The Greek Goddess,Artemis, reveals the secrets of her cleavage

A recent paper in Cell by Ma et al. [Cell 8 (2002) 781] showed that the protein Artemis cleaves a hairpin intermediate during V(D)J recombination. Peter O'Neill and Penny Jeggo discuss this finding in the light of evidence that Artemis also functions to repair radiation damage [Cell 105 (2001) 177]. The findings suggest that Artemis may function in double strand break repair by "tidying up" double strand ends with associated base damage. The development of genetic diversity during immune development, therefore, seems to exploit damage response mechanisms that function to maintain genetic stability in other cell lineages.     

53BP1-mediated DNA double strand break repair: insert bad pun here

53BP1 is an established player in the cellular response to DNA damage and is a canonical component of ionizing-radiation induced foci--that cadre of proteins which assemble at DNA double strand breaks following radiation exposure and which are readily visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy. While its roles in p53 regulation and cell cycle checkpoint activation have been studied for some time, the impact of 53BP1 on DNA double strand break rejoining has only come to light in the past few years. Convincing evidence now exists for 53BP1 significantly affecting the outcome of DNA double strand break repair in several contexts, many of which hint to an important role in modulating chromatin structure surrounding the break site. Here, we highlight the known and emerging roles of 53BP1 in DNA double strand break repair, including the repair of lesions induced within heterochromatin, following telomere uncapping, in long-range V(D)J recombination, during immunoglobulin class switch recombination and its much debated role in regulating resection during homologous recombination.     

The cellular response to general and programmed DNA double strand breaks

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are among the most dangerous lesions that can occur in the genome of eukaryotic cells. Proper repair of chromosomal DSBs is critical for maintaining cellular viability and genomic integrity and, in multi-cellular organisms, for suppression of tumorigenesis. Thus, eukaryotic cells have evolved specialized and redundant molecular mechanisms to sense, respond to, and repair DSBs. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the progress that has been made over the last decade in elucidating the identity and function of components that participate in the cellular response to chromosomal DSBs. Then, we discuss, in more depth, the response to DSBs that occur in the context of the V(D)J recombination and IgH class switch recombination reactions that occur in cells of the lymphocyte lineage.     

53BP1 is required for class switch recombination

53BP1 participates early in the DNA damage response and is involved in cell cycle checkpoint control. Moreover, the phenotype of mice and cells deficient in 53BP1 suggests a defect in DNA repair (Ward et al., 2003b). Therefore, we asked whether or not 53BP1 would be required for the efficient repair of DNA double strand breaks. Our data indicate that homologous recombination by gene conversion does not depend on 53BP1. Moreover, 53BP1-deficient mice support normal V(D)J recombination, indicating that 53BP1 is not required for "classic" nonhomologous end joining. However, class switch recombination is severely impaired in the absence of 53BP1, suggesting that 53BP1 facilitates DNA end joining in a way that is not required or redundant for the efficient closing of RAG-induced strand breaks. These findings are similar to those observed in mice or cells deficient in the tumor suppressors ATM and H2AX, further suggesting that the functions of ATM, H2AX, and 53BP1 are closely linked.     

Reprint of “Functional overlaps between XLF and the ATM-dependent DNA double strand break response”

Developing B and T lymphocytes generate programmed DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) during the V(D)J recombination process that assembles exons that encode the antigen-binding variable regions of antibodies. In addition, mature B lymphocytes generate programmed DSBs during the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) class switch recombination (CSR) process that allows expression of different antibody heavy chain constant regions that provide different effector functions. During both V(D)J recombination and CSR, DSB intermediates are sensed by the ATM-dependent DSB response (DSBR) pathway, which also contributes to their joining via classical non-homologous end-joining (C-NHEJ). The precise nature of the interplay between the DSBR and C-NHEJ pathways in the context of DSB repair via C-NHEJ remains under investigation. Recent studies have shown that the XLF C-NHEJ factor has functional redundancy with several members of the ATM-dependent DSBR pathway in C-NHEJ, highlighting unappreciated major roles for both XLF as well as the DSBR in V(D)J recombination, CSR and C-NHEJ in general. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of the mechanisms that contribute to the repair of DSBs generated during B lymphocyte development and activation with a focus on potential functionally redundant roles of XLF and ATM-dependent DSBR factors.     

