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Lu M, Zhang X, Chu Q, Chen Y, Zhang P. Susceptibility Genes Associated with Multiple Primary Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5788. [PMID: 38136334 PMCID: PMC10741435 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
With advancements in treatment and screening techniques, we have been witnessing an era where more cancer survivors harbor multiple primary cancers (MPCs), affecting approximately one in six patients. Identifying MPCs is crucial for tumor staging and subsequent treatment choices. However, the current clinicopathological criteria for clinical application are limited and insufficient, making it challenging to differentiate them from recurrences or metastases. The emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has provided a genetic perspective for defining multiple primary cancers. Researchers have found that, when considering multiple tumor pairs, it is crucial not only to examine well-known essential mutations like MLH1/MSH2, EGFR, PTEN, BRCA1/2, CHEK2, and TP53 mutations but also to explore certain pleiotropic loci. Moreover, specific deleterious mutations may serve as regulatory factors in second cancer development following treatment. This review aims to discuss these susceptibility genes and provide an explanation of their functions based on the signaling pathway background. Additionally, the association network between genetic signatures and different tumor pairs will be summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (M.L.)
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2
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Ivessa AS, Singh S. The increase in cell death rates in caloric restricted cells of the yeast helicase mutant rrm3 is Sir complex dependent. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17832. [PMID: 37857740 PMCID: PMC10587150 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45125-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Calorie restriction (CR), which is a reduction in calorie intake without malnutrition, usually extends lifespan and improves tissue integrity. This report focuses on the relationship between nuclear genomic instability and dietary-restriction and its effect on cell survival. We demonstrate that the cell survival rates of the genomic instability yeast mutant rrm3 change under metabolic restricted conditions. Rrm3 is a DNA helicase, chromosomal replication slows (and potentially stalls) in its absence with increased rates at over 1400 natural pause sites including sites within ribosomal DNA and tRNA genes. Whereas rrm3 mutant cells have lower cell death rates compared to wild type (WT) in growth medium containing normal glucose levels (i.e., 2%), under CR growth conditions cell death rates increase in the rrm3 mutant to levels, which are higher than WT. The silent-information-regulatory (Sir) protein complex and mitochondrial oxidative stress are required for the increase in cell death rates in the rrm3 mutant when cells are transferred from growth medium containing 2% glucose to CR-medium. The Rad53 checkpoint protein is highly phosphorylated in the rrm3 mutant in response to genomic instability in growth medium containing 2% glucose. Under CR, Rad53 phosphorylation is largely reduced in the rrm3 mutant in a Sir-complex dependent manner. Since CR is an adjuvant treatment during chemotherapy, which may target genomic instability in cancer cells, our studies may gain further insight into how these therapy strategies can be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas S Ivessa
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, 07101-1709, USA.
| | - Sukhwinder Singh
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine/Flow Cytometry and Immunology Core Laboratory, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, 07101-1709, USA
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3
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Osia B, Merkell A, Lopezcolorado FW, Ping X, Stark JM. RAD52 and ERCC6L/PICH have a compensatory relationship for genome stability in mitosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.23.554522. [PMID: 37662271 PMCID: PMC10473716 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.23.554522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian RAD52 protein is a DNA repair factor that has both strand annealing and recombination mediator activities, yet is dispensable for cell viability. To characterize genetic contexts that reveal dependence on RAD52 to sustain cell viability (i.e., synthetic lethal relationships), we performed genome-wide CRISPR knock-out screens. Subsequent secondary screening found that depletion of ERCC6L in RAD52-deficient cells causes reduced viability and elevated genome instability, measured as accumulation of 53BP1 into nuclear foci. Furthermore, loss of RAD52 causes elevated levels of anaphase ultrafine bridges marked by ERCC6L, and conversely depletion of ERCC6L causes elevated RAD52 foci both in prometaphase and interphase cells. These effects were enhanced with combination treatments using hydroxyurea and the topoisomerase IIα inhibitor ICRF-193, and the timing of these treatments are consistent with defects in addressing such stress in mitosis. Thus, loss of RAD52 appears to cause an increased reliance on ERCC6L in mitosis, and vice versa. Consistent with this notion, combined depletion of ERCC6L and disrupting G2/M progression via CDK1 inhibition causes a marked loss of viability in RAD52-deficient cells. We suggest that RAD52 and ERCC6L play compensatory roles in protecting genome stability in mitosis.
