The DNA damage checkpoint pathways exert multiple controls on the efficiency and outcome of the repair of a double-stranded DNA gap

A DNA gap repair assay was used to determine the effect of mutations in the DNA damage checkpoint system on the efficiency and outcome (crossover/non-crossover) of recombinational DNA repair. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae gap repair is largely achieved by homologous recombination. As a result the plasmid either integrates into the chromosome (indicative of a crossover outcome) or remains extrachromosomal (indicative of a non-crossover outcome). Deletion mutants of the MEC1 and RAD53 checkpoint kinase genes exhibited a 5-fold decrease in gap repair efficiency, showing that 80% of the gap repair events depended on functional DNA damage checkpoints. Epistasis analysis suggests that the DNA damage checkpoints affect gap repair by modulating Rad51 protein-mediated homologous recombination. While in wild-type cells only ~25% of the gap repair events were associated with a crossover outcome, Mec1-deficient cells exhibited a >80% crossover association. Also mutations in the effector kinases Rad53, Chk1 and Dun1 were found to affect crossover association of DNA gap repair to various degrees. The data suggest that the DNA damage checkpoints are important for the optimal functioning of recombinational DNA repair with multiple terminal targets to modulate the efficiency and outcome of homologous recombination.     

Drosophila brca2 is required for mitotic and meiotic DNA repair and efficient activation of the meiotic recombination checkpoint

Heterozygous mutations in the tumor suppressor BRCA2 confer a high risk of breast and other cancers in humans. BRCA2 maintains genome stability in part through the regulation of Rad51-dependent homologous recombination. Much about its precise function in the DNA damage responses is, however, not yet known. We have made null mutations in the Drosophila homolog of BRCA2 and measured the levels of homologous recombination, non-homologous end-joining, and single-strand annealing in the pre-meiotic germline of Drosophila males. We show that repair by homologous recombination is dramatically decreased in Drosophila brca2 mutants. Instead, large flanking deletions are formed, and repair by the non-conservative single-strand annealing pathway predominates. We further show that during meiosis, Drosophila Brca2 has a dual role in the repair of meiotic double-stranded breaks and the efficient activation of the meiotic recombination checkpoint. The eggshell patterning defects that result from activation of the meiotic recombination checkpoint in other meiotic DNA repair mutants can be strongly suppressed by mutations in brca2. In addition, Brca2 co-immunoprecipitates with the checkpoint protein Rad9, suggesting a direct role for Brca2 in the transduction of the meiotic recombination checkpoint signal.     

An essential role of DmRad51/SpnA in DNA repair and meiotic checkpoint control

Rad51 is a conserved protein essential for recombinational repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) in somatic cells and during meiosis in germ cells. Yeast Rad51 mutants are viable but show meiosis defects. In the mouse, RAD51 deletions cause early embryonic death, suggesting that in higher eukaryotes Rad51 is required for viability. Here we report the identification of SpnA as the Drosophila Rad51 gene, whose sequence among the five known Drosophila Rad51-like genes is most closely related to the Rad51 homologs of human and yeast. DmRad51/spnA null mutants are viable but oogenesis is disrupted by the activation of a meiotic recombination checkpoint. We show that the meiotic phenotypes result from an inability to effectively repair DSBs. Our study further demonstrates that in Drosophila the Rad51-dependent homologous recombination pathway is not essential for DNA repair in the soma, unless exposed to DNA damaging agents. We therefore propose that under normal conditions a second, Rad51-independent, repair pathway prevents the lethal effects of DNA damage.     

Role of RAD52 Epistasis Group Genes in Homologous Recombination and Double-Strand Break Repair

The process of homologous recombination is a major DNA repair pathway that operates on DNA double-strand breaks, and possibly other kinds of DNA lesions, to promote error-free repair. Central to the process of homologous recombination are the RAD52 group genes (RAD50, RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, RDH54/TID1, RAD55, RAD57, RAD59, MRE11, and XRS2), most of which were identified by their requirement for the repair of ionizing-radiation-induced DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Rad52 group proteins are highly conserved among eukaryotes, and Rad51, Mre11, and Rad50 are also conserved in prokaryotes and archaea. Recent studies showing defects in homologous recombination and double-strand break repair in several human cancer-prone syndromes have emphasized the importance of this repair pathway in maintaining genome integrity. Although sensitivity to ionizing radiation is a universal feature of rad52 group mutants, the mutants show considerable heterogeneity in different assays for recombinational repair of double-strand breaks and spontaneous mitotic recombination. Herein, I provide an overview of recent biochemical and structural analyses of the Rad52 group proteins and discuss how this information can be incorporated into genetic studies of recombination.     

