullizygosity. Thus, the Artemis hypomorphic allele results in unique molecular defects, tumor spectrum and oncogenic chromosomal rearrangements. Our findings have significant implications for disease outcomes and treatment of patients with different Artemis mutations.

Apollo contributes to G overhang maintenance and protects leading-end telomeres

Mammalian telomeres contain a single-stranded 3' overhang that is thought to mediate telomere protection. Here we identify the TRF2-interacting factor Apollo as a nuclease that contributes to the generation/maintenance of this overhang. The function of mouse Apollo was determined using Cre-mediated gene deletion, complementation with Apollo mutants, and the TRF2-F120A mutant that cannot bind Apollo. Cells lacking Apollo activated the ATM kinase at their telomeres in S phase and showed leading-end telomere fusions. These telomere dysfunction phenotypes were accompanied by a reduction in the telomeric overhang signal. The telomeric functions of Apollo required its TRF2-interaction and nuclease motifs. Thus, TRF2 recruits the Apollo nuclease to process telomere ends synthesized by leading-strand DNA synthesis, thereby creating a terminal structure that avoids ATM activation and resists end-joining. These data establish that the telomeric overhang is required for the protection of telomeres from the DNA damage response.

The SNM1/Pso2 family of ICL repair nucleases: from yeast to man

Efficient interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair in yeast depends on the Pso2/Snm1 protein. Pso2 is a member of the highly conserved metallo-beta-lactamase structural family of nucleases. Mammalian cells possess three SNM1/Pso2 related proteins, SNM1A, SNM1B/Apollo, and SNM1C/Artemis. Evidence that SNM1A and SNM1B contribute to ICL repair is mounting, whereas Artemis appears to primarily contribute to non-ICL repair pathways, particularly some double-strand break repair events. Yeast Pso2 and all three mammalian SNM1-family proteins have been shown to possess nuclease activity. Here, we review the biochemical, genetic, and cellular evidence for the SNM1 family as DNA repair factors, focusing on ICL repair.

Functions and regulation of Artemis: a goddess in the maintenance of genome integrity

Artemis is a structure-specific endonuclease when associated with and phosphorylated by DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit. This structure-specific endonuclease is responsible for the resolution of hairpin coding ends in V(D)J recombination. In DNA double-strand break repair, Artemis is implicated in the end-processing step of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway. Recently, we have demonstrated that the involvement of Artemis in NHEJ depends on the type of DNA damage. Interestingly, recent evidence suggests that the end-processing activity is not the only function of Artemis. Indeed, Artemis is rapidly phosphorylated by ataxia telangiectasia mutated in response to DNA damage, and such phosphorylation of Artemis appears to be involved in the regulation of cell cycle checkpoints. These findings suggest that Artemis is a multifunctional protein participating in the maintenance of genome integrity at two distinct levels; one at the end processing step of NHEJ, and the other at the signaling pathway of cell cycle regulation. Therefore, understanding Artemis function may give us profound insights into the DNA repair network. In this review, we summarize the functions and regulation of Artemis.

Purification and characterization of exonuclease-free Artemis: Implications for DNA-PK-dependent processing of DNA termini in NHEJ-catalyzed DSB repair

Artemis is a member of the beta-CASP family of nucleases in the metallo-beta-lactamase superfamily of hydrolases. Artemis has been demonstrated to be involved in V(D)J-recombination and in the NHEJ-catalyzed repair of DNA DSBs. In vitro, both DNA-PK independent 5'-3' exonuclease activities and DNA-PK dependent endonuclease activity have been attributed to Artemis, though mutational analysis of the Artemis active site only disrupts endonuclease activity. This suggests that either the enzyme contains two different active sites, or the exonuclease activity is not intrinsic to the Artemis polypeptide. To distinguish between these possibilities, we sought to determine if it was possible to biochemically separate Artemis endonuclease activity from exonuclease activity. Recombinant [His](6)-Artemis was expressed in a Baculovirus insect-cell expression system and isolated using a three-column purification methodology. Exonuclease and endonuclease activities, the ability to be phosphorylated by DNA-PK, and Artemis antibody reactivity was monitored throughout the purification and to characterize final pools of protein preparation. Results demonstrated the co-elution of exonuclease and endonuclease activities on a Ni-agarose affinity column but separation of the two enzymatic activities upon fractionation on a hydroxyapatite column. An exonuclease-free fraction of Artemis was obtained that retained DNA-PK dependent endonuclease activity, was phosphorylated by DNA-PK and reacted with an Artemis specific antibody. These data demonstrate that the exonuclease activity thought to be intrinsic to Artemis can be biochemically separated from the Artemis endonuclease.