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4
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Holland CL, Weis MF, England CJ, Berry AM, Hall PD, Lewis LK. Deficiency in homologous recombination is associated with changes in cell cycling and morphology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Exp Cell Res 2023:113701. [PMID: 37393982 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of eukaryotic cells to ionizing radiation or clastogenic chemicals leads to formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). These lesions are also generated internally by chemicals and enzymes, in the absence of exogenous agents, though the sources and consequences of such endogenously generated DSBs remain poorly understood. In the current study, we have investigated the impact of reduced recombinational repair of endogenous DSBs on stress responses, cell morphology and other physical properties of S. cerevisiae (budding yeast) cells. Use of phase contrast and DAPI-based fluorescence microscopy combined with FACS analysis confirmed that recombination-deficient rad52 cell cultures exhibit chronically high levels of G2 phase cells. Cell cycle phase transit times during G1, S and M were similar in WT and rad52 cells, but the length of G2 phase was increased by three-fold in the mutants. rad52 cells were larger than WT in all phases of the cycle and displayed other quantifiable changes in physical characteristics. The high G2 cell phenotype was abolished when DNA damage checkpoint genes, but not spindle assembly checkpoint genes, were co-inactivated with RAD52. Several other RAD52 group mutants (rad51, rad54, rad55, rad57 and rad59) also exhibited the high G2 cell phenotype. The results indicate that recombination deficiency leads to accumulation of unrepaired DSBs during normal mitotic growth that activate a major stress response and produce distinct changes in cellular physiology and morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory L Holland
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Monica F Weis
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Corbin J England
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Armand M Berry
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - Paige D Hall
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
| | - L Kevin Lewis
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
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5
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Rauth S, Ganguly K, Atri P, Parte S, Nimmakayala RK, Varadharaj V, Nallasamy P, Vengoji R, Ogunleye AO, Lakshmanan I, Chirravuri R, Bessho M, Cox JL, Foster JM, Talmon GA, Bessho T, Ganti AK, Batra SK, Ponnusamy MP. Elevated PAF1-RAD52 axis confers chemoresistance to human cancers. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112043. [PMID: 36709426 PMCID: PMC10374878 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin- and gemcitabine-based chemotherapeutics represent a mainstay of cancer therapy for most solid tumors; however, resistance limits their curative potential. Here, we identify RNA polymerase II-associated factor 1 (PAF1) as a common driver of cisplatin and gemcitabine resistance in human cancers (ovarian, lung, and pancreas). Mechanistically, cisplatin- and gemcitabine-resistant cells show enhanced DNA repair, which is inhibited by PAF1 silencing. We demonstrate an increased interaction of PAF1 with RAD52 in resistant cells. Targeting the PAF1 and RAD52 axis combined with cisplatin or gemcitabine strongly diminishes the survival potential of resistant cells. Overall, this study shows clinical evidence that the expression of PAF1 contributes to chemotherapy resistance and worse clinical outcome for lethal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanchita Rauth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Koelina Ganguly
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Pranita Atri
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Seema Parte
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Rama Krishna Nimmakayala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Venkatesh Varadharaj
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Palanisamy Nallasamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Raghupathy Vengoji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ayoola O Ogunleye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Imayavaramban Lakshmanan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ramakanth Chirravuri
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Mika Bessho
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jesse L Cox
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jason M Foster
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Geoffrey A Talmon
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tadayoshi Bessho
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Apar Kishor Ganti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA; Division of Oncology-Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA.
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6
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DNA repair protein RAD52 is required for protecting G-quadruplexes in mammalian cells. J Biol Chem 2022; 299:102770. [PMID: 36470428 PMCID: PMC9807996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex (G4)-forming DNA sequences are abundant in the human genome, and they are hot spots for inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and genome instability. The mechanisms involved in protecting G4s and maintaining genome stability have not been fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that RAD52 plays an important role in suppressing DSB accumulation at G4s, and RAD52-deficient cells are sensitive to G4-stabilizing compounds. Mechanistically, we showed that RAD52 is required for efficient homologous recombination repair at G4s, likely due to its function in recruiting structure-specific endonuclease XPF to remove G4 structures at DSB ends. We also demonstrated that upon G4 stabilization, endonuclease MUS81 mediates cleavage of stalled replication forks at G4s. The resulting DSBs recruit RAD52 and XPF to G4s for processing DSB ends to facilitate homologous recombination repair. Loss of RAD52 along with G4-resolving helicase FANCJ leads to a significant increase of DSB accumulation before and after treatment with the G4-stabilizing compound pyridostatin, and RAD52 exhibits a synthetic lethal interaction with FANCJ. Collectively, our findings reveal a new role of RAD52 in protecting G4 integrity and provide insights for new cancer treatment strategies.
