Inhibition of flap endonuclease 1 by flap secondary structure and relevance to repeat sequence expansion

The New Face of Dynamic Mutation-The CAA [CAG]n CAA CAG Motif as a Mutable Unit in the TBP Gene Causative for Spino-Cerebellar Ataxia Type 17

Since 1991, several genetic disorders caused by unstable trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) have been identified, collectively referred to as triplet repeat diseases (TREDs). They share a common mutation mechanism: the expansion of repeats (dynamic mutations) due to the propensity of repeated sequences to form unusual DNA structures during replication. TREDs are characterized as neurodegenerative diseases or complex syndromes with significant neurological components. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) falls into the former category and is caused by the expansion of mixed CAA/CAG repeats in the TBP gene. To date, a five-unit organization of this region [(CAG)3 (CAA)3] [(CAG)n] [CAA CAG CAA] [(CAG)n] [CAA CAG], with expansion in the second [(CAG)n] unit being the most common, has been proposed. In this study, we propose an alternative organization scheme for the repeats. A search of the PubMed database was conducted to identify articles reporting both the number and composition of GAC/CAA repeats in TBP alleles. Nineteen reports were selected. The sequences of all identified CAG/CAA repeats in the TBP locus, including 67 cases (probands and b relatives), were analyzed in terms of their repetition structure and stability in inheritance, if possible. Based on the analysis of three units [(CAG)3 (CAA)2] [CAA (CAG)n CAA CAG] [CAA (CAG)n CAA CAG], the organization of repeats is proposed. Detailed analysis of the CAG/CAA repeat structure, not just the number of repeats, in TBP-expanded alleles should be performed, as it may have a prognostic value in the prediction of stability/instability during transmission and the possible anticipation of the disease.

FAN1, a DNA Repair Nuclease, as a Modifier of Repeat Expansion Disorders

FAN1 encodes a DNA repair nuclease. Genetic deficiencies, copy number variants, and single nucleotide variants of FAN1 have been linked to karyomegalic interstitial nephritis, 15q13.3 microdeletion/microduplication syndrome (autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy), cancer, and most recently repeat expansion diseases. For seven CAG repeat expansion diseases (Huntington's disease (HD) and certain spinocerebellar ataxias), modification of age of onset is linked to variants of specific DNA repair proteins. FAN1 variants are the strongest modifiers. Non-coding disease-delaying FAN1 variants and coding disease-hastening variants (p.R507H and p.R377W) are known, where the former may lead to increased FAN1 levels and the latter have unknown effects upon FAN1 functions. Current thoughts are that ongoing repeat expansions in disease-vulnerable tissues, as individuals age, promote disease onset. Fan1 is required to suppress against high levels of ongoing somatic CAG and CGG repeat expansions in tissues of HD and FMR1 transgenic mice respectively, in addition to participating in DNA interstrand crosslink repair. FAN1 is also a modifier of autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Coupled with the association of these diseases with repeat expansions, this suggests a common mechanism, by which FAN1 modifies repeat diseases. Yet how any of the FAN1 variants modify disease is unknown. Here, we review FAN1 variants, associated clinical effects, protein structure, and the enzyme's attributed functional roles. We highlight how variants may alter its activities in DNA damage response and/or repeat instability. A thorough awareness of the FAN1 gene and FAN1 protein functions will reveal if and how it may be targeted for clinical benefit.

Cancer Biomarker-Triggered Disintegrable DNA Nanogels for Intelligent Drug Delivery

Even though various techniques have been developed thus far for targeted delivery of therapeutics, design and fabrication of cancer biomarker-triggered disintegrable nanogels, which are exclusively composed of nucleic acid macromolecules, are still challenging nowadays. Here, we describe for the first time our creation of intelligent DNA nanogels whose backbones are sorely disintegrable by flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), an enzymatic biomarker that is highly overexpressed in most cancer cells but not in their normal counterparts. It is the catalytic actions of intracellular FEN1 on bifurcated DNA structures that lead to the cancer-specific disintegration of our DNA nanogels and controlled release of drugs in target cancer cells. Consequently, the brand-new strategies introduced in the current report could break new ground in designing drug carriers for eliminating unwanted side effects of chemotherapeutic agents and live-cell probes for cancer risk assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis.

Mystery of Expansion: DNA Metabolism and Unstable Repeats

The mammalian genome mostly contains repeated sequences. Some of these repeats are in the regulatory elements of genes, and their instability, particularly the propensity to change the repeat unit number, is responsible for 36 well-known neurodegenerative human disorders. The mechanism of repeat expansion has been an unsolved question for more than 20 years. There are a few hypotheses describing models of mutation development. Every hypothesis is based on assumptions about unusual secondary structures that violate DNA metabolism processes in the cell. Some models are based on replication errors, and other models are based on mismatch repair or base excision repair errors. Additionally, it has been shown that epigenetic regulation of gene expression can influence the probability and frequency of expansion. In this review, we consider the molecular bases of repeat expansion disorders and discuss possible mechanisms of repeat expansion during cell metabolism.

The secondary-structured DNA-binding activity of Dna2 endonuclease/helicase is critical to cell growth under replication stress

Dna2 can efficiently process 5' flaps containing DNA secondary structure using coordinated action of the three biochemical activities: the N-terminally encoded DNA-binding activity and the C-terminally encoded endonuclease and helicase activities. In this study, we investigated the cross talk among the three functional domains using a variety of dna2 mutant alleles and enzymes derived thereof. We found that disruption of the catalytic activities of Dna2 activated Dna2-dependent checkpoint, residing in the N-terminal domain. This checkpoint activity contributed to growth defects of dna2 catalytic mutants, revealing the presence of an intramolecular functional cross talk in Dna2. The N-terminal domain of Dna2 bound specifically to substrates that mimic DNA replication fork intermediates, including Holliday junctions. Using site-directed mutagenesis of the N-terminal domain of Dna2, we discovered that five consecutive basic amino acid residues were essential for the ability of Dna2 to bind hairpin DNA in vitro. Mutant cells expressing the dna2 allele containing all five basic residues substituted with alanine displayed three distinct phenotypes: (i) temperature-sensitive growth defects, (ii) bypass of S-phase arrest, and (iii) increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. Taken together, our results indicate that the interplay between the N-terminal regulatory and C-terminal catalytic domains of Dna2 plays an important role in vivo, especially when cells are placed under replication stress.

