The rad16 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe: a homolog of the RAD1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The rad10, rad16, rad20, and swi9 mutants of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, isolated by their radiation sensitivity or abnormal mating-type switching, have been shown previously to be allelic. We have cloned DNA correcting the UV sensitivity or mating-type switching phenotype of these mutants and shown that the correcting DNA is encompassed in a single open reading frame. The gene, which we will refer to as rad16, is approximately 3 kb in length, contains seven introns, and encodes a protein of 892 amino acids. It is not essential for viability of S. pombe. The predicted protein is the homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD1 protein, which is involved in an early step in excision-repair of UV damage from DNA. The approximately 30% sequence identity between the predicted proteins from the two yeasts is distributed throughout the protein. Two-hybrid experiments indicate a strong protein-protein interaction between the products of the rad16 and swi10 genes of S. pombe, which mirrors that reported for RAD1 and RAD10 in S. cerevisiae. We have identified the mutations in the four alleles of rad16. They mapped to the N-terminal (rad10), central (rad20), and C-terminal (rad16 and swi9) regions. The rad10 and rad20 mutations are in the splice donor sequences of introns 2 and 4, respectively. The plasmid correcting the UV sensitivity of the rad20 mutation was missing the sequence corresponding to the 335 N-terminal amino acids of the predicted protein. Neither smaller nor larger truncations were, however, able to correct its UV sensitivity.     

Human ERCC5 cDNA-cosmid complementation for excision repair and bipartite amino acid domains conserved with RAD proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Several human genes related to DNA excision repair (ER) have been isolated via ER cross-species complementation (ERCC) of UV-sensitive CHO cells. We have now isolated and characterized cDNAs for the human ERCC5 gene that complement CHO UV135 cells. The ERCC5 mRNA size is about 4.6 kb. Our available cDNA clones are partial length, and no single clone was active for UV135 complementation. When cDNAs were mixed pairwise with a cosmid clone containing an overlapping 5'-end segment of the ERCC5 gene, DNA transfer produced UV-resistant colonies with 60 to 95% correction of UV resistance relative to either a genomic ERCC5 DNA transformant or the CHO AA8 progenitor cells. cDNA-cosmid transformants regained intermediate levels (20 to 45%) of ER-dependent reactivation of a UV-damaged pSVCATgpt reporter plasmid. Our evidence strongly implicates an in situ recombination mechanism in cDNA-cosmid complementation for ER. The complete deduced amino acid sequence of ERCC5 was reconstructed from several cDNA clones encoding a predicted protein of 1,186 amino acids. The ERCC5 protein has extensive sequence similarities, in bipartite domains A and B, to products of RAD repair genes of two yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD2 and Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad13. Sequence, structural, and functional data taken together indicate that ERCC5 and its relatives are probable functional homologs. A second locus represented by S. cerevisiae YKL510 and S. pombe rad2 genes is structurally distinct from the ERCC5 locus but retains vestigial A and B domain similarities. Our analyses suggest that ERCC5 is a nuclear-localized protein with one or more highly conserved helix-loop-helix segments within domains A and B.     

Structural and functional conservation of the human homolog of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad2 gene, which is required for chromosome segregation and recovery from DNA damage.

The rad2 mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is sensitive to UV irradiation and deficient in the repair of UV damage. In addition, it has a very high degree of chromosome loss and/or nondisjunction. We have cloned the rad2 gene and have shown it to be a member of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD2/S. pombe rad13/human XPG family. Using degenerate PCR, we have cloned the human homolog of the rad2 gene. Human cDNA has 55% amino acid sequence identity to the rad2 gene and is able to complement the UV sensitivity of the rad2 null mutant. We have thus isolated a novel human gene which is likely to be involved both in controlling the fidelity of chromosome segregation and in the repair of UV-induced DNA damage. Its involvement in two fundamental processes for maintaining chromosomal integrity suggests that it is likely to be an important component of cancer avoidance mechanisms.     

The rhp6+ gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe: a structural and functional homolog of the RAD6 gene from the distantly related yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The RAD6 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme and is required for DNA repair, DNA-damage-induced mutagenesis and sporulation. Here, we show that RAD6 and the rhp6+ gene from the distantly related yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe share a high degree of structural and functional homology. The predominantly acidic carboxyl-terminal 21 amino acids present in the RAD6 protein are absent in the rhp6(+)-encoded protein; otherwise, the two proteins are very similar, with 77% identical residues. Like rad6, null mutations of the rhp6+ gene confer a defect in DNA repair, UV mutagenesis and sporulation, and the RAD6 and rhp6+ genes can functionally substitute for one another. These observations suggest that functional interactions between RAD6 (rhp6+) protein and other components of the DNA repair complex have been conserved among eukaryotes.     

