Warsaw Breakage Syndrome associated DDX11 helicase resolves G-quadruplex structures to support sister chromatid cohesion

Warsaw Breakage Syndrome (WABS) is a rare disorder related to cohesinopathies and Fanconi anemia, caused by bi-allelic mutations in DDX11. Here, we report multiple compound heterozygous WABS cases, each displaying destabilized DDX11 protein and residual DDX11 function at the cellular level. Patient-derived cell lines exhibit sensitivity to topoisomerase and PARP inhibitors, defective sister chromatid cohesion and reduced DNA replication fork speed. Deleting DDX11 in RPE1-TERT cells inhibits proliferation and survival in a TP53-dependent manner and causes chromosome breaks and cohesion defects, independent of the expressed pseudogene DDX12p. Importantly, G-quadruplex (G4) stabilizing compounds induce chromosome breaks and cohesion defects which are strongly aggravated by inactivation of DDX11 but not FANCJ. The DNA helicase domain of DD

WAPL-Dependent Repair of Damaged DNA Replication Forks Underlies Oncogene-Induced Loss of Sister Chromatid Cohesion

Benedict et al. show that in cancer cells the connection between newly synthesized chromatids (cohesion) is often less tight than in normal cells. They show that removal of cohesion in cancer cells is necessary to repair broken DNA replication forks and to sustain tumor cell expansion

Non-redundant roles in sister chromatid cohesion of the DNA helicase DDX11 and the SMC3 acetyl transferases ESCO1 and ESCO2

In a process linked to DNA replication, duplicated chromosomes are entrapped in large, circular cohesin complexes and functional sister chromatid cohesion (SCC) is established by acetylation of the SMC3 cohesin subunit. Roberts Syndrome (RBS) and Warsaw Breakage Syndrome (WABS) are rare human developmental syndromes that are characterized by defective SCC. RBS is caused by mutations in the SMC3 acetyltransferase ESCO2, whereas mutations in the DNA helicase DDX11 lead to WABS. We found that WABS-derived cells predominantly rely on ESCO2, not ESCO1, for residual SCC, growth and survival. Reciprocally, RBS-derived cells depend on DDX11 to maintain low levels of SCC. Synthetic lethality between DDX11 and ESCO2 correlated with a prolonged delay in mitosis, and was rescued by knockdown of the cohesin remover WAPL. Rescue experiments using human or mouse cDNAs revealed that DDX11, ESCO1 and ESCO2 act on different but related aspects of SCC establishment. Furthermore, a DNA binding DDX11 mutant failed to correct SCC in WABS cells and DDX11 deficiency reduced replication fork speed. We propose that DDX11, ESCO1 and ESCO2 control different fractions of cohesin that are spatially and mechanistically separated

Phosphoproteomic Analysis of FLCN Inactivation Highlights Differential Kinase Pathways and Regulatory TFEB Phosphoserines

In Birt–Hogg–Dubé (BHD) syndrome, germline loss-of-function mutations in the Folliculin (FLCN) gene lead to an increased risk of renal cancer. To address how FLCN inactivation affects cellular kinase signaling pathways, we analyzed comprehensive phosphoproteomic profiles of FLCNPOS and FLCNNEG human renal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC/TERT1). In total, 15,744 phosphorylated peptides were identified from 4329 phosphorylated proteins. INKA analysis revealed that FLCN loss alters the activity of numerous kinases, including tyrosine kinases EGFR, MET, and the Ephrin receptor subfamily (EPHA2 and EPHB1), as well their downstream targets MAPK1/3. Validation experiments in the BHD renal tumor cell line UOK257 confirmed that FLCN loss contributes to enhanced MAPK1/3 and downstream RPS6K1/3 signaling. The clinically available MAPK inhibitor Ulixertinib showed enhanced toxicity in FLCNNEG cells. Interestingly, FLCN inactivation induced the phosphorylation of PIK3CD (Tyr524) without altering the phosphorylation of canonical Akt1/Akt2/mTOR/EIF4EBP1 phosphosites. Also, we identified that FLCN inactivation resulted in dephosphorylation of TFEB Ser109, Ser114, and Ser122, which may be linked to increased oxidative stress levels in FLCNNEG cells. Together, our study highlights differential phosphorylation of specific kinases and substrates in FLCNNEG renal cells. This provides insight into BHD-associated renal tumorigenesis and may point to several novel candidates for targeted therapies

PRDM10 directs FLCN expression in a novel disorder overlapping with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome and familial lipomatosis