A model for the formation of the duplicated enhancers found in polyomavirus regulatory regions

When purified from persistent infections, the genomes of most human polyomaviruses contain single enhancers. However, when isolated from productively infected cells from immunocompromised individuals, the genomes of several polyomaviruses contain duplicated enhancers that promote a number of polyoma-based diseases. The mechanism(s) that gives rise to the duplicated enhancers in the polyomaviruses is, however, not known. Herein we propose a model for the duplication of the enhancers that is based on recent advances in our understanding of; 1) the initiation of polyomavirus DNA replication, 2) the formation of long flaps via displacement synthesis and 3) the subsequent generation of duplicated enhancers via double stranded break repair. Finally, we discuss the possibility that the polyomavirus based replication dependent enhancer duplication model may be relevant to the enhancer-associated rearrangements detected in human genomes that are associated with various diseases, including cancers.

Open chromatin structure in PolyQ disease-related genes: a potential mechanism for CAG repeat expansion in the normal human population

The human genome contains dozens of genes that encode for proteins containing long poly-glutamine repeats (polyQ, usually encoded by CAG codons) of 10Qs or more. However, only nine of these genes have been reported to expand beyond the healthy variation and cause diseases. To address whether these nine disease-associated genes are unique in any way, we compared genetic and epigenetic features relative to other types of genes, especially repeat containing genes that do not cause diseases. Our analyses show that in pluripotent cells, the nine polyQ disease-related genes are characterized by an open chromatin profile, enriched for active chromatin marks and depleted for suppressive chromatin marks. By contrast, genes that encode for polyQ-containing proteins that are not associated with diseases, and other repeat containing genes, possess a suppressive chromatin environment. We propose that the active epigenetic landscape support decreased genomic stability and higher susceptibility for expansion mutations.

Missed cleavage opportunities by FEN1 lead to Okazaki fragment maturation via the long-flap pathway

RNA–DNA hybrid primers synthesized by low fidelity DNA polymerase α to initiate eukaryotic lagging strand synthesis must be removed efficiently during Okazaki fragment (OF) maturation to complete DNA replication. In this process, each OF primer is displaced and the resulting 5′-single-stranded flap is cleaved by structure-specific 5′-nucleases, mainly Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1), to generate a ligatable nick. At least two models have been proposed to describe primer removal, namely short- and long-flap pathways that involve FEN1 or FEN1 along with Replication Protein A (RPA) and Dna2 helicase/nuclease, respectively. We addressed the question of pathway choice by studying the kinetic mechanism of FEN1 action on short- and long-flap DNA substrates. Using single molecule FRET and rapid quench-flow bulk cleavage assays, we showed that unlike short-flap substrates, which are bound, bent and cleaved within the first encounter between FEN1 and DNA, long-flap substrates can escape cleavage even after DNA binding and bending. Notably, FEN1 can access both substrates in the presence of RPA, but bending and cleavage of long-flap DNA is specifically inhibited. We propose that FEN1 attempts to process both short and long flaps, but occasional missed cleavage of the latter allows RPA binding and triggers the long-flap OF maturation pathway.

hDNA2 nuclease/helicase promotes centromeric DNA replication and genome stability

DNA2 is a nuclease/helicase that is involved in Okazaki fragment maturation, replication fork processing, and end resection of DNA double‐strand breaks. Similar such helicase activity for resolving secondary structures and structure‐specific nuclease activity are needed during DNA replication to process the chromosome‐specific higher order repeat units present in the centromeres of human chromosomes. Here, we show that DNA2 binds preferentially to centromeric DNA. The nuclease and helicase activities of DNA2 are both essential for resolution of DNA structural obstacles to facilitate DNA replication fork movement. Loss of DNA2‐mediated clean‐up mechanisms impairs centromeric DNA replication and CENP‐A deposition, leading to activation of the ATR DNA damage checkpoints at centromeric DNA regions and late‐S/G2 cell cycle arrest. Cells that escape arrest show impaired metaphase plate formation and abnormal chromosomal segregation. Furthermore, the DNA2 inhibitor C5 mimics DNA2 knockout and synergistically kills cancer cells when combined with an ATR inhibitor. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how DNA2 supports replication of centromeric DNA and give further insights into new therapeutic strategies.

Oxidized dNTPs and the OGG1 and MUTYH DNA glycosylases combine to induce CAG/CTG repeat instability

DNA trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion underlies several neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's disease (HD). Accumulation of oxidized DNA bases and their inefficient processing by base excision repair (BER) are among the factors suggested to contribute to TNR expansion. In this study, we have examined whether oxidation of the purine dNTPs in the dNTP pool provides a source of DNA damage that promotes TNR expansion. We demonstrate that during BER of 8-oxoguanine (8-oxodG) in TNR sequences, DNA polymerase β (POL β) can incorporate 8-oxodGMP with the formation of 8-oxodG:C and 8-oxodG:A mispairs. Their processing by the OGG1 and MUTYH DNA glycosylases generates closely spaced incisions on opposite DNA strands that are permissive for TNR expansion. Evidence in HD model R6/2 mice indicates that these DNA glycosylases are present in brain areas affected by neurodegeneration. Consistent with prevailing oxidative stress, the same brain areas contained increased DNA 8-oxodG levels and expression of the p53-inducible ribonucleotide reductase. Our in vitro and in vivo data support a model where an oxidized dNTPs pool together with aberrant BER processing contribute to TNR expansion in non-replicating cells.

Rate-determining Step of Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1) Reflects a Kinetic Bias against Long Flaps and Trinucleotide Repeat Sequences

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a structure-specific nuclease responsible for removing 5'-flaps formed during Okazaki fragment maturation and long patch base excision repair. In this work, we use rapid quench flow techniques to examine the rates of 5'-flap removal on DNA substrates of varying length and sequence. Of particular interest are flaps containing trinucleotide repeats (TNR), which have been proposed to affect FEN1 activity and cause genetic instability. We report that FEN1 processes substrates containing flaps of 30 nucleotides or fewer at comparable single-turnover rates. However, for flaps longer than 30 nucleotides, FEN1 kinetically discriminates substrates based on flap length and flap sequence. In particular, FEN1 removes flaps containing TNR sequences at a rate slower than mixed sequence flaps of the same length. Furthermore, multiple-turnover kinetic analysis reveals that the rate-determining step of FEN1 switches as a function of flap length from product release to chemistry (or a step prior to chemistry). These results provide a kinetic perspective on the role of FEN1 in DNA replication and repair and contribute to our understanding of FEN1 in mediating genetic instability of TNR sequences.

Repeat instability during DNA repair: Insights from model systems

The expansion of repeated sequences is the cause of over 30 inherited genetic diseases, including Huntington disease, myotonic dystrophy (types 1 and 2), fragile X syndrome, many spinocerebellar ataxias, and some cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Repeat expansions are dynamic, and disease inheritance and progression are influenced by the size and the rate of expansion. Thus, an understanding of the various cellular mechanisms that cooperate to control or promote repeat expansions is of interest to human health. In addition, the study of repeat expansion and contraction mechanisms has provided insight into how repair pathways operate in the context of structure-forming DNA, as well as insights into non-canonical roles for repair proteins. Here we review the mechanisms of repeat instability, with a special emphasis on the knowledge gained from the various model systems that have been developed to study this topic. We cover the repair pathways and proteins that operate to maintain genome stability, or in some cases cause instability, and the cross-talk and interactions between them.

