DNA replication is required for the checkpoint response to damaged DNA in Xenopus egg extracts

Site directed mutagenesis reveals functional importance of conserved amino acid residues within the N-terminal domain of Dpb2 in budding yeast

In spite of being dispensable for catalysis, Dpb2, the second largest subunit of leading strand DNA polymerase (Polymerase ε) is essential for cell survival in budding yeast. Dpb2 physically connects polymerase epsilon with the replicative helicase (CMG,Cdc45-Mcm-GINS) by interacting with its Psf1 subunit. Dpb2-Psf1 interaction has been shown to be critical for incorporating polymerase ε into the replisome. Site-directed mutagenesis studies on conserved amino acid residues within the N-terminal domain of Dpb2 led to identification of key amino acid residues involved in interaction with Psf1 subunit of GINS. These amino acid residues are found to be well conserved among Dpb2 orthologues in higher eukaryotes thereby indicating the protein-protein interaction to be evolutionarily conserved. Replicating cells are known to mount a strong replicative stress response and DNA damage response upon exposure to diverse range of stressors. Here, we show that the absence of the N-terminal domain of Dpb2 increases the vulnerability of the budding yeast cells towards the cytotoxic effects of hydroxyurea (HU) and methyl methane sulphonate (MMS). Our results illustrate the importance of N-terminal domain of Dpb2 not only during replisome assembly but also in coordinating stress response in budding yeast. Considering high degree of sequence conservation across eukaryotes, Dpb2 subunit of leading-strand DNA polymerase appears to have important implications in maintenance of genome integrity.

DDK/Hsk1 phosphorylates and targets fission yeast histone deacetylase Hst4 for degradation to stabilize stalled DNA replication forks

In eukaryotes, paused replication forks are prone to collapse, which leads to genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. Dbf4-dependent kinase (DDK)/Hsk1^Cdc7 is a conserved replication initiator kinase with conflicting roles in replication stress response. Here, we show that fission yeast DDK/Hsk1 phosphorylates sirtuin, Hst4 upon replication stress at C-terminal serine residues. Phosphorylation of Hst4 by DDK marks it for degradation via the ubiquitin ligase SCF^pof3. Phosphorylation-defective hst4 mutant (4SA-hst4) displays defective recovery from replication stress, faulty fork restart, slow S-phase progression and decreased viability. The highly conserved fork protection complex (FPC) stabilizes stalled replication forks. We found that the recruitment of FPC components, Swi1 and Mcl1 to the chromatin is compromised in the 4SA-hst4 mutant, although whole cell levels increased. These defects are dependent upon H3K56ac and independent of intra S-phase checkpoint activation. Finally, we show conservation of H3K56ac-dependent regulation of Timeless, Tipin, and And-1 in human cells. We propose that degradation of Hst4 via DDK increases H3K56ac, changing the chromatin state in the vicinity of stalled forks facilitating recruitment and function of FPC. Overall, this study identified a crucial role of DDK and FPC in the regulation of replication stress response with implications in cancer therapeutics.

Organization of DNA Replication Origin Firing in Xenopus Egg Extracts: The Role of Intra-S Checkpoint

During cell division, the duplication of the genome starts at multiple positions called replication origins. Origin firing requires the interaction of rate-limiting factors with potential origins during the S(ynthesis)-phase of the cell cycle. Origins fire as synchronous clusters which is proposed to be regulated by the intra-S checkpoint. By modelling the unchallenged, the checkpoint-inhibited and the checkpoint protein Chk1 over-expressed replication pattern of single DNA molecules from Xenopus sperm chromatin replicated in egg extracts, we demonstrate that the quantitative modelling of data requires: (1) a segmentation of the genome into regions of low and high probability of origin firing; (2) that regions with high probability of origin firing escape intra-S checkpoint regulation and (3) the variability of the rate of DNA synthesis close to replication forks is a necessary ingredient that should be taken in to account in order to describe the dynamic of replication origin firing. This model implies that the observed origin clustering emerges from the apparent synchrony of origin firing in regions with high probability of origin firing and challenge the assumption that the intra-S checkpoint is the main regulator of origin clustering.

APE2 promotes DNA damage response pathway from a single-strand break

As the most common type of DNA damage, DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) are primarily repaired by the SSB repair mechanism. If not repaired properly or promptly, unrepaired SSBs lead to genome stability and have been implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it remains unknown how unrepaired SSBs are recognized by DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, largely because of the lack of a feasible experimental system. Here, we demonstrate evidence showing that an ATR-dependent checkpoint signaling is activated by a defined plasmid-based site-specific SSB structure in Xenopus HSS (high-speed supernatant) system. Notably, the distinct SSB signaling requires APE2 and canonical checkpoint proteins, including ATR, ATRIP, TopBP1, Rad9 and Claspin. Importantly, the SSB-induced ATR DDR is essential for SSB repair. We and others show that APE2 interacts with PCNA via its PIP box and preferentially interacts with ssDNA via its C-terminus Zf–GRF domain, a conserved motif found in >100 proteins involved in DNA/RNA metabolism. Here, we identify a novel mode of APE2–PCNA interaction via APE2 Zf–GRF and PCNA C-terminus. Mechanistically, the APE2 Zf–GRF–PCNA interaction facilitates 3′-5′ SSB end resection, checkpoint protein complex assembly, and SSB-induced DDR pathway. Together, we propose that APE2 promotes ATR–Chk1 DDR pathway from a single-strand break.

The Intra-S Checkpoint Responses to DNA Damage

Faithful duplication of the genome is a challenge because DNA is susceptible to damage by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic genotoxins, such as free radicals and UV light. Cells activate the intra-S checkpoint in response to damage during S phase to protect genomic integrity and ensure replication fidelity. The checkpoint prevents genomic instability mainly by regulating origin firing, fork progression, and transcription of G1/S genes in response to DNA damage. Several studies hint that regulation of forks is perhaps the most critical function of the intra-S checkpoint. However, the exact role of the checkpoint at replication forks has remained elusive and controversial. Is the checkpoint required for fork stability, or fork restart, or to prevent fork reversal or fork collapse, or activate repair at replication forks? What are the factors that the checkpoint targets at stalled replication forks? In this review, we will discuss the various pathways activated by the intra-S checkpoint in response to damage to prevent genomic instability.

