Defects in transcription coupled repair interfere with expression of p90(MDM2) in response to ultraviolet light

MutLα heterodimers modify the molecular phenotype of Friedreich ataxia

BACKGROUND

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), the most common autosomal recessive ataxia disorder, is caused by a dynamic GAA repeat expansion mutation within intron 1 of FXN gene, resulting in down-regulation of frataxin expression. Studies of cell and mouse models have revealed a role for the mismatch repair (MMR) MutS-heterodimer complexes and the PMS2 component of the MutLα complex in the dynamics of intergenerational and somatic GAA repeat expansions: MSH2, MSH3 and MSH6 promote GAA repeat expansions, while PMS2 inhibits GAA repeat expansions.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

To determine the potential role of the other component of the MutLα complex, MLH1, in GAA repeat instability in FRDA, we have analyzed intergenerational and somatic GAA repeat expansions from FXN transgenic mice that have been crossed with Mlh1 deficient mice. We find that loss of Mlh1 activity reduces both intergenerational and somatic GAA repeat expansions. However, we also find that loss of either Mlh1 or Pms2 reduces FXN transcription, suggesting different mechanisms of action for Mlh1 and Pms2 on GAA repeat expansion dynamics and regulation of FXN transcription.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Both MutLα components, PMS2 and MLH1, have now been shown to modify the molecular phenotype of FRDA. We propose that upregulation of MLH1 or PMS2 could be potential FRDA therapeutic approaches to increase FXN transcription.

UV-induced apoptosis in XPG-deficient fibroblasts involves activation of CD95 and caspases but not p53

Mildly affected individuals from xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group G (XP-G) possess single amino acid substitutions in the XPG protein that adversely affects its 3' endonuclease function in nucleotide excision repair. More serious mutations in the XPG gene generate truncated or unstable XPG proteins and result in a particularly early and severe form of the combined XP/CS complex. Following UV irradiation, cells from such XP-G/CS patients enter apoptosis more readily than other DNA repair-deficient cells. Here, we explore the mechanisms by which UV triggers the apoptotic cell death program in XP-G and XP-G/CS primary fibroblasts. Activation of the CD95 signalling pathway occurs within minutes and it is the earliest detectable post-UV event in such cells. This is rapidly followed by activation of caspase-8 then caspase-3. Several hours later caspase-9 becomes activated and the mitochondrial membrane potential drops, but without any obvious prior release of cytochrome c. Although p53 accumulates in XPG-deficient cells after UV irradiation, use of RNA interference demonstrates that p53 is not required for their UV-induced apoptotic response. p53 ablation of wild-type fibroblasts reduces MDM2 mRNA levels, inhibits accumulation of the 90kDa/92kDa Mdm2 isoforms, and prevents the nuclear relocalisation of Mdm2 after UV treatment. The same post-UV effects occur in XPG-deficient cells that express normal p53 levels. These results emphasise the importance of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and aberrant Mdm2 events for the severe UV-induced apoptosis of XPG-deficient primary fibroblasts. XP-G/CS cells constitutively overexpress the pro-apoptotic Bax protein and a long isoform of the E2F1 transcription factor that controls S phase entry, which may prime them to enter apoptosis very readily after UV irradiation.

Suppression of UV-induced apoptosis by the human DNA repair protein XPG

The severe xeroderma pigmentosum/Cockayne syndrome (XP/CS) syndrome is caused by mutations in the XPB, XPD and XPG genes that encode the helicase subunits of TFIIH and the 3' endonuclease of nucleotide excision repair (NER). Because XPB and XPD have been implicated in p53-mediated apoptosis, we examined the possible involvement of XPG in this process. After ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation, primary fibroblasts of XP complementation group G (XP-G) individuals with CS enter apoptosis more readily than other NER-deficient cells, but this is unlinked to unrepaired damage. These XP-G/CS cells accumulate p53 post-UV but they fail to accumulate the 90/92 kDa isoforms of Mdm2 and their cellular distribution of Mdm2 is impaired. Apoptosis levels revert to wild type, Mdm2 90/92 kDa isoforms accumulate, and Mdm2 regains its normal post-UV nuclear location in transduced XP-G/CS cells expressing wild-type XPG, but not an XPG catalytic site mutant. These results suggest that XPG suppresses UV-induced apoptosis and that this suppression, most simply, requires its endonuclease function.

Mdm2 in the Response to Radiation

Murine double minute 2 (Mdm2) is a critical component of the responses to both ionizing and UV radiation. The level of Mdm2 expression determines the extent to which radiation induces an increase in the activity of the p53 tumor suppressor. Mdm2 acts as a survival factor in many cell types by limiting the apoptotic function of p53. In addition, expression of mdm2 is induced in response to DNA damage, and the resulting high levels of Mdm2 protein are thought to shorten the length of the cell cycle arrest established by p53 in the radiation response. Increased levels of Mdm2 appear to ensure that the activity of p53 returns to its low basal levels in surviving cells. Decreased levels of Mdm2 sensitize cells to ionizing radiation. Thus, Mdm2 is a potential target for therapeutic intervention because its inhibition may radiosensitize the subset of human tumors expressing wild-type p53 such that radiotherapy is more efficacious.