A 5', 8-cyclo-2'-deoxypurine lesion induces trinucleotide repeat deletion via a unique lesion bypass by DNA polymerase β

5',8-cyclo-2'-deoxypurines (cdPus) are common forms of oxidized DNA lesions resulting from endogenous and environmental oxidative stress such as ionizing radiation. The lesions can only be repaired by nucleotide excision repair with a low efficiency. This results in their accumulation in the genome that leads to stalling of the replication DNA polymerases and poor lesion bypass by translesion DNA polymerases. Trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) consist of tandem repeats of Gs and As and therefore are hotspots of cdPus. In this study, we provided the first evidence that both (5'R)- and (5'S)-5',8-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine (cdA) in a CAG repeat tract caused CTG repeat deletion exclusively during DNA lagging strand maturation and base excision repair. We found that a cdA induced the formation of a CAG loop in the template strand, which was skipped over by DNA polymerase β (pol β) lesion bypass synthesis. This subsequently resulted in the formation of a long flap that was efficiently cleaved by flap endonuclease 1, thereby leading to repeat deletion. Our study indicates that accumulation of cdPus in the human genome can lead to TNR instability via a unique lesion bypass by pol β.

Base excision repair of oxidative DNA damage coupled with removal of a CAG repeat hairpin attenuates trinucleotide repeat expansion

Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion is responsible for numerous human neurodegenerative diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies have shown that DNA base excision repair (BER) can mediate TNR expansion and deletion by removing base lesions in different locations of a TNR tract, indicating that BER can promote or prevent TNR expansion in a damage location–dependent manner. In this study, we provide the first evidence that the repair of a DNA base lesion located in the loop region of a CAG repeat hairpin can remove the hairpin, attenuating repeat expansion. We found that an 8-oxoguanine located in the loop region of CAG hairpins of varying sizes was removed by OGG1 leaving an abasic site that was subsequently 5′-incised by AP endonuclease 1, introducing a single-strand breakage in the hairpin loop. This converted the hairpin into a double-flap intermediate with a 5′- and 3′-flap that was cleaved by flap endonuclease 1 and a 3′-5′ endonuclease Mus81/Eme1, resulting in complete or partial removal of the CAG hairpin. This further resulted in prevention and attenuation of repeat expansion. Our results demonstrate that TNR expansion can be prevented via BER in hairpin loops that is coupled with the removal of TNR hairpins.

Inhibition of DNA synthesis facilitates expansion of low-complexity repeats: is strand slippage stimulated by transient local depletion of specific dNTPs?

Simple DNA repeats (trinucleotide repeats, micro- and minisatellites) are prone to expansion/contraction via formation of secondary structures during DNA synthesis. Such structures both inhibit replication forks and create opportunities for template-primer slippage, making these repeats unstable. Certain aspects of simple repeat instability, however, suggest additional mechanisms of replication inhibition dependent on the primary DNA sequence, rather than on secondary structure formation. I argue that expanded simple repeats, due to their lower DNA complexity, should transiently inhibit DNA synthesis by locally depleting specific DNA precursors. Such transient inhibition would promote formation of secondary structures and would stabilize these structures, facilitating strand slippage. Thus, replication problems at simple repeats could be explained by potentiated toxicity, where the secondary structure-driven repeat instability is enhanced by DNA polymerase stalling at the low complexity template DNA.

The C9ORF72 expansion mutation is a common cause of ALS+/-FTD in Europe and has a single founder

A massive hexanucleotide repeat expansion mutation (HREM) in C9ORF72 has recently been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here we describe the frequency, origin and stability of this mutation in ALS+/-FTD from five European cohorts (total n=1347). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms defining the risk haplotype in linked kindreds were genotyped in cases (n=434) and controls (n=856). Haplotypes were analysed using PLINK and aged using DMLE+. In a London clinic cohort, the HREM was the most common mutation in familial ALS+/-FTD: C9ORF72 29/112 (26%), SOD1 27/112 (24%), TARDBP 1/112 (1%) and FUS 4/112 (4%) and detected in 13/216 (6%) of unselected sporadic ALS cases but was rare in controls (3/856, 0.3%). HREM prevalence was high for familial ALS+/-FTD throughout Europe: Belgium 19/22 (86%), Sweden 30/41 (73%), the Netherlands 10/27 (37%) and Italy 4/20 (20%). The HREM did not affect the age at onset or survival of ALS patients. Haplotype analysis identified a common founder in all 137 HREM carriers that arose around 6300 years ago. The haplotype from which the HREM arose is intrinsically unstable with an increased number of repeats (average 8, compared with 2 for controls, P<10(-8)). We conclude that the HREM has a single founder and is the most common mutation in familial and sporadic ALS in Europe.

Trinucleotide repeat deletion via a unique hairpin bypass by DNA polymerase β and alternate flap cleavage by flap endonuclease 1

Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansions and deletions are associated with human neurodegenerative diseases and prostate cancer. Recent studies have pointed to a linkage between oxidative DNA damage, base excision repair (BER) and TNR expansion, which is demonstrated by the observation that DNA polymerase β (pol β) gap-filling synthesis acts in concert with alternate flap cleavage by flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) to mediate CAG repeat expansions. In this study, we provide the first evidence that the repair of a DNA base lesion can also contribute to CAG repeat deletions that were initiated by the formation of hairpins on both the template and the damaged strand of a continuous run of (CAG)₂₀ or (CAG)₂₅ repeats. Most important, we found that pol β not only bypassed one part of the large template hairpin but also managed to pass through almost the entire length of small hairpin. The unique hairpin bypass of pol β resulted in large and small deletions in coordination with FEN1 alternate flap cleavage. Our results provide new insight into the role of BER in modulating genome stability that is associated with human diseases.

DNA base excision repair: a mechanism of trinucleotide repeat expansion

The expansion of trinucleotide repeat (TNR) sequences in human DNA is considered to be a key factor in the pathogenesis of more than 40 neurodegenerative diseases. TNR expansion occurs during DNA replication and also, as suggested by recent studies, during the repair of DNA lesions produced by oxidative stress. In particular, the oxidized guanine base 8-oxoguanine within sequences containing CAG repeats may induce formation of pro-expansion intermediates through strand slippage during DNA base excision repair (BER). In this article, we describe how oxidized DNA lesions are repaired by BER and discuss the importance of the coordinated activities of the key repair enzymes, such as DNA polymerase β, flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) and DNA ligase, in preventing strand slippage and TNR expansion.

