DNA damage induced hyperphosphorylation of replication protein A. 1. Identification of novel sites of phosphorylation in response to DNA damage

Systematic investigation of BRCA1-A, -B, and -C complexes and their functions in DNA damage response and DNA repair

BRCA1, a breast cancer susceptibility gene, has emerged as a central mediator that brings together multiple signaling complexes in response to DNA damage. The A, B, and C complexes of BRCA1, which are formed based on their phosphorylation-dependent interactions with the BRCA1-C-terminal domains, contribute to the roles of BRCA1 in DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint control. However, their functions in DNA damage response remain to be fully appreciated. Specifically, there has been no systematic investigation of the roles of BRCA1-A, -B, and -C complexes in the regulation of BRCA1 localization and functions, in part because of cellular lethality associated with loss of CtIP protein, which is an essential component in BRCA1-C complex. To systematically investigate the functions of these complexes in DNA damage response, we depleted a key component in each of these complexes. We used the degradation tag system to inducibly deplete endogenous CtIP and obtained a series of RAP80/FANCJ/CtIP single-, double-, and triple-knockout cells. We showed that loss of BRCA1-B/FANCJ and BRCA1-C/CtIP, but not BRCA1-A/RAP80, resulted in reduced cell proliferation and increased sensitivity to DNA damage. BRCA1-C/CtIP and BRCA1-A/RAP80 were involved in BRCA1 recruitment to sites of DNA damage. However, BRCA1-A/RAP80 was not essential for damage-induced BRCA1 localization. Instead, RAP80/H2AX and CtIP have redundant roles in BRCA1 recruitment. Altogether, our systematic analysis uncovers functional differences between BRCA1-A, -B, and -C complexes and provides new insights into the roles of these BRCA1-associated protein complexes in DNA damage response and DNA repair.

Mutant huntingtin protein induces MLH1 degradation, DNA hyperexcision, and cGAS-STING-dependent apoptosis

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The repeat-expanded HTT encodes a mutated HTT (mHTT), which is known to induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, and apoptosis in HD. However, the mechanism by which mHTT triggers these events is unknown. Here, we show that HTT interacts with both exonuclease 1 (Exo1) and MutLα (MLH1-PMS2), a negative regulator of Exo1. While the HTT-Exo1 interaction suppresses the Exo1-catalyzed DNA end resection during DSB repair, the HTT-MutLα interaction functions to stabilize MLH1. However, mHTT displays a significantly reduced interaction with Exo1 or MutLα, thereby losing the ability to regulate Exo1. Thus, cells expressing mHTT exhibit rapid MLH1 degradation and hyperactive DNA excision, which causes severe DNA damage and cytosolic DNA accumulation. This activates the cGAS-STING pathway to mediate apoptosis. Therefore, we have identified unique functions for both HTT and mHTT in modulating DNA repair and the cGAS-STING pathway-mediated apoptosis by interacting with MLH1. Our work elucidates the mechanism by which mHTT causes HD.

The Intriguing Mystery of RPA Phosphorylation in DNA Double-Strand Break Repair

Human Replication Protein A (RPA) was historically discovered as one of the six components needed to reconstitute simian virus 40 DNA replication from purified components. RPA is now known to be involved in all DNA metabolism pathways that involve single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Heterotrimeric RPA comprises several domains connected by flexible linkers and is heavily regulated by post-translational modifications (PTMs). The structure of RPA has been challenging to obtain. Various structural methods have been applied, but a complete understanding of RPA's flexible structure, its function, and how it is regulated by PTMs has yet to be obtained. This review will summarize recent literature concerning how RPA is phosphorylated in the cell cycle, the structural analysis of RPA, DNA and protein interactions involving RPA, and how PTMs regulate RPA activity and complex formation in double-strand break repair. There are many holes in our understanding of this research area. We will conclude with perspectives for future research on how RPA PTMs control double-strand break repair in the cell cycle.

Replication Protein A, the Main Eukaryotic Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein, a Focal Point in Cellular DNA Metabolism

Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein complex and the main single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein in eukaryotes. RPA has key functions in most of the DNA-associated metabolic pathways and DNA damage signalling. Its high affinity for ssDNA helps to stabilise ssDNA structures and protect the DNA sequence from nuclease attacks. RPA consists of multiple DNA-binding domains which are oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB)-folds that are responsible for DNA binding and interactions with proteins. These RPA-ssDNA and RPA-protein interactions are crucial for DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA damage signalling, and the conservation of the genetic information of cells. Proteins such as ATR use RPA to locate to regions of DNA damage for DNA damage signalling. The recruitment of nucleases and DNA exchange factors to sites of double-strand breaks are also an important RPA function to ensure effective DNA recombination to correct these DNA lesions. Due to its high affinity to ssDNA, RPA's removal from ssDNA is of central importance to allow these metabolic pathways to proceed, and processes to exchange RPA against downstream factors are established in all eukaryotes. These faceted and multi-layered functions of RPA as well as its role in a variety of human diseases will be discussed.

GSE1 links the HDAC1/CoREST co-repressor complex to DNA damage

Post-translational modifications of histones are important regulators of the DNA damage response (DDR). By using affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) we discovered that genetic suppressor element 1 (GSE1) forms a complex with the HDAC1/CoREST deacetylase/demethylase co-repressor complex. In-depth phosphorylome analysis revealed that loss of GSE1 results in impaired DDR, ATR signalling and γH2AX formation upon DNA damage induction. Altered profiles of ATR target serine-glutamine motifs (SQ) on DDR-related hallmark proteins point to a defect in DNA damage sensing. In addition, GSE1 knock-out cells show hampered DNA damage-induced phosphorylation on SQ motifs of regulators of histone post-translational modifications, suggesting altered histone modification. While loss of GSE1 does not affect the histone deacetylation activity of CoREST, GSE1 appears to be essential for binding of the deubiquitinase USP22 to CoREST and for the deubiquitination of H2B K120 in response to DNA damage. The combination of deacetylase, demethylase, and deubiquitinase activity makes the USP22-GSE1-CoREST subcomplex a multi-enzymatic eraser that seems to play an important role during DDR. Since GSE1 has been previously associated with cancer progression and survival our findings are potentially of high medical relevance.

Investigating the novel-binding site of RPA2 on Menin and predicting the effect of point mutation of Menin through protein-protein interactions

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play a critical role in all biological processes. Menin is tumor suppressor protein, mutated in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome and has been shown to interact with multiple transcription factors including (RPA2) subunit of replication protein A (RPA). RPA2, heterotrimeric protein required for DNA repair, recombination and replication. However, it's still remains unclear the specific amino acid residues that have been involved in Menin-RPA2 interaction. Thus, accurately predicting the specific amino acid involved in interaction and effects of MEN1 mutations on biological systems is of great interests. The experimental approaches for identifying amino acids in menin-RPA2 interactions are expensive, time-consuming, and challenging. This study leverages computational tools, free energy decomposition and configurational entropy scheme to annotate the menin-RPA2 interaction and effect on menin point mutation, thereby proposing a viable model of menin-RPA2 interaction. The menin-RPA2 interaction pattern was calculated on the basis of different 3D structures of menin and RPA2 complexes, constructed using homology modeling and docking strategy, generating three best-fit models: Model 8 (- 74.89 kJ/mol), Model 28 (- 92.04 kJ/mol) and Model 9 (- 100.4 kJ/mol). The molecular dynamic (MD) was performed for 200 ns and binding free energies and energy decomposition analysis were calculated using Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) in GROMACS. From binding free energy change, model 8 of Menin-RPA2 exhibited most negative binding energy of - 205.624 kJ/mol, followed by model 28 of Menin-RPA2 with - 177.382 kJ/mol. After S606F point mutation in Menin, increase of BFE (ΔGbind) by - 34.09 kJ/mol in Model 8 of mutant Menin-RPA2 occurs. Interestingly, we found a significant reduction of BFE (ΔGbind) and configurational entropy by - 97.54 kJ/mol and - 2618 kJ/mol in mutant model 28 as compared the o wild type. Collectively, this is the first study to highlight the configurational entropy of protein-protein interactions thereby strengthening the prediction of two significant important interaction sites in menin for the binding of RPA2. These predicted sites could be vulnerable for structural alternation in terms of binding free energy and configurational entropy after missense mutation in menin.

