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Zhao Y, Hou K, Liu Y, Na Y, Li C, Luo H, Wang H. Helicase HELQ: Molecular Characters Fit for DSB Repair Function. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8634. [PMID: 39201320 PMCID: PMC11355030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168634] [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: 06/23/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The protein sequence and spatial structure of DNA helicase HELQ are highly conserved, spanning from archaea to humans. Aside from its helicase activity, which is based on DNA binding and translocation, it has also been recently reconfirmed that human HELQ possesses DNA-strand-annealing activity, similar to that of the archaeal HELQ homolog StoHjm. These biochemical functions play an important role in regulating various double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways, as well as multiple steps in different DSB repair processes. HELQ primarily facilitates repair in end-resection-dependent DSB repair pathways, such as homologous recombination (HR), single-strand annealing (SSA), microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ), as well as the sub-pathways' synthesis-dependent strand annealing (SDSA) and break-induced replication (BIR) within HR. The biochemical functions of HELQ are significant in end resection and its downstream pathways, such as strand invasion, DNA synthesis, and gene conversion. Different biochemical activities are required to support DSB repair at various stages. This review focuses on the functional studies of the biochemical roles of HELQ during different stages of diverse DSB repair pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hailong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of DNA Damage Response, College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
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Tang N, Wen W, Liu Z, Xiong X, Wu Y. HELQ as a DNA helicase: Its novel role in normal cell function and tumorigenesis (Review). Oncol Rep 2023; 50:220. [PMID: 37921071 PMCID: PMC10652244 DOI: 10.3892/or.2023.8657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicase POLQ‑like (HELQ or Hel308), is a highly conserved, 3'‑5' superfamily II DNA helicase that contributes to diverse DNA processes, including DNA repair, unwinding, and strand annealing. HELQ deficiency leads to subfertility, due to its critical role in germ cell stability. In addition, the abnormal expression of HELQ has been observed in multiple tumors and a number of molecular pathways, including the nucleotide excision repair, checkpoint kinase 1‑DNA repair protein RAD51 homolog 1 and ATM/ATR pathways, have been shown to be involved in HELQ. In the present review, the structure and characteristics of HELQ, as well as its major functions in DNA processing, were described. Molecular mechanisms involving HELQ in the context of tumorigenesis were also described. It was deduced that HELQ biology warrants investigation, and that its critical roles in the regulation of various DNA processes and participation in tumorigenesis are clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Tang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510220, P.R. China
| | - Weilun Wen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510220, P.R. China
| | - Zhihe Liu
- Guangzhou Institute of Traumatic Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510220, P.R. China
| | - Xifeng Xiong
- Guangzhou Institute of Traumatic Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510220, P.R. China
| | - Yanhua Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510220, P.R. China
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Zong RQ, Zhang HY, Li XY, Li YR, Chen Y. Overexpressed Histocompatibility Minor 13 was Associated with Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression and Prognosis. Genet Res (Camb) 2022; 2022:7067743. [PMID: 36262249 PMCID: PMC9550386 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7067743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Among primary liver carcinoma cases, the proportion of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) cases is 75%-85%. Current treatments for LIHC include chemotherapy, surgical excision, and liver transplantation, which are effective for early LIHC treatment. Nevertheless, the early symptoms of liver carcinoma are atypical, so a large proportion of LIHC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Histocompatibility minor 13 (HM13), located in the endoplasmic reticulum, is responsible for catalysing the hydrolysis of some signal peptides after cleavage from the precursor protein. Here, we studied the role of HM13 in LIHC development through bioinformatics analysis. Database analysis showed that HM13 was of great significance for LIHC tumorigenesis. Compared to normal liver tissues, HM13 expression was increased to a greater extent in LIHC tissues. After analysis of Kaplan‒Meier plotter and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) datasets, we discovered that highly expressed HM13 exhibited an association with shorter overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS). We conducted Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses to analyse HM13-related genes, and the data indicated that these genes obviously participated in rRNA processing, ribosome biogenesis, spliceosome, Huntington's disease, and ATP-dependent helicase activity. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Transwell assay showed that reducing HM13 expression hindered LIHC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In conclusion, these findings indicate that HM13 is a biomarker and is related to the poor prognosis of LIHC. Our results are conducive to discovering new targets for LIHC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Qing Zong
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Yan Zhang
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Li
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-ran Li
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Jenkins T, Northall SJ, Ptchelkine D, Lever R, Cubbon A, Betts H, Taresco V, Cooper CDO, McHugh PJ, Soultanas P, Bolt EL. The HelQ human DNA repair helicase utilizes a PWI-like domain for DNA loading through interaction with RPA, triggering DNA unwinding by the HelQ helicase core. NAR Cancer 2021; 3:zcaa043. [PMID: 34316696 PMCID: PMC8210318 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome instability is a characteristic enabling factor for carcinogenesis. HelQ helicase is a component of human DNA maintenance systems that prevent or reverse genome instability arising during DNA replication. Here, we provide details of the molecular mechanisms that underpin HelQ function-its recruitment onto ssDNA through interaction with replication protein A (RPA), and subsequent translocation of HelQ along ssDNA. We describe for the first time a functional role for the non-catalytic N-terminal region of HelQ, by identifying and characterizing its PWI-like domain. We present evidence that this domain of HelQ mediates interaction with RPA that orchestrates loading of the helicase domains onto ssDNA. Once HelQ is loaded onto the ssDNA, ATP-Mg2+ binding in the catalytic site activates the helicase core and triggers translocation along ssDNA as a dimer. Furthermore, we identify HelQ-ssDNA interactions that are critical for the translocation mechanism. Our data are novel and detailed insights into the mechanisms of HelQ function relevant for understanding how human cells avoid genome instability provoking cancers, and also how cells can gain resistance to treatments that rely on DNA crosslinking agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabitha Jenkins
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sarah J Northall
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Rebecca Lever
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK
| | - Andrew Cubbon
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK
| | - Hannah Betts
- School of Chemistry, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Vincenzo Taresco
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Christopher D O Cooper
- Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, Huddersfield, UK
| | - Peter J McHugh
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), University of Oxford, OX3 9DS, Oxford, UK
| | - Panos Soultanas
- School of Chemistry, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Edward L Bolt
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK
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Helicase POLQ-like (HELQ) as a novel indicator of platinum-based chemoresistance for epithelial ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2018; 149:341-349. [PMID: 29572031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of HELQ in chemo-resistance of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), which is a critical factor of patients' prognosis. METHODS Immunohistochemistry, survival analysis of our 87 EOC patients and bioinformatics analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets (Nature, 2011) disclosed the clinical importance of HELQ expression. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western Blot analyses of EOC tissue were used to confirm it. Ectopic overexpression and RNA interference knockdown of HELQ were carried out in OVCAR3 and A2780 cell lines, respectively, to determine the effect of altered HELQ expression on cellular response to cisplatin by CCK8 assay. The DNA repair capacity of these cells was evaluated by using host-cell reactivation assay. Western Blot analyses were carried out to determine the effect of HLEQ on the DNA repair genes by using cells with altered HELQ expression. RESULTS HELQ expression associates with response of EOC patients to platinum-based chemotherapy and their overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS). HELQ overexpression or knockdown, respectively, increased and decreased the cellular resistance to cisplatin, DNA repair activity, and expression of DNA repair proteins of Nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. CONCLUSIONS HELQ plays an important role in regulating the expression of DNA repair proteins NER pathway which, in turn, contributes to cellular response to cisplatin and patients' response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Our results demonstrated that HELQ could serve as a novel indicator for chemo-resistance of EOC, which can predict the prognosis of the disease.
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