scholarly journals Megabase Chromatin Domains Involved in DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Vivo

1999 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 905-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmy P. Rogakou ◽  
Chye Boon ◽  
Christophe Redon ◽  
William M. Bonner

The loss of chromosomal integrity from DNA double-strand breaks introduced into mammalian cells by ionizing radiation results in the specific phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine residue 139, yielding a specific modified form named γ-H2AX. An antibody prepared to the unique region of human γ-H2AX shows that H2AX homologues are phosphorylated not only in irradiated mammalian cells but also in irradiated cells from other species, including Xenopus laevis, Drosophila melanogaster, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The antibody reveals that γ-H2AX appears as discrete nuclear foci within 1 min after exposure of cells to ionizing radiation. The numbers of these foci are comparable to the numbers of induced DNA double-strand breaks. When DNA double-strand breaks are introduced into specific partial nuclear volumes of cells by means of a pulsed microbeam laser, γ-H2AX foci form at these sites. In mitotic cells from cultures exposed to nonlethal amounts of ionizing radiation, γ-H2AX foci form band-like structures on chromosome arms and on the end of broken arms. These results offer direct visual confirmation that γ-H2AX forms en masse at chromosomal sites of DNA double-strand breaks. The results further suggest the possible existence of units of higher order chromatin structure involved in monitoring DNA integrity.

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1200-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainhoa Nieto ◽  
Makoto R. Hara ◽  
Victor Quereda ◽  
Wayne Grant ◽  
Vanessa Saunders ◽  
...  

Abstract Cellular DNA is constantly under threat from internal and external insults, consequently multiple pathways have evolved to maintain chromosomal fidelity. Our previous studies revealed that chronic stress, mediated by continuous stimulation of the β2-adrenergic-βarrestin-1 signaling axis suppresses activity of the tumor suppressor p53 and impairs genomic integrity. In this pathway, βarrestin-1 (βarr1) acts as a molecular scaffold to promote the binding and degradation of p53 by the E3-ubiquitin ligase, MDM2. We sought to determine whether βarr1 plays additional roles in the repair of DNA damage. Here we demonstrate that in mice βarr1 interacts with p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) with major consequences for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. 53BP1 is a principle component of the DNA damage response, and when recruited to the site of double-strand breaks in DNA, 53BP1 plays an important role coordinating repair of these toxic lesions. Here, we report that βarr1 directs 53BP1 degradation by acting as a scaffold for the E3-ubiquitin ligase Rad18. Consequently, knockdown of βarr1 stabilizes 53BP1 augmenting the number of 53BP1 DNA damage repair foci following exposure to ionizing radiation. Accordingly, βarr1 loss leads to a marked increase in irradiation resistance both in cells and in vivo. Thus, βarr1 is an important regulator of double strand break repair, and disruption of the βarr1/53BP1 interaction offers an attractive strategy to protect cells against high levels of exposure to ionizing radiation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (20) ◽  
pp. 6413-6425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Li ◽  
Elizabeth A. Monckton ◽  
Roseline Godbout

ABSTRACT DEAD box proteins are a family of putative RNA helicases associated with all aspects of cellular metabolism involving the modification of RNA secondary structure. DDX1 is a member of the DEAD box protein family that is overexpressed in a subset of retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines and tumors. DDX1 is found primarily in the nucleus, where it forms two to four large aggregates called DDX1 bodies. Here, we report a rapid redistribution of DDX1 in cells exposed to ionizing radiation, resulting in the formation of numerous foci that colocalize with γ-H2AX and phosphorylated ATM foci at sites of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The formation of DDX1 ionizing-radiation-induced foci (IRIF) is dependent on ATM, which was shown to phosphorylate DDX1 both in vitro and in vivo. The treatment of cells with RNase H prevented the formation of DDX1 IRIF, suggesting that DDX1 is recruited to sites of DNA damage containing RNA-DNA structures. We have shown that DDX1 has RNase activity toward single-stranded RNA, as well as ADP-dependent RNA-DNA- and RNA-RNA-unwinding activities. We propose that DDX1 plays an RNA clearance role at DSB sites, thereby facilitating the template-guided repair of transcriptionally active regions of the genome.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 113 (16) ◽  
pp. 3781-3791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique M. Ocio ◽  
Patricia Maiso ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Mercedes Garayoa ◽  
Stela Álvarez-Fernández ◽  
...  

Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable, and new drugs with novel mechanisms of action are still needed. In this report, we have analyzed the action of Zalypsis, an alkaloid analogous to certain natural marine compounds, in MM. Zalypsis turned out to be the most potent antimyeloma agent we have tested so far, with IC50 values from picomolar to low nanomolar ranges. It also showed remarkable ex vivo potency in plasma cells from patients and in MM cells in vivo xenografted in mice. Besides the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, Zalypsis provoked DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), evidenced by an increase in phospho-histone-H2AX and phospho-CHK2, followed by a striking overexpression of p53 in p53 wild-type cell lines. In addition, in those cell lines in which p53 was mutated, Zalypsis also provoked DSBs and induced cell death, although higher concentrations were required. Immunohistochemical studies in tumors also demonstrated histone-H2AX phosphorylation and p53 overexpression. Gene expression profile studies were concordant with these results, revealing an important deregulation of genes involved in DNA damage response. The potent in vitro and in vivo antimyeloma activity of Zalypsis uncovers the high sensitivity of tumor plasma cells to DSBs and strongly supports the use of this compound in MM patients.


Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfram Siede ◽  
Anna A Friedl ◽  
Irina Dianova ◽  
Friederike Eckardt-Schupp ◽  
Errol C Friedberg

In mammalian cells, all subunits of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) have been implicated in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks and in V(D)J recombination. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have examined the phenotype conferred by a deletion of HDF1, the putative homologue of the 70-kD subunit of the DNA-end binding Ku complex of DNA-PK. The yeast gene does not play a role in radiation-induced cell cycle checkpoint arrest in G1 and G2 or in hydroxyurea-induced checkpoint arrest in S. In cells competent for homologous recombination, we could not detect any sensitivity to ionizing radiation or to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) conferred by a hdf1 deletion and indeed, the repair of DNA double-strand breaks was not impaired. However, if homologous recombination was disabled (rad52 mutant background), inactivation of HDF1 results in additional sensitization toward ionizing radiation and MMS. These results give further support to the notion that, in contrast to higher eukaryotic cells, homologous recombination is the favored pathway of double-strand break repair in yeast whereas other competing mechanisms such as the suggested pathway of DNA-PK-dependent direct break rejoining are only of minor importance.


2009 ◽  
Vol 417 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandi L. Mahaney ◽  
Katheryn Meek ◽  
Susan P. Lees-Miller

DNA DSBs (double-strand breaks) are considered the most cytotoxic type of DNA lesion. They can be introduced by external sources such as IR (ionizing radiation), by chemotherapeutic drugs such as topoisomerase poisons and by normal biological processes such as V(D)J recombination. If left unrepaired, DSBs can cause cell death. If misrepaired, DSBs may lead to chromosomal translocations and genomic instability. One of the major pathways for the repair of IR-induced DSBs in mammalian cells is NHEJ (non-homologous end-joining). The main proteins required for NHEJ in mammalian cells are the Ku heterodimer (Ku70/80 heterodimer), DNA-PKcs [the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-dependent protein kinase)], Artemis, XRCC4 (X-ray-complementing Chinese hamster gene 4), DNA ligase IV and XLF (XRCC4-like factor; also called Cernunnos). Additional proteins, including DNA polymerases μ and λ, PNK (polynucleotide kinase) and WRN (Werner's Syndrome helicase), may also play a role. In the present review, we will discuss our current understanding of the mechanism of NHEJ in mammalian cells and discuss the roles of DNA-PKcs and DNA-PK-mediated phosphorylation in NHEJ.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 821-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Valizadeh ◽  
Alireza Shirazi ◽  
Pantea Izadi ◽  
Javad Tavakkoli Bazzaz ◽  
Hamed Rezaeejam ◽  
...  

DNA Repair ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 639-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukitaka Katsura ◽  
Shigeru Sasaki ◽  
Masanori Sato ◽  
Kiyoshi Yamaoka ◽  
Kazumi Suzukawa ◽  
...  

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