Double strand binding-single strand incision mechanism for human flap endonuclease: implications for the superfamily

Detailed structural, mutational, and biochemical analyses of human FEN1/DNA complexes have revealed the mechanism for recognition of 5' flaps formed during lagging strand replication and DNA repair. FEN1 processes 5' flaps through a previously unknown, but structurally elegant double-stranded (ds) recognition/single stranded (ss) incision mechanism that both selects for 5' flaps and selects against ss DNA or RNA, intact dsDNA, and 3' flaps. Two major DNA binding interfaces, including a K(+) bridge between the DNA and the H2TH motif, are spaced one helical turn apart and together select for substrates with dsDNA. A conserved helical gateway and a helical cap protects the two-metal active site and selects for ss flaps with free termini. Structures of substrate and product reveal an unusual step between binding substrate and incision that involves a double base unpairing with incision occurring in the resulting unpaired DNA or RNA. Ordering of the active site requires a disorder-to-order transition induced by binding of an unpaired 3' flap, which ensures that the product is ligatable. Comparison with FEN superfamily members, including XPG, EXO1, and GEN1, identifies superfamily motifs such as the helical gateway that select for ss-dsDNA junctions and provides key biological insights into nuclease specificity and regulation.

PCNA directs type 2 RNase H activity on DNA replication and repair substrates

Ribonuclease H2 is the major nuclear enzyme degrading cellular RNA/DNA hybrids in eukaryotes and the sole nuclease known to be able to hydrolyze ribonucleotides misincorporated during genomic replication. Mutation in RNASEH2 causes Aicardi–Goutières syndrome, an auto-inflammatory disorder that may arise from nucleic acid byproducts generated during DNA replication. Here, we report the crystal structures of Archaeoglobus fulgidus RNase HII in complex with PCNA, and human PCNA bound to a C-terminal peptide of RNASEH2B. In the archaeal structure, three binding modes are observed as the enzyme rotates about a flexible hinge while anchored to PCNA by its PIP-box motif. PCNA binding promotes RNase HII activity in a hinge-dependent manner. It enhances both cleavage of ribonucleotides misincorporated in DNA duplexes, and the comprehensive hydrolysis of RNA primers formed during Okazaki fragment maturation. In addition, PCNA imposes strand specificity on enzyme function, and by localizing RNase H2 and not RNase H1 to nuclear replication foci in vivo it ensures that RNase H2 is the dominant RNase H activity during nuclear replication. Our findings provide insights into how type 2 RNase H activity is directed during genome replication and repair, and suggest a mechanism by which RNase H2 may suppress generation of immunostimulatory nucleic acids.

Continuous and periodic expansion of CAG repeats in Huntington's disease R6/1 mice

Huntington's disease (HD) is one of several neurodegenerative disorders caused by expansion of CAG repeats in a coding gene. Somatic CAG expansion rates in HD vary between organs, and the greatest instability is observed in the brain, correlating with neuropathology. The fundamental mechanisms of somatic CAG repeat instability are poorly understood, but locally formed secondary DNA structures generated during replication and/or repair are believed to underlie triplet repeat expansion. Recent studies in HD mice have demonstrated that mismatch repair (MMR) and base excision repair (BER) proteins are expansion inducing components in brain tissues. This study was designed to simultaneously investigate the rates and modes of expansion in different tissues of HD R6/1 mice in order to further understand the expansion mechanisms in vivo. We demonstrate continuous small expansions in most somatic tissues (exemplified by tail), which bear the signature of many short, probably single-repeat expansions and contractions occurring over time. In contrast, striatum and cortex display a dramatic—and apparently irreversible—periodic expansion. Expansion profiles displaying this kind of periodicity in the expansion process have not previously been reported. These in vivo findings imply that mechanistically distinct expansion processes occur in different tissues.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetically determined neurodegenerative disorder identified by the presence of a mutation for a long series of CAG repeats (>36 repeats) in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Longer repeat sequences cause disease onset at a younger age. The mutation encodes an expanded glutamine tract within the huntingtin protein. This enlarged polyglutamine fragment in the protein leads to the formation of the huntingtin aggregates that are observed in HD brains. The stretch of CAG repeats expands with age in affected brain areas, increasing the length of the polyglutamine tract, and is believed to amplify the effect of the disease. Several HD mouse models display phenotypes relevant to the human disease. We have investigated the rate and modes of expansion in striatum, cortex, and tail in transgenic R6/1 mice. Tail was included as a stable tissue, however we observed a small continuous expansion of CAG repeats in tail tissues. In brain tissues, we identified a periodic expansion process consisting of predominantly seven repeat steps. Our findings point towards a very controlled molecular mechanism as the cause of expansion in the most severely affected tissues, which may provide useful targets that can be used to inhibit disease development.

Complementary roles for exonuclease 1 and Flap endonuclease 1 in maintenance of triplet repeats

Trinucleotide repeats can form stable secondary structures that promote genomic instability. To determine how such structures are resolved, we have defined biochemical activities of the related RAD2 family nucleases, FEN1 (Flap endonuclease 1) and EXO1 (exonuclease 1), on substrates that recapitulate intermediates in DNA replication. Here, we show that, consistent with its function in lagging strand replication, human (h) FEN1 could cleave 5'-flaps bearing structures formed by CTG or CGG repeats, although less efficiently than unstructured flaps. hEXO1 did not exhibit endonuclease activity on 5'-flaps bearing structures formed by CTG or CGG repeats, although it could excise these substrates. Neither hFEN1 nor hEXO1 was affected by the stem-loops formed by CTG repeats interrupting duplex regions adjacent to 5'-flaps, but both enzymes were inhibited by G4 structures formed by CGG repeats in analogous positions. Hydroxyl radical footprinting showed that hFEN1 binding caused hypersensitivity near the flap/duplex junction, whereas hEXO1 binding caused hypersensitivity very close to the 5'-end, correlating with the predominance of hFEN1 endonucleolytic activity versus hEXO1 exonucleolytic activity on 5'-flap substrates. These results show that FEN1 and EXO1 can eliminate structures formed by trinucleotide repeats in the course of replication, relying on endonucleolytic and exonucleolytic activities, respectively. These results also suggest that unresolved G4 DNA may prevent key steps in normal post-replicative DNA processing.