An Aurora B-RPA signaling axis secures chromosome segregation fidelity

Errors in chromosome segregation underlie genomic instability associated with cancers. Resolution of replication and recombination intermediates and protection of vulnerable single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) intermediates during mitotic progression requires the ssDNA binding protein Replication Protein A (RPA). However, the mechanisms that regulate RPA specifically during unperturbed mitotic progression are poorly resolved. RPA is a heterotrimer composed of RPA70, RPA32 and RPA14 subunits and is predominantly regulated through hyperphosphorylation of RPA32 in response to DNA damage. Here, we have uncovered a mitosis-specific regulation of RPA by Aurora B kinase. Aurora B phosphorylates Ser-384 in the DNA binding domain B of the large RPA70 subunit and highlights a mode of regulation distinct from RPA32. Disruption of Ser-384 phosphorylation in RPA70 leads to defects in chromosome segregation with loss of viability and a feedback modulation of Aurora B activity. Phosphorylation at Ser-384 remodels the protein interaction domains of RPA. Furthermore, phosphorylation impairs RPA binding to DSS1 that likely suppresses homologous recombination during mitosis by preventing recruitment of DSS1-BRCA2 to exposed ssDNA. We showcase a critical Aurora B-RPA signaling axis in mitosis that is essential for maintaining genomic integrity.

Regulation of CHK1 inhibitor resistance by a c-Rel and USP1 dependent pathway

Previously, we discovered that deletion of c-Rel in the Eµ-Myc mouse model of lymphoma results in earlier onset of disease, a finding that contrasted with the expected function of this NF-κB subunit in B-cell malignancies. Here we report that Eµ-Myc/cRel-/- cells have an unexpected and major defect in the CHK1 pathway. Total and phospho proteomic analysis revealed that Eµ-Myc/cRel-/- lymphomas highly resemble wild-type (WT) Eµ-Myc lymphomas treated with an acute dose of the CHK1 inhibitor (CHK1i) CCT244747. Further analysis demonstrated that this is a consequence of Eµ-Myc/cRel-/- lymphomas having lost expression of CHK1 protein itself, an effect that also results in resistance to CCT244747 treatment in vivo. Similar down-regulation of CHK1 protein levels was also seen in CHK1i resistant U2OS osteosarcoma and Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Further investigation revealed that the deubiquitinase USP1 regulates CHK1 proteolytic degradation and that its down-regulation in our model systems is responsible, at least in part, for these effects. We demonstrate that treating WT Eµ-Myc lymphoma cells with the USP1 inhibitor ML323 was highly effective at reducing tumour burden in vivo. Targeting USP1 activity may thus be an alternative therapeutic strategy in MYC-driven tumours.

Quantitative Phosphoproteomics and Acetylomics of Safranal Anticancer Effects in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Safranal, as an aroma in saffron, is one of the cytotoxic compounds in saffron that causes cell death in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Our recent research reported the anti-cancer effects of safranal, which further demonstrated its impact on protein translation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA fragmentation. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we identified acetylated and phosphorylated peptides in safranal-treated cancer cells. We conducted a comprehensive phosphoproteomics and acetylomics analysis of safranal-treated MDA-MB-231 cells by using a combination of TMT labeling and enrichment methods including titanium dioxide and immunoprecipitation. We provide a wide range of phosphoproteome regulation in different signaling pathways that are disrupted by safranal treatment. Safranal influences the phosphorylation level on proteins involved in DNA replication and repair, translation, and EGFR activation/accumulation, which can lead the cells into apoptosis. Safranal causes DNA damage which is followed by the activation of cell cycle checkpoints for DNA repair. Over time, checkpoints and DNA repair are inhibited and cells are under a mitotic catastrophe. Moreover, safranal prevents repair by the hypo-acetylation of H4 and facilitates the transcription of proapoptotic genes by hyper-acetylation of H3, which push the cells to the brink of death.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor 2-hexyl-4-pentynoic acid enhances hydroxyurea therapeutic effect in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment has only limited effect, and it causes a significant number of deaths. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) are emerging as promising anti-tumor agents in many types of cancers. We thus hypothesized that 2-hexyl-4-pentynoic acid (HPTA), a novel HDACi, could sensitize TNBC to hydroxyurea (HU, a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor). In the present study, we investigated the effect of HPTA, alone or in combination with HU on cell survival, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), key homologous recombination (HR) repair proteins and cell cycle progression in MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 human TNBC cell lines. HPTA and HU synergistically inhibited the survival of TNBC cell lines and resulted in the accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). HPTA can sensitize TNBC cells to HU by inhibiting replication protein A2 (RPA2) hyperphosphorylation-mediated HR repair, and lessen cell accumulation in S-phase by inhibiting ATR-CHK1 signaling pathway. Taken together, our data suggested that HPTA enhances HU therapeutic effect by blocking the HR repair and regulating cell cycle progression in TNBC.

RPA phosphorylation facilitates RAD52 dependent homologous recombination in BRCA-deficient cells

Loss of RAD52 is synthetically lethal in BRCA-deficient cells, owing to its role in backup homologous recombination (HR) repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In HR in mammalian cells, DSBs are processed to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) overhangs, which are then bound by Replication Protein A(RPA). RPA is exchanged for RAD51 by mediator proteins: in mammals BRCA2 is the primary mediator, however, RAD52 provides an alternative mediator pathway in BRCA-deficient cells. RAD51 stimulates strand exchange between homologous DNA duplexes, a critical step in HR. RPA phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation are important for HR, but its effect on RAD52 mediator function is unknown. Here, we show that RPA phosphorylation is required for RAD52 to salvage HR in BRCA-deficient cells. Using BRCA2-depleted human cells, in which the only available mediator pathway is RAD52-dependent, the expression of phosphorylation-deficient RPA mutant reduced HR. Furthermore, RPA-phospho-mutant cells showed reduced association of RAD52 with RAD51. Interestingly, there was no effect of RPA phosphorylation on RAD52 recruitment to repair foci. Finally, we show that RPA phosphorylation does not affect RAD52-dependent ssDNA annealing. Thus, although RAD52 can be recruited independently of RPA's phosphorylation status, RPA phosphorylation is required for RAD52's association with RAD51, and its subsequent promotion of RAD52-mediated HR.

