Investigation of the functional link between ATM and NBS1 in the DNA damage response in the mouse cerebellum

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) and Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) are related genomic instability syndromes characterized by neurological deficits. The NBS1 protein that is defective in NBS is a component of the Mre11/RAD50/NBS1 (MRN) complex, which plays a major role in the early phase of the complex cellular response to double strand breaks (DSBs) in the DNA. Among others, Mre11/RAD50/NBS1 is required for timely activation of the protein kinase ATM (A-T, mutated), which is missing or inactivated in patients with A-T. Understanding the molecular pathology of A-T, primarily its cardinal symptom, cerebellar degeneration, requires investigation of the DSB response in cerebellar neurons, particularly Purkinje cells, which are the first to be lost in A-T patients. Cerebellar cultures derived from mice with different mutations in DNA damage response genes is a useful experimental system to study malfunctioning of the damage response in the nervous system. To clarify the interrelations between murine Nbs1 and Atm, we generated a mouse strain with specific disruption of the Nbs1 gene in the central nervous system on the background of general Atm deficiency (Nbs1-CNS-Δ//Atm(-/-)). This genotype exacerbated several features of both conditions and led to a markedly reduced life span, dramatic decline in the number of cerebellar granule neurons with considerable cerebellar disorganization, abolishment of the white matter, severe reduction in glial cell proliferation, and delayed DSB repair in cerebellar tissue. Combined loss of Nbs1 and Atm in the CNS significantly abrogated the DSB response compared with the single mutation genotypes. Importantly, the data indicate that Atm has cellular roles not regulated by Nbs1 in the murine cerebellum.     

PARP-1 and its associated nucleases in DNA damage response

Poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) acts as a DNA damage sensor. It recognizes DNA damage and facilitates DNA repair by recruiting DNA repair machinery to damage sites. Recent studies reported that PARP-1 also plays an important role in DNA replication by recognizing the unligated Okazaki fragments and controlling the speed of fork elongation. On the other hand, emerging evidence reveals that excessive activation of PARP-1 causes chromatin DNA fragmentation and triggers an intrinsic PARP-1-dependent cell death program designated parthanatos, which can be blocked by genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of PARP-1. Therefore, PARP-1 plays an essential role in maintaining genomic stability by either facilitating DNA repair/replication or triggering DNA fragmentation to kill cells. A group of structure-specific nucleases is crucial for executing DNA incision and fragmentation following PARP-1 activation. In this review, we will discuss how PARP-1 coordinates with its associated nucleases to maintain genomic integrity and control the decision of cell life and death.     

DNA damage response in microcephaly development of MCPH1 mouse model

MCPH1 encodes BRCT-containing protein MCPH1/Microcephalin/BRIT1, mutations of which in humans cause autosomal recessive disorder primary microcephaly type 1 (MCPH1), characterized by a congenital reduction of brain size particularly in the cerebral cortex. We have shown previously that a deletion of Mcph1 in mice results in microcephaly because of a premature switch from symmetric to asymmetric division of the neuroprogenitors, which is regulated by MCPH1's function in the centrosome. Because MCPH1 has been implicated in ATM and ATR-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) and defective DDR is often associated with neurodevelopmental diseases, we wonder whether the DDR-related function of MCPH1 prevents microcephaly. Here, we show that a deletion of Mcph1 results in a specific reduction of the cerebral cortex at birth, which is persistent through life. Due to an effect on premature neurogenic production, Mcph1-deficient progenitors give rise to a high level of early-born neurons that form deep layers (IV–VI), while generate less late-born neurons that form a thinner outer layer (II–III) of the cortex. However, neuronal migration seems to be unaffected by Mcph1 deletion. Ionizing radiation (IR) induces a massive apoptosis in the Mcph1-null neocortex and also embryonic lethality. Finally, Mcph1 deletion compromises homologous recombination repair and increases genomic instability. Altogether, our data suggest that MCPH1 ensures proper neuroprogenitor expansion and differentiation not only through its function in the centrosome, but also in the DDR.     