Conserved helicase domain of human RecQ4 is required for strand annealing-independent DNA unwinding

Humans have five members of the well conserved RecQ helicase family: RecQ1, Bloom syndrome protein (BLM), Werner syndrome protein (WRN), RecQ4, and RecQ5, which are all known for their roles in maintaining genome stability. BLM, WRN, and RecQ4 are associated with premature aging and cancer predisposition. Of the three, RecQ4's biological and cellular roles have been least thoroughly characterized. Here we tested the helicase activity of purified human RecQ4 on various substrates. Consistent with recent results, we detected ATP-dependent RecQ4 unwinding of forked duplexes. However, our results provide the first evidence that human RecQ4's unwinding is independent of strand annealing, and that it does not require the presence of excess ssDNA. Moreover, we demonstrate that a point mutation of the conserved lysine in the Walker A motif abolished helicase activity, implying that not the N-terminal portion, but the helicase domain is solely responsible for the enzyme's unwinding activity. In addition, we demonstrate a novel stimulation of RecQ4's helicase activity by replication protein A, similar to that of RecQ1, BLM, WRN, and RecQ5. Together, these data indicate that specific biochemical activities and protein partners of RecQ4 are conserved with those of the other RecQ helicases.

WRN helicase unwinds Okazaki fragment-like hybrids in a reaction stimulated by the human DHX9 helicase

Mutations in the Werner gene promote the segmental progeroid Werner syndrome (WS) with increased genomic instability and cancer. The Werner gene encodes a DNA helicase (WRN) that can engage in direct protein-protein interactions with DHX9, also known as RNA helicase A or nuclear DNA helicase II, which represents an essential enzyme involved in transcription and DNA repair. By using several synthetic nucleic acid substrates we demonstrate that WRN preferably unwinds RNA-containing Okazaki fragment-like substrates suggesting a role in lagging strand maturation of DNA replication. In contrast, DHX9 preferably unwinds RNA-RNA and RNA-DNA substrates, but fails to unwind Okazaki fragment-like hybrids. We further show that the preferential unwinding of RNA-containing substrates by WRN is stimulated by DHX9 in vitro, both on Okazaki fragment-like hybrids and on RNA-containing 'chicken-foot' structures. Collectively, our results suggest that WRN and DHX9 may also cooperate in vivo, e.g. at ongoing and stalled replication forks. In the latter case, the cooperation between both helicases may serve to form and to dissolve Holliday junction-like intermediates of regressed replication forks.

Distinct activities of exonuclease 1 and flap endonuclease 1 at telomeric g4 DNA

Background

Exonuclease 1 (EXO1) and Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) are members of the RAD2 family of structure-specific nucleases. Genetic analysis has identified roles for EXO1 and FEN1 in replication, recombination, DNA repair and maintenance of telomeres. Telomeres are composed of G-rich repeats that readily form G4 DNA. We recently showed that human EXO1 and FEN1 exhibit distinct activities on G4 DNA substrates representative of intermediates in immunoglobulin class switch recombination.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have now compared activities of these enzymes on telomeric substrates bearing G4 DNA, identifying non-overlapping functions that provide mechanistic insight into the distinct telomeric phenotypes caused by their deficiencies. We show that hFEN1 but not hEXO1 cleaves substrates bearing telomeric G4 DNA 5′-flaps, consistent with the requirement for FEN1 in telomeric lagging strand replication. Both hEXO1 and hFEN1 are active on substrates bearing telomeric G4 DNA tails, resembling uncapped telomeres. Notably, hEXO1 but not hFEN1 is active on transcribed telomeric G-loops.

Conclusion/Significance

Our results suggest that EXO1 may act at transcription-induced telomeric structures to promote telomere recombination while FEN1 has a dominant role in lagging strand replication at telomeres. Both enzymes can create ssDNA at uncapped telomere ends thereby contributing to recombination.

Human RECQL5beta stimulates flap endonuclease 1

Human RECQL5 is a member of the RecQ helicase family which is implicated in genome maintenance. Five human members of the family have been identified; three of them, BLM, WRN and RECQL4 are associated with elevated cancer risk. RECQL1 and RECQL5 have not been linked to any human disorder yet; cells devoid of RECQL1 and RECQL5 display increased chromosomal instability. Here, we report the physical and functional interaction of the large isomer of RECQL5, RECQL5β, with the human flap endonuclease 1, FEN1, which plays a critical role in DNA replication, recombination and repair. RECQL5β dramatically stimulates the rate of FEN1 cleavage of flap DNA substrates. Moreover, we show that RECQL5β and FEN1 interact physically and co-localize in the nucleus in response to DNA damage. Our findings, together with the previous literature on WRN, BLM and RECQL4’s stimulation of FEN1, suggests that the ability of RecQ helicases to stimulate FEN1 may be a general feature of this class of enzymes. This could indicate a common role for the RecQ helicases in the processing of oxidative DNA damage.

Double-strand break repair pathways protect against CAG/CTG repeat expansions, contractions and repeat-mediated chromosomal fragility in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Trinucleotide repeats can form secondary structures, whose inappropriate repair or replication can lead to repeat expansions. There are multiple loci within the human genome where expansion of trinucleotide repeats leads to disease. Although it is known that expanded repeats accumulate double-strand breaks (DSBs), it is not known which DSB repair pathways act on such lesions and whether inaccurate DSB repair pathways contribute to repeat expansions. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we found that CAG/CTG tracts of 70 or 155 repeats exhibited significantly elevated levels of breakage and expansions in strains lacking MRE11, implicating the Mre11/Rad50/Xrs2 complex in repairing lesions at structure-forming repeats. About two-thirds of the expansions that occurred in the absence of MRE11 were dependent on RAD52, implicating aberrant homologous recombination as a mechanism for generating expansions. Expansions were also elevated in a sae2 deletion background and these were not dependent on RAD52, supporting an additional role for Mre11 in facilitating Sae2-dependent hairpin processing at the repeat. Mre11 nuclease activity and Tel1-dependent checkpoint functions were largely dispensable for repeat maintenance. In addition, we found that intact homologous recombination and nonhomologous end-joining pathways of DSB repair are needed to prevent repeat fragility and that both pathways also protect against repeat instability. We conclude that failure of principal DSB repair pathways to repair breaks that occur within the repeats can result in the accumulation of atypical intermediates, whose aberrant resolution will then lead to CAG expansions, contractions, and repeat-mediated chromosomal fragility.

