Dissecting transcription-coupled and global genomic repair in the chromatin of yeast GAL1-10 genes

Interplay of the Tfb1 pleckstrin homology domain with Rad2 and Rad4 in transcription coupled and global genomic nucleotide excision repair

Transcription-coupled repair (TCR) and global genomic repair (GGR) are two subpathways of nucleotide excision repair (NER). The TFIIH subunit Tfb1 contains a Pleckstrin homology domain (PHD), which was shown to interact with one PHD-binding segment (PB) of Rad4 and two PHD-binding segments (PB1 and PB2) of Rad2 in vitro. Whether and how the different Rad2 and Rad4 PBs interact with the same Tfb1 PHD, and whether and how they affect TCR and GGR within the cell remain mysterious. We found that Rad4 PB constitutively interacts with Tfb1 PHD, and the two proteins may function within one module for damage recognition in TCR and GGR. Rad2 PB1 protects Tfb1 from degradation and interacts with Tfb1 PHD at a basal level, presumably within transcription preinitiation complexes when NER is inactive. During a late step of NER, the interaction between Rad2 PB1 and Tfb1 PHD augments, enabling efficient TCR and GGR. Rather than interacting with Tfb1 PHD, Rad2 PB2 constrains the basal interaction between Rad2 PB1 and Tfb1 PHD, thereby weakening the protection of Tfb1 from degradation and enabling rapid augmentation of their interactions within TCR and GGR complexes. Our results shed new light on NER mechanisms.

Transcription as source of genetic heterogeneity in budding yeast

Transcription presents challenges to genome stability both directly, by altering genome topology and exposing single-stranded DNA to chemical insults and nucleases, and indirectly by introducing obstacles to the DNA replication machinery. Such obstacles include the RNA polymerase holoenzyme itself, DNA-bound regulatory factors, G-quadruplexes and RNA-DNA hybrid structures known as R-loops. Here, we review the detrimental impacts of transcription on genome stability in budding yeast, as well as the mitigating effects of transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair and of systems that maintain DNA replication fork processivity and integrity. Interactions between DNA replication and transcription have particular potential to induce mutation and structural variation, but we conclude that such interactions must have only minor effects on DNA replication by the replisome with little if any direct mutagenic outcome. However, transcription can significantly impair the fidelity of replication fork rescue mechanisms, particularly Break Induced Replication, which is used to restart collapsed replication forks when other means fail. This leads to de novo mutations, structural variation and extrachromosomal circular DNA formation that contribute to genetic heterogeneity, but only under particular conditions and in particular genetic contexts, ensuring that the bulk of the genome remains extremely stable despite the seemingly frequent interactions between transcription and DNA replication.

Rpb7 represses transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair

Transcription-coupled repair (TCR) is a subpathway of nucleotide excision repair (NER) that is regulated by multiple facilitators, such as Rad26, and repressors, such as Rpb4 and Spt4/Spt5. How these factors interplay with each other and with core RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified Rpb7, an essential RNAPII subunit, as another TCR repressor and characterized its repression of TCR in the AGP2, RPB2, and YEF3 genes, which are transcribed at low, moderate, and high rates, respectively. The Rpb7 region that interacts with the KOW3 domain of Spt5 represses TCR largely through the same common mechanism as Spt4/Spt5, as mutations in this region mildly enhance the derepression of TCR by spt4Δ only in the YEF3 gene but not in the AGP2 or RPB2 gene. The Rpb7 regions that interact with Rpb4 and/or the core RNAPII repress TCR largely independently of Spt4/Spt5, as mutations in these regions synergistically enhance the derepression of TCR by spt4Δ in all the genes analyzed. The Rpb7 regions that interact with Rpb4 and/or the core RNAPII may also play positive roles in other (non-NER) DNA damage repair and/or tolerance mechanisms, as mutations in these regions can cause UV sensitivity that cannot be attributed to derepression of TCR. Our study reveals a novel function of Rpb7 in TCR regulation and suggests that this RNAPII subunit may have broader roles in DNA damage response beyond its known function in transcription.

Role of Histone Tails and Single Strand DNA Breaks in Nucleosomal Arrest of RNA Polymerase

Transcription through nucleosomes by RNA polymerases (RNAP) is accompanied by formation of small intranucleosomal DNA loops (i-loops). The i-loops form more efficiently in the presence of single-strand breaks or gaps in a non-template DNA strand (NT-SSBs) and induce arrest of transcribing RNAP, thus allowing detection of NT-SSBs by the enzyme. Here we examined the role of histone tails and extranucleosomal NT-SSBs in i-loop formation and arrest of RNAP during transcription of promoter-proximal region of nucleosomal DNA. NT-SSBs present in linker DNA induce arrest of RNAP +1 to +15 bp in the nucleosome, suggesting formation of the i-loops; the arrest is more efficient in the presence of the histone tails. Consistently, DNA footprinting reveals formation of an i-loop after stalling RNAP at the position +2 and backtracking to position +1. The data suggest that histone tails and NT-SSBs present in linker DNA strongly facilitate formation of the i-loops during transcription through the promoter-proximal region of nucleosomal DNA.

