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Wu J, Song L, Lu M, Gao Q, Xu S, Zhou P, Ma T. The multifaceted functions of DNA-PKcs: implications for the therapy of human diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e613. [PMID: 38898995 PMCID: PMC11185949 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), catalytic subunit, also known as DNA-PKcs, is complexed with the heterodimer Ku70/Ku80 to form DNA-PK holoenzyme, which is well recognized as initiator in the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) repair after double strand break (DSB). During NHEJ, DNA-PKcs is essential for both DNA end processing and end joining. Besides its classical function in DSB repair, DNA-PKcs also shows multifaceted functions in various biological activities such as class switch recombination (CSR) and variable (V) diversity (D) joining (J) recombination in B/T lymphocytes development, innate immunity through cGAS-STING pathway, transcription, alternative splicing, and so on, which are dependent on its function in NHEJ or not. Moreover, DNA-PKcs deficiency has been proven to be related with human diseases such as neurological pathogenesis, cancer, immunological disorder, and so on through different mechanisms. Therefore, it is imperative to summarize the latest findings about DNA-PKcs and diseases for better targeting DNA-PKcs, which have shown efficacy in cancer treatment in preclinical models. Here, we discuss the multifaceted roles of DNA-PKcs in human diseases, meanwhile, we discuss the progresses of DNA-PKcs inhibitors and their potential in clinical trials. The most updated review about DNA-PKcs will hopefully provide insights and ideas to understand DNA-PKcs associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghong Wu
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Liwei Song
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Mingjun Lu
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Qing Gao
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Shaofa Xu
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Ping‐Kun Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Teng Ma
- Cancer Research CenterBeijing Chest HospitalCapital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research InstituteBeijingChina
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2
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Watanabe G, Lieber MR. The flexible and iterative steps within the NHEJ pathway. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 180-181:105-119. [PMID: 37150451 PMCID: PMC10205690 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cellular and biochemical studies of nonhomologous DNA end joining (NHEJ) have long established that nuclease and polymerase action are necessary for the repair of a very large fraction of naturally-arising double-strand breaks (DSBs). This conclusion is derived from NHEJ studies ranging from yeast to humans and all genetically-tractable model organisms. Biochemical models derived from recent real-time and structural studies have yet to incorporate physical space or timing for DNA end processing. In real-time single molecule FRET (smFRET) studies, we analyzed NHEJ synapsis of DNA ends in a defined biochemical system. We described a Flexible Synapsis (FS) state in which the DNA ends were in proximity via only Ku and XRCC4:DNA ligase 4 (X4L4), and in an orientation that would not yet permit ligation until base pairing between one or more nucleotides of microhomology (MH) occurred, thereby allowing an in-line Close Synapsis (CS) state. If no MH was achievable, then XLF was critical for ligation. Neither FS or CS required DNA-PKcs, unless Artemis activation was necessary to permit local resection and subsequent base pairing between the two DNA ends being joined. Here we conjecture on possible 3D configurations for this FS state, which would spatially accommodate the nuclease and polymerase processing steps in an iterative manner. The FS model permits repeated attempts at ligation of at least one strand at the DSB after each round of nuclease or polymerase action. In addition to activation of Artemis, other possible roles for DNA-PKcs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Watanabe
- Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, and Section of Molecular & Computational Biology (Department of Biological Sciences), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-9176, USA
| | - Michael R Lieber
- Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, and Section of Molecular & Computational Biology (Department of Biological Sciences), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-9176, USA.
