A Ddc2-Rad53 fusion protein can bypass the requirements for RAD9 and MRC1 in Rad53 activation

The DNA damage checkpoint: A tale from budding yeast

Studies performed in the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe have led the way in defining the DNA damage checkpoint and in identifying most of the proteins involved in this regulatory network, which turned out to have structural and functional equivalents in humans. Subsequent experiments revealed that the checkpoint is an elaborate signal transduction pathway that has the ability to sense and signal the presence of damaged DNA and transduce this information to influence a multifaceted cellular response that is essential for cancer avoidance. This review focuses on the work that was done in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to articulate the checkpoint concept, to identify its players and the mechanisms of activation and deactivation.

Rad9, a 53BP1 Ortholog of Budding Yeast, Is Insensitive to Spo11-Induced Double-Strand Breaks During Meiosis

Exogenous double-strand breaks (DSBs) induce a DNA damage response during mitosis as well as meiosis. The DNA damage response is mediated by a cascade involving Mec1/Tel1 (ATR/ATM) and Rad53 (Chk2) kinases. Meiotic cells are programmed to form DSBs for the initiation of meiotic recombination. In budding yeast, Spo11-mediated meiotic DSBs activate Mec1/Tel1, but not Rad53; however, the mechanism underlying the insensitivity of Rad53 to meiotic DSBs remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that meiotic cells activate Rad53 in response to exogenous DSBs and that this activation is dependent on an epigenetic marker, Dot1-dependent histone H3K79 methylation, which becomes a scaffold of an Rad53 mediator, Rad9, an ortholog of 53BP1. In contrast, Rad9 is insensitive to meiotic programmed DSBs. This insensitiveness of Rad9 derives from its inability to bind to the DSBs. Indeed, artificial tethering of Rad9 to the meiotic DSBs activated Rad53. The artificial activation of Rad53 kinase in meiosis decreases the repair of meiotic DSBs. These results suggest that the suppression of Rad53 activation is a key event in initiating a meiotic program that repairs programmed DSBs.

Checkpoint functions of RecQ helicases at perturbed DNA replication fork

DNA replication checkpoint is a cell signaling pathway that is activated in response to perturbed replication. Although it is crucial for maintaining genomic integrity and cell survival, the exact mechanism of the checkpoint signaling remains to be understood. Emerging evidence has shown that RecQ helicases, a large family of helicases that are conserved from bacteria to yeasts and humans, contribute to the replication checkpoint as sensors, adaptors, or regulation targets. Here, we highlight the multiple functions of RecQ helicases in the replication checkpoint in four model organisms and present additional evidence that fission yeast RecQ helicase Rqh1 may participate in the replication checkpoint as a sensor.

Elevated Rad53 kinase activity influences formation and interhomolog repair of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks in budding yeast

Meiotic cells generate physiological programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) to initiate meiotic recombination. Interhomolog repair of the programmed DSBs by meiotic recombination is vital to ensure accurate chromosome segregation at meiosis I to produce normal gametes. In budding yeast, the DNA damage checkpoint kinase Rad53 is activated by DSBs which accidentally occur as DNA lesions in mitosis and meiosis; however, meiotic programmed DSBs which occur at approximately 160 loci per genome fail to activate the kinase. Thus, Rad53 activation appears to be silenced in response to meiotic programmed DSBs. In this study, to address the biological significance of Rad53's insensitivity to meiotic DSBs, we examined the effects of Rad53 overexpression on meiotic processes. The overexpression led to partial activation of Rad53, uncovering that the negative impacts of Rad53 kinase activation on meiotic progression, and formation and interhomolog repair of meiotic programmed DSBs.

Replication checkpoint: tuning and coordination of replication forks in s phase

Checkpoints monitor critical cell cycle events such as chromosome duplication and segregation. They are highly conserved mechanisms that prevent progression into the next phase of the cell cycle when cells are unable to accomplish the previous event properly. During S phase, cells also provide a surveillance mechanism called the DNA replication checkpoint, which consists of a conserved kinase cascade that is provoked by insults that block or slow down replication forks. The DNA replication checkpoint is crucial for maintaining genome stability, because replication forks become vulnerable to collapse when they encounter obstacles such as nucleotide adducts, nicks, RNA-DNA hybrids, or stable protein-DNA complexes. These can be exogenously induced or can arise from endogenous cellular activity. Here, we summarize the initiation and transduction of the replication checkpoint as well as its targets, which coordinate cell cycle events and DNA replication fork stability.