Structure of an Intranucleosomal DNA Loop That Senses DNA Damage during Transcription

Transcription through chromatin by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is accompanied by the formation of small intranucleosomal DNA loops containing the enzyme (i-loops) that are involved in survival of core histones on the DNA and arrest of Pol II during the transcription of damaged DNA. However, the structures of i-loops have not been determined. Here, the structures of the intermediates formed during transcription through a nucleosome containing intact or damaged DNA were studied using biochemical approaches and electron microscopy. After RNA polymerase reaches position +24 from the nucleosomal boundary, the enzyme can backtrack to position +20, where DNA behind the enzyme recoils on the surface of the histone octamer, forming an i-loop that locks Pol II in the arrested state. Since the i-loop is formed more efficiently in the presence of SSBs positioned behind the transcribing enzyme, the loop could play a role in the transcription-coupled repair of DNA damage hidden in the chromatin structure.

Regulation of UV damage repair in quiescent yeast cells

Non-growing quiescent cells face special challenges when repairing lesions produced by exogenous DNA damaging agents. These challenges include the global repression of transcription and translation and a compacted chromatin structure. We investigated how quiescent yeast cells regulated the repair of DNA lesions produced by UV irradiation. We found that UV lesions were excised and repaired in quiescent cells before their re-entry into S phase, and that lesion repair was correlated with high levels of Rad7, a recognition factor in the global genome repair sub-pathway of nucleotide excision repair (GGR-NER). UV exposure led to an increased frequency of mutations that included C->T transitions and T > A transversions. Mutagenesis was dependent on the error-prone translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase, Pol zeta, which was the only DNA polymerase present in detectable levels in quiescent cells. Across the genome of quiescent cells, UV-induced mutations showed an association with exons that contained H3K36 or H3K79 trimethylation but not with those bound by RNA polymerase II. Together, the data suggest that the distinct physiological state and chromatin structure of quiescent cells contribute to its regulation of UV damage repair.

Histone H4 H75E mutation attenuates global genomic and Rad26-independent transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) consists of global genomic NER (GG-NER) and transcription coupled NER (TC-NER) subpathways. In eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA is wrapped around histone octamers (an H3–H4 tetramer and two H2A–H2B dimers) to form nucleosomes, which are well known to profoundly inhibit the access of NER proteins. Through unbiased screening of histone H4 residues in the nucleosomal LRS (loss of ribosomal DNA-silencing) domain, we identified 24 mutations that enhance or decrease UV sensitivity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The histone H4 H75E mutation, which is largely embedded in the nucleosome and interacts with histone H2B, significantly attenuates GG-NER and Rad26-independent TC-NER but does not affect TC-NER in the presence of Rad26. All the other histone H4 mutations, except for T73F and T73Y that mildly attenuate GG-NER, do not substantially affect GG-NER or TC-NER. The attenuation of GG-NER and Rad26-independent TC-NER by the H4H75E mutation is not due to decreased chromatin accessibility, impaired methylation of histone H3 K79 that is at the center of the LRS domain, or lowered expression of NER proteins. Instead, the attenuation is at least in part due to impaired recruitment of Rad4, the key lesion recognition and verification protein, to chromatin following induction of DNA lesions.

Rpb9-deficient cells are defective in DNA damage response and require histone H3 acetylation for survival

Rpb9 is a non-essential subunit of RNA polymerase II that is involved in DNA transcription and repair. In budding yeast, deletion of RPB9 causes several phenotypes such as slow growth and temperature sensitivity. We found that simultaneous mutation of multiple N-terminal lysines within histone H3 was lethal in rpb9Δ cells. Our results indicate that hypoacetylation of H3 leads to inefficient repair of DNA double-strand breaks, while activation of the DNA damage checkpoint regulators γH2A and Rad53 is suppressed in Rpb9-deficient cells. Combination of H3 hypoacetylation with the loss of Rpb9 leads to genomic instability, aberrant segregation of chromosomes in mitosis, and eventually to cell death. These results indicate that H3 acetylation becomes essential for efficient DNA repair and cell survival if a DNA damage checkpoint is defective.

From Mfd to TRCF and Back Again-A Perspective on Bacterial Transcription-coupled Nucleotide Excision Repair

Photochemical and other reactions on DNA cause damage and corrupt genetic information. To counteract this damage, organisms have evolved intricate repair mechanisms that often crosstalk with other DNA-based processes such as transcription. Intriguing observations in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to the discovery of transcription-coupled repair (TCR), a subpathway of nucleotide excision repair. TCR, found in all domains of life, prioritizes for repair lesions located in the transcribed DNA strand, directly read by RNA polymerase. Here, we give a historical overview of developments in the field of bacterial TCR, starting from the pioneering work of Evelyn Witkin and Aziz Sancar, which led to the identification of the first transcription-repair coupling factor (the Mfd protein), to recent studies that have uncovered alternative TCR pathways and regulators.

Structure of transcribed chromatin is a sensor of DNA damage

Early detection and repair of damaged DNA is essential for cell functioning and survival. Although multiple cellular systems are involved in the repair of single-strand DNA breaks (SSBs), it remains unknown how SSBs present in the nontemplate strand (NT-SSBs) of DNA organized in chromatin are detected. The effect of NT-SSBs on transcription through chromatin by RNA polymerase II was studied. NT-SSBs localized in the promoter-proximal region of nucleosomal DNA and hidden in the nucleosome structure can induce a nearly quantitative arrest of RNA polymerase downstream of the break, whereas more promoter-distal SSBs moderately facilitate transcription. The location of the arrest sites on nucleosomal DNA suggests that formation of small intranucleosomal DNA loops causes the arrest. This mechanism likely involves relief of unconstrained DNA supercoiling accumulated during transcription through chromatin by NT-SSBs. These data suggest the existence of a novel chromatin-specific mechanism that allows the detection of NT-SSBs by the transcribing enzyme.

