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DNA damage and replication stress induced transcription of RNR genes is dependent on the Ccr4-Not complex.

Genetic experiments have indicated a role for the Ccr4-Not complex in the response to hydroxyurea (HU) induced replication stress and ionizing radiation in yeast. This response includes transcriptional induction of the four genes constituting the ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) enzymatic complex, RNR1-4 and degradation of its inhibitor, Sml1p. The Ccr4-Not complex has originally been described as a negative regulator of RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription, but it has also been implicated in mRNA turnover and protein ubiquitination. We investigated the mechanism of the HU sensitivity conferred by mutation of CCR4-NOT genes. We found that the ubiquitin protein ligase activity of Not4p does not play a role in HU induced Sml1p degradation. We show, however, that the HU sensitivity of ccr4-not mutant strains correlated very well with a defect in accumulation of RNR2, RNR3 and RNR4 mRNA after HU or methyl-methane sulfonate (MMS) treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments show that TBP, pol II and Set1p recruitment to the activated RNR3 locus is defective in cells lacking NOT4. Moreover, RNR3-promoter activity is not induced by HU in these cells. Our experiments show that induction of RNR gene transcription is defective in ccr4-not mutant strains, providing an explanation for their sensitivity to HU.

Base Sequence↗

Replication stress increases de novo CNVs across the malaria parasite genome.

Changes in the copy number of large genomic regions, termed copy number variations (CNVs), contribute to important phenotypes. CNVs are readily identified using conventional approaches when present in a large fraction of the cell population. However, CNVs in only a few genomes are often overlooked but important; if beneficial, a de novo CNV that arises in a single genome can expand during selection to create a population of cells with novel characteristics. While single cell methods for studying de novo CNVs are increasing, we continue to lack information about CNV dynamics in rapidly evolving microbial populations. Here, we investigated de novo CNVs in the genome of the Plasmodium parasite that causes human malaria. The highly AT-rich P. falciparum genome readily accumulates CNVs that facilitate rapid adaptation. We employed low-input genomics and specialized computational tools to evaluate the impact of sub-lethal stress on the de novo CNV rate. We observed a significant increase in genome-wide de novo CNVs following treatment with an antimalarial compound that inhibits replication. De novo CNVs encompassed genes from various cellular pathways participating in human infection. This snapshot of CNV dynamics emphasizes the connection between replication stress, DNA repair, and CNV generation in this important microbial pathogen.

Journal Article↗

Mrc1 is a replication fork component whose phosphorylation in response to DNA replication stress activates Rad53.

When DNA replication is stalled, a signal transduction pathway is activated that promotes the stability of stalled forks and resumption of DNA synthesis. In budding yeast, this pathway includes the kinases Mec1 and Rad53. Here we report that the Mediator protein Mrc1, which is required for normal DNA replication and for activation of Rad53, is present at replication forks. Mrc1 initially binds early-replicating sequences and moves along chromatin with the replication fork. Blocking initiation of DNA replication blocks Mrc1 loading onto origins, providing an explanation for why so many mutants in DNA replication show checkpoint defects. In the presence of replication blocks, we find that Mec1 is recruited to regions of stalled replication, where it encounters and presumably phosphorylates Mrc1. Mutation of the canonical Mec1 phosphorylation sites on Mrc1 prevents Mrc1 phosphorylation and blocks Rad53 activation, but does not alter Mrc1's role in DNA replication. Our results suggest a model whereby in response to DNA replication interference, the Mec1 kinase is recruited to sites of replication blocks and phosphorylates a component of the DNA replication complex, Mrc1, thereby setting up a solid-state Rad53 activation platform to initiate the checkpoint response.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

UV-induced ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) activation requires replication stress.

Ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) plays an essential role in the maintenance of genome integrity and cell viability. The kinase is activated in response to DNA damage and initiates a checkpoint signaling cascade by phosphorylating a number of downstream substrates including Chk1. Unlike ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM), which appears to be mainly activated by DNA double-strand breaks, ATR can be activated by a variety of DNA damaging agents. However, it is still unclear what triggers ATR activation in response to such diverse DNA lesions. One model proposes that ATR can directly recognize DNA lesions, while other recent data suggest that ATR is activated by a common single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) intermediate generated during DNA repair. In this study, we show that UV lesions do not directly activate ATR in vivo. In addition, ssDNA lesions created during the repair of UV damage are also not sufficient to activate the ATR-dependent pathway. ATR activation is only observed in replicating cells indicating that replication stress is required to trigger the ATR-mediated checkpoint cascade in response to UV irradiation. Interestingly, H2AX appears to be required for the accumulation of ATR at stalled replication forks. Together our data suggest that ssDNA at arrested replication forks recruits ATR and initiates ATR-mediated phosphorylation of H2AX and Chk1. Phosphorylated H2AX might further facilitate ATR activation by stabilizing ATR at the sites of arrested replication forks.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

The fission yeast Crb2/Chk1 pathway coordinates the DNA damage and spindle checkpoint in response to replication stress induced by topoisomerase I inhibitor.

Living organisms experience constant threats that challenge their genome stability. The DNA damage checkpoint pathway coordinates cell cycle progression with DNA repair when DNA is damaged, thus ensuring faithful transmission of the genome. The spindle assembly checkpoint inhibits chromosome segregation until all chromosomes are properly attached to the spindle, ensuring accurate partition of the genetic material. Both the DNA damage and spindle checkpoint pathways participate in genome integrity. However, no clear connection between these two pathways has been described. Here, we analyze mutants in the BRCT domains of fission yeast Crb2, which mediates Chk1 activation, and provide evidence for a novel function of the Chk1 pathway. When the Crb2 mutants experience damaged replication forks upon inhibition of the religation activity of topoisomerase I, the Chk1 DNA damage pathway induces sustained activation of the spindle checkpoint, which in turn delays metaphase-to-anaphase transition in a Mad2-dependent fashion. This new pathway enhances cell survival and genome stability when cells undergo replicative stress in the absence of a proficient G(2)/M DNA damage checkpoint.

Alleles↗

Rad17 phosphorylation is required for claspin recruitment and Chk1 activation in response to replication stress.

The ATR-mediated checkpoint is not only critical for responding to genotoxic stress but also essential for cell proliferation. The RFC-related checkpoint protein Rad17, a phosphorylation substrate of ATR, is critical for ATR-mediated checkpoint signaling and cell survival. Here, we show that phosphorylation of Rad17 by ATR is important for genomic stability and restraint of S phase but is not essential for cell survival. The phosphomutant Rad17AA exhibits distinct defects in hydroxyurea- (HU) and ultraviolet- (UV) induced Chk1 activation, indicating that separate Rad17 functions are required differently in response to different types of replication interference. Although cells expressing Rad17AA can initiate Chk1 phosphorylation after HU treatment, they fail to sustain Chk1 phosphorylation after withdrawal of HU and are profoundly sensitive to HU. Importantly, we found that phosphorylated Rad17 interacts with Claspin and regulates its phosphorylation. These findings reveal a phosphorylation-dependent function of Rad17 in an ATR-Rad17-Claspin-Chk1-signaling cascade that responds to specific replication stress.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Functions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 14-3-3 proteins in response to DNA damage and to DNA replication stress.

Two members of the 14-3-3 protein family, involved in key biological processes in different eukaryotes, are encoded by the functionally redundant Saccharomyces cerevisiae BMH1 and BMH2 genes. We produced and characterized 12 independent bmh1 mutant alleles, whose presence in the cell as the sole 14-3-3 source causes hypersensitivity to genotoxic agents, indicating that Bmh proteins are required for proper response to DNA damage. In particular, the bmh1-103 and bmh1-266 mutant alleles cause defects in G1/S and G2/M DNA damage checkpoints, whereas only the G2/M checkpoint is altered by the bmh1-169 and bmh1-221 alleles. Impaired checkpoint responses correlate with the inability to maintain phosphorylated forms of Rad53 and/or Chk1, suggesting that Bmh proteins might regulate phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of these checkpoint kinases. Moreover, several bmh1 bmh2Delta mutants are defective in resuming DNA replication after transient deoxynucleotide depletion, and all display synthetic effects when also carrying mutations affecting the polalpha-primase and RPA DNA replication complexes, suggesting a role for Bmh proteins in DNA replication stress response. Finally, the bmh1-169 bmh2Delta and bmh1-170 bmh2Delta mutants show increased rates of spontaneous gross chromosomal rearrangements, indicating that Bmh proteins are required to suppress genome instability.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

Cell cycle progression in G1 and S phases is CCR4 dependent following ionizing radiation or replication stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

