NBS1在DNA断裂损伤反应和维持端粒稳定中的作用

NBS1作为MRE11/RAD50/NBS1复合物的组分之一,是细胞应答DNA损伤的一个关键蛋白质,在DNA双链断裂修复和维持基因组稳定中发挥重要的作用。端粒是染色体末端由DNA重复序列和蛋白质构成的复合体,其独特结构与DNA双链断裂非常相似。最近几年的研究发现NBS1与端粒也有着十分密切的联系。综述了NBS1在DNA损伤反应中的作用,并探讨NBS1参与维持端粒稳定中的分子机制。     

人细胞端粒DNA复制与长度维持

端粒位于染色体末端,由短的串联重复DNA片段及其结合蛋白组成。端粒在维持基因组稳定性及染色体结构完整性方面发挥着重要作用。端粒DNA由富含G/C的序列构成,包括双链区及G含量高的3'悬垂单链区(G-overhang,G-tail)。端粒DNA能够形成G四联体(G-quadruplex)和T环(T-loop)等高级结构。许多与DNA损伤修复相关的蛋白质参与端粒DNA的复制与端粒结构的维持,并相对于基因组的其他区域,端粒的DNA复制较为特别,从广义上讲,端粒DNA的复制可以包括双链复制(telomere replication),端粒酶复制延伸(telomerase extension)和C链补齐(C-rich fill-in)。端粒双链复制引起的端粒长度缩短是导致人体细胞衰老的重要原因,而端粒酶复制延伸及C链补齐是干细胞及肿瘤细胞维持其端粒长度及持续分裂能力的主要途径。端粒复制及其结构功能研究是生物医学领域的一个重要热点,阐释端粒复制的机理将为疾病预防及治疗等提供新的思路。     

细胞DNA损伤检控点

细胞周期检控点是维持细胞基因组稳定性的一个重要机制,主要包括。DNA损伤检控点、DNA复制检控点和纺锤体组装检控点。其中DNA损伤检控点能检测细胞在生命活动过程中出现的DNA损伤并引发细胞周期阻滞,为修复损伤提供足够的时间,以保证细胞遗传的稳定性。有关DNA损伤检控点的研究近年来已经取得了突破性进展,现简要介绍近年来在DNA损伤检控点研究中的一些新进展。     

细胞周期检控蛋白Rad17

Rad17是细胞应答DNA损伤和复制叉阻滞信号转导过程中一个关键的检控蛋白,在DNA损伤和DNA复制检控中具有非常重要的作用.现对Radl7在DNA损伤检控、DNA复制检控、端粒结构稳定以及减数分裂细胞周期检控中的重要作用进行综述,并探讨Radl7与肿瘤发生的关系.     

Hela细胞端粒DNA断裂损伤

Telomeres are the repetitive G-rich DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes and shorten at each round of cell division.Besides the incomplete DNA synthesis,single and double DNA strand breaks,if not repaired, also contribute to the telomere shortening.To assess the frequency of strand breaks in proliferating Hela cells,telomere fragments were released by alkaline denaturing and electrophoresis from cells embedded in agarose,blotted onto membrane,and detected by probe specific to telomere sequence.The quantity of telomere fragments released was estimated to be less than 0.4% of the total telomere content,which corresponded to less than one break per cell.Since the mean length of the terminal restriction fragments of the cells was about 7 kbp,the fragments detected would lead to less than 19 bp in mean telomere shortening [Acta Zoologica Sinica 49(6):873-877,2003].     

端粒DNA与端粒酶

端粒ＤＮＡ与端粒酶王勖焜,黄熙泰（南开大学生物化学与分子生物学系,天津３０００７１）关键词端粒ＤＮＡ,端粒酶,端粒结合蛋白端粒（Ｔｅｌｏｍｅｒｅ）是指真核细胞线性染色体末端的ＤＮＡ顺序。细胞正常的ＤＮＡ复制均需引物,这样真核生物线性染色体ＤＮＡ形式就...     

DNA聚合酶在维持基因组稳定性中的多重功能及其相关疾病

遗传物质的稳定传递是生命繁衍的根本。基因组DNA的精确复制和分配是遗传物质传递的基础,也是细胞周期两大最核心的生物学事件。DNA聚合酶作为催化合成DNA双链的酶,是复制过程中最重要的因子之一。尽管对这类酶的研究已有将近60年的历史,但依然是生命科学基础研究的前沿之一。真核生物中已知的DNA聚合酶有十几种,它们不仅参与正常基因组DNA合成过程,也参与DNA损伤情况下多种修复过程。如此众多的具有不同特性的DNA聚合酶在细胞内是如何分工与合作的,在正常细胞传代与环境胁迫等情况下维护基因组稳定性中的关键作用及其分子机制又是什么。更有意思的是,最近的肿瘤细胞比较基因组数据表明,多种DNA聚合酶基因突变与某些肿瘤和遗传疾病相关,从而为这些疾病致病机理研究与诊治提供了新的思路和方法。对上述DNA聚合酶相关核心问题的最新研究进展进行了综述。     