DNA repair and recovery of RNA synthesis following exposure to ultraviolet light are delayed in long genes

The kinetics of DNA repair and RNA synthesis recovery in human cells following UV-irradiation were assessed using nascent RNA Bru-seq and quantitative long PCR. It was found that UV light inhibited transcription elongation and that recovery of RNA synthesis occurred as a wave in the 5′-3′ direction with slow recovery and TC-NER at the 3′ end of long genes. RNA synthesis resumed fully at the 3′-end of genes after a 24 h recovery in wild-type fibroblasts, but not in cells deficient in transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) or global genomic NER (GG-NER). Different transcription recovery profiles were found for individual genes but these differences did not fully correlate to differences in DNA repair of these genes. Our study gives the first genome-wide view of how UV-induced lesions affect transcription and how the recovery of RNA synthesis of large genes are particularly delayed by the apparent lack of resumption of transcription by arrested polymerases.

Insights into how Spt5 functions in transcription elongation and repressing transcription coupled DNA repair

Spt5, a transcription elongation factor, and Rpb4, a subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) that forms a subcomplex with Rpb7, play important roles in transcription elongation and repression of transcription coupled DNA repair (TCR) in eukaryotic cells. How Spt5 physically interacts with RNAP II, and if and/or how Spt5 and Rpb4/7 coordinate to achieve the distinctive functions have been enigmatic. By site-specific incorporation of the unnatural amino acid p-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine, a photoreactive cross-linker, we mapped interactions between Spt5 and RNAP II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Through its KOW4-5 domains, Spt5 extensively interacts with Rpb4/7. Spt5 also interacts with Rpb1 and Rpb2, two largest subunits of RNAP II, at the clamp, protrusion and wall domains. These interactions may lock the clamp to the closed conformation and enclose the DNA being transcribed in the central cleft of RNAP II. Deletion of Spt5 KOW4-5 domains decreases transcription elongation and derepresses TCR. Our findings suggest that Spt5 is a key coordinator for holding the RNAP II complex in a closed conformation that is highly competent for transcription elongation but repressive to TCR.

Hrq1 facilitates nucleotide excision repair of DNA damage induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and cisplatin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Hrq1 helicase is a novel member of the RecQ family. Among the five human RecQ helicases, Hrq1 is most homologous to RECQL4 and is conserved in fungal genomes. Recent genetic and biochemical studies have shown that it is a functional gene, involved in the maintenance of genome stability. To better define the roles of Hrq1 in yeast cells, we investigated genetic interactions between HRQ1 and several DNA repair genes. Based on DNA damage sensitivities induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) or cisplatin, RAD4 was found to be epistatic to HRQ1. On the other hand, mutant strains defective in either homologous recombination (HR) or post-replication repair (PRR) became more sensitive by additional deletion of HRQ1, indicating that HRQ1 functions in the RAD4-dependent nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway independent of HR or PRR. In support of this, yeast two-hybrid analysis showed that Hrq1 interacted with Rad4, which was enhanced by DNA damage. Overexpression of Hrq1K318A helicase-deficient protein rendered mutant cells more sensitive to 4-NQO and cisplatin, suggesting that helicase activity is required for the proper function of Hrq1 in NER.

Rad26, the transcription-coupled repair factor in yeast, is required for removal of stalled RNA polymerase-II following UV irradiation

Transcription coupled nucleotide excision repair (TCR) is a major pathway responsible for removal of helix distorting DNA lesions from transcriptionally active regions of the genome. Rad26, a key factor of the TCR pathway, is known to play a role during early steps of TCR. Here, we show that Rad26-mediated TCR is not absolutely dependent on active transcription elongation in budding yeast. As per our results, RAD26-deleted cells show enhanced UV sensitivity compared to wild type cells under conditions where transcription elongation is inhibited. The increased UV sensitivity observed in RAD26-deleted cells, however, is not due to reduced expression of the major NER-responsive genes. Interestingly, transcription of the constitutively expressed RPB2 gene is adversely affected in RAD26-deleted cells during UV-induced DNA damage repair. In consonance, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that unlike in wild type, in RAD26-deleted cells no significant reduction in RNA polymerase II occupancy occurs during nucleotide excision repair in the transcriptionally active loci like, RPB2, PYK1 and RPL2B. These results collectively indicate that removal of RNAPII during DNA damage repair following UV irradiation is dependent on Rad26.

Mechanism of translesion transcription by RNA polymerase II and its role in cellular resistance to DNA damage

UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in the template DNA strand stall transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). If the nucleotide excision repair machinery does not promptly remove the CPDs, stalled Pol II creates a roadblock for DNA replication and subsequent rounds of transcription. Here we present evidence that Pol II has an intrinsic capacity for translesion synthesis (TLS) that enables bypass of the CPD with or without repair. Translesion synthesis depends on the trigger loop and bridge helix, the two flexible regions of the Pol II subunit Rpb1 that participate in substrate binding, catalysis, and translocation. Substitutions in Rpb1 that promote lesion bypass in vitro increase UV resistance in vivo, and substitutions that inhibit lesion bypass decrease cell survival after UV irradiation. Thus, translesion transcription becomes essential for cell survival upon accumulation of the unrepaired CPD lesions in genomic DNA.