Role of RAD52 epistasis group genes in homologous recombination and double-strand break repair.

The process of homologous recombination is a major DNA repair pathway that operates on DNA double-strand breaks, and possibly other kinds of DNA lesions, to promote error-free repair. Central to the process of homologous recombination are the RAD52 group genes (RAD50, RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, RDH54/TID1, RAD55, RAD57, RAD59, MRE11, and XRS2), most of which were identified by their requirement for the repair of ionizing-radiation-induced DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Rad52 group proteins are highly conserved among eukaryotes, and Rad51, Mre11, and Rad50 are also conserved in prokaryotes and archaea. Recent studies showing defects in homologous recombination and double-strand break repair in several human cancer-prone syndromes have emphasized the importance of this repair pathway in maintaining genome integrity. Although sensitivity to ionizing radiation is a universal feature of rad52 group mutants, the mutants show considerable heterogeneity in different assays for recombinational repair of double-strand breaks and spontaneous mitotic recombination. Herein, I provide an overview of recent biochemical and structural analyses of the Rad52 group proteins and discuss how this information can be incorporated into genetic studies of recombination.     

Functional Validation of Rare Human Genetic Variants Involved in Homologous Recombination Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Systems for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are necessary to maintain genome integrity and normal functionality of cells in all organisms. Homologous recombination (HR) plays an important role in repairing accidental and programmed DSBs in mitotic and meiotic cells, respectively. Failure to repair these DSBs causes genome instability and can induce tumorigenesis. Rad51 and Rad52 are two key proteins in homologous pairing and strand exchange during DSB-induced HR; both are highly conserved in eukaryotes. In this study, we analyzed pathogenic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human RAD51 and RAD52 using the Polymorphism Phenotyping (PolyPhen) and Sorting Intolerant from Tolerant (SIFT) algorithms and observed the effect of mutations in highly conserved domains of RAD51 and RAD52 on DNA damage repair in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based system. We identified a number of rad51 and rad52 alleles that exhibited severe DNA repair defects. The functionally inactive SNPs were located near ATPase active site of Rad51 and the DNA binding domain of Rad52. The rad51-F317I, rad52-R52W, and rad52-G107C mutations conferred hypersensitivity to methyl methane sulfonate (MMS)-induced DNA damage and were defective in HR-mediated DSB repair. Our study provides a new approach for detecting functional and loss-of-function genetic polymorphisms and for identifying causal variants in human DNA repair genes that contribute to the initiation or progression of cancer.     

Functional significance of the Rad51-Srs2 complex in Rad51 presynaptic filament disruption

The SRS2 (Suppressor of RAD Six screen mutant 2) gene encodes an ATP-dependent DNA helicase that regulates homologous recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutations in SRS2 result in a hyper-recombination phenotype, sensitivity to DNA damaging agents and synthetic lethality with mutations that affect DNA metabolism. Several of these phenotypes can be suppressed by inactivating genes of the RAD52 epistasis group that promote homologous recombination, implicating inappropriate recombination as the underlying cause of the mutant phenotype. Consistent with the genetic data, purified Srs2 strongly inhibits Rad51-mediated recombination reactions by disrupting the Rad51-ssDNA presynaptic filament. Srs2 interacts with Rad51 in the yeast two-hybrid assay and also in vitro. To investigate the functional relevance of the Srs2-Rad51 complex, we have generated srs2 truncation mutants that retain full ATPase and helicase activities, but differ in their ability to interact with Rad51. Importantly, the srs2 mutant proteins attenuated for Rad51 interaction are much less capable of Rad51 presynaptic filament disruption. An internal deletion in Srs2 likewise diminishes Rad51 interaction and anti-recombinase activity. We also present evidence that deleting the Srs2 C-terminus engenders a hyper-recombination phenotype. These results highlight the importance of Rad51 interaction in the anti-recombinase function of Srs2, and provide evidence that this Srs2 function can be uncoupled from its helicase activity.     

The MRN complex promotes DNA repair by homologous recombination and restrains antigenic variation in African trypanosomes

Homologous recombination dominates as the major form of DNA repair in Trypanosoma brucei, and is especially important for recombination of the subtelomeric variant surface glycoprotein during antigenic variation. RAD50, a component of the MRN complex (MRE11, RAD50, NBS1), is central to homologous recombination through facilitating resection and governing the DNA damage response. The function of RAD50 in trypanosomes is untested. Here we report that RAD50 and MRE11 are required for RAD51-dependent homologous recombination and phosphorylation of histone H2A following a DNA double strand break (DSB), but neither MRE11 nor RAD50 substantially influence DSB resection at a chromosome-internal locus. In addition, we reveal intrinsic separation-of-function between T. brucei RAD50 and MRE11, with only RAD50 suppressing DSB repair using donors with short stretches of homology at a subtelomeric locus, and only MRE11 directing DSB resection at the same locus. Finally, we show that loss of either MRE11 or RAD50 causes a greater diversity of expressed VSG variants following DSB repair. We conclude that MRN promotes stringent homologous recombination at subtelomeric loci and restrains antigenic variation.     