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3
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Malashetty V, Au A, Chavez J, Hanna M, Chu J, Penna J, Cortes P. The DNA binding domain and the C-terminal region of DNA Ligase IV specify its role in V(D)J recombination. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282236. [PMID: 36827388 PMCID: PMC9956705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA Ligase IV is responsible for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), including DSBs that are generated during V(D)J recombination. Like other DNA ligases, Ligase IV contains a catalytic core with three subdomains-the DNA binding (DBD), the nucleotidyltransferase (NTD), and the oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-fold subdomain (OBD). Ligase IV also has a unique C-terminal region that includes two BRCT domains, a nuclear localization signal sequence and a stretch of amino acid that participate in its interaction with XRCC4. Out of the three mammalian ligases, Ligase IV is the only ligase that participates in and is required for V(D)J recombination. Identification of the minimal domains within DNA Ligase IV that contribute to V(D)J recombination has remained unresolved. The interaction of the Ligase IV DNA binding domain with Artemis, and the interaction of its C-terminal region with XRCC4, suggest that both of these regions that also interact with the Ku70/80 heterodimer are important and might be sufficient for mediating participation of DNA Ligase IV in V(D)J recombination. This hypothesis was investigated by generating chimeric ligase proteins by swapping domains, and testing their ability to rescue V(D)J recombination in Ligase IV-deficient cells. We demonstrate that a fusion protein containing Ligase I NTD and OBDs flanked by DNA Ligase IV DBD and C-terminal region is sufficient to support V(D)J recombination. This chimeric protein, which we named Ligase 37, complemented formation of coding and signal joints. Coding joints generated with Ligase 37 were shorter than those observed with wild type DNA Ligase IV. The shorter length was due to increased nucleotide deletions and decreased nucleotide insertions. Additionally, overexpression of Ligase 37 in a mouse pro-B cell line supported a shift towards shorter coding joints. Our findings demonstrate that the ability of DNA Ligase IV to participate in V(D)J recombination is in large part mediated by its DBD and C-terminal region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidyasagar Malashetty
- Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Audrey Au
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, City University of New York School of Medicine, City College of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jose Chavez
- Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Mary Hanna
- Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Chu
- Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jesse Penna
- Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Patricia Cortes
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, City University of New York School of Medicine, City College of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
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4
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Wang XS, Lee BJ, Zha S. The recent advances in non-homologous end-joining through the lens of lymphocyte development. DNA Repair (Amst) 2020; 94:102874. [PMID: 32623318 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2020.102874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Lymphocyte development requires ordered assembly and subsequent modifications of the antigen receptor genes through V(D)J recombination and Immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR), respectively. While the programmed DNA cleavage events are initiated by lymphocyte-specific factors, the resulting DNA double-strand break (DSB) intermediates activate the ATM kinase-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) and rely on the ubiquitously expressed classical non-homologous end-joining (cNHEJ) pathway including the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), and, in the case of CSR, also the alternative end-joining (Alt-EJ) pathway, for repair. Correspondingly, patients and animal models with cNHEJ or DDR defects develop distinct types of immunodeficiency reflecting their specific DNA repair deficiency. The unique end-structure, sequence context, and cell cycle regulation of V(D)J recombination and CSR also provide a valuable platform to study the mechanisms of, and the interplay between, cNHEJ and DDR. Here, we compare and contrast the genetic consequences of DNA repair defects in V(D)J recombination and CSR with a focus on the newly discovered cNHEJ factors and the kinase-dependent structural roles of ATM and DNA-PK in animal models. Throughout, we try to highlight the pending questions and emerging differences that will extend our understanding of cNHEJ and DDR in the context of primary immunodeficiency and lymphoid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin S Wang
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, United States; Graduate Program of Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, United States
| | - Brian J Lee
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, United States
| | - Shan Zha
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, United States; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, United States; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, United States.