DNA resection proteins Sgs1 and Exo1 are required for G1 checkpoint activation in budding yeast

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) in budding yeast trigger activation of DNA damage checkpoints, allowing repair to occur. Although resection is necessary for initiating damage-induced cell cycle arrest in G2, no role has been assigned to it in the activation of G1 checkpoint. Here we demonstrate for the first time that the resection proteins Sgs1 and Exo1 are required for efficient G1 checkpoint activation. We find in G1 arrested cells that histone H2A phosphorylation in response to ionizing radiation is independent of Sgs1 and Exo1. In contrast, these proteins are required for damage-induced recruitment of Rfa1 to the DSB sites, phosphorylation of the Rad53 effector kinase, cell cycle arrest and RNR3 expression. Checkpoint activation in G1 requires the catalytic activity of Sgs1, suggesting that it is DNA resection mediated by Sgs1 that stimulates the damage response pathway rather than protein-protein interactions with other DDR proteins. Together, these results implicate DNA resection, which is thought to be minimal in G1, as necessary for activation of the G1 checkpoint.

Multiple functions of the S-phase checkpoint mediator

There is mounting evidence that replication defects are the major source of spontaneous genomic instability in cells, and that S-phase checkpoints are the principal defense against such instability. The S-phase checkpoint mediator protein Mrc1/Claspin mediates the checkpoint response to replication stress by facilitating phosphorylation of effector kinase by a sensor kinase. In this review, the multiple functions and the regulation of the S-phase checkpoint mediator are discussed.

CDC5 inhibits the hyperphosphorylation of the checkpoint kinase Rad53, leading to checkpoint adaptation

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae polo-like kinase Cdc5 promotes adaptation to the DNA damage checkpoint, in addition to its numerous roles in mitotic progression. The process of adaptation occurs when cells are presented with persistent or irreparable DNA damage and escape the cell-cycle arrest imposed by the DNA damage checkpoint. However, the precise mechanism of adaptation remains unknown. We report here that CDC5 is dose-dependent for adaptation and that its overexpression promotes faster adaptation, indicating that high levels of Cdc5 modulate the ability of the checkpoint to inhibit the downstream cell-cycle machinery. To pinpoint the step in the checkpoint pathway at which Cdc5 acts, we overexpressed CDC5 from the GAL1 promoter in damaged cells and examined key steps in checkpoint activation individually. Cdc5 overproduction appeared to have little effect on the early steps leading to Rad53 activation. The checkpoint sensors, Ddc1 (a member of the 9-1-1 complex) and Ddc2 (a member of the Ddc2/Mec1 complex), properly localized to damage sites. Mec1 appeared to be active, since the Rad9 adaptor retained its Mec1 phosphorylation. Moreover, the damage-induced interaction between phosphorylated Rad9 and Rad53 remained intact. In contrast, Rad53 hyperphosphorylation was significantly reduced, consistent with the observation that cell-cycle arrest is lost during adaptation. Thus, we conclude Cdc5 acts to attenuate the DNA damage checkpoint through loss of Rad53 hyperphosphorylation to allow cells to adapt to DNA damage. Polo-like kinase homologs have been shown to inhibit the ability of Claspin to facilitate the activation of downstream checkpoint kinases, suggesting that this function is conserved in vertebrates.

Loss of yeast peroxiredoxin Tsa1p induces genome instability through activation of the DNA damage checkpoint and elevation of dNTP levels