Coordination between polymerase beta and FEN1 can modulate CAG repeat expansion

The oxidized DNA base 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) is implicated in neuronal CAG repeat expansion associated with Huntington disease, yet it is unclear how such a DNA base lesion and its repair might cause the expansion. Here, we discovered size-limited expansion of CAG repeats during repair of 8-oxoG in a wild-type mouse cell extract. This expansion was deficient in extracts from cells lacking pol beta and HMGB1. We demonstrate that expansion is mediated through pol beta multinucleotide gap-filling DNA synthesis during long-patch base excision repair. Unexpectedly, FEN1 promotes expansion by facilitating ligation of hairpins formed by strand slippage. This alternate role of FEN1 and the polymerase beta (pol beta) multinucleotide gap-filling synthesis is the result of uncoupling of the usual coordination between pol beta and FEN1. HMGB1 probably promotes expansion by stimulating APE1 and FEN1 in forming single strand breaks and ligatable nicks, respectively. This is the first report illustrating that disruption of pol beta and FEN1 coordination during long-patch BER results in CAG repeat expansion.

Incision-dependent and error-free repair of (CAG)(n)/(CTG)(n) hairpins in human cell extracts

Expansion of CAG/CTG trinucleotide repeats is associated with certain familial neurological disorders, including Huntington's disease. Increasing evidence suggests that formation of a stable DNA hairpin within CAG/CTG repeats during DNA metabolism contributes to their expansion. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which cells remove CAG/CTG hairpins remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that human cell extracts can catalyze error-free repair of CAG/CTG hairpins in a nick-directed manner. The repair system specifically targets CAG/CTG tracts for incisions in the nicked DNA strand, followed by DNA resynthesis using the continuous strand as a template, thereby ensuring CAG/CTG stability. PCNA is required for the incision step of the hairpin removal, which utilizes distinct endonuclease activities for individual CAG/CTG hairpins depending on their strand locations and/or secondary structures. The implication of these data for understanding the etiology of neurological diseases and trinucleotide repeat instability is discussed.

Long patch base excision repair proceeds via coordinated stimulation of the multienzyme DNA repair complex

Base excision repair, a major repair pathway in mammalian cells, is responsible for correcting DNA base damage and maintaining genomic integrity. Recent reports show that the Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 complex (9-1-1) stimulates enzymes proposed to perform a long patch-base excision repair sub-pathway (LP-BER), including DNA glycosylases, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), DNA polymerase beta (pol beta), flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), and DNA ligase I (LigI). However, 9-1-1 was found to produce minimal stimulation of FEN1 and LigI in the context of a complete reconstitution of LP-BER. We show here that pol beta is a robust stimulator of FEN1 and a moderate stimulator of LigI. Apparently, there is a maximum possible stimulation of these two proteins such that after responding to pol beta or another protein in the repair complex, only a small additional response to 9-1-1 is allowed. The 9-1-1 sliding clamp structure must serve primarily to coordinate enzyme actions rather than enhancing rate. Significantly, stimulation by the polymerase involves interaction of primer terminus-bound pol beta with FEN1 and LigI. This observation provides compelling evidence that the proposed LP-BER pathway is actually employed in cells. Moreover, this pathway has been proposed to function by sequential enzyme actions in a "hit and run" mechanism. Our results imply that this mechanism is still carried out, but in the context of a multienzyme complex that remains structurally intact during the repair process.

Comparative genomics and molecular dynamics of DNA repeats in eukaryotes

Repeated elements can be widely abundant in eukaryotic genomes, composing more than 50% of the human genome, for example. It is possible to classify repeated sequences into two large families, "tandem repeats" and "dispersed repeats." Each of these two families can be itself divided into subfamilies. Dispersed repeats contain transposons, tRNA genes, and gene paralogues, whereas tandem repeats contain gene tandems, ribosomal DNA repeat arrays, and satellite DNA, itself subdivided into satellites, minisatellites, and microsatellites. Remarkably, the molecular mechanisms that create and propagate dispersed and tandem repeats are specific to each class and usually do not overlap. In the present review, we have chosen in the first section to describe the nature and distribution of dispersed and tandem repeats in eukaryotic genomes in the light of complete (or nearly complete) available genome sequences. In the second part, we focus on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the fast evolution of two specific classes of tandem repeats: minisatellites and microsatellites. Given that a growing number of human neurological disorders involve the expansion of a particular class of microsatellites, called trinucleotide repeats, a large part of the recent experimental work on microsatellites has focused on these particular repeats, and thus we also review the current knowledge in this area. Finally, we propose a unified definition for mini- and microsatellites that takes into account their biological properties and try to point out new directions that should be explored in a near future on our road to understanding the genetics of repeated sequences.

Roles of the Werner syndrome RecQ helicase in DNA replication

Congenital deficiency in the WRN protein, a member of the human RecQ helicase family, gives rise to Werner syndrome, a genetic instability and cancer predisposition disorder with features of premature aging. Cellular roles of WRN are not fully elucidated. WRN has been implicated in telomere maintenance, homologous recombination, DNA repair, and other processes. Here I review the available data that directly address the role of WRN in preserving DNA integrity during replication and propose that WRN can function in coordinating replication fork progression with replication stress-induced fork remodeling. I further discuss this role of WRN within the contexts of damage tolerance group of regulatory pathways, and redundancy and cooperation with other RecQ helicases.

Partial reconstitution of DNA large loop repair with purified proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Small looped mispairs are corrected by DNA mismatch repair. In addition, a distinct process called large loop repair (LLR) corrects heteroduplexes up to several hundred nucleotides in bacteria, yeast and human cells, and in cell-free extracts. Only some LLR protein components are known, however. Previous studies with neutralizing antibodies suggested a role for yeast DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ), RFC and PCNA in LLR repair synthesis. In the current study, biochemical fractionation studies identified FEN1 (Rad27) as another required LLR component. In the presence of purified FEN1, Pol δ, RFC and PCNA, repair occurred on heteroduplexes with loops ranging from 8 to 216 nt. Repair utilized a 5′ nick, with correction directed to the nicked strand, irrespective of which strand contained the loop. In contrast, repair of a G/T mismatch occurred at low levels, suggesting specificity of the reconstituted system for looped mispairs. The presence of RPA enhanced reactivity on some looped substrates, but RPA was not required for activity. Although additional LLR factors remain to be identified, the excision and resynthesis steps of LLR from a 5′ nick can be reconstituted in a purified system with FEN1 and Pol δ, together with PCNA and its loader RFC.

Trinucleotide repeats are prevalent among cancer-related genes

Trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) have been primarily connected to neurologic and neuromuscular diseases, with few specific TNRs linked with various tumors. Here we conduct a genome-wide analysis and show that TNRs are five times more prevalent in cancer-related human genes. Interestingly, we also find that cancer-related genes are significantly longer than other genes. Our results suggest that genes containing TNRs are more prone to mutagenesis. The database of TNR genes can be used as a list of candidate cancer-related genes.