Diverse roles of RNA polymerase II-associated factor 1 complex in different subpathways of nucleotide excision repair

Transcription-coupled repair (TCR) and global genomic repair (GGR) are two pathways of nucleotide excision repair (NER). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rad26 is important but not absolutely required for TCR. Rpb4, a nonessential RNA polymerase II (Pol II) subunit that forms a subcomplex with Rpb7, and the Spt4-Spt5 complex, a transcription elongation factor, have been shown to suppress Rad26-independent TCR. The Pol II-associated factor 1 complex (Paf1C) has been shown to function in transcription elongation, 3'-processing of mRNAs, and posttranslational modification of histones. Here we show that Paf1C plays a marginal role in facilitating Rad26-dependent TCR but significantly suppresses Rad26-independent TCR. The suppression of Rad26-independent TCR is achieved by cooperating with Spt4-Spt5. We propose a model that, in the absence of Rad26, a lesion is "locked" in the active center of a Pol II elongation complex, which is stabilized by the coordinated interactions of Rpb4-Rpb7, Spt4-Spt5, and Paf1C with each other and with the core Pol II. We also found that Paf1C facilitates GGR, especially in internucleosomal linker regions. The facilitation of GGR is achieved through enabling monoubiquitination of histone H2B lysine 123 by Bre1, which in turn permits di- and trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 79 by Dot1. To our best knowledge, among the NER-modulating factors documented so far, Paf1C appears to have the most diverse functions in different NER pathways or subpathways.

How chromatin is remodelled during DNA repair of UV-induced DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Global genome nucleotide excision repair removes DNA damage from transcriptionally silent regions of the genome. Relatively little is known about the molecular events that initiate and regulate this process in the context of chromatin. We've shown that, in response to UV radiation–induced DNA damage, increased histone H3 acetylation at lysine 9 and 14 correlates with changes in chromatin structure, and these alterations are associated with efficient global genome nucleotide excision repair in yeast. These changes depend on the presence of the Rad16 protein. Remarkably, constitutive hyperacetylation of histone H3 can suppress the requirement for Rad7 and Rad16, two components of a global genome repair complex, during repair. This reveals the connection between histone H3 acetylation and DNA repair. Here, we investigate how chromatin structure is modified following UV irradiation to facilitate DNA repair in yeast. Using a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation to measure histone acetylation levels, histone acetylase occupancy in chromatin, MNase digestion, or restriction enzyme endonuclease accessibility assays to analyse chromatin structure, and finally nucleotide excision repair assays to examine DNA repair, we demonstrate that global genome nucleotide excision repair drives UV-induced chromatin remodelling by controlling histone H3 acetylation levels in chromatin. The concerted action of the ATPase and C3HC4 RING domains of Rad16 combine to regulate the occupancy of the histone acetyl transferase Gcn5 on chromatin in response to UV damage. We conclude that the global genome repair complex in yeast regulates UV-induced histone H3 acetylation by controlling the accessibility of the histone acetyl transferase Gcn5 in chromatin. The resultant changes in histone H3 acetylation promote chromatin remodelling necessary for efficient repair of DNA damage. Recent evidence suggests that GCN5 plays a role in NER in human cells. Our work provides important insight into how GG-NER operates in chromatin.

Protection against genotoxic insult requires a network of DNA damage responses, including DNA repair. Inherited DNA repair defects cause severe clinical consequences including extreme cancer susceptibility. Despite detailed mechanistic understanding of the core reactions, little is known about the molecular events that initiate and regulate these processes as they occur in chromatin. We study the conserved nucleotide excision repair pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This pathway removes a broad spectrum of DNA damages including UV radiation–induced damage. Patients with mutations in genes involved in this process suffer dramatically elevated levels of skin and other cancers. Here we demonstrate how a group of genes involved in repair of transcriptionally silent regions of the genome, a process called global genome repair, modifies chromatin structure following UV irradiation to promote efficient removal of DNA damage from the genome. We show that the concerted action of global genome repair genes combine to regulate histone acetyl transferase accessibility to the chromatin in response to UV damage. In this way, global genome repair regulates histone H3 acetylation status, which ultimately regulates chromatin structure promoting efficient DNA repair in the genome. Our results contribute a significant advance in our understanding of how chromatin is processed during DNA repair.

Evidence that the histone methyltransferase Dot1 mediates global genomic repair by methylating histone H3 on lysine 79

Global genomic repair (GGR) and transcription coupled repair (TCR) are two pathways of nucleotide excision repair (NER) that differ in the damage recognition step. How NER factors, especially GGR factors, access DNA damage in the chromatin of eukaryotic cells has been poorly understood. Dot1, a histone methyltransferase required for methylation of histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79), has been shown to confer yeast cells with resistance to DNA-damaging agents and play a role in activation of DNA damage checkpoints. Here, we show that Dot1 and H3K79 methylation are required for GGR in both nucleosomal core regions and internucleosomal linker DNA, but play no role in TCR. H3K79 trimethylation contributes to but is not absolutely required for GGR, and lower levels of H3K79 methylation (mono- and dimethylation) also promote GGR. Our results also indicate that the roles of Dot1 and H3K79 methylation in GGR are not achieved by either activating DNA damage checkpoints or regulating the expression of the GGR-specific factor Rad16. Rather, the methylated H3K79 may serve as a docking site for the GGR machinery on the chromatin. Our studies identified a novel GGR-specific NER factor and unveiled the critical link between a covalent histone modification and GGR.