DNA damage sensors ATM, ATR, DNA-PKcs, and PARP-1 are dispensable for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integration

Integration of a DNA copy of the viral RNA genome is a crucial step in the life cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and other retroviruses. While the virally encoded integrase is key to this process, cellular factors yet to be characterized are suspected to participate in its completion. DNA damage sensors such as ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated), ATR (ATM- and Rad3-related), DNA-PK (DNA-dependent protein kinase), and PARP-1 [poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1] play central roles in responses to various forms of DNA injury and as such could facilitate HIV integration. To test this hypothesis, we examined the susceptibility to infection with wild-type HIV-1 and to transduction with a vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV-G)-pseudotyped HIV-1-derived lentiviral vector of human cells stably expressing small interfering RNAs against ATM, ATR, and PARP-1. We found that integration normally occurred in these knockdown cells. Similarly, the VSV-G-pseudotyped HIV-1-based vector could effectively transduce ATM and PARP-1 knockout mouse cells as well as human cells deficient for DNA-PK. Finally, treatment of target cells with the ATM and ATR inhibitors caffeine and wortmannin was without effect in these infectivity assays. We conclude that the DNA repair enzymes ATM, ATR, DNA-PKcs, and PARP-1 are not essential for HIV-1 integration.     

Functional interaction between PARP-1 and PARP-2 in chromosome stability and embryonic development in mouse

The DNA damage-dependent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, PARP-1 and PARP-2, homo- and heterodimerize and are both involved in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Here, we report that mice carrying a targeted disruption of the PARP-2 gene are sensitive to ionizing radiation. Following alkylating agent treatment, parp-2(-/-)-derived mouse embryonic fibroblasts exhibit increased post-replicative genomic instability, G(2)/M accumulation and chromosome mis-segregation accompanying kinetochore defects. Moreover, parp-1(-/-)parp-2(-/-) double mutant mice are not viable and die at the onset of gastrulation, demonstrating that the expression of both PARP-1 and PARP-2 and/or DNA-dependent poly(ADP-ribosyl) ation is essential during early embryogenesis. Interestingly, specific female embryonic lethality is observed in parp-1(+/-)parp-2(-/-) mutants at E9.5. Meta phase analyses of E8.5 embryonic fibroblasts highlight a specific instability of the X chromosome in those females, but not in males. Together, these results support the notion that PARP-1 and PARP-2 possess both overlapping and non-redundant functions in the maintenance of genomic stability.     

53BP1, an activator of ATM in response to DNA damage

p53 Binding protein 1 (53BP1) belongs to a family of evolutionarily conserved DNA damage checkpoint proteins with C-terminal BRCT domains and is most likely the human ortholog of the budding yeast Rad9 protein, the first cell cycle checkpoint protein to be described. 53BP1 localizes rapidly to sites of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and its initial recruitment to these sites has not been shown to be dependent on any other protein. Initially, 53BP1 was thought to be a mediator of DNA DSB signaling, but now it has been shown to function upstream of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), in one of at least two parallel pathways leading to ATM activation in response to DNA damage. Currently, only a single tudor and two BRCT domains are recognized in 53BP1; however, their precise functional role is not understood. Elucidating the function of 53BP1 will be critical to understanding how cells recognize DNA DSBs and how ATM is activated.     