Cloning and characterization of the rad4 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe; a gene showing short regions of sequence similarity to the human XRCC1 gene.

The rad4.116 mutant of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is temperature-sensitive for growth, as well as being sensitive to the killing actions of both ultraviolet light and ionizing radiation. We have cloned the rad4 gene by complementation of the temperature sensitive phenotype of the rad4.116 mutant with a S. pombe gene bank. The rad4 gene fully complemented the UV sensitivity of the rad4.116 mutant. The gene is predicted to encode a protein of 579 amino acids with a basic tail, a possible zinc finger and a nuclear location signal. The amino terminal part of the predicted rad4 ORF contains two short regions of similarity to the C-terminal part of the human XRCC1 gene. Codon usage suggests that the gene is very poorly expressed, and this was confirmed by RNA studies. Gene disruption showed that the rad4 gene was essential for the mitotic growth of S. pombe.     

Cloning and characterisation of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad8 gene, a member of the SNF2 helicase family.

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad8 mutant is sensitive to both UV and gamma irradiation. We have cloned the rad8 gene by complementation of the UV sensitivity of a rad8.190 mutant strain. The gene comprises an open reading frame of 3.4 kb which does not contain any introns and is capable of encoding a 1133 amino acid protein of 129 kDa. Deletion of the gene indicates that it is not essential for cell viability. Recognisable motifs are present for a nuclear localisation signal, a RING finger and helicase domains. The predicted protein is a member of the SNF2 subfamily of proteins and shows particular homology to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD5 protein. Double mutant analysis demonstrated that the rad8 mutant is not epistatic to mutants in the excision repair pathway (rad13) or checkpoint pathway (rad9). Analysis of radiation sensitivity though the cell cycle indicates that, unlike most other rad mutants, rad8 is most sensitive to irradiation during the G1/S period.     

Cloning and characterisation of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad32 gene: a gene required for repair of double strand breaks and recombination.

A new Schizosaccharomyces pombe mutant (rad32) which is sensitive to gamma and UV irradiation is described. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis of DNA from irradiated cells indicates that the rad32 mutant, in comparison to wild type cells, has decreased ability to repair DNA double strand breaks. The mutant also undergoes decreased meiotic recombination and displays reduced stability of minichromosomes. The rad32 gene has been cloned by complementation of the UV sensitive phenotype. The gene, which is not essential for cell viability and is expressed at a moderate level in mitotically dividing cells, has significant homology to the meiotic recombination gene MRE11 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Epistasis analysis indicates that rad32 functions in a pathway which includes the rhp51 gene (the S.pombe homologue to S.cerevisiae RAD51) and that cells deleted for the rad32 gene in conjunction with either the rad3 deletion (a G2 checkpoint mutation) or the rad2 deletion (a chromosome stability and potential nucleotide excision repair mutation) are not viable.     

Characterization of the rhp7(+) and rhp16(+) genes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The global genome repair (GGR) subpathway of nucleotide excision repair (NER) is capable of removing lesions throughout the genome. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the RAD7 and RAD16 genes are essential for GGR. Here we identify rhp7 (+), the RAD7 homolog in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Surprisingly, rhp7 (+)and the previously cloned rhp16 (+)are located very close together and are transcribed in opposite directions. Upon UV irradiation both genes are induced, reaching a maximum level after 45-60 min. These observations suggest that the genes are co-regulated. Schizo-saccharomyces pombe rhp7 or rhp16 deficient cells are, in contrast to S.cerevisiae rad7 and rad16 mutants, not sensitive to UV irradiation. In S.pombe an alternative repair mechanism, UV damage repair (UVDR), is capable of efficiently removing photolesions from DNA. In the absence of this UVDR pathway both rhp7 and rhp16 deficient cells display an enhanced UV sensitivity. Epistatic analyses show that rhp7 (+)and rhp16 (+)are only involved in NER. Repair analyses at nucleotide resolution demonstrate that both Rhp7 and Rhp16, probably acting in a complex, are essential for GGR in S.pombe.     