Abasic sites in the transcribed strand of yeast DNA are removed by transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair

Abasic (AP) sites are potent blocks to DNA and RNA polymerases, and their repair is essential for maintaining genome integrity. Although AP sites are efficiently dealt with through the base excision repair (BER) pathway, genetic studies suggest that repair also can occur via nucleotide excision repair (NER). The involvement of NER in AP-site removal has been puzzling, however, as this pathway is thought to target only bulky lesions. Here, we examine the repair of AP sites generated when uracil is removed from a highly transcribed gene in yeast. Because uracil is incorporated instead of thymine under these conditions, the position of the resulting AP site is known. Results demonstrate that only AP sites on the transcribed strand are efficient substrates for NER, suggesting the recruitment of the NER machinery by an AP-blocked RNA polymerase. Such transcription-coupled NER of AP sites may explain previously suggested links between the BER pathway and transcription.

The C-terminal repeat domain of Spt5 plays an important role in suppression of Rad26-independent transcription coupled repair

In eukaryotic cells, transcription coupled nucleotide excision repair (TCR) is believed to be initiated by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) stalled at a lesion in the transcribed strand of a gene. Rad26, the yeast homolog of the human Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) protein, plays an important role in TCR. Spt4, a transcription elongation factor that forms a complex with Spt5, has been shown to suppress TCR in rad26Delta cells. Here we present evidence that Spt4 indirectly suppresses Rad26-independent TCR by protecting Spt5 from degradation and stabilizing the interaction of Spt5 with Pol II. We further found that the C-terminal repeat (CTR) domain of Spt5, which is dispensable for cell viability and is not involved in interactions with Spt4 and Pol II, plays an important role in the suppression. The Spt5 CTR is phosphorylated by the Bur kinase. Inactivation of the Bur kinase partially alleviates TCR in rad26Delta cells. We propose that the Spt5 CTR suppresses Rad26-independent TCR by serving as a platform for assembly of a multiple protein suppressor complex that is associated with Pol II. Phosphorylation of the Spt5 CTR by the Bur kinase may facilitate the assembly of the suppressor complex.

Rpb1 sumoylation in response to UV radiation or transcriptional impairment in yeast

Covalent modifications of proteins by ubiquitin and the Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) have been revealed to be involved in a plethora of cellular processes, including transcription, DNA repair and DNA damage responses. It has been well known that in response to DNA damage that blocks transcription elongation, Rpb1, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), is ubiquitylated and subsequently degraded in mammalian and yeast cells. However, it is still an enigma regarding how Pol II responds to damaged DNA and conveys signal(s) for DNA damage-related cellular processes. We found that Rpb1 is also sumoylated in yeast cells upon UV radiation or impairment of transcription elongation, and this modification is independent of DNA damage checkpoint activation. Ubc9, an E2 SUMO conjugase, and Siz1, an E3 SUMO ligase, play important roles in Rpb1 sumoylation. K1487, which is located in the acidic linker region between the C-terminal domain and the globular domain of Rpb1, is the major sumoylation site. Rpb1 sumoylation is not affected by its ubiquitylation, and vice versa, indicating that the two processes do not crosstalk. Abolishment of Rpb1 sumoylation at K1487 does not affect transcription elongation or transcription coupled repair (TCR) of UV-induced DNA damage. However, deficiency in TCR enhances UV-induced Rpb1 sumoylation, presumably due to the persistence of transcription-blocking DNA lesions in the transcribed strand of a gene. Remarkably, abolishment of Rpb1 sumoylation at K1487 causes enhanced and prolonged UV-induced phosphorylation of Rad53, especially in TCR-deficient cells, suggesting that the sumoylation plays a role in restraining the DNA damage checkpoint response caused by transcription-blocking lesions. Our results demonstrate a novel covalent modification of Rpb1 in response to UV induced DNA damage or transcriptional impairment, and unravel an important link between the modification and the DNA damage checkpoint response.

Altering the chromatin landscape for nucleotide excision repair

DNA acts as a 'workbench' for various nuclear processes that occur inside living cells. In eukaryotic cells, DNA is highly compacted in a structural hierarchy with histones and other proteins into chromatin. This compaction affects DNA structure and coordinates the accessibility to site-specific nuclear factors during DNA processing events. DNA repair is no exception to this general rule and several reviews have appeared recently that discuss this topic in detail [1-3]. Here, we focus on recent findings correlating changes in DNA repair with subtle variations in the chromatin landscape.

Tilting at windmills? The nucleotide excision repair of chromosomal DNA

A typical view of how DNA repair functions in chromatin usually depicts a struggle in which the DNA repair machinery battles to overcome the inhibitory effect of chromatin on the repair process. It may be that in this current interpretation the repair mechanisms are 'tilting at windmills', fighting an imaginary foe. An emerging picture suggests that we should not consider chromatin as an inhibitory force to be overcome like some quixotic giant by the DNA repair processes. Instead we should now recognize that DNA repair and chromatin metabolism are inextricably and mechanistically linked. Here we discuss the latest findings which are beginning to reveal how changes in chromatin dynamics integrate with the DNA repair process in response to UV induced DNA damage, with an emphasis on events in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A single amino acid change in histone H4 enhances UV survival and DNA repair in yeast