DNA损伤检验点与损伤修复及基因组稳定性

生物有机体基因组DNA经常会受到内源或外源因素的影响而导致结构发生变化,产生损伤;在长期进化过程中,有机体也相应形成了一系列应对与修复损伤DNA,并维持染色体基因组正常结构功能的机制。其中DNA损伤检验点（DNA damage checkpoint）就是在感应DNA损伤的基础上,对损伤感应信号进行转导,或引起细胞周期的暂停,从而使细胞有足够的时间对损伤DNA进行修复,或最终导致细胞发生凋亡。DNA损伤检验点信号转导途径是一个高度保守的信号感应过程,整个途径大致可以分为损伤感应、信号传递及信号效应3个组成部分。其中3-磷脂酰肌醇激酶家族类成员ATM（ataxia-telangiectasia mutated）和ATR（ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related）活性的增加构成整个途径活化的第一步。它们通过激活下游的效应激酶,Chk2／Chk1,通过协同作用许多其他调控细胞周期、DNA复制、DNA损伤修复及细胞凋亡等过程的蛋白质因子来实现细胞对DNA损伤的高度协调反应。近十几年,随着此领域研究的不断深入,人们逐步揭示了DNA损伤检验点途径发生过程中,各种核心组分通过与不同调节因子、效应因子及DNA损伤修复蛋白间的复杂相互作用,以实现监测感应异常DNA结构并实施相应反应的机制;其中,检验点衔接因子（mediators）及染色质结构,尤其是核小体组蛋白的共价修饰在调控ATM／ATR活性,促进ATM／ATR与底物间的相互作用以及介导DNA损伤位点周围染色质区域上多蛋白复合物在时间与空间上的动态形成发挥着重要的作用。同时,人们也开始发现DNA损伤检验点途径与DNA损伤修复、基因组稳定性以及肿瘤发生等过程之间某些内在的联系。该反应途径在通过协调细胞针对DNA损伤做出各种反应的基础上,直接或间接地参与或调控DNA损伤修复过程,并与DNA损伤修复途径协同作用最终保证染色体基凶组结构的完整性,而检验点途径的改变,则会引起基因组不稳定的发生,包括从突变频率的提高到大范围的染色体重排,以及染色体数量的畸变。如：突变发生在肿瘤形成早期,会大大增加肿瘤发生的几率。文章将对DNA损伤检验点途径机制及其对DNA损伤修复、基因组稳定性影响的最新进展进行综述。     

DNA氧化性损伤与端粒缩短

末端复制问题（the end replication problem）不能完全解释端粒在某些细胞分裂过程中迅速缩短的现象.40％的高压氧下细胞传代次数降低,端粒缩短速率增大,细胞出现衰老特征,端粒DNA上单链断裂积累.推测端粒缩短的主要原因在于衰老过程中或氧胁迫下端粒DNA单链断裂增多,使端粒末端单链片段在DNA复制时丢失.端粒酶和活性氧对端粒长度的正负调控作用的准确机制还有待于更深入的研究.     

端粒结合蛋白在端粒复制与损伤修复中的作用

端粒位于真核细胞线性染色体末端,正常的端粒长度与结构对于细胞基因组稳定的维持有重要作用.端粒DNA序列的高度重复性使其容易形成一些特殊的二级结构,相比染色体其他位置更难复制.结合在端粒上的Shelterin蛋白复合体由六个端粒结合蛋白组成,该复合体可以通过抑制端粒处异常DNA损伤修复途径的激活维持端粒的稳定.此外,近几...     

DNA Damage Checkpoint, Damage Repair, and Genome Stability

Genomic DNA is under constant attack from both endogenous and exogenous sources of DNA damaging agents. Without proper care, the ensuing DNA damages would lead to alteration of genomic structure thus affecting the faithful transmission of genetic information. During the process of evolution, organisms have acquired a series of mechanisms responding to and repairing DNA damage, thus assuring the maintenance of genome stability and faithful transmission of genetic information. DNA damage checkpoint is one such important mechanism by which, in the face of DNA damage, a cell can respond to amplified damage signals, either by actively halting the cell cycle until it ensures that critical processes such as DNA replication or mitosis are complete or by initiating apoptosis as a last resort. Over the last decade, complex hierarchical interactions between the key components like ATM/ATR in the checkpoint pathway and various other mediators, effectors including DNA damage repair proteins have begun to emerge. In the meantime, an intimate relationship between mechanisms of damage checkpoint pathway, DNA damage repair, and genome stability was also uncovered. Reviewed hereinare the recent findings on both the mechanisms of activation of checkpoint pathways and their coordination with DNA damage repair machinery as well as their effect on genomic integrity.     