Post-translational modification of factors involved in homologous recombination

DNA is the molecule that stores the chemical instructions necessary for life and its stability is therefore of the utmost importance. Despite this, DNA is damaged by both exogenous and endogenous factors at an alarming frequency. The most severe type of DNA damage is a double-strand break (DSB), in which a scission occurs in both strands of the double helix, effectively dividing a single normal chromosome into two pathological chromosomes. Homologous recombination (HR) is a universal DSB repair mechanism that solves this problem by identifying another region of the genome that shares high sequence similarity with the DSB site and using it as a template for repair. Rad51 possess the enzymatic activity that is essential for this repair but several auxiliary factors are required for Rad51 to fulfil its function. It is becoming increasingly clear that many HR factors are subjected to post-translational modification. Here, we review what is known about how these modifications affect HR. We first focus on cases where there is experimental evidence to support a function for the modification, then discuss speculative cases where a function can be inferred. Finally, we contemplate why such modifications might be necessary.

DOCK7 protects against replication stress by promoting RPA stability on chromatin

RPA is a critical factor for DNA replication and replication stress response. Surprisingly, we found that chromatin RPA stability is tightly regulated. We report that the GDP/GTP exchange factor DOCK7 acts as a critical replication stress regulator to promote RPA stability on chromatin. DOCK7 is phosphorylated by ATR and then recruited by MDC1 to the chromatin and replication fork during replication stress. DOCK7-mediated Rac1/Cdc42 activation leads to the activation of PAK1, which subsequently phosphorylates RPA1 at S135 and T180 to stabilize chromatin-loaded RPA1 and ensure proper replication stress response. Moreover, DOCK7 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer and depleting DOCK7 sensitizes cancer cells to camptothecin. Taken together, our results highlight a novel role for DOCK7 in regulation of the replication stress response and highlight potential therapeutic targets to overcome chemoresistance in cancer.

Dynamic elements of replication protein A at the crossroads of DNA replication, recombination, and repair

The heterotrimeric eukaryotic Replication protein A (RPA) is a master regulator of numerous DNA metabolic processes. For a long time, it has been viewed as an inert protector of ssDNA and a platform for assembly of various genome maintenance and signaling machines. Later, the modular organization of the RPA DNA binding domains suggested a possibility for dynamic interaction with ssDNA. This modular organization has inspired several models for the RPA-ssDNA interaction that aimed to explain how RPA, the high-affinity ssDNA binding protein, is replaced by the downstream players in DNA replication, recombination, and repair that bind ssDNA with much lower affinity. Recent studies, and in particular single-molecule observations of RPA-ssDNA interactions, led to the development of a new model for the ssDNA handoff from RPA to a specific downstream factor where not only stability and structural rearrangements but also RPA conformational dynamics guide the ssDNA handoff. Here we will review the current knowledge of the RPA structure, its dynamic interaction with ssDNA, and how RPA conformational dynamics may be influenced by posttranslational modification and proteins that interact with RPA, as well as how RPA dynamics may be harnessed in cellular decision making.

Replication protein A: a multifunctional protein with roles in DNA replication, repair and beyond

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) forms continuously during DNA replication and is an important intermediate during recombination-mediated repair of damaged DNA. Replication protein A (RPA) is the major eukaryotic ssDNA-binding protein. As such, RPA protects the transiently formed ssDNA from nucleolytic degradation and serves as a physical platform for the recruitment of DNA damage response factors. Prominent and well-studied RPA-interacting partners are the tumor suppressor protein p53, the RAD51 recombinase and the ATR-interacting proteins ATRIP and ETAA1. RPA interactions are also documented with the helicases BLM, WRN and SMARCAL1/HARP, as well as the nucleotide excision repair proteins XPA, XPG and XPF–ERCC1. Besides its well-studied roles in DNA replication (restart) and repair, accumulating evidence shows that RPA is engaged in DNA activities in a broader biological context, including nucleosome assembly on nascent chromatin, regulation of gene expression, telomere maintenance and numerous other aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. In addition, novel RPA inhibitors show promising effects in cancer treatment, as single agents or in combination with chemotherapeutics. Since the biochemical properties of RPA and its roles in DNA repair have been extensively reviewed, here we focus on recent discoveries describing several non-canonical functions.

The ATR Inhibitor AZD6738 Synergizes with Gemcitabine In Vitro and In Vivo to Induce Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Regression

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the deadliest cancers, and overall survival rates have barely improved over the past five decades. The antimetabolite gemcitabine remains part of the standard of care but shows very limited antitumor efficacy. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR), the apical kinase of the intra-S-phase DNA damage response, plays a central role in safeguarding cells from replication stress and can therefore limit the efficacy of antimetabolite drug therapies. We investigated the ability of the ATR inhibitor, AZD6738, to prevent the gemcitabine-induced intra-S-phase checkpoint activation and evaluated the antitumor potential of this combination in vitro and in vivo In PDAC cell lines, AZD6738 inhibited gemcitabine-induced Chk1 activation, prevented cell-cycle arrest, and restrained RRM2 accumulation, leading to the strong induction of replication stress markers only with the combination. Moreover, synergistic growth inhibition was identified in a panel of 5 mouse and 7 human PDAC cell lines using both Bliss Independence and Loewe models. In clonogenic assays, the combination abrogated survival at concentrations for which single agents had minor effects. In vivo, AZD6738 in combination with gemcitabine was well tolerated and induced tumor regression in a subcutaneous allograft model of a KrasG12D; Trp53R172H; Pdx-Cre (KPC) mouse cancer cell line, significantly extending survival. Remarkably, the combination also induced regression of a subgroup of KPC autochthonous tumors, which generally do not respond well to conventional chemotherapy. Altogether, our data suggest that AZD6738 in combination with gemcitabine merits evaluation in a clinical trial in patients with PDAC. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1670-82. ©2018 AACR.

Extensive RPA2 hyperphosphorylation promotes apoptosis in response to DNA replication stress in CHK1 inhibited cells

The replication protein A (RPA)-ssDNA complex formed at arrested replication forks recruits key proteins to activate the ATR-CHK1 signalling cascade. When CHK1 is inhibited during DNA replication stress, RPA2 is extensively hyperphosphorylated. Here, we investigated the role of RPA2 hyperphosphorylation in the fate of cells when CHK1 is inhibited. We show that proteins normally involved in DNA repair (RAD51) or control of RPA phosphorylation (the PP4 protein phosphatase complex) are not recruited to the genome after treatment with CHK1 and DNA synthesis inhibitors. This is not due to RPA2 hyperphosphorylation as suppression of this response does not restore loading suggesting that recruitment requires active CHK1. To determine whether RPA2 hyperphosphorylation protects stalled forks from collapse or induction of apoptosis in CHK1 inhibited cells during replication stress, cells expressing RPA2 genes mutated at key phosphorylation sites were characterized. Mutant RPA2 rescued cells from RPA2 depletion and reduced the level of apoptosis induced by treatment with CHK1 and replication inhibitors however the incidence of double strand breaks was not affected. Our data indicate that RPA2 hyperphosphorylation promotes cell death during replication stress when CHK1 function is compromised but does not appear to be essential for replication fork integrity.

Recognition of DNA Termini by the C-Terminal Region of the Ku80 and the DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunit

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) can be generated by endogenous cellular processes or exogenous agents in mammalian cells. These breaks are highly variable with respect to DNA sequence and structure and all are recognized in some context by the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). DNA-PK is a critical component necessary for the recognition and repair of DSBs via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Previously studies have shown that DNA-PK responds differentially to variations in DSB structure, but how DNA-PK senses differences in DNA substrate sequence and structure is unknown. Here we explore the enzymatic mechanisms by which DNA-PK is activated by various DNA substrates and provide evidence that the DNA-PK is differentially activated by DNA structural variations as a function of the C-terminal region of Ku80. Discrimination based on terminal DNA sequence variations, on the other hand, is independent of the Ku80 C-terminal interactions and likely results exclusively from DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit interactions with the DNA. We also show that sequence differences in DNA termini can drastically influence DNA repair through altered DNA-PK activation. These results indicate that even subtle differences in DNA substrates influence DNA-PK activation and ultimately the efficiency of DSB repair.