Single amino acid changes at specific DNA contacts of histones H3 and H4 generate SWI/SNF-independent (Sin) mutants in yeast. We have analyzed the effect of the Sin mutation at R45 of histone H4 on cell survival following UV irradiation, nucleotide excision repair (NER) and chromatin structure. We find that this mutation renders yeast cells more resistant to UV damage and enhances NER at specific chromatin loci. In the transcriptionally silent HML, repressed GAL10 and the constitutively active RPB2 loci, H4 R45 mutants exhibit enhanced repair of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) compared to wild-type (wt). However, the H4 R45 mutation does not increase the transcription of NER genes, disrupt transcriptional silencing of the HML locus or alter repression in the GAL10 locus. We have further shown that the H4 R45C mutation increases the accessibility of nucleosome DNA in chromatin to exogenous nucleases and may expedite nucleosome rearrangements during NER. Taken together, our results indicate that the increased repair observed in Sin mutants is a direct effect of the altered chromatin landscape caused by the mutation, suggesting that such subtle changes in the conserved histone residues can influence the accessibility of DNA repair factors in chromatin.

Functionally distinct nucleosome-free regions in yeast require Rad7 and Rad16 for nucleotide excision repair

In yeast, Rad7 and Rad16 are two proteins required for nucleotide excision repair (NER) of non-transcribed chromatin. They have roles in damage recognition, in the postincision steps of NER, and in ultraviolet-light-dependent histone H3 acetylation. Moreover, Rad16 is an ATP-ase of the SNF2 superfamily and therefore might facilitate chromatin repair by nucleosome remodelling. Here, we used yeast rad7 Delta rad16 Delta mutants and show that Rad7-Rad16 is also required for NER of UV-lesions in three functionally distinct nucleosome-free regions (NFRs), the promoter and 3'-end of the URA3 gene and the ARS1 origin of replication. Moreover, rapid repair of UV-lesions by photolyase confirmed that nucleosomes were absent and that neither UV-damage formation nor rad7 Delta rad16 Delta mutations altered chromatin accessibility in NFRs. The data are consistent with a role of Rad7-Rad16 in damage recognition and processing in absence of nucleosomes. An additional role in nucleosome remodelling is discussed.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad16 mediates ultraviolet-dependent histone H3 acetylation required for efficient global genome nucleotide-excision repair

In yeast, global genome nucleotide-excision repair (GG-NER) requires a protein complex containing Rad7 and Rad16. Rad16 is a member of the switch/sucrose nonfermentable superfamily, and it is presumed that chromatin remodelling is its primary function during repair. We show that RAD16 is required for ultraviolet-dependent hyperacetylation of histone H3 (Lys 9 and Lys 14) at the MFA2 promoter and throughout the genome. The yeast repressor complex Ssn6-Tup1 represses many genes including MFA2. TUP1 deletion results in constitutive hyperacetylation of histone H3, nucleosome disruption and derepression of gene transcription in Tup1-regulated genes. GG-NER in the MFA2 promoter proceeds more rapidly in tup1Delta alpha-cells compared with wild type, even when transcription is inhibited. We show that elevated histone H3 acetylation levels in the MFA2 promoter in tup1Delta alpha-cells result in Rad7- and Rad16-independent GG-NER, and that Rad16 mediates the ultraviolet-induced acetylation of histone H3, necessary for efficient GG-NER.

Replication-associated purine asymmetry may contribute to strand-biased gene distribution

Among prokaryotic genomes, the distribution of genes on the leading and lagging strands of the replication fork is known to be biased. Several hypotheses explaining this strand-biased gene distribution (SGD) have been proposed, but none have been tested or supported by sufficient data analyses. In this work we have analyzed 211 prokaryotic genomes in terms of compositional strand asymmetries and the presence or absence of polC and have found that SGD correlates not only with polC, but also with purine asymmetry (PAS). Furthermore, SGD, PAS, and polC are all features associated with a group of low-GC, gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes). We conclude that PAS is a characteristic of organisms with a heterodimeric DNA polymerase III alpha-subunit constituted by polC and dnaE, which may play a direct role in the maintenance of SGD.

Tfb5 is partially dispensable for Rad26 mediated transcription coupled nucleotide excision repair in yeast

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a conserved DNA repair mechanism capable of removing a variety of helix-distorting DNA lesions. A specialized NER pathway, called transcription coupled NER (TC-NER), refers to preferential repair in the transcribed strand of an actively transcribed gene. To be distinguished from TCR-NER, the genome-wide NER process is termed as global genomic NER (GG-NER). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, GG-NER is dependent on Rad7, whereas TC-NER is mediated by Rad26, the homolog of the human Cockayne syndrome group B protein, and by Rpb9, a non-essential subunit of RNA polymerase II. Tfb5, the tenth subunit of the transcription/repair factor TFIIH, is implicated in one group of the human syndrome trichothiodystrophy. Here, we show that Tfb5 plays different roles in different NER pathways in yeast. No repair takes place in the non-transcribed strand of a gene in tfb5 cells, or in both strands of a gene in rad26 rpb9 tfb5 cells, indicating that Tfb5 is essential for GG-NER. However, residual repair occurs in the transcribed strand of a gene in tfb5 cells, suggesting that Tfb5 is important, but not absolutely required for TC-NER. Interestingly, substantial repair occurs in the transcribed strand of a gene in rad7 tfb5 and rad7 rpb9 tfb5 cells, indicating that, in the absence of GG-NER, Tfb5 is largely dispensable for Rad26 mediated TC-NER. Furthermore, we show that no repair takes place in the transcribed strand of a gene in rad7 rad26 tfb5 cells, suggesting that Tfb5 is required for Rpb9 mediated TC-NER. Taken together, our results indicate that Tfb5 is partially dispensable for Rad26 mediated TC-NER, especially in GG-NER deficient cells. However, this TFIIH subunit is required for other NER pathways.

