Timely termination of repair DNA synthesis by ATAD5 is important in oxidative DNA damage-induced single-strand break repair

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generate oxidized bases and single-strand breaks (SSBs), which are fixed by base excision repair (BER) and SSB repair (SSBR), respectively. Although excision and repair of damaged bases have been extensively studied, the function of the sliding clamp, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), including loading/unloading, remains unclear. We report that, in addition to PCNA loading by replication factor complex C (RFC), timely PCNA unloading by the ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 5 (ATAD5)-RFC–like complex is important for the repair of ROS-induced SSBs. We found that PCNA was loaded at hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-generated direct SSBs after the 3′-terminus was converted to the hydroxyl moiety by end-processing enzymes. However, PCNA loading rarely occurred during BER of oxidized or alkylated bases. ATAD5-depleted cells were sensitive to acute H₂O₂ treatment but not methyl methanesulfonate treatment. Unexpectedly, when PCNA remained on DNA as a result of ATAD5 depletion, H₂O₂-induced repair DNA synthesis increased in cancerous and normal cells. Based on higher H₂O₂-induced DNA breakage and SSBR protein enrichment by ATAD5 depletion, we propose that extended repair DNA synthesis increases the likelihood of DNA polymerase stalling, shown by increased PCNA monoubiquitination, and consequently, harmful nick structures are more frequent.