Regulation of Rfa2 phosphorylation in response to genotoxic stress in Candida albicans

Successful pathogens must be able to swiftly respond to and repair DNA damages inflicted by the host defence. The replication protein A (RPA) complex plays multiple roles in DNA damage response and is regulated by phosphorylation. However, the regulators of RPA phosphorylation remain unclear. Here, we investigated Rfa2 phosphorylation in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Rfa2, a RFA subunit, is phosphorylated when DNA replication is inhibited by hydroxyurea and dephosphorylated during the recovery. By screening a phosphatase mutant library, we found that Pph3 associates with different regulatory subunits to differentially control Rfa2 dephosphorylation in stressed and unstressed cells. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed T11, S18, S29, and S30 being critical for Rfa2 phosphorylation in response to genotoxic insult. We obtained evidence that the genome integrity checkpoint kinase Mec1 and the cyclin-dependent kinase Clb2-Cdc28 mediate Rfa2 phosphorylation. Although cells expressing either a phosphomimetic or a non-phosphorylatable version of Rfa2 had defects, the latter exhibited greater sensitivity to genotoxic challenge, failure to repair DNA damages and to deactivate Rad53-mediated checkpoint pathways in a dosage-dependent manner. These mutants were also less virulent in mice. Our results provide important new insights into the regulatory mechanism and biological significance of Rfa2 phosphorylation in C. albicans.

Interplay of DNA damage and cell cycle signaling at the level of human replication protein A

Replication protein A (RPA) is the main human single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein. It is essential for cellular DNA metabolism and has important functions in human cell cycle and DNA damage signaling. RPA is indispensable for accurate homologous recombination (HR)-based DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and its activity is regulated by phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications. HR occurs only during S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. All three subunits of RPA contain phosphorylation sites but the exact set of HR-relevant phosphorylation sites on RPA is unknown. In this study, a high resolution capillary isoelectric focusing immunoassay, used under native conditions, revealed the isoforms of the RPA heterotrimer in control and damaged cell lysates in G2. Moreover, the phosphorylation sites of chromatin-bound and cytosolic RPA in S and G2 phases were identified by western and IEF analysis with all available phosphospecific antibodies for RPA2. Strikingly, most of the RPA heterotrimers in control G2 cells are phosphorylated with 5 isoforms containing up to 7 phosphates. These isoforms include RPA2 pSer23 and pSer33. DNA damaged cells in G2 had 9 isoforms with up to 14 phosphates. DNA damage isoforms contained pSer4/8, pSer12, pThr21, pSer23, and pSer33 on RPA2 and up to 8 unidentified phosphorylation sites.

Productive replication of human papillomavirus 31 requires DNA repair factor Nbs1

Activation of the ATM (ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase)-dependent DNA damage response (DDR) is necessary for productive replication of human papillomavirus 31 (HPV31). We previously found that DNA repair and homologous recombination (HR) factors localize to sites of HPV replication, suggesting that ATM activity is required to recruit factors to viral genomes that can productively replicate viral DNA in a recombination-dependent manner. The Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex is an essential component of the DDR that is necessary for ATM-mediated HR repair and localizes to HPV DNA foci. In this study, we demonstrate that the HPV E7 protein is sufficient to increase levels of the MRN complex and also interacts with MRN components. We have found that Nbs1 depletion blocks productive viral replication and results in decreased localization of Mre11, Rad50, and the principal HR factor Rad51 to HPV DNA foci upon differentiation. Nbs1 contributes to the DDR by acting as an upstream activator of ATM in response to double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) and as a downstream effector of ATM activity in the intra-S-phase checkpoint. We have found that phosphorylation of ATM and its downstream target Chk2, as well as SMC1 (structural maintenance of chromosome 1), is maintained upon Nbs1 knockdown in differentiating cells. Given that ATM and Chk2 are required for productive replication, our results suggest that Nbs1 contributes to viral replication outside its role as an ATM activator, potentially through ensuring localization of DNA repair factors to viral genomes that are necessary for efficient productive replication.

IMPORTANCE

The mechanisms that regulate human papillomavirus (HPV) replication during the viral life cycle are not well understood. Our finding that Nbs1 is necessary for productive replication even in the presence of ATM (ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase) and Chk2 phosphorylation offers evidence that Nbs1 contributes to viral replication downstream of facilitating ATM activation. Nbs1 is required for the recruitment of Mre11 and Rad50 to viral genomes, suggesting that the MRN complex plays a direct role in facilitating productive viral replication, potentially through the processing of substrates that are recognized by the key homologous recombination (HR) factor Rad51. The discovery that E7 increases levels of MRN components, and MRN complex formation, identifies a novel role for E7 in facilitating productive replication. Our study not only identifies DNA repair factors necessary for HPV replication but also provides a deeper understanding of how HPV utilizes the DNA damage response to regulate viral replication.

Cdk1 regulates the temporal recruitment of telomerase and Cdc13-Stn1-Ten1 complex for telomere replication

In budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the cell cycle-dependent telomere elongation by telomerase is controlled by the cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1). The telomere length homeostasis is balanced between telomerase-unextendable and telomerase-extendable states that both require Cdc13. The recruitment of telomerase complex by Cdc13 promotes telomere elongation, while the formation of Cdc13-Stn1-Ten1 (CST) complex at the telomere blocks telomere elongation by telomerase. However, the cellular signaling that regulates the timing of the telomerase-extendable and telomerase-unextendable states is largely unknown. Phosphorylation of Cdc13 by Cdk1 promotes the interaction between Cdc13 and Est1 and hence telomere elongation. Here, we show that Cdk1 also phosphorylates Stn1 at threonine 223 and serine 250 both in vitro and in vivo, and these phosphorylation events are essential for the stability of the CST complexes at the telomeres. By controlling the timing of Cdc13 and Stn1 phosphorylations during cell cycle progression, Cdk1 regulates the temporal recruitment of telomerase complexes and CST complexes to the telomeres to facilitate telomere maintenance.

Curcumin suppresses multiple DNA damage response pathways and has potency as a sensitizer to PARP inhibitor

Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) are promising anticancer drugs, particularly for the treatment of tumors deficient in the DNA damage response (DDR). However, it is challenging to design effective therapeutic strategies for use of these compounds against cancers without DDR deficiencies. In this context, combination therapies in which PARP inhibitors are used alongside DDR inhibitors have elicited a great deal of interest. Curcumin, a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been tested in clinical studies for its chemosensitizing potential; however, the mechanisms of chemosensitization by curcumin have not been fully elucidated. This study demonstrates that curcumin suppresses three major DDR pathways: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination (HR) and the DNA damage checkpoint. Curcumin suppresses the histone acetylation at DNA double-strand break (DSB) sites by inhibiting histone acetyltransferase activity, thereby reducing recruitment of the key NHEJ factor KU70/KU80 to DSB sites. Curcumin also suppresses HR by reducing expression of the BRCA1 gene, which regulates HR, by impairing histone acetylation at the BRCA1 promoter. Curcumin also inhibits ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) kinase (IC50 in vitro = 493 nM), resulting in impaired activation of ATR-CHK1 signaling, which is necessary for HR and the DNA damage checkpoint pathway. Thus, curcumin suppresses three DDR pathways by inhibiting histone acetyltransferases and ATR. Concordantly, curcumin sensitizes cancer cells to PARP inhibitors by enhancing apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe via inhibition of both the DNA damage checkpoint and DSB repair. Our results indicate that curcumin is a promising sensitizer for PARP inhibitor-based therapy.