Mismatch repair-dependent metabolism of O6-methylguanine-containing DNA in Xenopus laevis egg extracts

The cytotoxicity of SN1-type alkylating agents such as N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea (MNU), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), or the cancer chemotherapeutics temozolomide, dacarbazine and streptozotocin has been ascribed to the persistence of O(6)-methylguanine ((me)G) in genomic DNA. One hypothesis posits that (me)G toxicity is caused by futile attempts of the mismatch repair (MMR) system to process (me)G/C or (me)G/T mispairs arising during replication, while an alternative proposal suggests that the latter lesions activate DNA damage signaling, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis directly. Attempts to elucidate the molecular mechanism of (me)G-induced cell killing in vivo have been hampered by the fact that the above reagents induce several types of modifications in genomic DNA, which are processed by different repair pathways. In contrast, defined substrates studied in vitro did not undergo replication. We set out to re-examine this phenomenon in replication-competent Xenopus laevis egg extracts, using either phagemid substrates containing a single (me)G residue, or methylated sperm chromatin. Our findings provide further support for the futile cycling hypothesis.

Molecular mechanisms involved in initiation of the DNA damage response

DNA is subject to a wide variety of damage. In order to maintain genomic integrity, cells must respond to this damage by activating repair and cell cycle checkpoint pathways. The initiating events in the DNA damage response entail recognition of the lesion and the assembly of DNA damage response complexes at the DNA. Here, we review what is known about these processes for various DNA damage pathways.

Depletion of Uhrf1 inhibits chromosomal DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts

UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like, containing PHD and RING finger domains 1) has a well-established role in epigenetic regulation through the recognition of various histone marks and interaction with chromatin-modifying proteins. However, its function in regulating cell cycle progression remains poorly understood and has been largely attributed to a role in transcriptional regulation. In this study we have used Xenopus laevis egg extracts to analyse Uhrf1 function in DNA replication in the absence of transcriptional influences. We demonstrate that removal of Uhrf1 inhibits chromosomal replication in this system. We further show that this requirement for Uhrf1, or an associated factor, occurs at an early stage of DNA replication and that the consequences of Uhrf1 depletion are not solely due to its role in loading Dnmt1 onto newly replicated DNA. We describe the pattern of Uhrf1 chromatin association before the initiation of DNA replication and show that this reflects functional requirements both before and after origin licensing. Our data demonstrate that the removal of Xenopus Uhrf1 influences the chromatin association of key replication proteins and reveal Uhrf1 as an important new factor required for metazoan DNA replication.

Control of DNA replication by the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio in Xenopus

The nucleus/cytoplasm (N/C) ratio controls S phase dynamics in many biological systems, most notably the abrupt remodeling of the cell cycle that occurs at the midblastula transition in early Xenopus laevis embryos. After an initial series of rapid cleavage cycles consisting only of S and M phases, a critical N/C ratio is reached, which causes a sharp increase in the length of S phase as the cell cycle is reconfigured to resemble somatic cell cycles. How the N/C ratio determines the length of S phase has been a longstanding problem in developmental biology. Using Xenopus egg extracts, we show that DNA replication at high N/C ratio is restricted by one or more limiting substances. We report here that the protein phosphatase PP2A, in conjunction with its B55α regulatory subunit, becomes limiting for replication origin firing at high N/C ratio, and this in turn leads to reduced origin activation and an increase in the time required to complete S phase. Increasing the levels of PP2A catalytic subunit or B55α experimentally restores rapid DNA synthesis at high N/C ratio. Inversely, reduction of PP2A or B55α levels sharply extends S phase even in low N/C extracts. These results identify PP2A-B55α as a link between DNA replication and N/C ratio in egg extracts and suggest a mechanism that may influence the onset of the midblastula transition in vivo.

Myosin 16 levels fluctuate during the cell cycle and are downregulated in response to DNA replication stress

Myosins comprise a highly conserved superfamily of eukaryotic actin-dependent motor proteins implicated in a large repertoire of functions in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Class XVI myosin, MYO16, reveals expression in most somatic as well as meiotic cells with prominent localization in the nucleus, excepting the nucleolus; however, the role(s) of Myo16 in the nucleus remain unknown. In this report, we investigated Myo16 abundance during transit through the cell cycle. Immunolocalization, immunoblot, flow cytometric and quantitative RT-PCR studies performed in Rat2 cells indicate that Myo16 mRNA and protein abundance are cell cycle regulated: in the unperturbed cell cycle, each rises to peak levels in late G1 and thereon through S-phase and each decays as cells enter M-phase. Notably, RNA interference-induced Myo16 depletion results in altered cell cycle distribution as well as in large-scale cell death. In response to DNA replication stress (impaired replication fork progression as a consequence of DNA damage, lack of sufficient deoxynucleotides, or inhibition of DNA polymerases), Myo16 protein shows substantial loss. Attenuation of replication stress (aphidicolin or hydroxyurea) is followed by a recovery of Myo16 expression and resumption of S-phase progression. Collectively, these observations suggest that Myo16 may play a regulatory role in cell cycle progression.

The DNA damage checkpoint response to replication stress: A Game of Forks

Conditions challenging replication fork progression, collectively referred to as replication stress, represent a major source of genomic instability and are associated to cancer onset. The replication checkpoint, a specialized branch of the DNA damage checkpoint, monitors fork problems, and triggers a cellular response aimed at preserving genome integrity. Here, we review the mechanisms by which the replication checkpoint monitors and responds to replication stress, focusing on the checkpoint-mediated pathways contributing to protect replication fork integrity. We discuss how cells achieve checkpoint signaling inactivation once replication stress is overcome and how a failure to timely revert checkpoint-mediated changes in cellular physiology might impact on replication dynamics and genome integrity. We also highlight the checkpoint function as an anti-cancer barrier preventing cells malignant transformation following oncogene-induced replication stress.