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7
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Zhang J, Chan DW, Lin SY. Exploiting DNA Replication Stress as a Therapeutic Strategy for Breast Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2775. [PMID: 36359297 PMCID: PMC9687274 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Proliferating cells rely on DNA replication to ensure accurate genome duplication. Cancer cells, including breast cancer cells, exhibit elevated replication stress (RS) due to the uncontrolled oncogenic activation, loss of key tumor suppressors, and defects in the DNA repair machinery. This intrinsic vulnerability provides a great opportunity for therapeutic exploitation. An increasing number of drug candidates targeting RS in breast cancer are demonstrating promising efficacy in preclinical and early clinical trials. However, unresolved challenges lie in balancing the toxicity of these drugs while maintaining clinical efficacy. Furthermore, biomarkers of RS are urgently required to guide patient selection. In this review, we introduce the concept of targeting RS, detail the current therapies that target RS, and highlight the integration of RS with immunotherapies for breast cancer treatment. Additionally, we discuss the potential biomarkers to optimizing the efficacy of these therapies. Together, the continuous advances in our knowledge of targeting RS would benefit more patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Shiaw-Yih Lin
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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8
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Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies CDK1 as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:8115474. [PMID: 36090896 PMCID: PMC9452984 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8115474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) plays an important role in cancer development, progression, and the overall process of tumorigenesis. However, no pan-cancer analysis has been reported for CDK1, and the predictive role of CDK1 in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy response remains unexplored. Thus, in this study, we first investigated the potential oncogenic role of CDK1 in 33 tumors by multidimensional bioinformatics analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Bioinformatic analysis and immunohistochemical experiments confirmed that CDK1 is significantly upregulated in most common cancers and is strongly associated with prognosis. Further analysis indicated that CDK1 may influence tumor immunity mainly by mediating the degree of tumor infiltration of immune-associated cells, and the effect of CDK1 on immunity is diverse across tumor types in tumor microenvironment. CDK1 was also positively correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) in certain cancer types, linking its expression to the assessment of possible treatment response. The results of the pan-cancer analysis study showed that the CDK1 gene was positively associated with the expression of three classes of RNA methylation regulatory proteins, and affects RNA function through multiple mechanisms of action and plays an important role in the posttranscriptional regulation of the tumor microenvironment. These findings shed light on the role of the CDK1 gene in cancer progression and provide information to further study the CDK1 gene as a potential target for pan-cancer.
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9
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Epum EA, Haber JE. DNA replication: the recombination connection. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:45-57. [PMID: 34384659 PMCID: PMC8688190 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Failure to complete DNA replication is one of the major sources of genome instability leading to aneuploidy, chromosome breakage, and chromosome rearrangements that are associated with human cancer. One of the surprising revelations of the past decade is that the completion of replication at so-called common fragile sites (CFS) occurs very late in the cell cycle - at mitosis - through a process termed MiDAS (mitotic DNA synthesis). MiDAS is strongly related to another cancer-promoting phenomenon: the activation of alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Our understanding of the mechanisms of ALT and MiDAS in mammalian cells has drawn heavily from recent advances in the study of break-induced replication (BIR), especially in budding yeast. We provide new insights into the BIR, MiDAS, and ALT pathways and their shared similarities.
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10
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Nickoloff JA, Sharma N, Allen CP, Taylor L, Allen SJ, Jaiswal AS, Hromas R. Roles of homologous recombination in response to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 99:903-914. [PMID: 34283012 PMCID: PMC9629169 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1956001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ionizing radiation induces a vast array of DNA lesions including base damage, and single- and double-strand breaks (SSB, DSB). DSBs are among the most cytotoxic lesions, and mis-repair causes small- and large-scale genome alterations that can contribute to carcinogenesis. Indeed, ionizing radiation is a 'complete' carcinogen. DSBs arise immediately after irradiation, termed 'frank DSBs,' as well as several hours later in a replication-dependent manner, termed 'secondary' or 'replication-dependent DSBs. DSBs resulting from replication fork collapse are single-ended and thus pose a distinct problem from two-ended, frank DSBs. DSBs are repaired by error-prone nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ), or generally error-free homologous recombination (HR), each with sub-pathways. Clarifying how these pathways operate in normal and tumor cells is critical to increasing tumor control and minimizing side effects during radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The choice between NHEJ and HR is regulated during the cell cycle and by other factors. DSB repair pathways are major contributors to cell survival after ionizing radiation, including tumor-resistance to radiotherapy. Several nucleases are important for HR-mediated repair of replication-dependent DSBs and thus replication fork restart. These include three structure-specific nucleases, the 3' MUS81 nuclease, and two 5' nucleases, EEPD1 and Metnase, as well as three end-resection nucleases, MRE11, EXO1, and DNA2. The three structure-specific nucleases evolved at very different times, suggesting incremental acceleration of replication fork restart to limit toxic HR intermediates and genome instability as genomes increased in size during evolution, including the gain of large numbers of HR-prone repetitive elements. Ionizing radiation also induces delayed effects, observed days to weeks after exposure, including delayed cell death and delayed HR. In this review we highlight the roles of HR in cellular responses to ionizing radiation, and discuss the importance of HR as an exploitable target for cancer radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jac A. Nickoloff