NBS1 and its functional role in the DNA damage response

Nijmegen breakage syndrome is a recessive genetic disorder, characterized by elevated sensitivity to ionizing radiation, chromosome instability and high frequency of malignancies. Since cellular features partly overlap with those of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), NBS was long considered an A-T clinical variant. NBS1, the product of the gene underlying the disease, contains three functional regions: the forkhead-associated (FHA) domain and BRCA1 C-terminus (BRCT) domain at the N-terminus, several SQ motifs (consensus phosphorylation sites by ATM and ATR kinases) at a central region and MRE11-binding region at the C-terminus. NBS1 forms a multimeric complex with hMRE11/hRAD50 nuclease at the C-terminus and recruits or retains them at the vicinity of sites of DNA damage by direct binding to histone H2AX, which is phosphorylated by ATM in response to DNA damage. The combination of the FHA/BRCT domains has a crucial role for the binding of NBS1 to H2AX. Thereafter, the NBS1 complex proceeds to rejoin double-strand breaks predominantly by homologous recombination repair in vertebrates, while it also might be involved in suppression of inter-chromosomal recombination even for V(D)J recombination. These processes collaborate with cell cycle checkpoints to facilitate DNA repair, while defects of these checkpoints in NBS cells are partial in nature. A possible explanation for these moderate defects are the redundancy of multiple checkpoint regulations in vertebrates, or the modulator role of NBS1, in which NBS1 amplifies ATM activation by accumulation of the MRN complex at damaged sites. This molecular link of NBS1 to ATM may explain the phenotypic similarity of NBS to A-T.     

Early embryonic lethality in PARP-1 Atm double-mutant mice suggests a functional synergy in cell proliferation during development

PARP-1 and ATM are both involved in the response to DNA strand breaks, resulting in induction of a signaling network responsible for DNA surveillance, cellular recovery, and cell survival. ATM interacts with double-strand break repair pathways and induces signals resulting in the control of the cell cycle-coupled checkpoints. PARP-1 acts as a DNA break sensor in the base excision repair pathway of DNA. Mice with mutations inactivating either protein show radiosensitivity and high radiation-induced chromosomal aberration frequencies. Embryos carrying double mutations of both PARP-1 and Atm genes were generated. These mutant embryos show apoptosis in the embryo but not in extraembryonic tissues and die at embryonic day 8.0, although extraembryonic tissues appear normal for up to 10.5 days of gestation. These results reveal a functional synergy between PARP-1 and ATM during a period of embryogenesis when cell cycle checkpoints are not active and the embryo is particularly sensitive to DNA damage. These results suggest that ATM and PARP-1 have synergistic phenotypes due to the effects of these proteins on signaling DNA damage and/or on distinct pathways of DNA repair.     

The HINT1 tumor suppressor regulates both gamma-H2AX and ATM in response to DNA damage

Hint1 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor gene and the underlying molecular mechanisms for its tumor suppressor function are unknown. In this study we demonstrate that HINT1 participates in ionizing radiation (IR)–induced DNA damage responses. In response to IR, HINT1 is recruited to IR-induced foci (IRIF) and associates with γ-H2AX and ATM. HINT1 deficiency does not affect the formation of γ-H2AX foci; however, it impairs the removal of γ-H2AX foci after DNA damage and this is associated with impaired acetylation of γ-H2AX. HINT1 deficiency also impairs acetylation of ATM and activation of ATM and its downstream effectors, and retards DNA repair, in response to IR. HINT1-deficient cells exhibit resistance to IR-induced apoptosis and several types of chromosomal abnormalities. Our findings suggest that the tumor suppressor function of HINT1 is caused by, at least in part, its normal role in enhancing cellular responses to DNA damage by regulating the functions of both γ-H2AX and ATM.     

ATM signaling and genomic stability in response to DNA damage

DNA double strand breaks represent the most threatening lesion to the integrity of the genome in cells exposed to ionizing radiation and radiomimetic chemicals. Those breaks are recognized, signaled to cell cycle checkpoints and repaired by protein complexes. The product of the gene (ATM) mutated in the human genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) plays a central role in the recognition and signaling of DNA damage. ATM is one of an ever growing number of proteins which when mutated compromise the stability of the genome and predispose to tumour development. Mechanisms for recognising double strand breaks in DNA, maintaining genome stability and minimizing risk of cancer are discussed.     