Study of the DNA damage checkpoint using Xenopus egg extracts

On a daily basis, cells are subjected to a variety of endogenous and environmental insults. To combat these insults, cells have evolved DNA damage checkpoint signaling as a surveillance mechanism to sense DNA damage and direct cellular responses to DNA damage. There are several groups of proteins called sensors, transducers and effectors involved in DNA damage checkpoint signaling (Figure 1). In this complex signaling pathway, ATR (ATM and Rad3-related) is one of the major kinases that can respond to DNA damage and replication stress. Activated ATR can phosphorylate its downstream substrates such as Chk1 (Checkpoint kinase 1). Consequently, phosphorylated and activated Chk1 leads to many downstream effects in the DNA damage checkpoint including cell cycle arrest, transcription activation, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis or senescence (Figure 1). When DNA is damaged, failing to activate the DNA damage checkpoint results in unrepaired damage and, subsequently, genomic instability. The study of the DNA damage checkpoint will elucidate how cells maintain genomic integrity and provide a better understanding of how human diseases, such as cancer, develop. Xenopus laevis egg extracts are emerging as a powerful cell-free extract model system in DNA damage checkpoint research. Low-speed extract (LSE) was initially described by the Masui group. The addition of demembranated sperm chromatin to LSE results in nuclei formation where DNA is replicated in a semiconservative fashion once per cell cycle. The ATR/Chk1-mediated checkpoint signaling pathway is triggered by DNA damage or replication stress. Two methods are currently used to induce the DNA damage checkpoint: DNA damaging approaches and DNA damage-mimicking structures. DNA damage can be induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, γ-irradiation, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), mitomycin C (MMC), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO), or aphidicolin. MMS is an alkylating agent that inhibits DNA replication and activates the ATR/Chk1-mediated DNA damage checkpoint. UV irradiation also triggers the ATR/Chk1-dependent DNA damage checkpoint. The DNA damage-mimicking structure AT70 is an annealed complex of two oligonucleotides poly-(dA)70 and poly-(dT)70. The AT70 system was developed in Bill Dunphy's laboratory and is widely used to induce ATR/Chk1 checkpoint signaling. Here, we describe protocols (1) to prepare cell-free egg extracts (LSE), (2) to treat Xenopus sperm chromatin with two different DNA damaging approaches (MMS and UV), (3) to prepare the DNA damage-mimicking structure AT70, and (4) to trigger the ATR/Chk1-mediated DNA damage checkpoint in LSE with damaged sperm chromatin or a DNA damage-mimicking structure.

Role of replication protein A as sensor in activation of the S-phase checkpoint in Xenopus egg extracts

Uncoupling between DNA polymerases and helicase activities at replication forks, induced by diverse DNA lesions or replication inhibitors, generate long stretches of primed single-stranded DNA that is implicated in activation of the S-phase checkpoint. It is currently unclear whether nucleation of the essential replication factor RPA onto this substrate stimulates the ATR-dependent checkpoint response independently of its role in DNA synthesis. Using Xenopus egg extracts to investigate the role of RPA recruitment at uncoupled forks in checkpoint activation we have surprisingly found that in conditions in which DNA synthesis occurs, RPA accumulation at forks stalled by either replication stress or UV irradiation is dispensable for Chk1 phosphorylation. In contrast, when both replication fork uncoupling and RPA hyperloading are suppressed, Chk1 phosphorylation is inhibited. Moreover, we show that extracts containing reduced levels of RPA accumulate ssDNA and induce spontaneous, caffeine-sensitive, Chk1 phosphorylation in S-phase. These results strongly suggest that disturbance of enzymatic activities of replication forks, rather than RPA hyperloading at stalled forks, is a critical determinant of ATR activation.

Safeguarding genome integrity: the checkpoint kinases ATR, CHK1 and WEE1 restrain CDK activity during normal DNA replication

Mechanisms that preserve genome integrity are highly important during the normal life cycle of human cells. Loss of genome protective mechanisms can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer. Checkpoint kinases function in the cellular surveillance pathways that help cells to cope with DNA damage. Importantly, the checkpoint kinases ATR, CHK1 and WEE1 are not only activated in response to exogenous DNA damaging agents, but are active during normal S phase progression. Here, we review recent evidence that these checkpoint kinases are critical to avoid deleterious DNA breakage during DNA replication in normal, unperturbed cell cycle. Possible mechanisms how loss of these checkpoint kinases may cause DNA damage in S phase are discussed. We propose that the majority of DNA damage is induced as a consequence of deregulated CDK activity that forces unscheduled initiation of DNA replication. This could generate structures that are cleaved by DNA endonucleases leading to the formation of DNA double-strand breaks. Finally, we discuss how these S phase effects may impact on our understanding of cancer development following disruption of these checkpoint kinases, as well as on the potential of these kinases as targets for cancer treatment.

DNA is a co-factor for its own replication in Xenopus egg extracts

Soluble Xenopus egg extracts efficiently replicate added plasmids using a physiological mechanism, and thus represent a powerful system to understand vertebrate DNA replication. Surprisingly, DNA replication in this system is highly sensitive to plasmid concentration, being undetectable below ∼10 pM and highly efficient above ∼75 pM. DNA replication at the high plasmid concentration does not require plasmid-plasmid contacts, since replication is not inhibited when plasmids are immobilized in agarose prior to addition of egg extract. The absence of replication at low plasmid concentration is due to a defect in the assembly of pre-replication complexes (pre-RCs). pre-RC assembly requires contact-independent communication between plasmids. Our results show that in Xenopus egg extracts, aggregation of multiple replication forks is not required for efficient replication of plasmid DNA, and they suggest that DNA functions as a co-factor for its own duplication.

ATR activation and replication fork restart are defective in FANCM-deficient cells

Fanconi anaemia is a chromosomal instability disorder associated with cancer predisposition and bone marrow failure. Among the 13 identified FA gene products only one, the DNA translocase FANCM, has homologues in lower organisms, suggesting a conserved function in DNA metabolism. However, a precise role for FANCM in DNA repair remains elusive. Here, we show a novel function for FANCM that is distinct from its role in the FA pathway: promoting replication fork restart and simultaneously limiting the accumulation of RPA-ssDNA. We show that in DT40 cells this process is controlled by ATR and PLK1, and that in the absence of FANCM, stalled replication forks are unable to resume DNA synthesis and genome duplication is ensured by excess origin firing. Unexpectedly, we also uncover an early role for FANCM in ATR-mediated checkpoint signalling by promoting chromatin retention of TopBP1. Failure to retain TopBP1 on chromatin impacts on the ability of ATR to phosphorylate downstream molecular targets, including Chk1 and SMC1. Our data therefore indicate a fundamental role for FANCM in the maintenance of genome integrity during S phase.

Physical interaction between replication protein A (RPA) and MRN: involvement of RPA2 phosphorylation and the N-terminus of RPA1

Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein consisting of RPA1, RPA2, and RPA3 subunits that binds to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with high affinity. The response to replication stress requires the recruitment of RPA and the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex. RPA bound to ssDNA stabilizes stalled replication forks by recruiting checkpoint proteins involved in fork stabilization. MRN can bind DNA structures encountered at stalled or collapsed replication forks, such as ssDNA-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) junctions or breaks, and promote the restart of DNA replication. Here, we demonstrate that RPA2 phosphorylation regulates the assembly of DNA damage-induced RPA and MRN foci. Using purified proteins, we observe a direct interaction between RPA with both NBS1 and MRE11. By utilizing RPA bound to ssDNA, we demonstrate that substituting RPA with phosphorylated RPA or a phosphomimetic weakens the interaction with the MRN complex. Also, the N-terminus of RPA1 is a critical component of the RPA-MRN protein-protein interaction. Deletion of the N-terminal oligonucleotide-oligosaccharide binding fold (OB-fold) of RPA1 abrogates interactions of RPA with MRN and individual proteins of the MRN complex. Further identification of residues critical for MRN binding in the N-terminus of RPA1 shows that substitution of Arg31 and Arg41 with alanines disrupts the RPA-MRN interaction and alters cell cycle progression in response to DNA damage. Thus, the N-terminus of RPA1 and phosphorylation of RPA2 regulate RPA-MRN interactions and are important in the response to DNA damage.