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by fibrofolliculomas, pulmonary cysts, pneumothoraces and renal cell carcinomas. Here, we reveal a novel hereditary disorder in a family with skin and mucosal lesions, extensive lipomatosis and renal cell carcinomas. The proband was initially diagnosed with BHD based on the presence of fibrofolliculomas, but no pathogenic germline variant was detected in FLCN, the gene associated with BHD. By whole exome sequencing we identified a heterozygous missense variant (p.(Cys677Tyr)) in a zinc-finger encoding domain of the PRDM10 gene which co-segregated with the phenotype in the family. We show that PRDM10Cys677Tyr loses affinity for a regulatory binding motif in the FLCN promoter, abrogating cellular FLCN mRNA and protein levels. Overexpressing inducible PRDM10Cys677Tyr in renal epithelial cells altered the transcription of multiple genes, showing overlap but also differences with the effects of knocking out FLCN. We propose that PRDM10 controls an extensive gene program and acts as a critical regulator of FLCN gene transcription in human cells. The germline variant PRDM10Cys677Tyr curtails cellular folliculin expression and underlies a distinguishable syndrome characterized by extensive lipomatosis, fibrofolliculomas and renal cell carcinomas

Loss of FLCN-FNIP1/2 induces a non-canonical interferon response in human renal tubular epithelial cells

Germline inactivating mutations in Folliculin (FLCN) cause Birt–Hogg–Dubé (BHD) syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant disorder predisposing to kidney tumors. FLCN is a conserved, essential gene linked to diverse cellular processes but the mechanisms by which FLCN prevents kidney cancer remain unknown. Here we show that deleting FLCN activates TFE3, upregulating its downstream E-box genes in human renal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC/TERT1), including RRAGD and GPNMB, without modifying mTORC1 activity. Surprisingly, deletion of FLCN or its binding partners FNIP1/FNIP2 also induces interferon response genes, but independently of interferon. Mechanistically, FLCN loss promotes STAT2 recruitment to chromatin and slows cellular proliferation. Our integrated analysis identifies STAT1/2 signaling as a novel target of FLCN in renal cells and BHD tumors. STAT1/2 activation appears to counterbalance TFE3-directed hyper-proliferation and may influence the immune response. These findings shed light on unique roles of FLCN in human renal tumorigenesis and pinpoint candidate prognostic biomarkers

Loss of FLCN-FNIP1/2 induces a non-canonical interferon response in human renal tubular epithelial cells

Germline inactivating mutations in Folliculin (FLCN) cause Birt–Hogg–Dubé (BHD) syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant disorder predisposing to kidney tumors. FLCN is a conserved, essential gene linked to diverse cellular processes but the mechanisms by which FLCN prevents kidney cancer remain unknown. Here we show that deleting FLCN activates TFE3, upregulating its downstream E-box genes in human renal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC/TERT1), including RRAGD and GPNMB, without modifying mTORC1 activity. Surprisingly, deletion of FLCN or its binding partners FNIP1/FNIP2 also induces interferon response genes, but independently of interferon. Mechanistically, FLCN loss promotes STAT2 recruitment to chromatin and slows cellular proliferation. Our integrated analysis identifies STAT1/2 signaling as a novel target of FLCN in renal cells and BHD tumors. STAT1/2 activation appears to counterbalance TFE3-directed hyper-proliferation and may influence the immune response. These findings shed light on unique roles of FLCN in human renal tumorigenesis and pinpoint candidate prognostic biomarkers

A novel Fanconi anaemia subtype associated with a dominant-negative mutation in RAD51

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a hereditary disease featuring hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linker-induced chromosomal instability in association with developmental abnormalities, bone marrow failure and a strong predisposition to cancer. A total of 17 FA disease genes have been reported, all of which act in a recessive mode of inheritance. Here we report on a de novo g.41022153G>A; p.Ala293Thr (NM-002875) missense mutation in one allele of the homologous recombination DNA repair gene RAD51 in an FA-like patient. This heterozygous mutation causes a novel FA subtype, 'FA-Rffrt ', which appears to be the first subtype of FA caused by a dominant-negative mutation. The patient, who features microcephaly and mental retardation, has reached adulthood without the typical bone marrow failure and paediatric cancers. Together with the recent reports on RAD51-associated congenital mirror movement disorders, our results point to an important role for RAD51-mediated homologous recombination in neurodevelopment, in addition to DNA repair and cancer susceptibility

A novel Fanconi anemia subtype associated with a dominant-negative mutation in RAD51

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a hereditary disease featuring hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linker-induced chromosomal instability in association with developmental abnormalities, bone marrow failure and a strong predisposition to cancer. 17 FA disease genes have been reported, all of which act in a recessive mode of inheritance. Here we report on a de novo g.41022153G>A; p.Ala293Thr (NM_002875) missense mutation in one allele of the homologous recombination DNA repair gene RAD51 in an FA-like patient. This heterozygous mutation causes a novel FA subtype, “FA-R”, which appears to be the first subtype of FA caused by a dominant-negative mutation. The patient, who features microcephaly and mental retardation, has reached adulthood without the typical bone marrow failure and pediatric cancers. Together with the recent reports on RAD51-associated congenital mirror movement disorders our results point to an important role for RAD51-mediated homologous recombination in neurodevelopment, in addition to DNA repair and cancer susceptibility