Telomere uncapping during in vitro T-lymphocyte senescence

Normal lymphocytes represent examples of somatic cells that are able to induce telomerase activity when stimulated. As previously reported, we showed that, during lymphocyte long-term culture and repeated stimulations, the appearance of senescent cells is associated with telomere shortening and a progressive drop in telomerase activity. We further showed that this shortening preferentially occured at long telomeres and was interrupted at each stimulation by a transitory increase in telomere length. In agreement with the fact that telomere uncapping triggers lymphocyte senescence, we observed an increase in γ-H2AX and 53BP1 foci as well as in the percentage of cells exhibiting DNA damage foci in telomeres. Such a DNA damage response may be related to the continuous increase of p16 ^ink4a upon cell stimulation and cell aging. Remarkably, at each stimulation, the expression of shelterin genes, such as hTRF1 , hTANK1 , hTIN2 , hPOT1 and hRAP1 , was decreased. We propose that telomere dysfunction during lymphocyte senescence caused by iterative stimulations does not only result from an excessive telomere shortening, but also from a decrease in shelterin content. These observations may be relevant for T-cell biology and aging.     

The DNA Damage Response and Checkpoint Adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Distinct Roles for the Replication Protein A2 (Rfa2) N-Terminus

In response to DNA damage, two general but fundamental processes occur in the cell: (1) a DNA lesion is recognized and repaired, and (2) concomitantly, the cell halts the cell cycle to provide a window of opportunity for repair to occur. An essential factor for a proper DNA-damage response is the heterotrimeric protein complex Replication Protein A (RPA). Of particular interest is hyperphosphorylation of the 32-kDa subunit, called RPA2, on its serine/threonine-rich amino (N) terminus following DNA damage in human cells. The unstructured N-terminus is often referred to as the phosphorylation domain and is conserved among eukaryotic RPA2 subunits, including Rfa2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An aspartic acid/alanine-scanning and genetic interaction approach was utilized to delineate the importance of this domain in budding yeast. It was determined that the Rfa2 N-terminus is important for a proper DNA-damage response in yeast, although its phosphorylation is not required. Subregions of the Rfa2 N-terminus important for the DNA-damage response were also identified. Finally, an Rfa2 N-terminal hyperphosphorylation-mimetic mutant behaves similarly to another Rfa1 mutant (rfa1-t11) with respect to genetic interactions, DNA-damage sensitivity, and checkpoint adaptation. Our data indicate that post-translational modification of the Rfa2 N-terminus is not required for cells to deal with “repairable” DNA damage; however, post-translational modification of this domain might influence whether cells proceed into M-phase in the continued presence of unrepaired DNA lesions as a “last-resort” mechanism for cell survival.     

Taming the tiger by the tail: modulation of DNA damage responses by telomeres

Telomeres are by definition stable and inert chromosome ends, whereas internal chromosome breaks are potent stimulators of the DNA damage response (DDR). Telomeres do not, as might be expected, exclude DDR proteins from chromosome ends but instead engage with many DDR proteins. However, the most powerful DDRs, those that might induce chromosome fusion or cell‐cycle arrest, are inhibited at telomeres. In budding yeast, many DDR proteins that accumulate most rapidly at double strand breaks (DSBs), have important functions in physiological telomere maintenance, whereas DDR proteins that arrive later tend to have less important functions. Considerable diversity in telomere structure has evolved in different organisms and, perhaps reflecting this diversity, different DDR proteins seem to have distinct roles in telomere physiology in different organisms. Drawing principally on studies in simple model organisms such as budding yeast, in which many fundamental aspects of the DDR and telomere biology have been established; current views on how telomeres harness aspects of DDR pathways to maintain telomere stability and permit cell‐cycle division are discussed.     

高等植物端粒和端粒酶的研究进展

端粒是构成真核生物线状染色体末端重要的DNA-蛋白质复合结构,DNA由简单的串联重复序列组成。它的合成由一个特殊的具有反转录活性的核糖核蛋白-端粒酶完成。端粒对染色体、整个生物基因组,甚至对细胞的稳定都具有重要意义。本文就植物端粒、端粒酶、端粒结合蛋白,以及端粒变化、端粒酶在植物生长发育中的调节作一概述。     

c-Abl在DNA损伤反应中的功能

非受体酪氨酸激酶c-Abl在正常生理及病理条件下具有多种生物学功能。当电离辐射、顺铂、丝裂霉素C等DNA损伤诱导剂诱导DNA损伤反应后,c-Abl可参与DNA损伤反应后的细胞周期调控、基因重组修复及细胞凋亡调控等,进而决定细胞在DNA损伤反应条件下的状态。简要介绍了c-Abl在DNA损伤反应中的作用及其进展。