XRCC1 interacts with the p58 subunit of DNA Pol alpha-primase and may coordinate DNA repair and replication during S phase

Repair of single-stranded DNA breaks before DNA replication is critical in maintaining genomic stability; however, how cells deal with these lesions during S phase is not clear. Using combined approaches of proteomics and in vitro and in vivo protein-protein interaction, we identified the p58 subunit of DNA Pol alpha-primase as a new binding partner of XRCC1, a key protein of the single strand break repair (SSBR) complex. In vitro experiments reveal that the binding of poly(ADP-ribose) to p58 inhibits primase activity by competition with its DNA binding property. Overexpression of the XRCC1-BRCT1 domain in HeLa cells induces poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis, PARP-1 and XRCC1-BRCT1 poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and a strong S phase delay in the presence of DNA damage. Addition of recombinant XRCC1-BRCT1 to Xenopus egg extracts slows down DNA synthesis and inhibits the binding of PCNA, but not MCM2 to alkylated chromatin, thus indicating interference with the assembly of functional replication forks. Altogether these results suggest a critical role for XRCC1 in connecting the SSBR machinery with the replication fork to halt DNA synthesis in response to DNA damage.

TopBP1 and DNA polymerase-alpha directly recruit the 9-1-1 complex to stalled DNA replication forks

TopBP1 and the Rad9–Rad1–Hus1 (9-1-1) complex activate the ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) protein kinase at stalled replication forks. ATR is recruited to stalled forks through its binding partner, ATR-interacting protein (ATRIP); however, it is unclear how TopBP1 and 9-1-1 are recruited so that they may join ATR–ATRIP and initiate signaling. In this study, we use Xenopus laevis egg extracts to determine the requirements for 9-1-1 loading. We show that TopBP1 is required for the recruitment of both 9-1-1 and DNA polymerase (pol)-α to sites of replication stress. Furthermore, we show that pol-α is also directly required for Rad9 loading. Our study identifies an assembly pathway, which is controlled by TopBP1 and includes pol-α, that mediates the loading of the 9-1-1 complex onto stalled replication forks. These findings clarify early events in the assembly of checkpoint signaling complexes on DNA and identify TopBP1 as a critical sensor of replication stress.

DNA replication in nucleus-free Xenopus egg extracts

Extracts derived from Xenopus laevis eggs represent a powerful cell-free system to study eukaryotic DNA replication. A variation of the system allows for DNA replication not only in a cell-free environment, but also in the absence of a nucleus. In this nucleus-free system, DNA templates are licensed with High-Speed Supernatant (HSS) and then replicated with a concentrated NucleoPlasmic Extract (NPE). This method has the advantage of allowing replication of small plasmids with desired modifications and manipulation of the nuclear environment. This chapter describes the protocols needed to prepare HSS and NPE and how these extracts are used to study DNA replication.

The basic cleft of RPA70N binds multiple checkpoint proteins, including RAD9, to regulate ATR signaling

ATR kinase activation requires the recruitment of the ATR-ATRIP and RAD9-HUS1-RAD1 (9-1-1) checkpoint complexes to sites of DNA damage or replication stress. Replication protein A (RPA) bound to single-stranded DNA is at least part of the molecular recognition element that recruits these checkpoint complexes. We have found that the basic cleft of the RPA70 N-terminal oligonucleotide-oligosaccharide fold (OB-fold) domain is a key determinant of checkpoint activation. This protein-protein interaction surface is able to bind several checkpoint proteins, including ATRIP, RAD9, and MRE11. RAD9 binding to RPA is mediated by an acidic peptide within the C-terminal RAD9 tail that has sequence similarity to the primary RPA-binding surface in the checkpoint recruitment domain (CRD) of ATRIP. Mutation of the RAD9 CRD impairs its localization to sites of DNA damage or replication stress without perturbing its ability to form the 9-1-1 complex or bind the ATR activator TopBP1. Disruption of the RAD9-RPA interaction also impairs ATR signaling to CHK1 and causes hypersensitivity to both DNA damage and replication stress. Thus, the basic cleft of the RPA70 N-terminal OB-fold domain binds multiple checkpoint proteins, including RAD9, to promote ATR signaling.

ATR: an essential regulator of genome integrity

Genome maintenance is a constant concern for cells, and a coordinated response to DNA damage is required to maintain cellular viability and prevent disease. The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM and RAD3-related (ATR) protein kinases act as master regulators of the DNA-damage response by signalling to control cell-cycle transitions, DNA replication, DNA repair and apoptosis. Recent studies have provided new insights into the mechanisms that control ATR activation, have helped to explain the overlapping but non-redundant activities of ATR and ATM in DNA-damage signalling, and have clarified the crucial functions of ATR in maintaining genome integrity.

The methyl methanesulfonate induced S-phase delay in XRCC1-deficient cells requires ATM and ATR

X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 (XRCC1) is required for DNA single-strand break and base excision repair (BER) in human cells. XRCC1-deficient human cells show hypersensitivity to cell killing, increased genetic instability and a significant delay in S-phase progression after exposure to the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Using RNAi modulation of XRCC1 levels, we show here that this S-phase delay is associated with significantly increased levels of recombinational repair as visualized by Rad51 focus formation. Using ATM- and ATR-defective cells and an ATM specific kinase inhibitor we demonstrate for the first time that the MMS-induced S-phase checkpoint requires both ATM and ATR. This unique dependency is associated with phosphorylation of ATM/ATR downstream targets or effectors such as SMC1 and Chk1. These results support the hypothesis that after MMS-treatment, the presence of unresolved BER intermediates gives rise to lesions that activate both ATM and ATR and that during the consequent S-phase delay, such intermediates may be repaired by a recombinational pathway which involves the Rad51 protein.

