Germline mutations in the proof-reading domains of POLE and POLD1 predispose to colorectal adenomas and carcinomas.

Many individuals with multiple or large colorectal adenomas or early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) have no detectable germline mutations in the known cancer predisposition genes. Using whole-genome sequencing, supplemented by linkage and association analysis, we identified specific heterozygous POLE or POLD1 germline variants in several multiple-adenoma and/or CRC cases but in no controls. The variants associated with susceptibility, POLE p.Leu424Val and POLD1 p.Ser478Asn, have high penetrance, and POLD1 mutation was also associated with endometrial cancer predisposition. The mutations map to equivalent sites in the proofreading (exonuclease) domain of DNA polymerases ɛ and δ and are predicted to cause a defect in the correction of mispaired bases inserted during DNA replication. In agreement with this prediction, the tumors from mutation carriers were microsatellite stable but tended to acquire base substitution mutations, as confirmed by yeast functional assays. Further analysis of published data showed that the recently described group of hypermutant, microsatellite-stable CRCs is likely to be caused by somatic POLE mutations affecting the exonuclease domain.post-print535 K

Differences in the degree of inhibition of NDP reductase by chemical inactivation and by the thermosensitive mutation nrdA101 in Escherichia coli suggest an effect on chromosome segregation.

NDP reductase activity can be inhibited either by treatment with hydroxyurea or by incubation of an nrdAts mutant strain at the non-permissive temperature. Both methods inhibit replication, but experiments on these two types of inhibition yielded very different results. The chemical treatment immediately inhibited DNA synthesis but did not affect the cell and nucleoid appearance, while the incubation of an nrdA101 mutant strain at the nonpermissive temperature inhibited DNA synthesis after more than 50 min, and resulted in aberrant chromosome segregation, long filaments, and a high frequency of anucleate cells. These phenotypes are not induced by SOS. In view of these results, we suggest there is an indirect relationship between NDP reductase and the chromosome segregation machinery through the maintenance of the proposed replication hyperstructure.post-print734 K

Real-time imaging of DNA damage in yeast cells using ultra-short near-infrared pulsed laser irradiation

Analysis of accumulation of repair and checkpoint proteins at repair sites in yeast nuclei has conventionally used chemical agents, ionizing radiation or induction of endonucleases to inflict localized damage. In addition to these methods, similar studies in mammalian cells have used laser irradiation, which has the advantage that damage is inflicted at a specific nuclear region and at a precise time, and this allows accurate kinetic analysis of protein accumulation at DNA damage sites. We show here that it is feasible to use short pulses of near-infrared laser irradiation to inflict DNA damage in subnuclear regions of yeast nuclei by multiphoton absorption. In conjunction with use of fluorescently-tagged proteins, this allows quantitative analysis of protein accumulation at damage sites within seconds of damage induction. PCNA accumulated at damage sites rapidly, such that maximum accumulation was seen approximately 50 s after damage, then levels declined linearly over 200-1000 s after irradiation. RPA accumulated with slower kinetics such that hardly any accumulation was detected within 60 s of irradiation, and levels subsequently increased linearly over the next 900 s, after which levels were approximately constant (up to ca. 2700 s) at the damage site. This approach complements existing methodologies to allow analysis of key damage sensors and chromatin modification changes occurring within seconds of damage inception

Relationship between Fork Progression and Initiation of Chromosome Replication in E. coli

post-print687 K

Relationship between Fork Progression and Initiation of Chromosome Replication in E. coli

post-print687 K

Stress-triggered hematopoietic stem cell proliferation relies on PrimPol-mediated repriming.

Stem cell division is linked to tumorigenesis by yet-elusive mechanisms. The hematopoietic system reacts to stress by triggering hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) proliferation, which can be accompanied by chromosomal breakage in activated hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, whether these lesions persist in their downstream progeny and induce a canonical DNA damage response (DDR) remains unclear. Inducing HSPC proliferation by simulated viral infection, we report that the associated DNA damage is restricted to HSCs and that proliferating HSCs rewire their DDR upon endogenous and clastogen-induced damage. Combining transcriptomics, single-cell and single-molecule assays on murine bone marrow cells, we found accelerated fork progression in stimulated HSPCs, reflecting engagement of PrimPol-dependent repriming, at the expense of replication fork reversal. Ultimately, competitive bone marrow transplantation revealed the requirement of PrimPol for efficient HSC amplification and bone marrow reconstitution. Hence, fine-tuning replication fork plasticity is essential to support stem cell functionality upon proliferation stimuli.S

Allosteric modulation of AURKA kinase activity by a small-molecule inhibitor of its protein-protein interaction with TPX2.