Peroxiredoxins are a family of antioxidant enzymes critically involved in cellular defense and signaling. Particularly, yeast peroxiredoxin Tsa1p is thought to play a role in the maintenance of genome integrity, but the underlying mechanism is not understood. In this study, we took a genetic approach to investigate the cause of genome instability in tsa1Δ cells. Strong genetic interactions of TSA1 with DNA damage checkpoint components DUN1, SML1, and CRT1 were found when mutant cells were analyzed for either sensitivity to DNA damage or rate of spontaneous base substitutions. An elevation in intracellular dNTP production was observed in tsa1Δ cells. This was associated with constitutive activation of the DNA damage checkpoint as indicated by phosphorylation of Rad9/Rad53p, reduced steady-state amount of Sml1p, and induction of RNR and HUG1 genes. In addition, defects in the DNA damage checkpoint did not modulate intracellular level of reactive oxygen species, but suppressed the mutator phenotype of tsa1Δ cells. On the contrary, overexpression of RNR1 exacerbated this phenotype by increasing dNTP levels. Taken together, our findings uncover a new role of TSA1 in preventing the overproduction of dNTPs, which is a root cause of genome instability.

Peroxiredoxins are a family of antioxidant enzymes highly conserved from yeast to human. Loss of peroxiredoxin in mice can lead to severe anemia and malignant tumors, but the underlying cause is not understood. One way to derive new knowledge of peroxiredoxins is through genetic analysis in yeast. We have shown that loss of peroxiredoxins in yeast is associated with an increase in mutation rates. Here, we demonstrate that this elevation of mutation rates in yeast cells lacking a peroxiredoxin is due to increased production of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs), the building blocks of DNA. Our findings suggest a new model in which compromised antioxidant defense causes accumulation of damaged DNA and activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. For yeast cells to survive DNA damage, dNTP production is increased to facilitate DNA replication, but at the price of high mutation rates. This new model could lead to a better understanding of human diseases including cancer.

Perspectives on the DNA damage and replication checkpoint responses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The DNA damage and replication checkpoints are believed to primarily slow the progression of the cell cycle to allow DNA repair to occur. Here we summarize known aspects of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae checkpoints including how these responses are integrated into downstream effects on the cell cycle, chromatin, DNA repair, and cytoplasmic targets. Analysis of the transcriptional response demonstrates that it is far more complex and less relevant to the repair of DNA damage than the bacterial SOS response. We also address more speculative questions regarding potential roles of the checkpoint during the normal S-phase and how current evidence hints at a checkpoint activation mechanism mediated by positive feedback that amplifies initial damage signals above a minimum threshold.

The direct binding of Mrc1, a checkpoint mediator, to Mcm6, a replication helicase, is essential for the replication checkpoint against methyl methanesulfonate-induced stress

Mrc1 plays a role in mediating the DNA replication checkpoint. We surveyed replication elongation proteins that interact directly with Mrc1 and identified a replicative helicase, Mcm6, as a specific Mrc1-binding protein. The central portion of Mrc1, containing a conserved coiled-coil region, was found to be essential for interaction with the 168-amino-acid C-terminal region of Mcm6, and introduction of two amino acid substitutions in this C-terminal region abolished the interaction with Mrc1 in vivo. An mcm6 mutant bearing these substitutions showed a severe defect in DNA replication checkpoint activation in response to stress caused by methyl methanesulfonate. Interestingly, the mutant did not show any defect in DNA replication checkpoint activation in response to hydroxyurea treatment. The phenotype of the mcm6 mutant was suppressed when the mutant protein was physically fused with Mrc1. These results strongly suggest for the first time that an Mcm helicase acts as a checkpoint sensor for methyl methanesulfonate-induced DNA damage through direct binding to the replication checkpoint mediator Mrc1.

Reconstitution of Rad53 activation by Mec1 through adaptor protein Mrc1

Upon DNA replication stress, stalled DNA replication forks serve as a platform to recruit many signaling proteins, leading to the activation of the DNA replication checkpoint. Activation of Rad53, a key effector kinase in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is essential for stabilizing DNA replication forks during replication stress. Using an activity-based assay for Rad53, we found that Mrc1, a replication fork-associated protein, cooperates with Mec1 to activate Rad53 directly. Reconstitution of Rad53 activation using purified Mec1 and Mrc1 showed that the addition of Mrc1 stimulated a more than 70-fold increase in the ability of Mec1 to activate Rad53. Instead of increasing the catalytic activity of Mec1, Mrc1 was found to facilitate the phosphorylation of Rad53 by Mec1 via promotion of a stronger enzyme-substrate interaction between them. Further, the conserved C-terminal domain of Mrc1 was found to be required for Rad53 activation. These results thus provide insights into the role of the adaptor protein Mrc1 in activating Rad53 in the DNA replication checkpoint.