Rfa2 is specifically dephosphorylated by Pph3 in Candida albicans

Rfa2 is a ssDNA (single-stranded DNA)-binding protein that plays an important role in DNA replication, recombination and repair. Rfa2 is regulated by phosphorylation, which alters its protein–protein interaction and protein–DNA interaction. In the present study, we found that the Pph3–Psy2 phosphatase complex is responsible for Rfa2 dephosphorylation both during normal G₁-phase and under DNA replication stress in Candida albicans. Phosphorylated Rfa2 extracted from pph3Δ or psy2Δ G₁ cells exhibited diminished binding affinity to dsDNA (double-stranded DNA) but not to ssDNA. We also discovered that Cdc28 (cell division cycle 28) and Mec1 are responsible for Rfa2 phosphorylation in G₁-phase and under DNA replication stress respectively. Moreover, MS revealed that the domain of Rfa2 that was phosphorylated in G₁-phase differed from that phosphorylated under the stress conditions. The results of the present study imply that differential phosphorylation plays a crucial role in RPA (replication protein A) regulation.

Implication of RPA32 phosphorylation in S-phase checkpoint signalling at replication forks stalled with aphidicolin in Xenopus egg extracts

Activation of the replication checkpoint relies upon uncoupling of DNA polymerases and helicase activities at replication forks, which in multicellular organism results in production of long stretches of single-stranded DNA bound by the trimeric, single stranded DNA binding protein, the RPA complex. Binding of RPA to this substrate promotes synthesis of replication intermediates that contributes to checkpoint activation by allowing binding of the 9-1-1 checkpoint clamp. The RPA32kDa subunit is also phosphorylated during this process but its role in checkpoint signalling is unclear. Here we have investigated the requirement for RPA32 phosphorylation in checkpoint activation in Xenopus egg extracts. We show that phospho-deficient mutants of RPA32 stimulate checkpoint signalling at replication forks arrested with aphidicolin at both the initiation and the elongation step of DNA replication, without affecting DNA synthesis. In contrast, we show that phospho-mimetic RPA32 mutants do not stimulate checkpoint activation at unwound forks. These results indicate that the hypophosphorylated, replication fork-associated form of RPA32 functions in S-phase-dependent checkpoint signalling at unwound forks in Xenopus egg extracts while RPA32 phosphorylation may be implicated in other pathways such as repair or restart of arrested replication forks.

DNA-PK, ATM and ATR collaboratively regulate p53-RPA interaction to facilitate homologous recombination DNA repair

Homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) are two distinct DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways. Here we report that DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), the core component of NHEJ, partnering with DNA-damage checkpoint kinases ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR), regulates HR repair of DSBs. The regulation was accomplished through modulation of the p53 and replication protein A (RPA) interaction. We show that upon DNA damage, p53 and RPA were freed from a p53-RPA complex by simultaneous phosphorylations of RPA at the N-terminus of RPA32 subunit by DNA-PK and of p53 at Ser37 and Ser46 in a Chk1/Chk2-independent manner by ATR and ATM, respectively. Neither the phosphorylation of RPA nor of p53 alone could dissociate p53 and RPA. Furthermore, disruption of the release significantly compromised HR repair of DSBs. Our results reveal a mechanism for the crosstalk between HR repair and NHEJ through the co-regulation of p53-RPA interaction by DNA-PK, ATM and ATR.

Human papillomaviruses recruit cellular DNA repair and homologous recombination factors to viral replication centers

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) activate the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent DNA damage response to induce viral genome amplification upon epithelial differentiation. Our studies show that along with members of the ATM pathway, HPV proteins also localize factors involved in homologous DNA recombination to distinct nuclear foci that contain HPV genomes and cellular replication factors. These studies indicate that HPV activates the ATM pathway to recruit repair factors to viral genomes and allow for efficient replication.

More forks on the road to replication stress recovery

High-fidelity replication of DNA, and its accurate segregation to daughter cells, is critical for maintaining genome stability and suppressing cancer. DNA replication forks are stalled by many DNA lesions, activating checkpoint proteins that stabilize stalled forks. Stalled forks may eventually collapse, producing a broken DNA end. Fork restart is typically mediated by proteins initially identified by their roles in homologous recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In recent years, several proteins involved in DSB repair by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) have been implicated in the replication stress response, including DNA-PKcs, Ku, DNA Ligase IV-XRCC4, Artemis, XLF and Metnase. It is currently unclear whether NHEJ proteins are involved in the replication stress response through indirect (signaling) roles, and/or direct roles involving DNA end joining. Additional complexity in the replication stress response centers around RPA, which undergoes significant post-translational modification after stress, and RAD52, a conserved HR protein whose role in DSB repair may have shifted to another protein in higher eukaryotes, such as BRCA2, but retained its role in fork restart. Most cancer therapeutic strategies create DNA replication stress. Thus, it is imperative to gain a better understanding of replication stress response proteins and pathways to improve cancer therapy.

RING finger and WD repeat domain 3 (RFWD3) associates with replication protein A (RPA) and facilitates RPA-mediated DNA damage response

DNA damage response is crucial for maintaining genomic integrity and preventing cancer by coordinating the activation of checkpoints and the repair of damaged DNA. Central to DNA damage response are the two checkpoint kinases ATM and ATR that phosphorylate a wide range of substrates. RING finger and WD repeat domain 3 (RFWD3) was initially identified as a substrate of ATM/ATR from a proteomic screen. Subsequent studies showed that RFWD3 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates p53 in vitro and positively regulates p53 levels in response to DNA damage. We report here that RFWD3 associates with replication protein A (RPA), a single-stranded DNA-binding protein that plays essential roles in DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Binding of RPA to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which is generated by DNA damage and repair, is essential for the recruitment of DNA repair factors to damaged sites and the activation of checkpoint signaling. We show that RFWD3 is physically associated with RPA and rapidly localizes to sites of DNA damage in a RPA-dependent manner. In vitro experiments suggest that the C terminus of RFWD3, which encompass the coiled-coil domain and the WD40 domain, is necessary for binding to RPA. Furthermore, DNA damage-induced phosphorylation of RPA and RFWD3 is dependent upon each other. Consequently, loss of RFWD3 results in the persistent foci of DNA damage marker γH2AX and the repair protein Rad51 in damaged cells. These findings suggest that RFWD3 is recruited to sites of DNA damage and facilitates RPA-mediated DNA damage signaling and repair.