To identify new nonessential genes that affect genome integrity, we completed a screening for diploid mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that are sensitive to ionizing radiation (IR) and found 62 new genes that confer resistance. Along with those previously reported (Bennett et al., Nat. Genet. 29:426-434, 2001), these genes bring to 169 the total number of new IR resistance genes identified. Through the use of existing genetic and proteomic databases, many of these genes were found to interact in a damage response network with the transcription factor Ccr4, a core component of the CCR4-NOT and RNA polymerase-associated factor 1 (PAF1)-CDC73 transcription complexes. Deletions of individual members of these two complexes render cells sensitive to the lethal effects of IR as diploids, but not as haploids, indicating that the diploid G1 cell population is radiosensitive. Consistent with a role in G1, diploid ccr4Delta cells irradiated in G1 show enhanced lethality compared to cells exposed as a synchronous G2 population. In addition, a prolonged RAD9-dependent G1 arrest occurred following IR of ccr4Delta cells and CCR4 is a member of the RAD9 epistasis group, thus confirming a role for CCR4 in checkpoint control. Moreover, ccr4Delta cells that transit S phase in the presence of the replication inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU) undergo prolonged cell cycle arrest at G2 followed by cellular lysis. This S-phase replication defect is separate from that seen for rad52 mutants, since rad52Delta ccr4Delta cells show increased sensitivity to HU compared to rad52Delta or ccr4Delta mutants alone. These results indicate that cell cycle transition through G1 and S phases is CCR4 dependent following radiation or replication stress.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

Neuropeptide-Y, cortisol, and subjective distress in humans exposed to acute stress: replication and extension of previous report.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that stress-related release of cortisol and neuropeptide-Y (NPY) were significantly and positively associated in U.S. Army soldiers participating in survival training. Furthermore, greater levels of NPY were observed in individuals exhibiting fewer psychologic symptoms of dissociation during stress. This study tested whether these findings would be replicated in a sample of U.S. Navy personnel participating in survival school training. METHODS: Psychologic as well as salivary and plasma hormone indices were assessed in 25 active duty personnel before, during, and 24 hours after exposure to U.S. Navy survival school stress. RESULTS: Cortisol and NPY were significantly and positively associated during stress and 24 hours after stress; NPY and norepinephrine (NE) were significantly and positively related during and 24 hours after stress. There was a significant, negative relationship between psychologic distress and NPY release during stress. Finally, psychologic symptoms of dissociation reported at baseline predicted significantly less NPY release during stress. CONCLUSIONS: These data replicate our previous studies demonstrating that acute stress elicits NPY release and that this release is positively associated with cortisol and NE release. These data also replicate our previous finding that greater levels of NPY release are associated with less psychologic distress suggesting that NPY confers anxiolytic activity.

Adult↗

Recovery from DNA replicational stress is the essential function of the S-phase checkpoint pathway.

RAD53 and MEC1 are essential genes required for the transcriptional and cell cycle responses to DNA damage and DNA replication blocks. We have examined the essential function of these genes and found that their lethality but not their checkpoint defects can be suppressed by increased expression of genes encoding ribonucleotide reductase. Analysis of viable null alleles revealed that Mec1 plays a greater role in response to inhibition of DNA synthesis than Rad53. The loss of survival in mec1 and rad53 null or point mutants in response to transient inhibition of DNA synthesis is not a result of inappropriate anaphase entry but primarily to an inability to complete chromosome replication. We propose that this checkpoint pathway plays an important role in the maintenance of DNA synthetic capabilities when DNA replication is stressed.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

Cardiovascular reactivity and adaptation to recurrent psychological stress: replication and extension.

We analyzed the effects of evaluative observation and baseline duration on cardiovascular reactivity and adaptation to recurrent psychological stress. Cardiovascular reactivity to mental arithmetic stress was assessed in college men and women (N=224) during two pretest tasks, a test task, and a posttest task. Participants were assigned randomly in a 2 x 2 design to manipulations of baseline duration before the test task (4 min vs. 12 min) and evaluative observation during the test task (observed vs. control). Repeated exposure to stress attenuated cardiac but not vascular reactivity. Evaluative observation disrupted cardiac adaptation, resulting in a resurgence of beta-adrenergic cardiac reactivity during the test task. Cardiac adaptation resumed fully during the posttest task. Baseline duration had no effect on reactivity. The results replicate and extend previous work, and support the dual process theory of habituation and sensitization.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Rad18/Rad5/Mms2-mediated polyubiquitination of PCNA is implicated in replication completion during replication stress.