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5
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Anne Esguerra Z, Watanabe G, Okitsu CY, Hsieh CL, Lieber MR. DNA-PKcs chemical inhibition versus genetic mutation: Impact on the junctional repair steps of V(D)J recombination. Mol Immunol 2020; 120:93-100. [PMID: 32113132 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous DNA-PKcs deficiencies in animals result in a severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) phenotype because DNA-PKcs is required to activate Artemis for V(D)J recombination coding end hairpin opening. The impact on signal joint formation in these spontaneous mutant mammals is variable. Genetically engineered DNA-PKcs null mice and cells from them show a >1,000-fold reduction in coding joint formation and minimal reduction in signal joint formation during V(D)J recombination. Does chemical inhibition of DNA-PKcs mimic this phenotype? M3814 (also known as Nedisertib) is a potent DNA-PKcs inhibitor. We find here that M3814 causes a quantitative reduction in coding joint formation relative to signal joint formation. The sequences of signal and coding junctions were within normal limits, though rare coding joints showed novel features. The signal junctions generally did not show evidence of resection into the signal ends that is often seen in cells that have genetic defects in DNA-PKcs. Comparison of the chemical inhibition findings here with the known results for spontaneous and engineered DNA-PKcs mutant mammals is informative for considering pharmacologic small molecule inhibition of DNA-PKcs in various types of neoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Anne Esguerra
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Ctr, Departments of Pathology, of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and the Molecular and Computational Biology Section of the Department of Biological Sciences, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Rm. 5428, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-9176, United States
| | - Go Watanabe
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Ctr, Departments of Pathology, of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and the Molecular and Computational Biology Section of the Department of Biological Sciences, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Rm. 5428, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-9176, United States
| | - Cindy Y Okitsu
- Department of Urology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Ctr, Los Angeles, CA, 90089 United States
| | - Chih-Lin Hsieh
- Department of Urology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Ctr, Los Angeles, CA, 90089 United States
| | - Michael R Lieber
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Ctr, Departments of Pathology, of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and the Molecular and Computational Biology Section of the Department of Biological Sciences, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Rm. 5428, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-9176, United States.
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6
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Gerodimos CA, Chang HHY, Watanabe G, Lieber MR. Effects of DNA end configuration on XRCC4-DNA ligase IV and its stimulation of Artemis activity. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:13914-13924. [PMID: 28696258 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.798850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, nonhomologous DNA end-joining (NHEJ) is the major pathway by which DNA double-strand breaks are repaired. Recognition of each broken DNA end by the DNA repair protein Ku is the first step in NHEJ, followed by the iterative binding of nucleases, DNA polymerases, and the XRCC4-DNA ligase IV (X4-LIV) complex in an order influenced by the configuration of the two DNA ends at the break site. The endonuclease Artemis improves joining efficiency by functioning in a complex with DNA-dependent protein kinase, catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) that carries out endonucleolytic cleavage of 5' and 3' overhangs. Previously, we observed that X4-LIV alone can stimulate Artemis activity on 3' overhangs, but this DNA-PKcs-independent endonuclease activity of Artemis awaited confirmation. Here, using in vitro nuclease and ligation assays, we find that stimulation of Artemis nuclease activity by X4-LIV and the efficiency of blunt-end ligation are determined by structural configurations at the DNA end. Specifically, X4-LIV stimulated Artemis to cut near the end of 3' overhangs without the involvement of other NHEJ proteins. Of note, this ligase complex is not able to stimulate Artemis activity at hairpins or at 5' overhangs. We also found that X4-LIV and DNA-PKcs interfere with one another with respect to stimulating Artemis activity at 3' overhangs, favoring the view that these NHEJ proteins are sequentially rather than concurrently recruited to DNA ends. These data suggest specific functional and positional relationships among these components that explain genetic and molecular features of NHEJ and V(D)J recombination within cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Gerodimos
- From the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and the Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular & Computational Biology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033
| | - Howard H Y Chang
- From the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and the Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular & Computational Biology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033
| | - Go Watanabe
- From the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and the Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular & Computational Biology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033
| | - Michael R Lieber
- From the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and the Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular & Computational Biology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033.