Recruitment of DNA replication and damage response proteins to viral replication centers during infection with NS2 mutants of Minute Virus of Mice (MVM)

MVM NS2 is essential for viral DNA amplification, but its mechanism of action is unknown. A classification scheme for autonomous parvovirus-associated replication (APAR) center development, based on NS1 distribution, was used to characterize abnormal APAR body maturation in NS2null mutant infections, and their organization examined for defects in host protein recruitment. Since acquisition of known replication factors appeared normal, we looked for differences in invoked DNA damage responses. We observed widespread association of H2AX/MDC1 damage response foci with viral replication centers, and sequestration and complex hyperphosphorylation of RPA(32), which occurred in wildtype and mutant infections. Quantifying these responses by western transfer indicated that both wildtype and NS2 mutant MVM elicited ATM activation, while phosphorylation of ATR, already basally activated in asynchronous A9 cells, was downregulated. We conclude that MVM infection invokes multiple damage responses that influence the APAR environment, but that NS2 does not modify the recruitment of cellular proteins.

Inhibition of topoisomerase I prevents chromosome breakage at common fragile sites

Common fragile sites are loci that preferentially form gaps and breaks on metaphase chromosomes when DNA synthesis is perturbed, particularly after treatment with the DNA polymerase inhibitor, aphidicolin. We and others have identified several cell cycle checkpoint and DNA repair proteins that influence common fragile site stability. However, the initial events underlying fragile site breakage remain poorly understood. We demonstrate here that aphidicolin-induced gaps and breaks at fragile sites are prevented when cells are co-treated with low concentrations of the topoisomerase I inhibitor, camptothecin. This reduction in breakage is accompanied by a reduction in aphidicolin-induced RPA foci, CHK1 and RPA2 phosphorylation, and PCNA monoubiquitination, indicative of reduced levels of single stranded DNA. Furthermore, camptothecin reduces spontaneous fragile site breakage seen in cells lacking ATR, even in the absence of aphidicolin. These data from cultured human cells demonstrate that topoisomerase I activity is required for DNA common fragile site breaks and suggest that polymerase-helicase uncoupling is a key initial event in this process.

The role of RPA2 phosphorylation in homologous recombination in response to replication arrest

Failure to reactivate stalled or collapsed DNA replication forks is a potential source of genomic instability. Homologous recombination (HR) is a major mechanism for repairing the DNA damage resulting from replication arrest. The single-strand DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein, replication protein A (RPA), plays a major role in multiple processes of DNA metabolism. However, the role of RPA2 hyperphosphorylation, which occurs in response to DNA damage, had been unclear. Here, we show that hyperphosphorylated RPA2 associates with ssDNA and recombinase protein Rad51 in response to replication arrest by hydroxyurea (HU) treatment. In addition, RPA2 hyperphosphorylation is critical for Rad51 recruitment and HR-mediated repair following HU. However, RPA2 hyperphosphorylation is not essential for both ionizing radiation (IR)-induced Rad51 foci formation and I-Sce-I endonuclease-stimulated HR. Moreover, we show that expression of a phosphorylation-deficient mutant of RPA2 leads to increased chromosomal aberrations following HU treatment but not after exposure to IR. Finally, we demonstrate that loss of RPA2 hyperphosphorylation results in a loss of viability when cells are confronted with replication stress whereas cells expressing hyperphosphorylation-defective RPA2 or wild-type RPA2 have a similar sensitivity to IR. Thus, our data suggest that RPA2 hyperphosphorylation plays a critical role in maintenance of genomic stability and cell survival after a DNA replication block via promotion of HR.

Eukaryotic single-stranded DNA binding proteins: central factors in genome stability

The single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) are required to maintain the integrity of the genome in all organisms. Replication protein A (RPA) is a nuclear SSB protein found in all eukaryotes and is required for multiple processes in DNA metabolism such as DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA recombination, telomere maintenance and DNA damage signalling. RPA is a heterotrimeric complex, binds ssDNA with high affinity, and interacts specifically with multiple proteins to fulfil its function in eukaryotes. RPA is phosphorylated in a cell cycle and DNA damage-dependent manner with evidence suggesting that phosphorylation has an important function in modulating the cellular DNA damage response. Considering the DNA-binding properties of RPA a mechanism of "molecular counting" to initiate DNA damage-dependent signalling is discussed. Recently a human homologue to the RPA2 subunit, called RPA4, was discovered and RPA4 can substitute for RPA2 in the RPA complex resulting in an "alternative" RPA (aRPA), which can bind to ssDNA with similar affinity as canonical RPA. Additional human SSBs, hSSB1 and hSSB2, were recently identified, with hSSB1 being localized in the nucleus and having implications in DNA repair. Mitochondrial SSBs (mtSSBs) have been found in all eukaryotes studied. mtSSBs are related to prokaryotic SSBs and essential to main the genome stability in eukaryotic mitochondria. Recently human mtSSB was identified as a novel binding partner of p53 and that it is able to stimulate the intrinsic exonuclease activity of p53. These findings and recent results associated with mutations in RPA suggest a link of SSBs to cancer.

Increased cancer risk of augmentation cystoplasty: possible role for hyperosmolal microenvironment on DNA damage recognition

Patients who have had surgical bladder augmentation have an increased risk of bladder malignancy, though the mechanism for this increased risk is unknown. Hyperosmolal microenvironments such as the bladder may impair DNA damage signaling and repair; this effect may be more pronounced in tissues not normally exposed to such conditions. Comparing gastric and colon epithelial cell lines to transitional epithelial cell lines gradually adapted to an osmolality of 600 mOsm/kg with either sodium chloride or urea, cell lines of gastrointestinal origin were inhibited in their ability to activate ATM and downstream effectors of DNA damage signaling and repair such as p53, Nbs1, replication protein A (RPA), and gammaH2AX following the induction of DNA damage with etoposide. In contrast, bladder cell lines demonstrated a preserved ability to phosphorylate ATM and its effectors under conditions of hyperosmolal urea, and to a lesser extent with sodium chloride. The bladder cell lines' ability to respond to DNA damage under hyperosmolal conditions may be due in part to protective mechanisms such as the accumulation of intracellular organic osmolytes and the uroplakin-containing asymmetric unit membrane as found in transitional epithelial cells, but not in gastrointestinal cells. Failure of such protective adaptations in the tissues used for augmentation cystoplasties may place these tissues at increased risk for malignancy.

Ionizing radiation-dependent and independent phosphorylation of the 32-kDa subunit of replication protein A during mitosis

The human single-stranded DNA-binding protein, replication protein A (RPA), is regulated by the N-terminal phosphorylation of its 32-kDa subunit, RPA2. RPA2 is hyperphosphorylated in response to various DNA-damaging agents and also phosphorylated in a cell-cycle-dependent manner during S- and M-phase, primarily at two CDK consensus sites, S23 and S29. Here we generated two monoclonal phospho-specific antibodies directed against these CDK sites. These phospho-specific RPA2-(P)-S23 and RPA2-(P)-S29 antibodies recognized mitotically phosphorylated RPA2 with high specificity. In addition, the RPA2-(P)-S23 antibody recognized the S-phase-specific phosphorylation of RPA2, suggesting that during S-phase only S23 is phosphorylated, whereas during M-phase both CDK sites, S23 and S29, are phosphorylated. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the mitotic phosphorylation of RPA2 starts at the onset of mitosis, and dephosphorylation occurs during late cytokinesis. In mitotic cells treated with ionizing radiation (IR), we observed a rapid hyperphosphorylation of RPA2 in addition to its mitotic phosphorylation at S23 and S29, associated with a significant change in the subcellular localization of RPA. Our data also indicate that the RPA2 hyperphosphorylation in response to IR is facilitated by the activity of both ATM and DNA-PK, and is associated with activation of the Chk2 pathway.