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Neelam Sharma
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Christopher P. Allen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Facility, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lynn Taylor
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sage J. Allen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Aruna S. Jaiswal
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and the Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Robert Hromas
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and the Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
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11
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Lezaja A, Altmeyer M. Dealing with DNA lesions: When one cell cycle is not enough. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 70:27-36. [PMID: 33310228 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Subversion of genome integrity fuels cellular adaptation and is a prerequisite for organismal evolution, yet genomic lesions are also the harmful driving force of cancer and other age-related human diseases. Genome integrity maintenance is inherently linked to genome organization and nuclear architecture, which are substantially remodeled during the cell cycle. Here we discuss recent findings on how actively dividing cells cope with endogenous genomic lesions that occur frequently at repetitive, heterochromatic, and late replicating regions as byproducts of genome duplication. We discuss how such lesions, rather than being resolved immediately when they occur, are dealt with in subsequent cell cycle phases, and even after mitotic cell division, and how this in turn affects genome organization, stability, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Lezaja
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Altmeyer
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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12
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Current Understanding of RAD52 Functions: Fundamental and Therapeutic Insights. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030705. [PMID: 32192055 PMCID: PMC7140074 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this Special Issue, we would like to focus on the various functions of the RAD52 helicase-like protein and the current implications of such findings for cancer treatment. Over the last few years, various laboratories have discovered particular activities of mammalian RAD52—both in S and M phase—that are distinct from the auxiliary role of yeast RAD52 in homologous recombination. At DNA double-strand breaks, RAD52 was demonstrated to spur alternative pathways to compensate for the loss of homologous recombination functions. At collapsed replication forks, RAD52 activates break-induced replication. In the M phase, RAD52 promotes the finalization of DNA replication. Its compensatory role in the resolution of DNA double-strand breaks has put RAD52 in the focus of synthetic lethal strategies, which is particularly relevant for cancer treatment.
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13
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From R-Loops to G-Quadruplexes: Emerging New Threats for the Replication Fork. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21041506. [PMID: 32098397 PMCID: PMC7073102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Replicating the entire genome is one of the most complex tasks for all organisms. Research carried out in the last few years has provided us with a clearer picture on how cells preserve genomic information from the numerous insults that may endanger its stability. Different DNA repair pathways, coping with exogenous or endogenous threat, have been dissected at the molecular level. More recently, there has been an increasing interest towards intrinsic obstacles to genome replication, paving the way to a novel view on genomic stability. Indeed, in some cases, the movement of the replication fork can be hindered by the presence of stable DNA: RNA hybrids (R-loops), the folding of G-rich sequences into G-quadruplex structures (G4s) or repetitive elements present at Common Fragile Sites (CFS). Although differing in their nature and in the way they affect the replication fork, all of these obstacles are a source of replication stress. Replication stress is one of the main hallmarks of cancer and its prevention is becoming increasingly important as a target for future chemotherapeutics. Here we will try to summarize how these three obstacles are generated and how the cells handle replication stress upon their encounter. Finally, we will consider their role in cancer and their exploitation in current chemotherapeutic approaches.
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14
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Physiological and Pathological Roles of RAD52 at DNA Replication Forks. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12020402. [PMID: 32050645 PMCID: PMC7072239 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding basic molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of cancer cells is of outmost importance for identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for patient stratification and better therapy selection. One of these mechanisms, the response to replication stress, fuels cancer genomic instability. It is also an Achille’s heel of cancer. Thus, identification of pathways used by the cancer cells to respond to replication-stress may assist in the identification of new biomarkers and discovery of new therapeutic targets. Alternative mechanisms that act at perturbed DNA replication forks and involve fork degradation by nucleases emerged as crucial for sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics agents inducing replication stress. Despite its important role in homologous recombination and recombinational repair of DNA double strand breaks in lower eukaryotes, RAD52 protein has been considered dispensable in human cells and the full range of its cellular functions remained unclear. Very recently, however, human RAD52 emerged as an important player in multiple aspects of replication fork metabolism under physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we describe recent advances on RAD52’s key functions at stalled or collapsed DNA replication forks, in particular, the unexpected role of RAD52 as a gatekeeper, which prevents unscheduled processing of DNA. Last, we will discuss how these functions can be exploited using specific inhibitors in targeted therapy or for an informed therapy selection.
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