ATR: an essential regulator of genome integrity

Genome maintenance is a constant concern for cells, and a coordinated response to DNA damage is required to maintain cellular viability and prevent disease. The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM and RAD3-related (ATR) protein kinases act as master regulators of the DNA-damage response by signalling to control cell-cycle transitions, DNA replication, DNA repair and apoptosis. Recent studies have provided new insights into the mechanisms that control ATR activation, have helped to explain the overlapping but non-redundant activities of ATR and ATM in DNA-damage signalling, and have clarified the crucial functions of ATR in maintaining genome integrity.

Role of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad53 checkpoint kinase in signaling double-strand breaks during the meiotic cell cycle

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can arise at unpredictable locations after DNA damage or in a programmed manner during meiosis. DNA damage checkpoint response to accidental DSBs during mitosis requires the Rad53 effector kinase, whereas the meiosis-specific Mek1 kinase, together with Red1 and Hop1, mediates the recombination checkpoint in response to programmed meiotic DSBs. Here we provide evidence that exogenous DSBs lead to Rad53 phosphorylation during the meiotic cell cycle, whereas programmed meiotic DSBs do not. However, the latter can trigger phosphorylation of a protein fusion between Rad53 and the Mec1-interacting protein Ddc2, suggesting that the inability of Rad53 to transduce the meiosis-specific DSB signals might be due to its failure to access the meiotic recombination sites. Rad53 phosphorylation/activation is elicited when unrepaired meiosis-specific DSBs escape the recombination checkpoint. This activation requires homologous chromosome segregation and delays the second meiotic division. Altogether, these data indicate that Rad53 prevents sister chromatid segregation in the presence of unrepaired programmed meiotic DSBs, thus providing a salvage mechanism ensuring genetic integrity in the gametes even in the absence of the recombination checkpoint.

Yeast G1 DNA damage checkpoint regulation by H2A phosphorylation is independent of chromatin remodeling

Recent studies of yeast G1 DNA damage response have identified characteristic changes in chromatin adjacent to double-strand breaks (DSBs). Histone H2A (yeast H2AX) is rapidly phosphorylated on S129 by the kinase Tel1 (ATM) over a domain extending kilobases from the DSB. The adaptor protein Rad9 (53BP1) is recruited to this chromatin domain through binding of its tudor domains to histone H3 diMe-K79. Multisite phosphorylation of Rad9 by Mec1 (ATR) then activates the signaling kinase Rad53 (CHK2) to induce a delay in G1. Here, we report a previously undescribed role for Tel1 in G1 checkpoint response and show that H2A is the likely phosphorylation target, in a much as S129 mutation to Ala confers defects in G1 checkpoint arrest, Rad9 phosphorylation, and Rad53 activation. Importantly, Rad9 fails to bind chromatin adjacent to DSBs in H2A-S129A mutants. Previous work showed that H2A phosphorylation allows binding of NuA4, SWR, and INO80 chromatin remodeling complexes, perhaps exposing H3 diMe-K79. Yet, mutants lacking SWR or INO80 remain checkpoint competent, whereas loss of NuA4-dependent histone acetylation leads to G1 checkpoint persistence, suggesting that H2A phosphorylation promotes two independent events, rapid Rad9 recruitment to DSBs and subsequent remodeling by NuA4, SWR, and INO80.

Characterization of checkpoint responses to DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: basic protocols

In spite of certain special features of its cell cycle, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proved to be an excellent and widely used model to study eukaryotic checkpoint responses to DNA damage. This chapter primarily summarizes selected cytological methods that are useful for initial characterization of cell cycle responses. These can be useful in order to study mutants, conditions, or selected DNA damaging agents and experimental examples are given. We have also included protocols for flow-cytometric cell cycle analysis and for determination of Rad53 phosphorylation, a commonly used indicator of checkpoint activation.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad9 acts as a Mec1 adaptor to allow Rad53 activation

BACKGROUND

The DNA damage checkpoint is a protein kinase-based signaling system that detects and signals physical alterations in DNA. Despite having identified many components of this signaling cascade, the exact mechanisms by which checkpoint kinases are activated after DNA damage, as well as the role of the checkpoint mediators, remain poorly understood.