Chk1- and claspin-dependent but ATR/ATM- and Rad17-independent DNA replication checkpoint response in HeLa cells

When DNA synthesis is inhibited, DNA replication checkpoint is activated to prevent mitosis entry without fully replicated DNA. In Xenopus, caffeine-sensitive kinases [ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM-related protein (ATR)] are essential in this checkpoint response, but in mammal cells an ATR/ATM-independent checkpoint response to DNA synthesis inhibition exists. Using HeLa cells, which have a caffeine-insensitive checkpoint response, we have analyzed here which molecules known to be involved in the DNA replication checkpoint participate in the caffeine-insensitive response. When DNA synthesis was inhibited in the presence of UCN01 or after knocking down Chk1 expression [Chk1 small interfering RNA (siRNA)], HeLa cells entered into aberrant mitosis. Consequently, Chk1 is essential for both the ATR/ATM-dependent and ATR/ATM-independent checkpoint response in HeLa cells. Neither wortmannin, Ly294002, nor SB202190 abrogated the caffeine-insensitive checkpoint response, indicating that DNA-PK and p38 alpha,beta are not involved in the ATR/ATM-independent Chk1 activation upon DNA synthesis inhibition. Using siRNA to knock down Rad17 and claspin, two molecules involved in sensing stalled replication forks, we also showed that claspin but not Rad17 is essential for the ATR/ATM-independent checkpoint response. Inhibition of DNA synthesis in HeLa cells led to a decrease in cyclin B1 protein accumulation that was abrogated when UCN01 was added or when claspin was knocked down. We conclude that upon DNA synthesis inhibition, Chk1 can be activated in a claspin-dependent manner independently of ATR and ATM, leading to cyclin B1 down-regulation and providing the cells of an additional mechanism to inhibit mitosis entry.

The structural determinants of checkpoint activation

Here, we demonstrate that primed, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is sufficient for activation of the ATR-dependent checkpoint pathway in Xenopus egg extracts. Using this structure, we define the contribution of the 5'- and 3'-primer ends to Chk1 activation when replication is blocked and ongoing. In addition, we show that although ssDNA is not sufficient for checkpoint activation, the amount of ssDNA adjacent to the primer influences the level of Chk1 phosphorylation. These observations define the minimal DNA requirements for checkpoint activation and suggest that primed ssDNA represents a common checkpoint activating-structure formed following many types of damage.

Silencing of endo-exonuclease expression sensitizes mouse B16F10 melanoma cells to DNA damaging agents

We previously identified an endo-exonuclease that is highly expressed in cancer cells and plays an important role in DSB repair mechanisms. A small molecular compound pentamidine, which specifically inhibited nuclease activity of the isolated endo-exonuclease from yeast as well as from mammalian cells, was capable of sensitizing tumor cells to DNA damaging agents. In this study, we investigated the effect of precisely silencing the endo-exonuclease expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) upon treatment with a variety of DNA damaging agents in mouse B16F10 melanoma cells. A maximum of 3.6 to approximately 4-fold reduction in endo-exonuclease mRNA expression was achieved, over a period of 48-72 h of post transfection with a concomitant reduction in protein expression (approximately 4-5 fold), resulting in a substantial reduction (approximately 45-50%) of the corresponding nuclease activity. Suppressed endo-exonuclease expression conferred significant decrease in cell survival, ranging from approximately 30 to approximately 50% cell killing, in presence of DNA damaging drugs methyl methane sulfonate (MMS), cisplatin, 5-fluoro uracil (5-FU) and gamma-irradiation but not at varying dosages of ultra violet (UV) radiation. The data strongly support a role for the endo-exonuclease in repairing DNA damages, induced by MMS, cisplatin, 5-FU and gamma irradiation but not by UV radiation. The results presented in this study suggest that the endo-exonuclease siRNA could be useful as a therapeutic tool in targeting the endo-exonuclease in cancer therapy.

Analyzing the ATR-mediated checkpoint using Xenopus egg extracts

Our knowledge of cell cycle events such as DNA replication and mitosis has been advanced significantly through the use of Xenopus egg extracts as a model system. More recently, Xenopus extracts have been used to investigate the cellular mechanisms that ensure accurate and complete duplication of the genome, processes otherwise known as the DNA damage and replication checkpoints. Here we describe several Xenopus extract methods that have advanced the study of the ATR-mediated checkpoints. These include a protocol for the preparation of nucleoplasmic extract (NPE), which is a soluble extract system useful for studying nuclear events such as DNA replication and checkpoints. In addition, we describe several key assays for studying checkpoint activation as well as methods for using small DNA structures to activate ATR.

Deregulated replication licensing causes DNA fragmentation consistent with head-to-tail fork collision

Correct regulation of the replication licensing system ensures that no DNA is rereplicated in a single cell cycle. When the licensing protein Cdt1 is overexpressed in G2 phase of the cell cycle, replication origins are relicensed and the DNA is rereplicated. At the same time, checkpoint pathways are activated that block further cell cycle progression. We have studied the consequence of deregulating the licensing system by adding recombinant Cdt1 to Xenopus egg extracts. We show that Cdt1 induces checkpoint activation and the appearance of small fragments of double-stranded DNA. DNA fragmentation and strong checkpoint activation are dependent on uncontrolled rereplication and do not occur after a single coordinated round of rereplication. The DNA fragments are composed exclusively of rereplicated DNA. The unusual characteristics of these fragments suggest that they result from head-to-tail collision (rear ending) of replication forks chasing one another along the same DNA template.

Monoubiquitination of proliferating cell nuclear antigen induced by stalled replication requires uncoupling of DNA polymerase and mini-chromosome maintenance helicase activities

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a homotrimeric, ring-shaped protein complex that functions as a processivity factor for DNA polymerases. Following genotoxic stress, PCNA is modified at a conserved site by either a single ubiquitin moiety or a polyubiquitin chain. These modifications are required to coordinate DNA damage tolerance processes with ongoing replication. The molecular mechanisms responsible for inducing PCNA ubiquitination are not well understood. Using Xenopus egg extracts, we show that ultraviolet radiation and aphidicolin treatment induce the mono- and diubiquitination of PCNA. PCNA ubiquitination is replication-dependent and coincides with activation of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR)-dependent DNA damage checkpoint pathway. However, loss of ATR signaling by depletion of the ATR-interacting protein (ATRIP) or Rad1, a component of the 911 checkpoint clamp, does not impair PCNA ubiquitination. Primed single-stranded DNA generated by uncoupling of mini-chromosome maintenance helicase and DNA polymerase activities has been shown previously to be necessary for ATR activation. Here we show that PCNA ubiquitination also requires uncoupling of helicase and polymerase activities. We further demonstrate that replicating single-stranded DNA, which mimics the structure produced upon uncoupling, is sufficient to induce PCNA monoubiquitination. Our results suggest that PCNA ubiquitination and ATR activation are two independent events that occur in response to a common single-stranded DNA intermediate generated by functional uncoupling of mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and DNA polymerase activities.