Expandable DNA repeats and human disease

Nearly 30 hereditary disorders in humans result from an increase in the number of copies of simple repeats in genomic DNA. These DNA repeats seem to be predisposed to such expansion because they have unusual structural features, which disrupt the cellular replication, repair and recombination machineries. The presence of expanded DNA repeats alters gene expression in human cells, leading to disease. Surprisingly, many of these debilitating diseases are caused by repeat expansions in the non-coding regions of their resident genes. It is becoming clear that the peculiar structures of repeat-containing transcripts are at the heart of the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Replication fork stalling at natural impediments

Accurate and complete replication of the genome in every cell division is a prerequisite of genomic stability. Thus, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic replication forks are extremely precise and robust molecular machines that have evolved to be up to the task. However, it has recently become clear that the replication fork is more of a hurdler than a runner: it must overcome various obstacles present on its way. Such obstacles can be called natural impediments to DNA replication, as opposed to external and genetic factors. Natural impediments to DNA replication are particular DNA binding proteins, unusual secondary structures in DNA, and transcription complexes that occasionally (in eukaryotes) or constantly (in prokaryotes) operate on replicating templates. This review describes the mechanisms and consequences of replication stalling at various natural impediments, with an emphasis on the role of replication stalling in genomic instability.

Haploinsufficiency of yeast FEN1 causes instability of expanded CAG/CTG tracts in a length-dependent manner

Trinucleotide repeat diseases, such as Huntington's disease, are caused by the expansion of trinucleotide repeats above a threshold of about 35 repeats. Once expanded, the repeats are unstable and tend to expand further both in somatic cells and during transmission, resulting in a more severe disease phenotype. Flap endonuclease 1 (Fen1), has an endonuclease activity specific for 5' flap structures and is involved in Okazaki fragment processing and base excision repair. Fen1 also plays an important role in preventing instability of CAG/CTG trinucleotide repeat sequences, as the expansion frequency of CAG/CTG repeats is increased in FEN1 mutants in vitro and in yeast cells defective for the yeast homolog, RAD27. Here we have tested whether one copy of yeast FEN1 is enough to maintain CAG/CTG tract stability in diploid yeast cells. We found that CAG/CTG repeats are stable in RAD27 +/- cells if the tract is 70 repeats long and exhibit a slightly increased expansion frequency if the tract is 85 or 130 repeats long. However for CAG-155 tracts, the repeat expansion frequency in RAD27 +/- cells is significantly higher than in RAD27 +/+ cells. This data indicates that cells containing longer CAG/CTG repeats need more Fen1 protein to maintain tract stability and that maintenance of long CAG/CTG repeats is particularly sensitive to Fen1 levels. Our results may explain the relatively small effects seen in the Huntington's disease (HD) FEN1 +/- heterozygous mice and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) FEN1 +/- heterozygous mice, and suggest that inefficient flap processing by Fen1 could play a role in the continued expansions seen in humans with trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases.

Concerted action of exonuclease and Gap-dependent endonuclease activities of FEN-1 contributes to the resolution of triplet repeat sequences (CTG)n- and (GAA)n-derived secondary structures formed during maturation of Okazaki fragments

There is much evidence to indicate that FEN-1 efficiently cleaves single-stranded DNA flaps but is unable to process double-stranded flaps or flaps adopting secondary structures. However, the absence of Fen1 in yeast results in a significant increase in trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion. There are then two possibilities. One is that TNRs do not always form stable secondary structures or that FEN-1 has an alternative approach to resolve the secondary structures. In the present study, we test the hypothesis that concerted action of exonuclease and gap-dependent endonuclease activities of FEN-1 play a role in the resolution of secondary structures formed by (CTG)n and (GAA)n repeats. Employing a yeast FEN-1 mutant, E176A, which is deficient in exonuclease (EXO) and gap endonuclease (GEN) activities but retains almost all of its flap endonuclease (FEN) activity, we show severe defects in the cleavage of various TNR intermediate substrates. Precise knock-in of this point mutation causes an increase in both the expansion and fragility of a (CTG)n tract in vivo. Taken together, our biochemical and genetic analyses suggest that although FEN activity is important for single-stranded flap processing, EXO and GEN activities may contribute to the resolution of structured flaps. A model is presented to explain how the concerted action of EXO and GEN activities may contribute to resolving structured flaps, thereby preventing their expansion in the genome.

Postreplication repair inhibits CAG.CTG repeat expansions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) are unique DNA microsatellites that can expand to cause human disease. Recently, Srs2 was identified as a protein that inhibits TNR expansions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we demonstrate that Srs2 inhibits CAG . CTG expansions in conjunction with the error-free branch of postreplication repair (PRR). Like srs2 mutants, expansions are elevated in rad18 and rad5 mutants, as well as the PRR-specific PCNA alleles pol30-K164R and pol30-K127/164R. Epistasis analysis indicates that Srs2 acts upstream of these PRR proteins. Also, like srs2 mutants, the pol30-K127/164R phenotype is specific for expansions, as this allele does not alter mutation rates at dinucleotide repeats, at nonrepeating sequences, or for CAG . CTG repeat contractions. Our results suggest that Srs2 action and PRR processing inhibit TNR expansions. We also investigated the relationship between PRR and Rad27 (Fen1), a well-established inhibitor of TNR expansions that acts at 5' flaps. Our results indicate that PRR protects against expansions arising from the 3' terminus, presumably replication slippage events. This work provides the first evidence that CAG . CTG expansions can occur by 3' slippage, and our results help define PRR as a key cellular mechanism that protects against expansions.

Rev1 enhances CAG.CTG repeat stability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) frequently expand in certain human genetic diseases, often with devastating pathological consequences. TNR expansions require the addition of new DNA; accordingly, molecular models suggest aberrant DNA replication or error-prone repair synthesis as the sources of most instability. Some proteins are currently known that either promote or inhibit TNR mutability. To identify additional proteins that help protect cells against TNR instability, yeast mutants were isolated with higher than normal rates of CAG.CTG tract expansions. Surprisingly, a rev1 mutant was isolated. In contrast to its canonical function in supporting mutagenesis, we found that Rev1 reduces rates of CAG.CTG repeat expansions and contractions, as judged by the behavior of the rev1 mutant. The rev1 mutator phenotype was specific for TNRs with hairpin forming capacity. Mutations in REV3 or REV7, encoding the subunits of DNA polymerase zeta (pol zeta), did not affect expansion rates in REV1 or rev1 strains. A rev1 point mutant lacking dCMP transferase activity was normal for TNR instability, whereas the rev1-1 allele that interferes with BRCT domain function was as defective as a rev1 null mutant. In summary, these results indicate that yeast Rev1 reduces mutability of CAG.CTG tracts in a manner dependent on BRCT domain function but independent of dCMP transferase activity and of pol zeta.