Beyond ATM: the protein kinase landscape of the DNA damage response

The DNA of all organisms is constantly subjected to damaging agents, both exogenous and endogenous. One extremely harmful lesion is the double-strand break (DSB), which activates a massive signaling network - the DNA damage response (DDR). The chief activator of the DSB response is the ATM protein kinase, which phosphorylates numerous key players in its various branches. Recent phosphoproteomic screens have extended the scope of damage-induced phosphorylations beyond the direct ATM substrates. We review the evidence for the involvement of numerous other protein kinases in the DDR, obtained from documentation of specific pathways as well as high-throughput screens. The emerging picture of the protein phosphorylation landscape in the DDR broadens the current view on the role of this protein modification in the maintenance of genomic stability. Extensive cross-talk between many of these protein kinases forms an interlaced signaling network that spans numerous cellular processes. Versatile protein kinases in this network affect pathways that are different from those they have been identified with to date. The DDR appears to be one of the most extensive signaling responses to cellular stimuli.     

Down-regulation of HtrA1 activates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and ATM DNA damage response pathways

Expression of the serine protease HtrA1 is decreased or abrogated in a variety of human primary cancers, and higher levels of HtrA1 expression are directly related to better response to chemotherapeutics. However, the precise mechanisms leading to HtrA1 down regulation during malignant transformation are unclear. To investigate HtrA1 gene regulation in breast cancer, we characterized expression in primary breast tissues and seven human breast epithelial cell lines, including two non-tumorigenic cell lines. In human breast tissues, HtrA1 expression was prominent in normal ductal glands. In DCIS and in invasive cancers, HtrA1 expression was greatly reduced or lost entirely. HtrA1 staining was also reduced in all of the human breast cancer cell lines, compared with the normal tissue and non-tumorigenic cell line controls. Loss of HtrA1 gene expression was attributable primarily to epigenetic silencing mechanisms, with different mechanisms operative in the various cell lines. To mechanistically examine the functional consequences of HtrA1 loss, we stably reduced and/or overexpressed HtrA1 in the non-tumorigenic MCF10A cell line. Reduction of HtrA1 levels resulted in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with acquisition of mesenchymal phenotypic characteristics, including increased growth rate, migration, and invasion, as well as expression of mesenchymal biomarkers. A concomitant decrease in expression of epithelial biomarkers and all microRNA 200 family members was also observed. Moreover, reduction of HtrA1 expression resulted in activation of the ATM and DNA damage response, whereas overexpression of HtrA1 prevented this activation. Collectively, these results suggest that HtrA1 may function as a tumor suppressor by controlling the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and may function in chemotherapeutic responsiveness by mediating DNA damage response pathways.     

The ATM kinase induces microRNA biogenesis in the DNA damage response

The DNA damage response involves a complex network of processes that detect and repair DNA damage. Here we show that miRNA biogenesis is globally induced upon DNA damage in an ATM-dependent manner. About one-fourth of miRNAs are significantly upregulated after DNA damage, while loss of ATM abolishes their induction. KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KSRP) is a key player that translates DNA damage signaling to miRNA biogenesis. The ATM kinase directly binds to and phosphorylates KSRP, leading to enhanced interaction between KSRP and pri-miRNAs and increased KSRP activity in miRNA processing. Mutations of the ATM phosphorylation sites of KSRP impaired its activity in regulating miRNAs. These findings reveal a mechanism by which DNA damage signaling is linked to miRNA biogenesis.     

The Drosophila ATM ortholog, dATM, mediates the response to ionizing radiation and to spontaneous DNA damage during development

Cells of metazoan organisms respond to DNA damage by arresting their cell cycle to repair DNA, or they undergo apoptosis. Two protein kinases, ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM and Rad-3 related (ATR), are sensors for DNA damage. In humans, ATM is mutated in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), resulting in hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR) and increased cancer susceptibility. Cells from A-T patients exhibit chromosome aberrations and excessive spontaneous apoptosis. We used Drosophila as a model system to study ATM function. Previous studies suggest that mei-41 corresponds to ATM in Drosophila; however, it appears that mei-41 is probably the ATR ortholog. Unlike mei-41 mutants, flies deficient for the true ATM ortholog, dATM, die as pupae or eclose with eye and wing abnormalities. Developing larval discs exhibit substantially increased spontaneous chromosomal telomere fusions and p53-dependent apoptosis. These developmental phenotypes are unique to dATM, and both dATM and mei-41 have temporally distinct roles in G2 arrest after IR. Thus, ATM and ATR orthologs are required for different functions in Drosophila; the developmental defects resulting from absence of dATM suggest an important role in mediating a protective checkpoint against DNA damage arising during normal cell proliferation and differentiation.     