TopBP1 activates the ATR-ATRIP complex

ATR is a key regulator of checkpoint responses to incompletely replicated and damaged DNA, but the mechanisms underlying control of its kinase activity are unknown. TopBP1, the vertebrate homolog of yeast Cut5/Dbp11, has dual roles in initiation of DNA replication and regulation of checkpoint responses. We show that recombinant TopBP1 induces a large increase in the kinase activity of both Xenopus and human ATR. The ATR-activating domain resides in a conserved segment of TopBP1 that is distinct from its numerous BRCT repeats. The isolated ATR-activating domain from TopBP1 induces ectopic activation of ATR-dependent signaling in both Xenopus egg extracts and human cells. Furthermore, Xenopus egg extracts containing a version of TopBP1 with an inactivating point mutation in the ATR-activating domain are defective in checkpoint regulation. These studies establish that activation of ATR by TopBP1 is a crucial step in the initiation of ATR-dependent signaling processes.

Checkpoint silencing during the DNA damage response in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos

In most cells, the DNA damage checkpoint delays cell division when replication is stalled by DNA damage. In early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, however, the checkpoint responds to developmental signals that control the timing of cell division, and checkpoint activation by nondevelopmental inputs disrupts cell cycle timing and causes embryonic lethality. Given this sensitivity to inappropriate checkpoint activation, we were interested in how embryos respond to DNA damage. We demonstrate that the checkpoint response to DNA damage is actively silenced in embryos but not in the germ line. Silencing requires rad-2, gei-17, and the polh-1 translesion DNA polymerase, which suppress replication fork stalling and thereby eliminate the checkpoint-activating signal. These results explain how checkpoint activation is restricted to developmental signals during embryogenesis and insulated from DNA damage. They also show that checkpoint activation is not an obligatory response to DNA damage and that pathways exist to bypass the checkpoint when survival depends on uninterrupted progression through the cell cycle.

Site-specific phosphorylation of a checkpoint mediator protein controls its responses to different DNA structures

The checkpoint mediator protein Claspin is indispensable for the ATR-dependent phosphorylation of Chk1 in response to stalled DNA replication forks in Xenopus egg extracts. We show that Claspin also participates in the detection of chromosomal double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) in this system. Significantly, removal of Claspin from egg extracts only partially abrogates the activation of Chk1 in response to chromatin with DSBs, whereas depletion of both Claspin and BRCA1 completely abolishes this activation. The function of Claspin in this DSB-triggered pathway depends on phosphorylation of T817 and S819 by ATR. Conversely, neither phosphorylation of Claspin on these sites nor the presence of BRCA1 is necessary for activation of Chk1 in response to stalled replication forks. Thus, site-specific phosphorylation of a checkpoint mediator protein is a crucial determinant in the discrimination between various checkpoint-inducing structures. Furthermore, checkpoint mediator proteins exhibit functional overlap that varies depending on the nature of the checkpoint-triggering DNA signal.

Phosphorylation of Xenopus Rad1 and Hus1 defines a readout for ATR activation that is independent of Claspin and the Rad9 carboxy terminus

The DNA damage checkpoint pathways sense and respond to DNA damage to ensure genomic stability. The ATR kinase is a central regulator of one such pathway and phosphorylates a number of proteins that have roles in cell cycle progression and DNA repair. Using the Xenopus egg extract system, we have investigated regulation of the Rad1/Hus1/Rad9 complex. We show here that phosphorylation of Rad1 and Hus1 occurs in an ATR- and TopBP1-dependent manner on T5 of Rad1 and S219 and T223 of Hus1. Mutation of these sites has no effect on the phosphorylation of Chk1 by ATR. Interestingly, phosphorylation of Rad1 is independent of Claspin and the Rad9 carboxy terminus, both of which are required for Chk1 phosphorylation. These data suggest that an active ATR signaling complex exists in the absence of the carboxy terminus of Rad9 and that this carboxy-terminal domain may be a specific requirement for Chk1 phosphorylation and not necessary for all ATR-mediated signaling events. Thus, Rad1 phosphorylation provides an alternate and early readout for the study of ATR activation.

Phosphorylation of replication protein A by S-phase checkpoint kinases

The major eukaryotic single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein, replication protein A (RPA), is a heterotrimer with subunits of 70, 32 and 14 kDa (RPA70, RPA32 and RPA14). RPA-coated ssDNA has been implicated as one of the triggers for intra-S-phase checkpoint activation. Phosphorylation of RPA occurs in cells with damaged DNA or stalled replication forks. Here we show that human RPA70 and RPA32 can be phosphorylated by purified S-phase checkpoint kinases, ATR and Chk1. While ATR phosphorylates the N-terminus of RPA70, Chk1 preferentially phosphorylates RPA's major ssDNA binding domain. Chk1 phosphorylated RPA70 shows reduced ssDNA binding activity, and binding of RPA to ssDNA blocks Chk1 phosphorylation, suggesting that Chk1 and ssDNA compete for RPA's major ssDNA binding domain. ssDNA stimulates RPA32 phosphorylation by ATR in a length dependent manner. Furthermore, 3'-, but not 5'-, recessed single strand/double strand DNA junctions produce an even stronger stimulatory effect on RPA32 phosphorylation by ATR. This stimulation occurs for both RNA and DNA recessed ends. RPA's DNA binding polarity and its interaction to 3'-primer-template junctions contribute to efficient RPA32 phosphorylation. Progression of DNA polymerase is able to block the accessibility of the 3'-recessed ends and prevent the stimulatory effects of primer-template junctions on RPA phosphorylation by ATR. We propose models for the role of RPA phosphorylation by Chk1 in S-phase checkpoint pathways, and the possible regulation of ATR activity by different nucleic acid structures.

Chromosomal DNA replication in a soluble cell-free system derived from Xenopus eggs

Cytoplasmic egg extracts from the frog Xenopus laevis represent a powerful cell-free system to study eukaryotic chromosomal DNA replication. In the classical approach, sperm chromatin is added to unfractionated egg cytoplasm, leading to the assembly of transport-competent nuclei that undergo a single, complete round of DNA replication. The need for nuclei in this system has been circumvented. Sperm chromatin or plasmid DNA is first incubated with clarified egg cytoplasm to form chromatin-bound prereplication complexes. Subsequently, a highly concentrated nucleoplasmic extract is added that stimulates initiation from these prereplication complexes, and a single complete round of chromosomal DNA replication ensues. This review describes the preparation of the cytosolic and nucleoplasmic extracts, as well as their use in DNA replication, origin unwinding, and chromatin isolation assays.