A new recombinational DNA repair gene from Schizosaccharomyces pombe with homology to Escherichia coli RecA.

A new DNA repair gene from Schizosaccharomyces pombe with homology to RecA was identified and characterized. Comparative analysis showed highest similarity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad55p. rhp55(+) (rad homologue pombe 55) encodes a predicted 350-amino-acid protein with an M(r) of 38,000. The rhp55Delta mutant was highly sensitive to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), ionizing radiation (IR), and, to a lesser degree, UV. These phenotypes were enhanced at low temperatures, similar to deletions in the S. cerevisiae RAD55 and RAD57 genes. Many rhp55Delta cells were elongated with aberrant nuclei and an increased DNA content. The rhp55 mutant showed minor deficiencies in meiotic intra- and intergenic recombination. Sporulation efficiency and spore viability were significantly reduced. Double-mutant analysis showed that rhp55(+) acts in one DNA repair pathway with rhp51(+) and rhp54(+), homologs of the budding yeast RAD51 and RAD54 genes, respectively. However, rhp55(+) is in a different epistasis group for repair of UV-, MMS-, or gamma-ray-induced DNA damage than is rad22(+), a putative RAD52 homolog of fission yeast. The structural and functional similarity suggests that rhp55(+) is a homolog of the S. cerevisiae RAD55 gene and we propose that the functional diversification of RecA-like genes in budding yeast is evolutionarily conserved.     

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe rhp3+ gene required for DNA repair and cell viability is functionally interchangeable with the RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for excision repair and is essential for cell viability. RAD3 encoded protein possesses a single stranded DNA-dependent ATPase and DNA and DNA.RNA helicase activities. Mutational studies have indicated a requirement for the RAD3 helicase activities in excision repair. To examine the extent of conservation of structure and function of RAD3 during eukaryotic evolution, we have cloned the RAD3 homolog, rhp3+, from the distantly related yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. RAD3 and rhp3+ encoded proteins are highly similar, sharing 67% identical amino acids. We show that like RAD3, rhp3+ is indispensable for excision repair and cell viability, and our studies indicate a requirement of the putative rhp3+ DNA helicase activity in DNA repair. We find that the RAD3 and rhp3+ genes can functionally substitute for one another. The level of complementation provided by the rhp3+ gene in S.cerevisiae rad3 mutants or by the RAD3 gene in S.pombe rhp3 mutants is remarkable in that both the excision repair and viability defects in both yeasts are restored to wild type levels. These observations suggest a parallel evolutionary conservation of other protein components with which RAD3 interacts in mediating its DNA repair and viability functions.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD5-encoded DNA repair protein contains DNA helicase and zinc-binding sequence motifs and affects the stability of simple repetitive sequences in the genome.

rad5 (rev2) mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are sensitive to UV light and other DNA-damaging agents, and RAD5 is in the RAD6 epistasis group of DNA repair genes. To unambiguously define the function of RAD5, we have cloned the RAD5 gene, determined the effects of the rad5 deletion mutation on DNA repair, DNA damage-induced mutagenesis, and other cellular processes, and analyzed the sequence of RAD5-encoded protein. Our genetic studies indicate that RAD5 functions primarily with RAD18 in error-free postreplication repair. We also show that RAD5 affects the rate of instability of poly(GT) repeat sequences. Genomic poly(GT) sequences normally change length at a rate of about 10(-4); this rate is approximately 10-fold lower in the rad5 deletion mutant than in the corresponding isogenic wild-type strain. RAD5 encodes a protein of 1,169 amino acids of M(r) 134,000, and it contains several interesting sequence motifs. All seven conserved domains found associated with DNA helicases are present in RAD5. RAD5 also contains a cysteine-rich sequence motif that resembles the corresponding sequences found in 11 other proteins, including those encoded by the DNA repair gene RAD18 and the RAG1 gene required for immunoglobin gene arrangement. A leucine zipper motif preceded by a basic region is also present in RAD5. The cysteine-rich region may coordinate the binding of zinc; this region and the basic segment might constitute distinct DNA-binding domains in RAD5. Possible roles of RAD5 putative ATPase/DNA helicase activity in DNA repair and in the maintenance of wild-type rates of instability of simple repetitive sequences are discussed.     