Rad52 Sumoylation Prevents the Toxicity of Unproductive Rad51 Filaments Independently of the Anti-Recombinase Srs2

The budding yeast Srs2 is the archetype of helicases that regulate several aspects of homologous recombination (HR) to maintain genomic stability. Srs2 inhibits HR at replication forks and prevents high frequencies of crossing-over. Additionally, sensitivity to DNA damage and synthetic lethality with replication and recombination mutants are phenotypes that can only be attributed to another role of Srs2: the elimination of lethal intermediates formed by recombination proteins. To shed light on these intermediates, we searched for mutations that bypass the requirement of Srs2 in DNA repair without affecting HR. Remarkably, we isolated rad52-L264P, a novel allele of RAD52, a gene that encodes one of the most central recombination proteins in yeast. This mutation suppresses a broad spectrum of srs2Δ phenotypes in haploid cells, such as UV and γ-ray sensitivities as well as synthetic lethality with replication and recombination mutants, while it does not significantly affect Rad52 functions in HR and DNA repair. Extensive analysis of the genetic interactions between rad52-L264P and srs2Δ shows that rad52-L264P bypasses the requirement for Srs2 specifically for the prevention of toxic Rad51 filaments. Conversely, this Rad52 mutant cannot restore viability of srs2Δ cells that accumulate intertwined recombination intermediates which are normally processed by Srs2 post-synaptic functions. The avoidance of toxic Rad51 filaments by Rad52-L264P can be explained by a modification of its Rad51 filament mediator activity, as indicated by Chromatin immunoprecipitation and biochemical analysis. Remarkably, sensitivity to DNA damage of srs2Δ cells can also be overcome by stimulating Rad52 sumoylation through overexpression of the sumo-ligase SIZ2, or by replacing Rad52 by a Rad52-SUMO fusion protein. We propose that, like the rad52-L264P mutation, sumoylation modifies Rad52 activity thereby changing the properties of Rad51 filaments. This conclusion is strengthened by the finding that Rad52 is often associated with complete Rad51 filaments in vitro.     

Differential effects of Rad52p overexpression on gene targeting and extrachromosomal homologous recombination in a human cell line

Overexpression of the RAD52 epistasis group of gene products is a convenient way to investigate their in vivo roles in homologous recombination (HR) and DNA repair. Overexpression has the further attraction that any associated stimulation of HR may facilitate gene-targeting applications. Rad51p or Rad52p overexpression in mammalian cells have previously been shown to enhance some forms of HR and resistance to ionising radiation, but the effects of Rad52p overexpression on gene targeting have not been tested. Here we show that Rad52p overexpression inhibits gene targeting while stimulating extrachromosomal HR. We also find that Rad52p overexpression affects cell-cycle distribution, impairs cell survival and is lost during extensive passaging. Therefore, we suggest that excess Rad52p can inhibit the essential RAD51-dependent pathways of HR most likely to be responsible for gene targeting, while at the same time stimulating the RAD51-independent pathway thought to be responsible for extrachromosomal HR. The data also argue against Rad52p overexpression as a means of promoting gene targeting, and highlight the limitations of using a single HR assay to assess the overall status of HR.     

RAD51B plays an essential role during somatic and meiotic recombination in Physcomitrella

The eukaryotic RecA homologue Rad51 is a key factor in homologous recombination and recombinational repair. Rad51-like proteins have been identified in yeast (Rad55, Rad57 and Dmc1), plants and vertebrates (RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2, XRCC3 and DMC1). RAD51 and DMC1 are the strand-exchange proteins forming a nucleofilament for strand invasion, however, the function of the paralogues in the process of homologous recombination is less clear. In yeast the two Rad51 paralogues, Rad55 and Rad57, have been shown to be involved in somatic and meiotic HR and they are essential to the formation of the Rad51/DNA nucleofilament counterbalancing the anti-recombinase activity of the SRS2 helicase. Here, we examined the role of RAD51B in the model bryophyte Physcomitrella patens. Mutant analysis shows that RAD51B is essential for the maintenance of genome integrity, for resistance to DNA damaging agents and for gene targeting. Furthermore, we set up methods to investigate meiosis in Physcomitrella and we demonstrate that the RAD51B protein is essential for meiotic homologous recombination. Finally, we show that all these functions are independent of the SRS2 anti-recombinase protein, which is in striking contrast to what is found in budding yeast where the RAD51 paralogues are fully dependent on the SRS2 anti-recombinase function.     