Ubiquitination of proteins was previously shown to modulate various processes of DNA metabolism. PCNA, a processivity factor with essential functions in replication and repair, is modified with ubiquitin at K164. In addition, PCNA is sumoylated at K127 and K164. We found that the rad18delta mutation suppresses the temperature sensitivity of the polymerase delta mutants hys2-1 and cdc2-1 as well as the synthetic lethality of cdc2-1 pol32delta mutants, suggesting a role for Rad18 in modulating DNA replication. As Rad18 mediates ubiquitination of PCNA, we examined whether PCNA modifications affected its function in replication. Multicopy PCNA alleviated the replication defects of rfc5-1 strains, but not those of poldelta mutants. In contrast, multicopy PCNA-K164R had reduced ability to suppress the replication defects of rfc5-1, but alleviated those of poldelta mutants. The roles of sumoylated and ubiquitinated PCNA in rfc5-1 and hys2-1 mutants were addressed by using mutant backgrounds that selectively affected sumoylation (siz1delta), ubiquitination (rad18delta), polyubiquitination (rad5delta, mms2delta), or the ability of cells to perform translesion synthesis (polzetadelta, poletadelta). Our results are consistent with the idea that the Rad18/Rad5/Mms2 polyubiquitination pathway is important for replication completion, perhaps by promoting a template switch type of DNA synthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

DNA methyltransferase 1 knockdown activates a replication stress checkpoint.

DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is an important component of the epigenetic machinery and is responsible for copying DNA methylation patterns during cell division. Coordination of DNA methylation and DNA replication is critical for maintaining epigenetic programming. Knockdown of DNMT1 leads to inhibition of DNA replication, but the mechanism has been unclear. Here we show that depletion of DNMT1 with either antisense or small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to DNMT1 activates a cascade of genotoxic stress checkpoint proteins, resulting in phosphorylation of checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (Chk1 and -2), gammaH2AX focus formation, and cell division control protein 25a (CDC25a) degradation, in an ataxia telangiectasia mutated-Rad3-related (ATR)-dependent manner. siRNA knockdown of ATR blocks the response to DNMT1 depletion; DNA synthesis continues in the absence of DNMT1, resulting in global hypomethylation. Similarly, the response to DNMT1 knockdown is significantly attenuated in human mutant ATR fibroblast cells from a Seckel syndrome patient. This response is sensitive to DNMT1 depletion, independent of the catalytic domain of DNMT1, as indicated by abolition of the response with ectopic expression of either DNMT1 or DNMT1 with the catalytic domain deleted. There is no response to short-term treatment with 5-aza-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR), which causes demethylation by trapping DNMT1 in 5-aza-CdR-containing DNA but does not cause disappearance of DNMT1 from the nucleus. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that removal of DNMT1 from replication forks is the trigger for this response.

Animals↗

The CGG triplet repeat binding protein 1 counteracts R-loop induced transcription-replication stress.

The CGG triplet repeat binding protein 1 (CGGBP1) binds to CGG repeats and has several important cellular functions, but how this DNA sequence-specific binding factor affects transcription and replication processes is an open question. Here, we show that CGGBP1 binds human gene promoters containing short (<&#x2009;5) CGG-repeat tracts prone to R-loop formation. Loss of CGGBP1 leads to deregulated transcription, transcription-replication-conflicts (TRCs) and accumulation of Serine-5 phosphorylated RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), indicative of promoter-proximal stalling and a defect in transcription elongation. Consistently, an episomal CGG-repeat-containing model locus as well as endogenous genes show deregulated transcription, R-loop accumulation and increased RNAPII chromatin occupancy in CGGBP1-depleted cells. We identify the DEAD-box RNA:DNA helicases DDX41 and DHX15 as interaction partners specifically recruited by CGGBP1. Co-depletion experiments show that DDX41 and CGGBP1 work in the same pathway to unwind R-loops and avoid TRCs. Together, our work shows that short trinucleotide repeats are a source of genome-destabilizing secondary structures, and cells rely on specific DNA-binding factors to maintain proper transcription and replication coordination at short CGG repeats.