RESULTS

To elucidate the mechanisms that underlie the MEC1 and RAD9-dependent activation of Rad53, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ortholog of Chk2, we mapped and characterized in vivo phosphorylation sites present on Rad53 after DNA damage by mass spectrometry. We find that Rad53 requires for its activation multisite phosphorylation on a number of typical and atypical Mec1 phosphorylation sites, thus confirming that Rad53 is a direct target of Mec1, the mammalian ATR homolog. Moreover, by using biochemical reconstitution experiments, we demonstrate that efficient and direct phosphorylation of Rad53 by Mec1 is only observed in the presence of purified Rad9, the archetypal checkpoint mediator. We find that the stimulatory activity of Rad9 requires a phospho- and FHA-dependent interaction with Rad53, which allows Rad53 to be recognized as a substrate for Mec1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that Rad9 acts as a bona fide signaling adaptor that enables Rad53 phosphorylation by Mec1. Given the high degree of conservation of checkpoint signaling in eukaryotes, we propose that one of the critical functions of checkpoint mediators such as MDC1, 53BP1, or Brca1 is to act as PIKK adaptors during the DNA damage response.

Activation of the checkpoint kinase Rad53 by the phosphatidyl inositol kinase-like kinase Mec1

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad53, the ortholog of mammalian Chk2, is an essential protein kinase in DNA damage and DNA replication checkpoint pathways. Consecutive phosphatidyl inositol kinase-like kinase (PIKK)-dependent and PIKK-independent steps in activation of Rad53 are key steps for controlling and transmitting diverse downstream responses to DNA damage. However, these activities have not been demonstrated in vitro in defined systems. Here, we have shown that enzymatically dephosphorylated purified Rad53 autoactivates in vitro through a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that autophosphorylation results in a more than 9-fold increase in protein kinase activity. Autophosphorylation was Rad53 concentration-dependent, indicating that the reaction follows an intermolecular mechanism. DNA damage induced oligomerization of a subset of Rad53 molecules in vivo. At low concentrations of Rad53, preincubation of Rad53 with immune complexes containing the Mec1/Ddc2 complex can activate Rad53 kinase activity. Our findings showed that Mec1/Ddc2 complexes can directly activate Rad53 through a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism, and more generally, supported the hypothesis that PIKKs regulate Chk2 orthologs through phosphorylation. Moreover, this work has substantiated a model for PIKK-independent amplification of Rad53 activation (and by extension, activation of other Chk2 orthologs) mediated by inter-Rad53 phosphorylation.

Role of Dot1-dependent histone H3 methylation in G1 and S phase DNA damage checkpoint functions of Rad9

We screened radiation-sensitive yeast mutants for DNA damage checkpoint defects and identified Dot1, the conserved histone H3 Lys 79 methyltransferase. DOT1 deletion mutants (dot1Delta) are G1 and intra-S phase checkpoint defective after ionizing radiation but remain competent for G2/M arrest. Mutations that affect Dot1 function such as Rad6-Bre1/Paf1 pathway gene deletions or mutation of H2B Lys 123 or H3 Lys 79 share dot1Delta checkpoint defects. Whereas dot1Delta alone confers minimal DNA damage sensitivity, combining dot1Delta with histone methyltransferase mutations set1Delta and set2Delta markedly enhances lethality. Interestingly, set1Delta and set2Delta mutants remain G1 checkpoint competent, but set1Delta displays a mild S phase checkpoint defect. In human cells, H3 Lys 79 methylation by hDOT1L likely mediates recruitment of the signaling protein 53BP1 via its paired tudor domains to double-strand breaks (DSBs). Consistent with this paradigm, loss of Dot1 prevents activation of the yeast 53BP1 ortholog Rad9 or Chk2 homolog Rad53 and decreases binding of Rad9 to DSBs after DNA damage. Mutation of Rad9 to alter tudor domain binding to methylated Lys 79 phenocopies the dot1Delta checkpoint defect and blocks Rad53 phosphorylation. These results indicate a key role for chromatin and methylation of histone H3 Lys 79 in yeast DNA damage signaling.