Fanconi anemia proteins are required to prevent accumulation of replication-associated DNA double-strand breaks

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a multigene cancer susceptibility disorder characterized by cellular hypersensitivity to DNA interstrand cross-linking agents such as mitomycin C (MMC). FA proteins are suspected to function at the interface between cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, and DNA replication. Using replicating extracts from Xenopus eggs, we developed cell-free assays for FA proteins (xFA). Recruitment of the xFA core complex and xFANCD2 to chromatin is strictly dependent on replication initiation, even in the presence of MMC indicating specific recruitment to DNA lesions encountered by the replication machinery. The increase in xFA chromatin binding following treatment with MMC is part of a caffeine-sensitive S-phase checkpoint that is controlled by xATR. Recruitment of xFANCD2, but not xFANCA, is dependent on the xATR-xATR-interacting protein (xATRIP) complex. Immunodepletion of either xFANCA or xFANCD2 from egg extracts results in accumulation of chromosomal DNA breaks during replicative synthesis. Our results suggest coordinated chromatin recruitment of xFA proteins in response to replication-associated DNA lesions and indicate that xFA proteins function to prevent the accumulation of DNA breaks that arise during unperturbed replication.

G2 damage checkpoints: what is the turn-on?

Cells mount a coordinated response to DNA damage, activating DNA repair pathways and cell-cycle checkpoint pathways to allow time for DNA repair to occur. In human cells, checkpoint responses can be divided into p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways, the latter being predominant in G2 phase of the cell cycle. The p53-independent pathway involves a phosphorylation cascade that activates the Chk1 effector kinase and induces G2 arrest through inhibitory tyrosine phosphorylation of Cdc2. At the top of this cascade are the ATR and ATM kinases. How ATM and ATR recognize DNA damage and activate this checkpoint pathway is only beginning to emerge. Single-stranded DNA, a result of stalled DNA replication or processing of chromosomal lesions, appears to be central to the activation of ATR. The recruitment of replication protein A to single-stranded DNA facilitates the recruitment of several complexes of checkpoint proteins. In this context, ATR is activated and then phosphorylates the C-terminus of Chk1, activating it to enforce a block to mitotic entry.

DNA replication and progression through S phase

Initiation and completion of DNA replication defines the beginning and ending of S phase of the cell cycle. Successful progression through S phase requires that replication be properly regulated and monitored to ensure that the entire genome is duplicated exactly once, without errors, in a timely fashion. Given the immense size and complexity of eukaryotic genomes, this presents a significant challenge for the cell. As a result, DNA replication has evolved into a tightly regulated process involving the coordinated action of numerous factors that function in all phases of the cell cycle. We will review our current understanding of these processes from the formation of prereplicative complexes in preparation for S phase to the series of events that culminate in the loading of DNA polymerases during S phase. We will incorporate structural data from archaeal and bacterial replication proteins and discuss their implications for understanding the mechanism of action of their corresponding eukaryotic homologues. We will also describe the concept of replication licensing which protects against genomic instability by limiting initiation events to once per cell cycle. Lastly, we will review our knowledge of checkpoint pathways that maintain the integrity of stalled forks and relay defects in replication to the rest of the cell cycle.

Functional uncoupling of MCM helicase and DNA polymerase activities activates the ATR-dependent checkpoint

The ATR-dependent DNA damage response pathway can respond to a diverse group of lesions as well as inhibitors of DNA replication. Using the Xenopus egg extract system, we show that lesions induced by UV irradiation and cis-platinum cause the functional uncoupling of MCM helicase and DNA polymerase activities, an event previously shown for aphidicolin. Inhibition of uncoupling during elongation with inhibitors of MCM7 or Cdc45, a putative helicase cofactor, results in abrogation of Chk1 phosphorylation, indicating that uncoupling is necessary for activation of the checkpoint. However, uncoupling is not sufficient for checkpoint activation, and DNA synthesis by Polalpha is also required. Finally, using plasmids of varying size, we demonstrate that all of the unwound DNA generated at a stalled replication fork can contribute to the level of Chk1 phosphorylation, suggesting that uncoupling amplifies checkpoint signaling at each individual replication fork. Taken together, these observations indicate that functional uncoupling of MCM helicase and DNA polymerase activities occurs in response to multiple forms of DNA damage and that there is a general mechanism for generation of the checkpoint-activating signal following DNA damage.

Dial 9-1-1 for DNA damage: the Rad9-Hus1-Rad1 (9-1-1) clamp complex

Genotoxic stress activates checkpoint signaling pathways that block cell cycle progression, trigger apoptosis, and regulate DNA repair. Studies in yeast and humans have shown that Rad9, Hus1, Rad1, and Rad17 play key roles in checkpoint activation. Three of these proteins-Rad9, Hus1, and Rad1-interact in a heterotrimeric complex (dubbed the 9-1-1 complex), which resembles a PCNA-like sliding clamp, whereas Rad17 is part of a clamp-loading complex that is related to the PCNA clamp loader, replication factor-C (RFC). In response to genotoxic damage, the 9-1-1 complex is loaded around DNA by the Rad17-containing clamp loader. The DNA-bound 9-1-1 complex then facilitates ATR-mediated phosphorylation and activation of Chk1, a protein kinase that regulates S-phase progression, G2/M arrest, and replication fork stabilization. In addition to its role in checkpoint activation, accumulating evidence suggests that the 9-1-1 complex also participates in DNA repair. Taken together, these findings suggest that the 9-1-1 clamp is a multifunctional complex that is loaded onto DNA at sites of damage, where it coordinates checkpoint activation and DNA repair.

Regulation of DNA replication by ATR: signaling in response to DNA intermediates

The nuclear protein kinase ATR controls S-phase progression in response to DNA damage and replication fork stalling, including damage caused by ultraviolet irradiation, hyperoxia, and replication inhibitors like aphidicolin and hydroxyurea. ATR activation and substrate specificity require the presence of adapter and mediator molecules, ultimately resulting in the downstream inhibition of the S-phase kinases that function to initiate DNA replication at origins of replication. The data reviewed strongly support the hypothesis that ATR is activated in response to persistent RPA-bound single-stranded DNA, a common intermediate of unstressed and damaged DNA replication and metabolism.