The clinical impact of deficiency in DNA non-homologous end-joining

DNA non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is the major DNA double strand break (DSB) repair pathway in mammalian cells. Defects in NHEJ proteins confer marked radiosensitivity in cell lines and mice models, since radiation potently induces DSBs. The process of V(D)J recombination functions during the development of the immune response, and involves the introduction and rejoining of programmed DSBs to generate an array of diverse T and B cells. NHEJ rejoins these programmed DSBs. Consequently, NHEJ deficiency confers (severe) combined immunodeficiency – (S)CID – due to a failure to carry out V(D)J recombination efficiently. NHEJ also functions in class switch recombination, another step enhancing T and B cell diversity. Prompted by these findings, a search for radiosensitivity amongst (S)CID patients revealed a radiosensitive sub-class, defined as RS-SCID. Mutations in NHEJ genes, defining human syndromes deficient in DNA ligase IV (LIG4 Syndrome), XLF-Cernunnos, Artemis or DNA-PKcs, have been identified in such patients. Mutations in XRCC4 or Ku70,80 in patients have not been identified. RS-SCID patients frequently display additional characteristics including microcephaly, dysmorphic facial features and growth delay. Here, we overview the clinical spectrum of RS-SCID patients and discuss our current understanding of the underlying biology.     

Reprint of “The clinical impact of deficiency in DNA non-homologous end-joining”

DNA non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is the major DNA double strand break (DSB) repair pathway in mammalian cells. Defects in NHEJ proteins confer marked radiosensitivity in cell lines and mice models, since radiation potently induces DSBs. The process of V(D)J recombination functions during the development of the immune response, and involves the introduction and rejoining of programmed DSBs to generate an array of diverse T and B cells. NHEJ rejoins these programmed DSBs. Consequently, NHEJ deficiency confers (severe) combined immunodeficiency – (S)CID – due to a failure to carry out V(D)J recombination efficiently. NHEJ also functions in class switch recombination, another step enhancing T and B cell diversity. Prompted by these findings, a search for radiosensitivity amongst (S)CID patients revealed a radiosensitive sub-class, defined as RS-SCID. Mutations in NHEJ genes, defining human syndromes deficient in DNA ligase IV (LIG4 Syndrome), XLF-Cernunnos, Artemis or DNA-PKcs, have been identified in such patients. Mutations in XRCC4 or Ku70,80 in patients have not been identified. RS-SCID patients frequently display additional characteristics including microcephaly, dysmorphic facial features and growth delay. Here, we overview the clinical spectrum of RS-SCID patients and discuss our current understanding of the underlying biology.     

The evolution of meiosis: recruitment and modification of somatic DNA-repair proteins

Several DNA-damage detection and repair mechanisms have evolved to repair double-strand breaks induced by mutagens. Later in evolutionary history, DNA single- and double-strand cuts made possible immune diversity by V(D)J recombination and recombination at meiosis. Such cuts are induced endogenously and are highly regulated and controlled. In meiosis, DNA cuts are essential for the initiation of homologous recombination, and for the formation of joint molecule and crossovers. Many proteins that function during somatic DNA-damage detection and repair are also active during homologous recombination. However, their meiotic functions may be altered from their somatic roles through localization, posttranslational modifications and/or interactions with meiosis-specific proteins. Presumably, somatic repair functions and meiotic recombination diverged during evolution, resulting in adaptations specific to sexual reproduction. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Pathways that suppress programmed DNA breaks from progressing to chromosomal breaks and translocations

Guarding the genome against internal and external assaults requires the coordinated interaction of multiple cellular networks to sense, respond to, and repair breaks in chromosomal DNA. Both external factors such as ionizing radiation or internal events like oxidative damage can cause DNA double stranded breaks (DSBs). DSBs are also part of the normal lymphocyte developmental program where they are an integral element of the mechanisms that generate a diverse immune repertoire in the context of V(D)J and immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) class switch recombination (CSR). DSBs initiate a cascade of cellular events that direct cells to pause and properly repair potentially lethal chromosomal breaks. Errors in the repair of both general and lymphocyte-specific DSBs can lead to oncogenic chromosomal translocations . Here, we review recent advances in understanding factors and protein complexes involved in the response to DNA DSBs with a focus on the B lymphocyte specific process of CSR.     

Menage á trois: Double strand break repair,V(D)J recombination and DNA-PK

All organisms possess mechanisms to repair double strand breaks (dsbs) generated in their DNA by damaging agents. Site-specific dsbs are also introduced during V(D)J recombination. Four complementation groups of radiosensitive rodent mutants are defective in the repair of dsbs, and are unable to carry out V(D)J recombination effectively. The immune defect in Severe Combined Immunodeficient (scid) mice also results from an inability to undergo effective V(D)J recombination, and scid cell lines display a repair defect and belong to one of these complementation groups. These findings indicate a mechanistic overlap between the processes of DNA repair and V(D)J recombination. Recently, two of the genes defined by these complementation groups have been identified and shown to encode components of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). We review here the three fields which have become linked by these findings, and discuss the involvement of DNA-PK in dsb rejoining and in V(D)J recombination.     