The essential mitotic kinase Aurora A (AURKA) is controlled during cell cycle progression via two distinct mechanisms. Following activation loop autophosphorylation early in mitosis when it localizes to centrosomes, AURKA is allosterically activated on the mitotic spindle via binding to the microtubule-associated protein, TPX2. Here, we report the discovery of AurkinA, a novel chemical inhibitor of the AURKA-TPX2 interaction, which acts via an unexpected structural mechanism to inhibit AURKA activity and mitotic localization. In crystal structures, AurkinA binds to a hydrophobic pocket (the 'Y pocket') that normally accommodates a conserved Tyr-Ser-Tyr motif from TPX2, blocking the AURKA-TPX2 interaction. AurkinA binding to the Y- pocket induces structural changes in AURKA that inhibit catalytic activity in vitro and in cells, without affecting ATP binding to the active site, defining a novel mechanism of allosteric inhibition. Consistent with this mechanism, cells exposed to AurkinA mislocalise AURKA from mitotic spindle microtubules. Thus, our findings provide fresh insight into the catalytic mechanism of AURKA, and identify a key structural feature as the target for a new class of dual-mode AURKA inhibitors, with implications for the chemical biology and selective therapeutic targeting of structurally related kinases.We are grateful for the access and support at beamlines i02, i03 and i04-1 at Diamond Light Source at Harwell, UK (proposal MX9007 and MX9537) and at beamline Proxima1 at the SOLEIL Synchrotron, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. We are grateful for access and support from the X-ray and biophysics facilities (Dept. of Biochemistry) and the screening/imaging facility (MRC Cancer Unit). M.J. was supported by a Cancer Research UK studentship held in the labs of DS and ARV, PS and MR by a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award to ARV and MH, and DJH, BH, AJN and GM by grants from the UK Medical Research Council to ARV.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep2852

Cdt1 proteolysis is promoted by dual PIP degrons and is modulated by PCNA ubiquitylation

Cdt1 plays a critical role in DNA replication regulation by controlling licensing. In Metazoa, Cdt1 is regulated by CRL4Cdt2-mediated ubiquitylation, which is triggered by DNA binding of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). We show here that fission yeast Cdt1 interacts with PCNA in vivo and that DNA loading of PCNA is needed for Cdt1 proteolysis after DNA damage and in S phase. Activation of this pathway by ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage requires upstream involvement of nucleotide excision repair or UVDE repair enzymes. Unexpectedly, two non-canonical PCNA-interacting peptide (PIP) motifs, which both have basic residues downstream, function redundantly in Cdt1 proteolysis. Finally, we show that poly-ubiquitylation of PCNA, which occurs after DNA damage, reduces Cdt1 proteolysis. This provides a mechanism for fine-tuning the activity of the CRL4Cdt2 pathway towards Cdt1, allowing Cdt1 proteolysis to be more efficient in S phase than after DNA damage

Implicaciones de la NDP reductasa en la progresión de las horquillas de replicación en Escherichia coli

NDP reductase is the only specific enzyme required for the enzymatic synthesis of the precursors of DNA and it is a part of the Nucleotides Synthesis Complex. In this work we have analysed the replication fork progression in a nrdA101 mutant, which has a thermosensitive NDP reductase. We have proved that the Nucleotides Synthesis Complex and the Replication Complex are associated in a Replication Hyperstructure.La NDP reductasa es la única enzima requerida directamente para la biosíntesis de los precursores del DNA y está formando parte del Complejo de Síntesis de Nucleótidos. En este trabajo se ha analizado la progresión de las horquillas de replicación en un mutante nrdA101 que posee un NDP reductasa termosensible, comprobándose que el Complejo se Síntesis de Nucleótidos y el de Replicación están asociados formando una Hiperestructura de Replicación

A kinase-independent function for AURORA-A in replisome assembly during DNA replication initiation.

The catalytic activity of human AURORA-A kinase (AURKA) regulates mitotic progression, and its frequent overexpression in major forms of epithelial cancer is associated with aneuploidy and carcinogenesis. Here, we report an unexpected, kinase-independent function for AURKA in DNA replication initiation whose inhibition through a class of allosteric inhibitors opens avenues for cancer therapy. We show that genetic depletion of AURKA, or its inhibition by allosteric but not catalytic inhibitors, blocks the G1-S cell cycle transition. A catalytically inactive AURKA mutant suffices to overcome this block. We identify a multiprotein complex between AURKA and the replisome components MCM7, WDHD1 and POLD1 formed during G1, and demonstrate that allosteric but not catalytic inhibitors prevent the chromatin assembly of functional replisomes. Indeed, allosteric but not catalytic AURKA inhibitors sensitize cancer cells to inhibition of the CDC7 kinase subunit of the replication-initiating factor DDK. Thus, our findings define a mechanism essential for replisome assembly during DNA replication initiation that is vulnerable to inhibition as combination therapy in cancer