Xenopus Cds1 is regulated by DNA-dependent protein kinase and ATR during the cell cycle checkpoint response to double-stranded DNA ends

The checkpoint kinase Cds1 (Chk2) plays a key role in cell cycle checkpoint responses with functions in cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and induction of apoptosis. Proper regulation of Cds1 is essential for appropriate cellular responses to checkpoint-inducing insults. While the kinase ATM has been shown to be important in the regulation of human Cds1 (hCds1), here we report that the kinases ATR and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) play more significant roles in the regulation of Xenopus Cds1 (XCds1). Under normal cell cycle conditions, nonactivated XCds1 constitutively associates with a Xenopus ATR complex. The association of XCds1 with this complex does not require a functional forkhead activation domain but does require a putative SH3 binding region that is found in XCds1. In response to double-stranded DNA ends, the amino terminus of XCds1 is rapidly phosphorylated in a sequential pattern. First DNA-PK phosphorylates serine 39, a site not previously recognized as important in Cds1 regulation. Xenopus ATM, ATR, and/or DNA-PK then phosphorylate three consensus serine/glutamine sites. Together, these phosphorylations have the dual function of inducing dissociation from the ATR complex and independently promoting the full activation of XCds1. Thus, the checkpoint-mediated activation of XCds1 requires phosphorylation by multiple phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related kinases, protein-protein dissociation, and autophosphorylation.

A Tel1/MRX-dependent checkpoint inhibits the metaphase-to-anaphase transition after UV irradiation in the absence of Mec1

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mec1/ATR plays a primary role in sensing and transducing checkpoint signals in response to different types of DNA lesions, while the role of the Tel1/ATM kinase in DNA damage checkpoints is not as well defined. We found that UV irradiation in G(1) in the absence of Mec1 activates a Tel1/MRX-dependent checkpoint, which specifically inhibits the metaphase-to-anaphase transition. Activation of this checkpoint leads to phosphorylation of the downstream checkpoint kinases Rad53 and Chk1, which are required for Tel1-dependent cell cycle arrest, and their adaptor Rad9. The spindle assembly checkpoint protein Mad2 also partially contributes to the G(2)/M arrest of UV-irradiated mec1Delta cells independently of Rad53 phosphorylation and activation. The inability of UV-irradiated mec1Delta cells to undergo anaphase can be relieved by eliminating the anaphase inhibitor Pds1, whose phosphorylation and stabilization in these cells depend on Tel1, suggesting that Pds1 persistence may be responsible for the inability to undergo anaphase. Moreover, while UV irradiation can trigger Mec1-dependent Rad53 phosphorylation and activation in G(1)- and G(2)-arrested cells, Tel1-dependent checkpoint activation requires entry into S phase independently of the cell cycle phase at which cells are UV irradiated, and it is decreased when single-stranded DNA signaling is affected by the rfa1-t11 allele. This indicates that UV-damaged DNA molecules need to undergo structural changes in order to activate the Tel1-dependent checkpoint. Active Clb-cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) complexes also participate in triggering this checkpoint and are required to maintain both Mec1- and Tel1-dependent Rad53 phosphorylation, suggesting that they may provide critical phosphorylation events in the DNA damage checkpoint cascade.

Interaction between human MCM7 and Rad17 proteins is required for replication checkpoint signaling

Human Rad17 (hRad17) is centrally involved in the activation of cell-cycle checkpoints by genotoxic agents or replication stress. Here we identify hMCM7, a core component of the DNA replication apparatus, as a novel hRad17-interacting protein. In HeLa cells, depletion of either hRad17 or hMCM7 with small-interfering RNA suppressed ultraviolet (UV) light- or aphidicolin-induced hChk1 phosphorylation, and abolished UV-induced S-phase checkpoint activation. Similar results were obtained after transfection of these cells with a fusion protein containing the hMCM7-binding region of hRad17. The hMCM7-depleted cells were also defective for the formation of ATR-containing nuclear foci after UV irradiation, suggesting that hMCM7 is required for stable recruitment of ATR to damaged DNA. These results demonstrate that hMCM7 plays a direct role in the transmission of DNA damage signals from active replication forks to the S-phase checkpoint machinery in human cells.

Differential activation of intra-S-phase checkpoint in response to tripchlorolide and its effects on DNA replication

DNA replication is tightly regulated during the S phase of the cell cycle, and the activation of the intra-S-phase checkpoint due to DNA damage usually results in arrest of DNA synthesis. However, the molecular details about the correlation between the checkpoint and regulation of DNA replication are still unclear. To investigate the connections between DNA replication and DNA damage checkpoint, a DNA-damage reagent, tripchlorolide, was applied to CHO (Chinese ovary hamster) cells at early- or middle-stages of the S phase. The early-S-phase treatment with TC significantly delayed the progression of the S phase and caused the phosphorylation of the Chk1 checkpoint protein, whereas the middle-S-phase treatment only slightly slowed down the progression of the S phase. Furthermore, the analysis of DNA replication patterns revealed that replication pattern II was greatly prolonged in the cells treated with the drug during the early-S phase, whereas the late-replication patterns of these cells were hardly detected, suggesting that the activation of the intra-S-phase checkpoint inhibits the late-origin firing of DNA replication. We conclude that cells at different stages of the S phase are differentially sensitive to the DNA-damage reagent, and the activation of the intra-S-phase checkpoint blocks the DNA replication progression in the late stage of S phase.

Absence of BLM leads to accumulation of chromosomal DNA breaks during both unperturbed and disrupted S phases

Bloom's syndrome (BS), a disorder associated with genomic instability and cancer predisposition, results from defects in the Bloom's helicase (BLM) protein. In BS cells, chromosomal abnormalities such as sister chromatid exchanges occur at highly elevated rates. Using Xenopus egg extracts, we have studied Xenopus BLM (Xblm) during both unperturbed and disrupted DNA replication cycles. Xblm binds to replicating chromatin and becomes highly phosphorylated in the presence of DNA replication blocks. This phosphorylation depends on Xenopus ATR (Xatr) and Xenopus Rad17 (Xrad17), but not Claspin. Xblm and Xenopus topoisomerase IIIα (Xtop3α) interact in a regulated manner and associate with replicating chromatin interdependently. Immunodepletion of Xblm from egg extracts results in accumulation of chromosomal DNA breaks during both normal and perturbed DNA replication cycles. Disruption of the interaction between Xblm and Xtop3α has similar effects. The occurrence of DNA damage in the absence of Xblm, even without any exogenous insult to the DNA, may help to explain the genesis of chromosomal defects in BS cells.