Humans↗

Histone H2AX is phosphorylated in an ATR-dependent manner in response to replicational stress.

H2AX, a member of the histone H2A family, is rapidly phosphorylated in response to ionizing radiation. This phosphorylation, at an evolutionary conserved C-terminal phosphatidylinositol 3-OH-kinase-related kinase (PI3KK) motif, is thought to be critical for recognition and repair of DNA double strand breaks. Here we report that inhibition of DNA replication by hydroxyurea or ultraviolet irradiation also induces phosphorylation and foci formation of H2AX. These phospho-H2AX foci colocalize with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), BRCA1, and 53BP1 at the arrested replication fork in S phase cells. This response is ATR-dependent but does not require ATM or Hus1. Our findings suggest that, in addition to its role in the recognition and repair of double strand breaks, H2AX also participates in the surveillance of DNA replication.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr induces DNA replication stress in vitro and in vivo.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral protein R (Vpr) causes cell cycle arrest in G2. Vpr-expressing cells display the hallmarks of certain forms of DNA damage, specifically activation of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related kinase, ATR. However, evidence that Vpr function is relevant in vivo or in the context of viral infection is still lacking. In the present study, we demonstrate that HIV-1 infection of primary, human CD4+ lymphocytes causes G2 arrest in a Vpr-dependent manner and that this response requires ATR, as shown by RNA interference. The event leading to ATR activation in CD4+ lymphocytes is the accumulation of replication protein A in nuclear foci, an indication that Vpr likely induces stalling of replication forks. Primary macrophages are refractory to ATR activation by Vpr, a finding that is consistent with the lack of detectable ATR, Rad17, and Chk1 protein expression in these nondividing cells. These observations begin to explain the remarkable resilience of macrophages to HIV-1-induced cytopathicity. To study the in vivo consequences of Vpr function, we isolated CD4+ lymphocytes from HIV-1-infected individuals and interrogated the cell cycle status of anti-p24Gag-immunoreactive cells. We report that infected cells in vivo display an aberrant cell cycle profile whereby a majority of cells have a 4N DNA content, consistent with the onset of G2 arrest.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗

Chk1 and p21 cooperate to prevent apoptosis during DNA replication fork stress.

Cells respond to DNA replication stress by triggering cell cycle checkpoints, repair, or death. To understand the role of the DNA damage response pathways in determining whether cells survive replication stress or become committed to death, we examined the effect of loss of these pathways on cellular response to agents that slow or arrest DNA synthesis. We show that replication inhibitors such as excess thymidine, hydroxyurea, and camptothecin are normally poor inducers of apoptosis. However, these agents become potent inducers of death in S-phase cells upon small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of the checkpoint kinase Chk1. This death response is independent of p53 and Chk2. p21-deficient cells, on the other hand, produce a more robust apoptotic response upon Chk1 depletion. p21 is normally induced only late after thymidine treatment. In Chk1-depleted cells p21 induction occurs earlier and does not require p53. Thus, Chk1 plays a primary role in the protection of cells from death induced by replication fork stress, whereas p21 mediates through its role in regulating entry into S phase. These findings are of potential importance to cancer therapy because we demonstrate that the efficacy of clinically relevant agents can be enhanced by manipulation of these signaling pathways.

Apoptosis↗

Homologous recombination and nonhomologous end-joining repair pathways regulate fragile site stability.

Common fragile sites are specific loci that form gaps and constrictions on metaphase chromosomes exposed to replication stress, which slows DNA replication. These sites have a role in chromosomal rearrangements in tumors; however, the molecular mechanism of their expression is unclear. Here we show that replication stress leads to focus formation of Rad51 and phosphorylated DNA-PKcs, key components of the homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ), double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways, respectively. Down-regulation of Rad51, DNA-PKcs, or Ligase IV, an additional component of the NHEJ repair pathway, leads to a significant increase in fragile site expression under replication stress. Replication stress also results in focus formation of the DSB markers, MDC1 and gammaH2AX. These foci colocalized with those of Rad51 and phospho-DNA-PKcs. Furthermore, gammaH2AX and phospho-DNA-PKcs foci were localized at expressed fragile sites on metaphase chromosomes. These findings suggest that DSBs are formed at common fragile sites as a result of replication perturbation. The repair of these breaks by both HR and NHEJ pathways is essential for chromosomal stability at these sites.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