A recombination repair gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, rhp57, is a functional homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD57 gene and is phylogenetically related to the human XRCC3 gene

To identify Schizosaccharomyces pombe genes involved in recombination repair, we identified seven mutants that were hypersensitive to both methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and gamma-rays and that contained mutations that caused synthetic lethality when combined with a rad2 mutation. One of the mutants was used to clone the corresponding gene from a genomic library by complementation of the MMS-sensitive phenotype. The gene obtained encodes a protein of 354 amino acids whose sequence is 32% identical to that of the Rad57 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An rhp57 (RAD57 homolog of S. pombe) deletion strain was more sensitive to MMS, UV, and gamma-rays than the wild-type strain and showed a reduction in the frequency of mitotic homologous recombination. The MMS sensitivity was more severe at lower temperature and was suppressed by the presence of a multicopy plasmid bearing the rhp51 gene. An rhp51 rhp57 double mutant was as sensitive to UV and gamma-rays as an rhp51 single mutant, indicating that rhp51 function is epistatic to that of rhp57. These characteristics of the rhp57 mutants are very similar to those of S. cerevisiae rad57 mutants. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Rhp57 and Rad57 are evolutionarily closest to human Xrcc3 of the RecA/Rad51 family of proteins.     

Molecular cloning of eucaryotic genes required for excision repair of UV-irradiated DNA: isolation and partial characterization of the RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We describe the molecular cloning of a 6-kilobase (kb) fragment of yeast chromosomal DNA containing the RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When present in the autonomously replicating yeast cloning vector YEp24, this fragment transformed two different UV-sensitive, excision repair-defective rad3 mutants of S. cerevisiae to UV resistance. The same result was obtained with a variety of other plasmids containing a 4.5-kb subclone of the 6-kb fragment. The UV sensitivity of mutants defective in the RAD1, RAD2, RAD4, and RAD14 loci was not affected by transformation with these plasmids. The 4.5-kb fragment was subcloned into the integrating yeast vector YIp5, and the resultant plasmid was used to transform the rad3-1 mutant to UV resistance. Both genetic and physical studies showed that this plasmid integrated by homologous recombination into the rad3 site uniquely. We conclude from these studies that the cloned DNA that transforms the rad3-1 mutant to UV resistance contains the yeast chromosomal RAD3 gene. The 4.5-kb fragment was mapped by restriction analysis, and studies on some of the subclones generated from this fragment indicate that the RAD3 gene is at least 1.5 kb in size.     

The Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Rad30 Gene, a Homologue of Escherichia Coli Dinb and Umuc, Is DNA Damage Inducible and Functions in a Novel Error-Free Postreplication Repair Mechanism

Damage-inducible mutagenesis in prokaryotes is largely dependent upon the activity of the UmuD'C-like proteins. Since many DNA repair processes are structurally and/or functionally conserved between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, we investigated the role of RAD30, a previously uncharacterized Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA repair gene related to the Escherichia coli dinB, umuC and S. cerevisiae REV1 genes, in UV resistance and UV-induced mutagenesis. Similar to its prokaryotic homologues, RAD30 was found to be damage inducible. Like many S. cerevisiae genes involved in error-prone DNA repair, epistasis analysis clearly places RAD30 in the RAD6 group and rad30 mutants display moderate UV sensitivity reminiscent of rev mutants. However, unlike rev mutants, no defect in UV-induced reversion was seen in rad30 strains. While rad6 and rad18 are both epistatic to rad30, no epistasis was observed with rev1, rev3, rev7 or rad5, all of which are members of the RAD6 epistasis group. These findings suggest that RAD30 participates in a novel error-free repair pathway dependent on RAD6 and RAD18, but independent of REV1, REV3, REV7 and RAD5.     

Characterization of RAD52 homologs in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The RAD52 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination. Inactivation of this gene confers hypersensitivity to DSB-inducing agents and defects in most forms of recombination. The rad22+ gene in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (here referred to as rad22A+) has been characterized as a homolog of RAD52 in fission yeast. Here, we report the identification of a second RAD52 homolog in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, called rad22B+. The amino acid sequences of Rad22A and Rad22B show significant conservation (38% identity). Deletion mutants of respectively, rad22A and rad22B, show different phenotypes with respect to sensitivity to X-rays and the ability to perform homologous recombination as measured by the integration of plasmid DNA. Inactivation of rad22A+ leads to a severe sensitivity to X-rays and a strong decrease in recombination (13-fold), while the rad22B mutation does not result in a decrease in homologous recombination or a change in radiation sensitivity. In a rad22A-rad22B double mutant the radiation sensitivity is further enhanced in comparison with the rad22A single mutant. Overexpression of the rad22B+ gene results in partial suppression of the DNA repair defects of the rad22A mutant strain. Meiotic recombination and spore viability are only slightly affected in either single mutant, but outgrowth of viable spores is almost 31-fold reduced in the rad22A-rad22B double mutant. The results obtained imply a crucial role for rad22A+ in repair and recombination in vegetative cells just like RAD52 in S. cerevisiae. The rad22B+ gene presumably has an auxiliary role in the repair of DSBs. The drastic reduced spore viability in the double mutant suggests that meiosis in S. pombe is dependent on the presence of either rad22A+ or rad22B+.     