Physical ARTEMIS:DNA-PKcs interaction is necessary for V(D)J recombination

The nuclease ARTEMIS and the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) are involved in the repair of physiological and pathogenic DNA double strand breaks. Both proteins are indispensable for the hairpin-opening activity in V(D)J recombination and therefore essential for the adaptive immune response. ARTEMIS and DNA-PKcs interact, however experimental evidence for in vivo significance is missing. We demonstrate that mutations abolishing this protein-protein interaction affect nuclease function. In DNA-PKcs, mutation L3062R impairs the physical interaction with ARTEMIS and was previously identified as pathogenic variant, resulting in radiosensitive severe combined immunodeficiency. In ARTEMIS, specific mutations in two conserved regions affect interaction with DNA-PKcs. In combination they impair V(D)J recombination activity, independent of ARTEMIS autoinhibitory self-interaction between the ARTEMIS C-terminus and the N-terminal nuclease domain. We describe small fragments from both proteins, capable of interaction with the corresponding full-length partner proteins: In DNA-PKcs 42 amino acids out of FAT region 2 (PKcs3041-3082) can mediate interaction with ARTEMIS. In the nuclease we have defined 26 amino acids (ARM378-403) as minimal DNA-PKcs interacting fragment. The exact mapping of the ARTEMIS:DNA-PKcs interaction may pave the way for the design of specific inhibitors targeting the repair of DNA double strand breaks.     

Contribution of DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint arrest to the maintenance of genomic stability

DNA damage response mechanisms encompass pathways of DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoint arrest and apoptosis. Together, these mechanisms function to maintain genomic stability in the face of exogenous and endogenous DNA damage. ATM is activated in response to double strand breaks and initiates cell cycle checkpoint arrest. Recent studies in human fibroblasts have shown that ATM also regulates a mechanism of end-processing that is required for a component of double strand break repair. Human fibroblasts rarely undergo apoptosis after ionising radiation and, therefore, apoptosis is not considered in our review. The dual function of ATM raises the question as to how the two processes, DNA repair and checkpoint arrest, interplay to maintain genomic stability. In this review, we consider the impact of ATM's repair and checkpoint functions to the maintenance of genomic stability following irradiation in G2. We discuss evidence that ATM's repair function plays little role in the maintenance of genomic stability following exposure to ionising radiation. ATM's checkpoint function has a bigger impact on genomic stability but strikingly the two damage response pathways co-operate in a more than additive manner. In contrast, ATM's repair function is important for survival post irradiation.     

Lack of MSH2 involvement differentiates V(D)J recombination from other non-homologous end joining events

V(D)J recombination and class switch recombination are the two DNA rearrangement events used to diversify the mouse and human antibody repertoires. While their double strand breaks (DSBs) are initiated by different mechanisms, both processes use non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) in the repair phase. DNA mismatch repair elements (MSH2/MSH6) have been implicated in the repair of class switch junctions as well as other DNA DSBs that proceed through NHEJ. MSH2 has also been implicated in the regulation of factors such as ATM and the MRN (Mre11, Rad50, Nbs1) complex, which are involved in V(D)J recombination. These findings led us to examine the role of MSH2 in V(D)J repair. Using MSH2-/- and MSH2+/+ mice and cell lines, we show here that all pathways involving MSH2 are dispensable for the generation of an intact pre-immune repertoire by V(D)J recombination. In contrast to switch junctions and other DSBs, the usage of terminal homology in V(D)J junctions is not influenced by MSH2. Thus, whether the repair complex for V(D)J recombination is of a canonical NHEJ type or a separate microhomology-mediated-end joining (MMEJ) type, it does not involve MSH2. This highlights a distinction between the repair of V(D)J recombination and other NHEJ reactions.     

Chromatin structure in double strand break repair

Cells are under constant assault by endogenous and environmental DNA damaging agents. DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) sever entire chromosomes and pose a major threat to genome integrity as a result of chromosomal fragment loss or chromosomal rearrangements. Exogenous factors such as ionizing radiation, crosslinking agents, and topoisomerase poisons, contribute to break formation. DSBs are associated with oxidative metabolism, form during the normal S phase, when replication forks collapse and are generated during physiological processes such as V(D)J recombination, yeast mating type switching and meiosis. It is estimated that in mammalian cells ∼10 DSBs per cell are formed daily. If left unrepaired DSBs can lead to cell death or deregulated growth, and cancer development. Cellular response to DSB damage includes mechanisms to halt the progression of the cell cycle and to restore the structure of the broken chromosome. Changes in chromatin adjacent to DNA break sites are instrumental to the DNA damage response (DDR) with two apparent ends: to control compaction and to bind repair and signaling molecules to the lesion. Here, we review the key findings related to each of these functions and examine their cross-talk.     