Increased PARP-1 association with DNA in alkylation damaged, PARP-inhibited mouse fibroblasts

Treatment of base excision repair-proficient mouse fibroblasts with the DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and a small molecule inhibitor of PARP-1 results in a striking cell killing phenotype, as previously reported. Earlier studies showed that the mechanism of cell death is apoptosis and requires DNA replication, expression of PARP-1, and an intact S-phase checkpoint cell signaling system. It is proposed that activity-inhibited PARP-1 becomes immobilized at DNA repair intermediates, and that this blocks DNA repair and interferes with DNA replication, eventually promoting an S-phase checkpoint and G(2)-M block. Here we report studies designed to evaluate the prediction that inhibited PARP-1 remains DNA associated in cells undergoing repair of alkylation-induced damage. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation with anti-PARP-1 antibody and qPCR for DNA quantification, a higher level of DNA was found associated with PARP-1 in cells treated with MMS plus PARP inhibitor than in cells without inhibitor treatment. These results have implications for explaining the extreme hypersensitivity phenotype after combination treatment with MMS and a PARP inhibitor.     

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibits ATM kinase activity in DNA damage response

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) mobilize DNA-repair machinery and cell cycle checkpoint by activating the ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) mutated (ATM). Here we show that ATM kinase activity is inhibited by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) in vitro. It was shown by biochemical fractionation procedure that PARP-1 as well as ATM increases at chromatin level after induction of DSB with neocarzinostatin (NCS). Phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine 139 and p53 on serine 15 in Parp-1 knockout (Parp-1(-/-)) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) was significantly induced by NCS treatment compared with MEF derived from wild-type (Parp-1(+/+)) mouse. NCS-induced phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine 139 in Parp-1(-/-) embryonic stem cell (ES) clones was also higher than that in Parp-1(+/+) ES clone. Furthermore, in vitro, PARP-1 inhibited phosphorylation of p53 on serine 15 and (32)P-incorporation into p53 by ATM in a DNA-dependent manner. These results suggest that PARP-1 negatively regulates ATM kinase activity in response to DSB.     

PARP-1-dependent 3-nitrotyrosine protein modification after DNA damage

3-nitrotyrosine (NO2-Tyr) is thought to be a specific marker of cell injury during oxidative damage. We have evaluated the role of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) in protein nitration after treatment of immortalized fibroblasts parp-1+/+ and parp-1-/- with the alkylating agent 2'-methyl-2'-nitroso-urea (MNU). Both cell lines showed increased iNOS expression following MNU treatment in parallel with a selective induction of tyrosine nitration of different proteins. PARP-1 deficient cells displayed a delayed iNOS accumulation, reduced number of nitrated proteins, and a lower global nitrotyrosine "footprint." We have identified the mitochondrial compartment as the major site of oxidative stress during DNA damage, being MnSOD one of the NO2-Tyr-modified proteins, but not in parp-1-/- cells. These results suggest that NO-derived injury can be modulated by proteins involved in the response to genotoxic damage, such as PARP-1, and may account for the limited oxidative injury in parp-1 knockout mice during carcinogenesis and inflammation.     

The ATM protein kinase and cellular redox signaling: beyond the DNA damage response

The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein kinase is best known for its role in the DNA damage response, but recent findings suggest that it also functions as a redox sensor that controls the levels of reactive oxygen species in human cells. Here, we review evidence supporting the conclusion that ATM can be directly activated by oxidation, as well as various observations from ATM-deficient patients and mouse models that point to the importance of ATM in oxidative stress responses. We also discuss the roles of this kinase in regulating mitochondrial function and metabolic control through its action on tumor suppressor p53, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1), and how the regulation of these enzymes may be affected in ATM-deficient patients and in cancer cells.