Molecular cloning of the RAD10 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have cloned the RAD10 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and physically mapped it to a 1.0-kb DNA fragment. Strains containing disruptions of the RAD10 gene were found to show enhanced UV sensitivity compared with the previously characterized rad10-1 or rad10-2 mutants. The UV sensitivity of the disruption mutant is comparable to the highly UV sensitive rad1-19, rad2-delta, and rad3-2 mutants.     

Spontaneous Mitotic Recombination in Yeast: The Hyper-Recombinational Rem1 Mutations Are Alleles of the Rad3 Gene

The RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for UV excision-repair and is essential for cell viability. We have identified the rem1 mutations (enhanced spontaneous mitotic recombination and mutation) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as alleles of RAD3 by genetic mapping, complementation with the cloned wild-type gene, and DNA hybridization. The high levels of spontaneous mitotic gene conversion, crossing over, and mutation conferred upon cells by the rem1 mutations are distinct from the effects of all other alleles of RAD3. We present preliminary data on the localization of the rem1 mutations within the RAD3 gene. The interaction of the rem1 mutant alleles with a number of radiation-sensitive mutations is also different than the interactions reported for previously described (UV-sensitive) alleles of RAD3. Double mutants of rem1 and a defect in the recombination-repair pathway are inviable, while double mutants containing UV-sensitive alleles of RAD3 are viable. The data presented here demonstrate that: (1) rem1 strains containing additional mutations in other excision-repair genes do not exhibit elevated gene conversion; (2) triple mutants containing rem1 and mutations in both excision-repair and recombination-repair are viable; (3) such triple mutants containing rad52 have reduced levels of gene conversion but wild-type frequencies of crossing over. We have interpreted these observations in a model to explain the effects of rem1. Consistent with the predictions of the model, we find that the size of DNA from rem1 strains, as measured by neutral sucrose gradients, is smaller than wild type.     

Vacuolar protein sorting in fission yeast: cloning, biosynthesis, transport, and processing of carboxypeptidase Y from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

PCR was used to isolate a carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) homolog gene from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The cloned S. pombe cpy1+ gene has a single open reading frame, which encodes 950 amino acids with one potential N-glycosylation site. It appears to be synthesized as an inactive pre-pro protein that likely undergoes processing following translocation into appropriate intracellular organelles. The C-terminal mature region is highly conserved in other serine carboxypeptidases. In contrast, the N-terminal pro region containing the vacuolar sorting signal in CPY from Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows fewer identical residues. The pro region contains two unusual repeating sequences; repeating sequence I consists of seven contiguous repeating segments of 13 amino acids each, and repeating sequence II consists of seven contiguous repeating segments of 9 amino acids each. Pulse-chase radiolabeling analysis revealed that Cpy1p was initially synthesized in a 110-kDa pro-precursor form and via the 51-kDa single-polypeptide-chain intermediate form which has had its pro segment removed is finally converted to a heterodimer, the mature form, which is detected as a 32-kDa protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Like S. cerevisiae CPY, S. pombe Cpy1p does not require the N-linked oligosaccharide moiety for vacuolar delivery. To investigate the vacuolar sorting signal of S. pombe Cpy1p, we have constructed cpy1+-SUC2 gene fusions that direct the synthesis of hybrid proteins consisting of N-terminal segments of various lengths of S. pombe Cpy1p fused to the secreted enzyme S. cerevisiae invertase. The N-terminal 478 amino acids of Cpy1 are sufficient to direct delivery of a Cpy1-Inv hybrid protein to the vacuole. These results showed that the pro peptide of Cpy1 contains the putative vacuolar sorting signal.