Fen1does not control somatic hypermutability of the (CTG)n· (CAG)nrepeat in a knock-in mouse model for DM1

The mechanism of trinucleotide repeat expansion, an important cause of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases, is poorly understood. We report here on the study of the role of flap endonuclease 1 (Fen1), a structure-specific nuclease with both 5' flap endonuclease and 5'-3' exonuclease activity, in the somatic hypermutability of the (CTG)(n)*(CAG)(n) repeat of the DMPK gene in a mouse model for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). By intercrossing mice with Fen1 deficiency with transgenics with a DM1 (CTG)(n)*(CAG)(n) repeat (where 104n110), we demonstrate that Fen1 is not essential for faithful maintenance of this repeat in early embryonic cleavage divisions until the blastocyst stage. Additionally, we found that the frequency of somatic DM1 (CTG)(n)*(CAG)(n) repeat instability was essentially unaltered in mice with Fen1 haploinsufficiency up to 1.5 years of age. Based on these findings, we propose that Fen1, despite its role in DNA repair and replication, is not primarily involved in maintaining stability at the DM1 locus.

DNA structures, repeat expansions and human hereditary disorders

Expansions of simple DNA repeats are responsible for more than two dozen hereditary disorders in humans, including fragile X syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Huntington's disease, various spinocerebellar ataxias, Friedreich's ataxia and others. During the past decade, it became clear that unusual structural features of expandable repeats greatly contribute to their instability and could lead to their expansion. Furthermore, DNA replication, repair and recombination are implicated in the formation of repeat expansions, as shown in various experimental systems. The replication model of repeat expansion stipulates that unusual structures of expandable repeats stall replication fork progression, whereas extra repeats are added during replication fork restart. It also explains the bias toward repeat expansion or contraction that was observed in different organisms.

Repeat instability: mechanisms of dynamic mutations

Disease-causing repeat instability is an important and unique form of mutation that is linked to more than 40 neurological, neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. DNA repeat expansion mutations are dynamic and ongoing within tissues and across generations. The patterns of inherited and tissue-specific instability are determined by both gene-specific cis-elements and trans-acting DNA metabolic proteins. Repeat instability probably involves the formation of unusual DNA structures during DNA replication, repair and recombination. Experimental advances towards explaining the mechanisms of repeat instability have broadened our understanding of this mutational process. They have revealed surprising ways in which metabolic pathways can drive or protect from repeat instability.

Multiple but dissectible functions of FEN-1 nucleases in nucleic acid processing, genome stability and diseases

Flap EndoNuclease-1 (FEN-1) is a multifunctional and structure-specific nuclease involved in nucleic acid processing pathways. It plays a critical role in maintaining human genome stability through RNA primer removal, long-patch base excision repair and resolution of dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat secondary structures. In addition to its flap endonuclease (FEN) and nick exonuclease (EXO) activities, a new gap endonuclease (GEN) activity has been characterized. This activity may be important in apoptotic DNA fragmentation and in resolving stalled DNA replication forks. The multiple functions of FEN-1 are regulated via several means, including formation of complexes with different protein partners, nuclear localization in response to cell cycle or DNA damage and post-translational modifications. Its functional deficiency is predicted to cause genetic diseases, including Huntington's disease, myotonic dystrophy and cancers. This review summarizes the knowledge gained through efforts in the past decade to define its structural elements for specific activities and possible pathological consequences of altered functions of this multirole player.

Slipped (CTG)*(CAG) repeats can be correctly repaired, escape repair or undergo error-prone repair

Expansion of (CTG)*(CAG) repeats, the cause of 14 or more diseases, is presumed to arise through escaped repair of slipped DNAs. We report the fidelity of slipped-DNA repair using human cell extracts and DNAs with slip-outs of (CAG)(20) or (CTG)(20). Three outcomes occurred: correct repair, escaped repair and error-prone repair. The choice of repair path depended on nick location and slip-out composition (CAG or CTG). A new form of error-prone repair was detected whereby excess repeats were incompletely excised, constituting a previously unknown path to generate expansions but not deletions. Neuron-like cell extracts yielded each of the three repair outcomes, supporting a role for these processes in (CTG)*(CAG) instability in patient post-mitotic brain cells. Mismatch repair (MMR) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) proteins hMSH2, hMSH3, hMLH1, XPF, XPG or polymerase beta were not required-indicating that their role in instability may precede that of slip-out processing. Differential processing of slipped repeats may explain the differences in mutation patterns between various disease loci or tissues.

Genetic instability induced by overexpression of DNA ligase I in budding yeast

Recombination and microsatellite mutation in humans contribute to disorders including cancer and trinucleotide repeat (TNR) disease. TNR expansions in wild-type yeast may arise by flap ligation during lagging-strand replication. Here we show that overexpression of DNA ligase I (CDC9) increases the rates of TNR expansion, of TNR contraction, and of mitotic recombination. Surprisingly, this effect is observed with catalytically inactive forms of Cdc9p protein, but only if they possess a functional PCNA-binding site. Furthermore, in vitro analysis indicates that the interaction of PCNA with Cdc9p and Rad27p (Fen1) is mutually exclusive. Together our genetic and biochemical analysis suggests that, although DNA ligase I seals DNA nicks during replication, repair, and recombination, higher than normal levels can yield genetic instability by disrupting the normal interplay of PCNA with other proteins such as Fen1.

Human Bloom protein stimulates flap endonuclease 1 activity by resolving DNA secondary structure

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) participates in removal of RNA primers of Okazaki fragments, several DNA repair pathways, and genome stability maintenance. Defects in yeast FEN1 produce chromosomal instability, hyper-recombination, and sequence duplication. These occur because flaps produced during replication are not promptly removed. Long-lived flaps sustain breaks and form misaligned bubble structures that produce duplications. Flaps that can form secondary structure inhibit even wild-type FEN1 and are more likely to form bubbles. Although proliferating cell nuclear antigen stimulates FEN1, it cannot resolve secondary structures. Bloom protein (BLM) is a 3'-5' helicase, mutated in Bloom syndrome. BLM has been reported to interact with and stimulate FEN1 independent of helicase function. We found activation of the helicase by ATP did not alter BLM stimulation of cleavage of unstructured flaps. However, BLM stimulation of FEN1 cleavage of foldback flaps, bubbles, or triplet repeats was increased by an additional increment when ATP was added. Helicase-dependent stimulation of FEN1 cleavage was robust over a range of sizes of the single-stranded part of bubbles. However, increasing the length of the 5' annealed region of the bubble ultimately counteracted the stimulatory capacity of the BLM helicase. Moderate helicase-dependent stimulation was observed with both fixed and equilibrating CTG flaps. Our results suggest that BLM suppresses genome instability by aiding FEN1 cleavage of structure-containing flaps.