Interaction with RPA is necessary for Rad52 repair center formation and for its mediator activity

Homologous recombination (HR) is a major DNA repair pathway and therefore essential for maintaining the integrity of the genome. HR is catalyzed by proteins encoded by genes of the RAD52 epistasis group, including the recombinase Rad51 and its mediator Rad52. HR proteins fused with green fluorescent protein form foci at damaged DNA reflecting the assembly of repair centers that harbor a high concentration of repair proteins. Rad52 mediates the recruitment of Rad51 and other HR proteins to DNA damage. To understand the mechanism for the assembly of Rad52-dependent DNA repair centers, we used a mutational strategy to identify a Rad52 domain essential for its recruitment to DNA repair foci. We present evidence to implicate an acidic domain in Rad52 in DNA repair focus formation. Mutations in this domain confer marked DNA damage sensitivity and recombination deficiency. Importantly, these Rad52 mutants are specifically compromised for interaction with the single-stranded DNA-binding factor RPA. Based on these findings, we propose a model where Rad52 displaces RPA from single-stranded DNA using the acidic domain as a molecular lever.     

Homologous Recombination, but Not DNA Repair, Is Reduced in Vertebrate Cells Deficient in RAD52

Rad52 plays a pivotal role in double-strand break (DSB) repair and genetic recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where mutation of this gene leads to extreme X-ray sensitivity and defective recombination. Yeast Rad51 and Rad52 interact, as do their human homologues, which stimulates Rad51-mediated DNA strand exchange in vitro, suggesting that Rad51 and Rad52 act cooperatively. To define the role of Rad52 in vertebrates, we generated RAD52^−/− mutants of the chicken B-cell line DT40. Surprisingly, RAD52^−/− cells were not hypersensitive to DNA damages induced by γ-irradiation, methyl methanesulfonate, or cis-platinum(II)diammine dichloride (cisplatin). Intrachromosomal recombination, measured by immunoglobulin gene conversion, and radiation-induced Rad51 nuclear focus formation, which is a putative intermediate step during recombinational repair, occurred as frequently in RAD52^−/− cells as in wild-type cells. Targeted integration frequencies, however, were consistently reduced in RAD52^−/− cells, showing a clear role for Rad52 in genetic recombination. These findings reveal striking differences between S. cerevisiae and vertebrates in the functions of RAD51 and RAD52.     

Break-Induced Replication Requires DNA Damage-Induced Phosphorylation of Pif1 and Leads to Telomere Lengthening

Broken replication forks result in DNA breaks that are normally repaired via homologous recombination or break induced replication (BIR). Mild insufficiency in the replicative ligase Cdc9 in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in a population of cells with persistent DNA damage, most likely due to broken replication forks, constitutive activation of the DNA damage checkpoint and longer telomeres. This telomere lengthening required functional telomerase, the core DNA damage signaling cascade Mec1-Rad9-Rad53, and the components of the BIR repair pathway – Rad51, Rad52, Pol32, and Pif1. The Mec1-Rad53 induced phosphorylation of Pif1, previously found necessary for inhibition of telomerase at double strand breaks, was also important for the role of Pif1 in BIR and telomere elongation in cdc9-1 cells. Two other mutants with impaired DNA replication, cdc44-5 and rrm3Δ, were similar to cdc9-1: their long telomere phenotype was dependent on the Pif1 phosphorylation locus. We propose a model whereby the passage of BIR forks through telomeres promotes telomerase activity and leads to telomere lengthening.     

Mitotic inter-homologue junctions accumulate at damaged DNA replication forks in recQ mutants

Mitotic homologous recombination is utilised to repair DNA breaks using either sister chromatids or homologous chromosomes as templates. Because sister chromatids are identical, exchanges between sister chromatids have no consequences for the maintenance of genomic integrity unless they involve repetitive DNA sequences. Conversely, homologous chromosomes might differ in genetic content, and exchanges between homologues might lead to loss of heterozygosity and subsequent inactivation of functional genes. Genomic instability, caused by unscheduled recombination events between homologous chromosomes, is enhanced in the absence of RecQ DNA helicases, as observed in Bloom's cancer-prone syndrome. Here, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to analyse budding yeast diploid cells that were modified to distinguish replication intermediates originating from each homologous chromosome. Therefore, these cells were suitable for analysing the formation of inter-homologue junctions. We found that Rad51-dependent DNA structures resembling inter-homologue junctions accumulate together with sister chromatid junctions at damaged DNA replication forks in recQ mutants, but not in the absence of Srs2 or Mph1 DNA recombination helicases. Inter-homologue joint molecules in recQ mutants are less abundant than sister chromatid junctions, but they accumulate with similar kinetics after origin firing under conditions of DNA damage. We propose that unscheduled accumulation of inter-homologue junctions during DNA replication might account for allelic recombination defects in recQ mutants.     