Human replication protein A-Rad52-single-stranded DNA complex: stoichiometry and evidence for strand transfer regulation by phosphorylation

The eukaryotic single-stranded DNA-binding protein, replication protein A (RPA), is essential in DNA metabolism and is phosphorylated in response to DNA-damaging agents. Rad52 and RPA participate in the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs). It is known that human RPA and Rad52 form a complex, but the molecular mass, stoichiometry, and exact role of this complex in DSB repair are unclear. In this study, absolute molecular masses of individual proteins and complexes were measured in solution using analytical size-exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle light scattering, the protein species present in each purified fraction were verified via sodium dodecyl sulfate−polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS−PAGE)/Western analyses, and the presence of biotinylated ssDNA in the complexes was verified by chemiluminescence detection. Then, employing UV cross-linking, the protein partner holding the ssDNA was identified. These data show that phosphorylated RPA promoted formation of a complex with monomeric Rad52 and caused the transfer of ssDNA from RPA to Rad52. This suggests that RPA phosphorylation may regulate the first steps of DSB repair and is necessary for the mediator function of Rad52.

Homologous recombinational repair factors are recruited and loaded onto the viral DNA genome in Epstein-Barr virus replication compartments

Homologous recombination is an important biological process that facilitates genome rearrangement and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The induction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic replication induces ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)-dependent DNA damage checkpoint signaling, leading to the clustering of phosphorylated ATM and Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complexes to sites of viral genome synthesis in nuclei. Here we report that homologous recombinational repair (HRR) factors such as replication protein A (RPA), Rad51, and Rad52 as well as MRN complexes are recruited and loaded onto the newly synthesized viral genome in replication compartments. The 32-kDa subunit of RPA is extensively phosphorylated at sites in accordance with those with ATM. The hyperphosphorylation of RPA32 causes a change in RPA conformation, resulting in a switch from the catalysis of DNA replication to the participation in DNA repair. The levels of Rad51 and phosphorylated RPA were found to increase with the progression of viral productive replication, while that of Rad52 proved constant. Furthermore, biochemical fractionation revealed increases in levels of DNA-bound forms of these HRRs. Bromodeoxyuridine-labeled chromatin immunoprecipitation and PCR analyses confirmed the loading of RPA, Rad 51, Rad52, and Mre11 onto newly synthesized viral DNA, and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling analysis demonstrated DSBs in the EBV replication compartments. HRR factors might be recruited to repair DSBs on the viral genome in viral replication compartments. RNA interference knockdown of RPA32 and Rad51 prevented viral DNA synthesis remarkably, suggesting that homologous recombination and/or repair of viral DNA genome might occur, coupled with DNA replication to facilitate viral genome synthesis.

Regulatory functions of the N-terminal domain of the 70-kDa subunit of replication protein A (RPA)

Replication protein A (RPA) is the major single-stranded DNA-binding protein in eukaryotes. RPA is composed of three subunits of 70, 32, and 14 kDa. The N-terminal domain of the 70-kDa subunit (RPA70) has weak DNA binding activity, interacts with proteins, and is involved in cellular DNA damage response. To define the mechanism by which this domain regulates RPA function, we analyzed the function of RPA forms containing a deletion of the N terminus of RPA70 and mutations in the phosphorylation domain of RPA (N-terminal 40 amino acids of the 32-kDa subunit). Although each individual mutation has only modest effects on RPA activity, a form combining both phosphorylation mimetic mutations and a deletion of the N-terminal domain of RPA70 was found to have dramatically altered activity. This combined mutant was defective in binding to short single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides and had altered interactions with proteins that bind to the DNA-binding core of RPA70. These results indicate that in the absence of the N-terminal domain of RPA70, a negatively charged phosphorylation domain disrupts the activity of the core DNA-binding domain of RPA. We conclude that the N-terminal domain of RPA70 functions by interacting with the phosphorylation domain of the 32-kDa subunit and blocking undesirable interactions with the core DNA-binding domain of RPA. These studies indicate that RPA conformation is important for regulating RPA-DNA and RPA-protein interactions.

Eukaryotic nucleotide excision repair: from understanding mechanisms to influencing biology

Repair of bulky DNA adducts by the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway is one of the more versatile DNA repair pathways for the removal of DNA lesions. There are two subsets of the NER pathway, global genomic-NER (GG-NER) and transcription-coupled NER (TC-NER), which differ only in the step involving recognition of the DNA lesion. Following recognition of the damage, the sub-pathways then converge for the incision/excision steps and subsequent gap filling and ligation steps. This review will focus on the GGR sub-pathway of NER, while the TCR sub-pathway will be covered in another article in this issue. The ability of the NER pathway to repair a wide array of adducts stems, in part, from the mechanisms involved in the initial recognition step of the damaged DNA and results in NER impacting an equally wide array of human physiological responses and events. In this review, the impact of NER on carcinogenesis, neurological function, sensitivity to environmental factors and sensitivity to cancer therapeutics will be discussed. The knowledge generated in our understanding of the NER pathway over the past 40 years has resulted from advances in the fields of animal model systems, mammalian genetics and in vitro biochemistry, as well as from reconstitution studies and structural analyses of the proteins and enzymes that participate in this pathway. Each of these avenues of research has contributed significantly to our understanding of how the NER pathway works and how alterations in NER activity, both positive and negative, influence human biology.

The ATR-mediated S phase checkpoint prevents rereplication in mammalian cells when licensing control is disrupted

DNA replication in eukaryotic cells is tightly controlled by a licensing mechanism, ensuring that each origin fires once and only once per cell cycle. We demonstrate that the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR)–mediated S phase checkpoint acts as a surveillance mechanism to prevent rereplication. Thus, disruption of licensing control will not induce significant rereplication in mammalian cells when the ATR checkpoint is intact. We also demonstrate that single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is the initial signal that activates the checkpoint when licensing control is compromised in mammalian cells. We demonstrate that uncontrolled DNA unwinding by minichromosome maintenance proteins upon Cdt1 overexpression is an important mechanism that leads to ssDNA accumulation and checkpoint activation. Furthermore, we show that replication protein A 2 and retinoblastoma protein are both downstream targets for ATR that are important for the inhibition of DNA rereplication. We reveal the molecular mechanisms by which the ATR-mediated S phase checkpoint pathway prevents DNA rereplication and thus significantly improve our understanding of how rereplication is prevented in mammalian cells.

Oxygen regulation of arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and survival

The purpose of this study was to determine if hypoxia elicits different proliferative and apoptotic responses in systemic arterial smooth muscle cells incubated under conditions that do or do not result in cellular ATP depletion and whether these effects are relevant to vascular remodeling in vivo. Gene expression profiling was used to identify potential regulatory pathways. In human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) incubated at 3% O(2), proliferation and progression through the G1/S interphase are enhanced. Incubation at 1% O(2) reduced proliferation, delayed G1/S transition, increased apoptotic cell death, and is associated with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and reduced cellular ATP levels. In aorta and mesenteric artery from rats exposed to hypoxia (10% O(2), 48 h), both proliferation and apoptosis are increased, as are medial nuclear density and smooth muscle cell content. Although nuclear levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1alpha) are increased to a similar extent in HASMCs incubated at 1 and 3% O(2), expression of tumor protein p53, its transcriptional target p21, as well as their regulatory factors and downstream effectors, are differentially affected under these two conditions, suggesting that the bidirectional effects of hypoxia are mediated by this pathway. We conclude that hypoxia induces a state of enhanced cell turnover through increased rates of both smooth muscle cell proliferation and death. This confers the ability to remodel the vasculature in response to changing tissue metabolic needs while avoiding the accumulation of mutations that may lead to malignant transformation or the formation of abnormal vascular structures.