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7
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Chang HHY, Lieber MR. Structure-Specific nuclease activities of Artemis and the Artemis: DNA-PKcs complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:4991-7. [PMID: 27198222 PMCID: PMC4914130 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemis is a vertebrate nuclease with both endo- and exonuclease activities that acts on a wide range of nucleic acid substrates. It is the main nuclease in the non-homologous DNA end-joining pathway (NHEJ). Not only is Artemis important for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in NHEJ, it is essential in opening the DNA hairpin intermediates that are formed during V(D)J recombination. Thus, humans with Artemis deficiencies do not have T- or B-lymphocytes and are diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). While Artemis is the only vertebrate nuclease capable of opening DNA hairpins, it has also been found to act on other DNA substrates that share common structural features. Here, we discuss the key structural features that all Artemis DNA substrates have in common, thus providing a basis for understanding how this structure-specific nuclease recognizes its DNA targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard H Y Chang
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Michael R Lieber
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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8
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Chang HHY, Watanabe G, Lieber MR. Unifying the DNA end-processing roles of the artemis nuclease: Ku-dependent artemis resection at blunt DNA ends. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:24036-50. [PMID: 26276388 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.680900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemis is a member of the metallo-β-lactamase protein family of nucleases. It is essential in vertebrates because, during V(D)J recombination, the RAG complex generates hairpins when it creates the double strand breaks at V, D, and J segments, and Artemis is required to open the hairpins so that they can be joined. Artemis is a diverse endo- and exonuclease, and creating a unified model for its wide range of nuclease properties has been challenging. Here we show that Artemis resects iteratively into blunt DNA ends with an efficiency that reflects the AT-richness of the DNA end. GC-rich ends are not cut by Artemis alone because of a requirement for DNA end breathing (and confirmed using fixed pseudo-Y structures). All DNA ends are cut when both the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit and Ku accompany Artemis but not when Ku is omitted. These are the first biochemical data demonstrating a Ku dependence of Artemis action on DNA ends of any configuration. The action of Artemis at blunt DNA ends is slower than at overhangs, consistent with a requirement for a slow DNA end breathing step preceding the cut. The AT sequence dependence, the order of strand cutting, the length of the cuts, and the Ku-dependence of Artemis action at blunt ends can be reconciled with the other nucleolytic properties of both Artemis and Artemis·DNA-PKcs in a model incorporating DNA end breathing of blunt ends to form transient single to double strand boundaries that have structural similarities to hairpins and fixed 5' and 3' overhangs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard H Y Chang
- From the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Go Watanabe
- From the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael R Lieber
- From the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences, and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
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9
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Abstract
Developing lymphocytes must assemble antigen receptor genes encoding the B cell and T cell receptors. This process is executed by the V(D)J recombination reaction, which can be divided into DNA cleavage and DNA joining steps. The former is carried out by a lymphocyte-specific RAG endonuclease, which mediates DNA cleavage at two recombining gene segments and their flanking RAG recognition sequences. RAG cleavage generates four broken DNA ends that are repaired by nonhomologous end joining forming coding and signal joints. On rare occasions, these DNA ends may join aberrantly forming chromosomal lesions such as translocations, deletions and inversions that have the potential to cause cellular transformation and lymphoid tumors. We discuss the activation of DNA damage responses by RAG-induced DSBs focusing on the component pathways that promote their normal repair and guard against their aberrant resolution. Moreover, we discuss how this DNA damage response impacts processes important for lymphocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Helmink
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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10
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Gapud EJ, Sleckman BP. Unique and redundant functions of ATM and DNA-PKcs during V(D)J recombination. Cell Cycle 2011; 10:1928-35. [PMID: 21673501 DOI: 10.4161/cc.10.12.16011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphocyte antigen receptor genes are assembled through the process of V(D)J recombination, during which pairwise DNA cleavage of gene segments results in the formation of four DNA ends that are resolved into a coding joint and a signal joint. The joining of these DNA ends occurs in G1-phase lymphocytes and is mediated by the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), two related kinases, both function in the repair of DNA breaks generated during antigen receptor gene assembly. Although these proteins have unique functions during coding joint formation, their activities in signal joint formation, if any, have been less clear. However, two recent studies demonstrated that ATM and DNA-PKcs have overlapping activities important for signal joint formation. Here, we discuss the unique and shared activities of the ATM and DNA-PKcs kinases during V(D)J recombination, a process that is essential for lymphocyte development and the diversification of antigen receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Gapud