The roles of Rad16 and Rad26 in repairing repressed and actively transcribed genes in yeast

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a conserved DNA repair mechanism capable of removing a variety of helix-distorting DNA lesions. Rad26, a member of the Swi2/Snf2 superfamily of proteins, has been shown to be involved in a specialized NER process called transcription coupled NER. Rad16, another member of the same protein superfamily, has been shown to be required for genome-wide NER. Here we show that Rad16 and Rad26 play different roles in repairing repressed and actively transcribed genes in yeast. Rad16 is partially dispensable, and Rad26 plays a significant role in repairing certain regions of the repressed GAL1-10, PHO5 and ADH2 genes, especially in the core DNA of well-positioned nucleosomes. Simultaneous elimination of Rad16 and Rad26 results in no detectable repair in these regions of the repressed genes. Transcriptional induction of the GAL1-10 genes abolishes the role of Rad26, but does not affect the role of Rad16 in repairing the nontranscribed strand of the genes. Interestingly, when the transcription activator Gal4 is eliminated from the cells, Rad16 becomes partially dispensable and Rad26 plays a significant role in repairing both strands of the GAL1-10 genes even under inducing conditions. Our results suggest that Rad16 and Rad26 play different and, to some extent, complementary roles in repairing both strands of repressed genes, although the relative contributions of the two proteins can be different from gene to gene, and from region to region of a gene. However, Rad16 is solely responsible for repairing the nontranscribed strand of actively transcribed genes.

Yeast Rpb9 plays an important role in ubiquitylation and degradation of Rpb1 in response to UV-induced DNA damage

Rpb9, a nonessential subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), has multiple transcription-related functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, including transcription elongation and transcription-coupled repair (TCR). Here we show that, in response to UV radiation, Rpb9 also functions in promoting ubiquitylation and degradation of Rpb1, the largest subunit of Pol II. This function of Rpb9 is not affected by any pathways of nucleotide excision repair, including TCR mediated by Rpb9 itself and by Rad26. Rpb9 is composed of three distinct domains: the N-terminal Zn1, the C-terminal Zn2, and the central linker. The Zn2 domain, which is dispensable for transcription elongation and TCR functions, is essential for Rpb9 to promote Rpb1 degradation, whereas the Zn1 and linker domains, which are essential for transcription elongation and TCR functions, play a subsidiary role in Rpb1 degradation. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis suggests that almost the full length of Rpb9 is required for a strong interaction with the core Pol II: deletion of the Zn2 domain causes dramatically weakened interaction, whereas deletion of Zn1 and the linker resulted in undetectable interaction. Furthermore, we show that Rpb1, rather than the whole Pol II complex, is degraded in response to UV radiation and that the degradation is primarily mediated by the 26S proteasome.

Histone acetylation, chromatin remodelling, transcription and nucleotide excision repair in S. cerevisiae: studies with two model genes

We describe the technology and two model systems in yeast designed to study nucleotide excision repair (NER) in relation to transcription and chromatin modifications. We employed the MFA2 and MET16 genes as models. How transcription-coupled (TCR) and global genome repair (GGR) operate at the transcriptionally active and/or repressed S. cerevisiae MFA2 locus, and how this relates to nucleosome positioning are considered. We discuss the role of the Gcn5p histone acetyltransferase, also associated with MFA2's transcriptional activation, in facilitating efficient NER at the transcriptionally active and inactive genes. The effect of Gcn5p's absence in reducing NER was local and UV stimulates Gcn5p-mediated histone acetylation at the repressed MFA2 promoter. After UV irradiation Swi2p is partly responsible for facilitating access to restriction of DNA in the cores of the nucleosomes at the MFA2 promoter. The data suggest similarities between chromatin remodelling for NER and transcription, yet differences must exist to ensure this gene remains repressed in alpha cells during NER. For MET16, we consider experiments examining chromatin structure, transcription and repair in wild type and cbf1Delta cells under repressing or derepressing conditions. Cbf1p is a sequence specific DNA binding protein required for MET16 chromatin remodelling and transcription.

Five repair pathways in one context: chromatin modification during DNA repair

The eukaryotic cell is faced with more than 10 000 various kinds of DNA lesions per day. Failure to repair such lesions can lead to mutations, genomic instability, or cell death. Therefore, cells have developed 5 major repair pathways in which different kinds of DNA damage can be detected and repaired: homologous recombination, nonhomologous end joining, nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, and mismatch repair. However, the efficient repair of DNA damage is complicated by the fact that the genomic DNA is packaged through histone and nonhistone proteins into chromatin, a highly condensed structure that hinders DNA accessibility and its subsequent repair. Therefore, the cellular repair machinery has to circumvent this natural barrier to gain access to the damaged site in a timely manner. Repair of DNA lesions in the context of chromatin occurs with the assistance of ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzymes and histone-modifying enzymes, which allow access of the necessary repair factors to the lesion. Here we review recent studies that elucidate the interplay between chromatin modifiers / remodelers and the major DNA repair pathways.

