The role of NBS1 in DNA double strand break repair, telomere stability, and cell cycle checkpoint control

The genomes of eukaryotic cells are under continuous assault by environmental agents and endogenous metabolic byproducts. Damage induced in DNA usually leads to a cascade of cellular events, the DNA damage response. Failure of the DNA damage response can lead to development of malignancy by reducing the efficiency and fidelity of DNA repair. The NBS1 protein is a component of the MRE11/RAD50/NBS 1 complex （MRN） that plays a critical role in the cellular response to DNA damage and the maintenance of chromosomal integrity. Mutations in the NBS1 gene are responsible for Nijmegen breakage syndrome （NBS）, a hereditary disorder that imparts an increased predisposition to development of malignancy. The phenotypic characteristics of cells isolated from NBS patients point to a deficiency in the repair of DNA double strand breaks. Here, we review the current knowledge of the role of NBS1 in the DNA damage response. Emphasis is placed on the role of NBS1 in the DNA double strand repair, modulation of the DNA damage sensing and signaling, cell cycle checkpoint control and maintenance oftelomere stability.

Inhibition of DNA-dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunit by Small Molecule Inhibitor NU7026 Sensitizes Human Leukemic K562 Cells to Benzene Metabolite-induced Apoptosis

Benzene is an established leukotoxin and leukemogen in humans. We have previously re- ported that exposure of workers to benzene and to benzene metabolite hydroquinone in cultured cells induced DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit （DNA-PKcs） to mediate the cellular response to DNA double strand break （DSB） caused by DNA-damaging metabolites. In this study, we used a new, small molecule, a selective inhibitor of DNA-PKcs, 2-（morpholin-4-yl）-benzo[h]chomen-4-one （NU7026）, as a probe to analyze the molecular events and pathways in hydroquinone-induced DNA DSB repair and apoptosis. Inhibition of DNA-PKcs by NU7026 markedly potentiated the apoptotic and growth inhibitory effects of hydroquinone in proerythroid leukemic K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with NU7026 did not alter the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress by hydroquinone but repressed the protein level of DNA-PKcs and blocked the induction of the kinase mRNA and protein expression by hydroquinone. Moreover, hydroquinone increased the phos- phorylation of Akt to activate Akt, whereas co-treatment with NU7026 prevented the activation of Akt by hydroquinone. Lastly, hydroquinone and NU7026 exhibited synergistic effects on promoting apop- tosis by increasing the protein levels of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 but decreasing the protein expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Taken together, the findings reveal a central role of DNA-PKcs in hydroquinone-induced hematotoxicity in which it coordinates DNA DSB repair, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis to regulate the response to hydroquinone-induced DNA damage.

DNA Damage Response in Resting and Proliferating Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Treated by Camptothecin or X-ray

DNA damage response （DDR） in different cell cycle status of human peripheral blood lymphocytes （PBLs） and the role of H2AX in DDR were investigated. The PBLs were stimulated into cell cycle with phytohemagglutinin （PHA）. The apoptotic ratio and the phosphorylation H2AX （S139） were flow cytometrically measured in resting and proliferating PBLs after treatment with camptothecin （CPT） or X-ray. The expressions of γH2AX, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by Western blotting. DDR in 293T cells was detected after H2AX was silenced by RNAi method. Our results showed that DNA double strand breaks （DSBs） were both induced in quiescent and proliferating PBLs after CPT or X-ray treatment. The phosphorylation of H2AX and apoptosis were more sensitive in proliferating PBLs compared with quiescent lymphocytes （P0.05）. The expression levels of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 were reduced and cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased. No significant changes were observed in CPT-induced apoptosis in 293T cells between H2AX knocking down group and controls. It was concluded that proliferating PBLs were more vulnerable to DNA damage compared to non-stimulated lymphocytes and had higher apoptosis rates. γH2AX may only serve as a marker of DNA damage but exert no effect on apoptosis regulation.

Drosophila RecQ5 is required for efficient SSA repair and suppression of LOH in vivo

RecQ5 in mammalian cells has been suggested to suppress inappropriate homologous recombination.However,the specific pathway(s)in which it is involved and the underlining mechanism(s)remain poorly understood.We took advantage of genetic tools in Drosophila to investigate how Drosophila RecQ5(dRecQ5)functions in vivo in homologous recombination-mediated double strand break(DSB)repair.We generated null alleles of dRecQ5 using the targeted recombination technique.The mutant animals are homozygous viable,but with growth retardation during development.The mutants are sensitive to both exogenous DSB-inducing treatment,such as gamma-irradiation,and endogenously induced double strand breaks(DSBs)by I-Sce I endonuclease.In the absence of dRecQ5,single strand annealing(SSA)-mediated DSB repair is compromised with compensatory increases in either inter-homologous gene conversion,or non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)when inter-chromosomal homologous sequence is unavailable.Loss of function of dRecQ5 also leads to genome instability in loss of heterozygosity(LOH)assays.Together,our data demonstrate that dRecQ5 functions in SSA-mediated DSB repair to achieve its full efficiency and in suppression of LOH in Drosophila.

Mechanisms and impacts of chromosomal translocations in cancers

Chromosomal aberrations have been associated with cancer development since their discovery more than a hundred years ago.Chromosomal translocations,a type of particular structural changes involving heterologous chromosomes,have made a critical impact on diagnosis,prognosis and treatment of cancers.For example,the discovery of translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 and the subsequent success of targeting the fusion product BCR-ABL transformed the therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia.In the past few decades,tremendous progress has been achieved towards elucidating the mechanism causing chromosomal translocations.This review focuses on the basic mechanisms underlying the generation of chromosomal translocations.In particular,the contribution of frequency of DNA double strand breaks and spatial proximity of translocating loci is discussed.

New perspectives on epigenetic modifications and PARP inhibitor resistance in HR-deficient cancers

The clinical treatment of DNA-repair defective tumours has been revolutionised by the use of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase(PARP)inhibitors.However,the efficacy of these compounds is hampered by resistance,which is attributed to numerous mechanisms including rewiring of the DNA damage response to favour pathways that repair PARP inhibitor-mediated damage.Here,we comment on recent findings by our group identifying the lysine methyltransferase SETD1A as a novel factor that conveys PARPi resistance.We discuss the implications,with a particular focus on epigenetic modifications and H3K4 methylation.We also deliberate on the mechanisms responsible,the consequences for the refinement of PARP inhibitor use in the clinic,and future possibilities to circumvent drug resistance in DNA-repair deficient cancers.