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Dobbs TA, Tainer JA, Lees-Miller SP. A structural model for regulation of NHEJ by DNA-PKcs autophosphorylation. DNA Repair (Amst) 2010; 9:1307-14. [PMID: 21030321 PMCID: PMC3045832 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2010.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and Ku heterodimer together form the biologically critical DNA-PK complex that plays key roles in the repair of ionizing radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks through the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway. Despite elegant and informative electron microscopy studies, the mechanism by which DNA-PK co-ordinates the initiation of NHEJ has been enigmatic due to limited structural information. Here, we discuss how the recently described small angle X-ray scattering structures of full-length Ku heterodimer and DNA-PKcs in solution, combined with a breakthrough DNA-PKcs crystal structure, provide significant insights into the early stages of NHEJ. Dynamic structural changes associated with a functionally important cluster of autophosphorylation sites play a significant role in regulating the dissociation of DNA-PKcs from Ku and DNA. These new structural insights have implications for understanding the formation and control of the DNA-PK synaptic complex, DNA-PKcs activation and initiation of NHEJ. More generally, they provide prototypic information for the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-like (PIKK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases that includes Ataxia Telangiectasia-Mutated (ATM) and ATM-, Rad3-related (ATR) as well as DNA-PKcs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey A. Dobbs
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - John A. Tainer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA and Life Sciences Division, Department of Molecular Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Susan P. Lees-Miller
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
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12
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Dual functions of Nbs1 in the repair of DNA breaks and proliferation ensure proper V(D)J recombination and T-cell development. Mol Cell Biol 2010; 30:5572-81. [PMID: 20921278 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00917-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunodeficiency and lymphoid malignancy are hallmarks of the human disease Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS; OMIM 251260), which is caused by NBS1 mutations. Although NBS1 has been shown to bind to the T-cell receptor alpha (TCRα) locus, its role in TCRβ rearrangement is unclear. Hypomorphic mutations of Nbs1 in mice and patients result in relatively mild T-cell deficiencies, raising the question of whether the truncated Nbs1 protein might have clouded a certain function of NBS1 in T-cell development. Here we show that the deletion of the entire Nbs1 protein in T-cell precursors (Nbs1(T-del)) results in severe lymphopenia and a hindrance to the double-negative 3 (DN3)-to-DN4 transition in early T-cell development, due to abnormal TCRβ coding and signal joints as well as the functions of Nbs1 in T-cell expansion. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis of the TCR loci reveals that Nbs1 depletion compromises the loading of Mre11/Rad50 to V(D)J-generated DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and thereby affects resection of DNA termini and chromatin conformation of the postcleavage complex. Although a p53 deficiency relieves the DN3→DN4 transition block, neither a p53 deficiency nor ectopic expression of TCRαβ rescues the major T-cell loss in Nbs1(T-del) mice. All together, these results demonstrate that Nbs1's functions in both repair of V(D)J-generated DSBs and proliferation are essential for T-cell development.
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13
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Huang Y, Giblin W, Kubec M, Westfield G, St Charles J, Chadde L, Kraftson S, Sekiguchi J. Impact of a hypomorphic Artemis disease allele on lymphocyte development, DNA end processing, and genome stability. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 206:893-908. [PMID: 19349461 PMCID: PMC2715118 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20082396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Artemis was initially discovered as the gene inactivated in human radiosensitive T(-)B(-) severe combined immunodeficiency, a syndrome characterized by the absence of B and T lymphocytes and cellular hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation. Hypomorphic Artemis alleles have also been identified in patients and are associated with combined immunodeficiencies of varying severity. We examine the molecular mechanisms underlying a syndrome of partial immunodeficiency caused by a hypomorphic Artemis allele using the mouse as a model system. This mutation, P70, leads to premature translation termination that deletes a large portion of a nonconserved C terminus. We find that homozygous Artemis-P70 mice exhibit reduced numbers of B and T lymphocytes, thereby recapitulating the patient phenotypes. The hypomorphic mutation results in impaired end processing during the lymphoid-specific DNA rearrangement known as V(D)J recombination, defective double-strand break repair, and increased chromosomal instability. Biochemical analyses reveal that the Artemis-P70 mutant protein interacts with the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit and retains significant, albeit reduced, exo- and endonuclease activities but does not undergo phosphorylation. Together, our findings indicate that the Artemis C terminus has critical in vivo functions in ensuring efficient V(D)J rearrangements and maintaining genome integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA
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