Evidence that the transcription elongation function of Rpb9 is involved in transcription-coupled DNA repair in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Rpb9, a small nonessential subunit of RNA polymerase II, has been shown to have multiple transcription-related functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These functions include promoting transcription elongation and mediating a subpathway of transcription-coupled repair (TCR) that is independent of Rad26, the homologue of human Cockayne syndrome complementation group B protein. Rpb9 is composed of three distinct domains: the N-terminal Zn1, the C-terminal Zn2, and the central linker. Here we show that the Zn1 and linker domains are essential, whereas the Zn2 domain is almost dispensable, for both transcription elongation and TCR functions. Impairment of transcription elongation, which does not dramatically compromise Rad26-mediated TCR, completely abolishes Rpb9-mediated TCR. Furthermore, Rpb9 appears to be dispensable for TCR if its transcription elongation function is compensated for by removing a transcription repression/elongation factor. Our data suggest that the transcription elongation function of Rpb9 is involved in TCR.

Modulation of Rad26- and Rpb9-mediated DNA repair by different promoter elements

Rad26, the yeast homologue of human Cockayne syndrome group B protein, and Rpb9, a nonessential subunit of RNA polymerase II, have been shown to mediate two subpathways of transcription-coupled DNA repair in yeast. Here we show that Rad26- and Rpb9-mediated repair in the yeast GAL1 gene is differently modulated by different promoter elements. The initiation site and efficiency of Rad26-mediated repair in the transcribed strand are determined by the upstream activating sequence (UAS) but not by the TATA or local sequences. The role of UAS in determining the Rad26-mediated repair is not through loading of RNA polymerase II or the transcriptional regulatory complex SAGA. However, both the UAS and the TATA sequences are essential for confining Rad26-mediated repair to the transcribed strand. Mutation of the TATA sequence, which greatly reduces transcription, or deletion of the TATA or mutation of the UAS, which completely abolishes transcription, causes Rad26-mediated repair to occur in both strands. Rpb9-mediated repair only occurs in the transcribed strand and is efficient only in the presence of both TATA and UAS sequences. Also, the efficiency of Rpb9-mediated repair is dependent on the SAGA complex. Our results suggest that Rad26-mediated repair can be either transcription-coupled, provided that a substantial level of transcription is present, or transcription-independent, if the transcription is too low or absent. In contrast, Rpb9-mediated repair is strictly transcription-coupled and is efficient only when the transcription level is high.

DNA repair in a protein-DNA complex: searching for the key to get in

An obstacle encountered by nucleotide excision repair (NER) proteins during repair of the genome is the masking of bulky lesions by DNA binding proteins. For example, certain transcription factors are known to be impediments, and suppress damage removal at their recognition sequences. We have used well-defined protein-DNA complexes to study the molecular mechanism(s) used by repair proteins in gaining access to DNA lesions in chromatin. Using transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) and the 5S ribosomal RNA gene (5S rDNA), we previously measured position-dependent effects of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) at five different sites within the internal control region (ICR) on complex formation [Y. Kwon, M.J. Smerdon, Binding of zinc finger protein transcription factor IIIA to its cognate DNA sequence with single UV photoproducts at specific sites and its effect on DNA repair, J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 45451-45459]. We found that CPDs at two of these sites enhance the TFIIIA-rDNA dissociation rate, which correlates with enhanced repair at these two sites. Here, we used a novel approach to directly compare dissociation of randomly damaged rDNA with NER. We refined the relationship between dissociation and repair of the complex by examining all CPD sites in the transcribed strand. A 214 bp 5S rDNA fragment was irradiated with UV light to produce CPDs at dipyrimidine sites and approximately 1 CPD per fragment. Positions of CPDs that alter binding of TFIIIA were determined by T4 endonuclease V mapping of TFIIIA-bound and unbound fractions of UV-irradiated DNA. As expected, the results reveal that dissociation of TFIIIA from the complex is significantly enhanced by CPDs within the ICR. Moreover, the levels of dissociation induced by CPDs were quantitatively compared with their repair efficiency, and indicate that repair rates of most CPDs in the complex closely correlate with the dissociation rates. In addition, changes in dissociation rate are similar to changes in CPD frequency induced by TFIIIA binding. These findings indicate that structural compatibility of a DNA lesion within a protein-DNA complex can determine both lesion frequency and repair efficiency.

The NEF4 complex regulates Rad4 levels and utilizes Snf2/Swi2-related ATPase activity for nucleotide excision repair

Nucleotide excision repair factor 4 (NEF4) is required for repair of nontranscribed DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Rad7 and the Snf2/Swi2-related ATPase Rad16 are NEF4 subunits. We report previously unrecognized similarity between Rad7 and F-box proteins. Rad16 contains a RING domain embedded within its ATPase domain, and the presence of these motifs in NEF4 suggested that NEF4 functions as both an ATPase and an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Mutational analysis provides strong support for this model. The Rad16 ATPase is important for NEF4 function in vivo, and genetic analysis uncovered new interactions between NEF4 and Rad23, a repair factor that links repair to proteasome function. Elc1 is the yeast homologue of a mammalian E3 subunit, and it is a novel component of NEF4. Moreover, the E2s Ubc9 and Ubc13 were linked to the NEF4 repair pathway by genetic criteria. Mutations in NEF4 or Ubc13 result in elevated levels of the DNA damage recognition protein Rad4 and an increase in ubiquitylated species of Rad23. As Rad23 also controls Rad4 levels, these results suggest a complex system for globally regulating repair activity in vivo by controlling turnover of Rad4.