NBS1 mediates ATR-dependent RPA hyperphosphorylation following replication-fork stall and collapse

Post-translational phosphorylation of proteins provides a mechanism for cells to switch on or off many diverse processes, including responses to replication stress. Replication-stress-induced phosphorylation enables the rapid activation of numerous proteins involved in DNA replication, DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoints, including replication protein A (RPA). Here, we report that hydroxyurea (HU)-induced RPA phosphorylation requires both NBS1 (NBN) and NBS1 phosphorylation. Transfection of both phosphospecific and nonphosphospecific anti-NBS1 antibodies blocked hyperphosphorylation of RPA in HeLa cells. Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) cells stably transfected with an empty vector or with S343A-NBS1 or S278A/S343A phospho-mutants were unable to hyperphosphorylate RPA in DNA-damage-associated foci following HU treatment. The stable transfection of fully functional NBS1 in NBS cells restored RPA hyperphosphorylation. Retention of ATR on chromatin in both NBS cells and in NBS cells expressing S278A/S343A NBS1 mutants decreased after DNA damage, suggesting that ATR is the kinase responsible for RPA phosphorylation. The importance of RPA hyperphosphorylation is demonstrated by the ability of cells expressing a phospho-mutant form of RPA32 (RPA2) to suppress and delay HU-induced apoptosis. Our findings suggest that RPA hyperphosphorylation requires NBS1 and is important for the cellular response to DNA damage.

Sequential and synergistic modification of human RPA stimulates chromosomal DNA repair

The activity of human replication protein A (RPA) in DNA replication and repair is regulated by phosphorylation of the middle RPA2 subunit. It has previously been shown that up to nine different N-terminal residues are modified in vivo and in response to genotoxic stress. Using a novel antibody against phospho-Ser(29), a moiety formed by cyclin-Cdk, we observed that RPA2 was phosphorylated during mitosis in nonstressed cells. Robust phosphorylation of Ser(29) was also seen in interphase cells following treatment with the DNA-damaging agent camptothecin, a rare example of stress stimulating the modification of a repair factor by cyclin-Cdk. RPA2 phosphorylation is regulated both in cis and trans. Cis-phosphorylation follows a preferred pathway. (That is, the initial modification of Ser(33) by ATR stimulates subsequent phosphorylation of Cdk sites Ser(23) and Ser(29)). These events then facilitate modification of Thr(21) and extreme N-terminal sites Ser(4) and Ser(8), probably by DNA-PK. Our data also indicate that the phosphorylation of one RPA molecule can influence the phosphorylation of other RPA molecules in trans. Cells in which endogenous RPA2 was "replaced" with a double S23A/S29A-RPA2 mutant were seen to have an abnormal cell cycle distribution both in normal and in stressed cells. Such cells also showed aberrant DNA damage-dependent RPA foci and had persistent staining of gammaH2AX following DNA damage. Our data indicate that RPA phosphorylation facilitates chromosomal DNA repair. We postulate that the RPA phosphorylation pattern provides a means to regulate the DNA repair pathway utilized.

Structure of the full-length human RPA14/32 complex gives insights into the mechanism of DNA binding and complex formation

Replication protein A (RPA) is the ubiquitous, eukaryotic single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein and is essential for DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Here, crystal structures of the soluble RPA heterodimer, composed of the RPA14 and RPA32 subunits, have been determined for the full-length protein in multiple crystal forms. In all crystals, the electron density for the N-terminal (residues 1-42) and C-terminal (residues 175-270) regions of RPA32 is weak and of poor quality indicating that these regions are disordered and/or assume multiple positions in the crystals. Hence, the RPA32 N terminus, that is hyperphosphorylated in a cell-cycle-dependent manner and in response to DNA damaging agents, appears to be inherently disordered in the unphosphorylated state. The C-terminal, winged helix-loop-helix, protein-protein interaction domain adopts several conformations perhaps to facilitate its interaction with various proteins. Although the ordered regions of RPA14/32 resemble the previously solved protease-resistant core crystal structure, the quaternary structures between the heterodimers are quite different. Thus, the four-helix bundle quaternary assembly noted in the original core structure is unlikely to be related to the quaternary structure of the intact heterotrimer. An organic ligand binding site between subunits RPA14 and RPA32 was identified to bind dioxane. Comparison of the ssDNA binding surfaces of RPA70 with RPA14/32 showed that the lower affinity of RPA14/32 can be attributed to a shallower binding crevice with reduced positive electrostatic charge.

Dynamic behavior of an intrinsically unstructured linker domain is conserved in the face of negligible amino acid sequence conservation

Proteins or regions of proteins that do not form compact globular structures are classified as intrinsically unstructured proteins (IUPs). IUPs are common in nature and have essential molecular functions, but even a limited understanding of the evolution of their dynamic behavior is lacking. The primary objective of this work was to test the evolutionary conservation of dynamic behavior for a particular class of IUPs that form intrinsically unstructured linker domains (IULD) that tether flanking folded domains. This objective was accomplished by measuring the backbone flexibility of several IULD homologues using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The backbone flexibility of five IULDs, representing three kingdoms, was measured and analyzed. Two IULDs from animals, one IULD from fungi, and two IULDs from plants showed similar levels of backbone flexibility that were consistent with the absence of a compact globular structure. In contrast, the amino acid sequences of the IULDs from these three taxa showed no significant similarity. To investigate how the dynamic behavior of the IULDs could be conserved in the absence of detectable sequence conservation, evolutionary rate studies were performed on a set of nine mammalian IULDs. The results of this analysis showed that many sites in the IULD are evolving neutrally, suggesting that dynamic behavior can be maintained in the absence of natural selection. This work represents the first experimental test of the evolutionary conservation of dynamic behavior and demonstrates that amino acid sequence conservation is not required for the conservation of dynamic behavior and presumably molecular function.

Dynamic behavior of an intrinsically unstructured linker domain is conserved in the face of negligible amino acid sequence conservation

Proteins or regions of proteins that do not form compact globular structures are classified as intrinsically unstructured proteins (IUPs). IUPs are common in nature and have essential molecular functions, but even a limited understanding of the evolution of their dynamic behavior is lacking. The primary objective of this work was to test the evolutionary conservation of dynamic behavior for a particular class of IUPs that form intrinsically unstructured linker domains (IULD) that tether flanking folded domains. This objective was accomplished by measuring the backbone flexibility of several IULD homologues using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The backbone flexibility of five IULDs, representing three kingdoms, was measured and analyzed. Two IULDs from animals, one IULD from fungi, and two IULDs from plants showed similar levels of backbone flexibility that were consistent with the absence of a compact globular structure. In contrast, the amino acid sequences of the IULDs from these three taxa showed no significant similarity. To investigate how the dynamic behavior of the IULDs could be conserved in the absence of detectable sequence conservation, evolutionary rate studies were performed on a set of nine mammalian IULDs. The results of this analysis showed that many sites in the IULD are evolving neutrally, suggesting that dynamic behavior can be maintained in the absence of natural selection. This work represents the first experimental test of the evolutionary conservation of dynamic behavior and demonstrates that amino acid sequence conservation is not required for the conservation of dynamic behavior and presumably molecular function.