Antibody diversification caused by disrupted mismatch repair and promiscuous DNA polymerases

The enzyme activation-induced deaminase (AID) targets the immunoglobulin loci in activated B cells and creates DNA mutations in the antigen-binding variable region and DNA breaks in the switch region through processes known, respectively, as somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination. AID deaminates cytosine to uracil in DNA to create a U:G mismatch. During somatic hypermutation, the MutSα complex binds to the mismatch, and the error-prone DNA polymerase η generates mutations at A and T bases. During class switch recombination, both MutSα and MutLα complexes bind to the mismatch, resulting in double-strand break formation and end-joining. This review is centered on the mechanisms of how the MMR pathway is commandeered by B cells to generate antibody diversity.     

Regulation of reactive oxygen species by Atm is essential for proper response to DNA double-strand breaks in lymphocytes

The ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) gene plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of genomic stability. Although it has been recently shown that antioxidative agents inhibited lymphomagenesis in Atm(-/-) mice, the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we intensively investigated the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in phenotypes of Atm(-/-) mice. Reduction of ROS by the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) prevented the emergence of senescent phenotypes in Atm(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts, hypersensitivity to total body irradiation, and thymic lymphomagenesis in Atm(-/-) mice. To understand the mechanisms for prevention of lymphomagenesis, we analyzed development of pretumor lymphocytes in Atm(-/-) mice. Impairment of Ig class switch recombination seen in Atm(-/-) mice was mitigated by NAC, indicating that ROS elevation leads to abnormal response to programmed double-strand breaks in vivo. Significantly, in vivo administration of NAC to Atm(-/-) mice restored normal T cell development and inhibited aberrant V(D)J recombination. We conclude that Atm-mediated ROS regulation is essential for proper DNA recombination, preventing immunodeficiency, and lymphomagenesis.     

Promiscuity of translocation partners in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by karyotypic instability, including chromosomal translocations involving the IGH locus. MM cells display a promiscuity of translocation partners, only some of which are recurrent. We propose that several factors, including temporal and spatial nuclear positioning of potential partner loci, “off‐target” IGH diversification mechanisms, and aberrant repair pathways contribute to the promiscuity of translocation partners in MM. We speculate that in MM, IGH diversification processes [V(D)J recombination, somatic hypermutation, and class switch recombination] in B cells may not be restricted to specific stages of B‐cell development or within specific immune tissues, but may occur in different temporal “windows.” Before or during MM evolution, off‐target activities of the enzymes involved in IGH modification processes may contribute to the generation of double‐strand breaks (DSB) in translocation partner loci. In the parent B cells from which MM originates, spatial proximity within the nucleus of IGH and potential translocation partners contributes to the selection of a translocation partner and the clinical frequency at which a specific translocation occurs. The spatial proximity of IGH and specific translocation partners may be temporal and contribute not only to partner selection but also to the promiscuity of partners seen in MM. Lastly, aberrant repair mechanisms in MM progenitors (including the possibility that a Ku 86 variant allows for positional instability at DSBs) may also contribute to the promiscuity of chromosome translocation partners in MM. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 1085–1094, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Three-dimensional clustering of human RAG2 gene mutations in severe combined immune deficiency

The V(D)J recombination, which leads to the somatic rearrangement of variable, diversity, and joining segments, is the mechanism accountable for the diversity of T cell receptor- and Ig-encoding genes. The products of the RAG1 and RAG2 genes are the lymphoid-specific factors responsible for the initiation of the V(D)J recombination through the generation of a DNA double strand break. RAG1 or RAG2 gene inactivation in the mouse leads to abortion of the V(D)J rearrangement process, early block in both T and B cell maturation, and, ultimately, to severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). A human SCID condition is also characterized by an absence of mature T and B lymphocytes and is associated with mutations in either RAG1- or RAG2-encoding genes. Based on the predicted beta-propeller three-dimensional structure model for RAG2, we found that six out of the seven mutations described to date in T-B-SCID patients are clustered on one side of the propeller, in regions exposed to solvent. This finding reinforces the biological significance of this predicted model and suggests that RAG1 interacts with RAG2 on one of the side of the scaffold formed by the beta-propeller.