DNA repair by a Rad22-Mus81-dependent pathway that is independent of Rhp51

In budding yeast most Rad51-dependent and -independent recombination depends on Rad52. In contrast, its homologue in fission yeast, Rad22, was assumed to play a less critical role possibly due to functional redundancy with another Rad52-like protein Rti1. We show here that this is not the case. Rad22 like Rad52 plays a central role in recombination being required for both Rhp51-dependent and -independent events. Having established this we proceed to investigate the involvement of the Mus81–Eme1 endonuclease in these pathways. Mus81 plays a relatively minor role in the Rhp51-dependent repair of DNA damage induced by ultraviolet light. In contrast Mus81 has a key role in the Rad22-dependent (Rhp51-independent) repair of damage induced by camptothecin, hydroxyurea and methyl-methanesulfonate. Furthermore, spontaneous intrachromosomal recombination that gives rise to deletion recombinants is impaired in a mus81 mutant. From these data we propose that a Rad22–Mus81-dependent (Rhp51-independent) pathway is an important mechanism for the repair of DNA damage in fission yeast. Consistent with this we show that in vitro Rad22 can promote strand invasion to form a D-loop that can be cleaved by Mus81.     

The 9-1-1 DNA clamp is required for immunoglobulin gene conversion

Chicken DT40 cells deficient in the 9-1-1 checkpoint clamp exhibit hypersensitivity to a variety of DNA-damaging agents. Although recent work suggests that, in addition to its role in checkpoint activation, this complex may play a role in homologous recombination and translesion synthesis, the cause of this hypersensitivity has not been studied thoroughly. The immunoglobulin locus of DT40 cells allows monitoring of homologous recombination and translesion synthesis initiated by activation-induced deaminase (AID)-dependent abasic sites. We show that both the RAD9^−/− and RAD17^−/− mutants exhibit substantially reduced immunoglobulin gene conversion. However, the level of nontemplated immunoglobulin point mutation increased in these mutants, a finding that is reminiscent of the phenotype resulting from the loss of RAD51 paralogs or Brca2. This suggests that the 9-1-1 complex does not play a central role in translesion synthesis in this context. Despite reduced immunoglobulin gene conversion, the RAD9^−/− and RAD17^−/− cells do not exhibit a prominent defect in double-strand break-induced gene conversion or a sensitivity to camptothecin. This suggests that the roles of Rad9 and Rad17 may be confined to a subset of homologous recombination reactions initiated by replication-stalling lesions rather than those associated with double-strand break repair.     

Cdc5 blocks in vivo rad53 activity,but not in situ activity (ISA)

DNA damage promotes the activation of a signal transduction cascade referred to as the DNA damage checkpoint. This pathway initiates with the Mec1/ATR kinase, which then phosphorylates the Rad53/Chk2 kinase. Mec1 phosphorylation of Rad53 is then thought to promote Rad53 autophosphorylation, ultimately leading to a fully active Rad53 molecule that can go on to phosphorylate substrates important for DNA damage resistance. In the absence of DNA repair, this checkpoint is eventually downregulated in a Cdc5-dependent process referred to as checkpoint adaptation. Recently, we showed that overexpression of Cdc5 leads to checkpoint inactivation and loss of the strong electrophoretic shift associated with Rad53 inactivation. Interestingly, this same overexpression did not strongly inhibit Rad53 autophosphorylation activity as measured by the in situ assay (ISA). The ISA involves incubating the re-natured Rad53 protein with γ ³²P labeled ATP after electrophoresis and western blotting. Using a newly identified Rad53 target, we show that despite strong ISA activity, Rad53 does not maintain phosphorylation of this substrate. We hypothesize that, during adaptation, Rad53 may be in a unique state in which it maintains some Mec1 phosphorylation but does not have the auto-phosphorylations required for full activity towards exogenous substrates.Key words: DNA damage, checkpoint, adaptation, CDC5, RAD53, ISA