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Journal ArticleDOI

Sensing DNA Damage Through ATRIP Recognition of RPA-ssDNA Complexes

06 Jun 2003-Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science)-Vol. 300, Iss: 5625, pp 1542-1548
TL;DR: The data suggest that RPA-coated ssDNA is the critical structure at sites of DNA damage that recruits the ATR-ATRIP complex and facilitates its recognition of substrates for phosphorylation and the initiation of checkpoint signaling.
Abstract: The function of the ATR (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated- and Rad3-related)-ATRIP (ATR-interacting protein) protein kinase complex is crucial for the cellular response to replication stress and DNA damage. Here, we show that replication protein A (RPA), a protein complex that associates with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), is required for the recruitment of ATR to sites of DNA damage and for ATR-mediated Chk1 activation in human cells. In vitro, RPA stimulates the binding of ATRIP to ssDNA. The binding of ATRIP to RPA-coated ssDNA enables the ATR-ATRIP complex to associate with DNA and stimulates phosphorylation of the Rad17 protein that is bound to DNA. Furthermore, Ddc2, the budding yeast homolog of ATRIP, is specifically recruited to double-strand DNA breaks in an RPA-dependent manner. A checkpoint-deficient mutant of RPA, rfa1-t11, is defective for recruiting Ddc2 to ssDNA both in vivo and in vitro. Our data suggest that RPA-coated ssDNA is the critical structure at sites of DNA damage that recruits the ATR-ATRIP complex and facilitates its recognition of substrates for phosphorylation and the initiation of checkpoint signaling.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review will focus on how the DDR controls DNA repair and the phenotypic consequences of defects in these critical regulatory functions in mammals.

3,678 citations


Cites background from "Sensing DNA Damage Through ATRIP Re..."

  • ...RPA-ssDNA complex recruits the ATR/ATRIP complex through direct interaction with ATRIP to localize it to the fork (Figure 1B) (Zou and Elledge, 2003)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and the DNA damage checkpoints in mammalian cells are analyzed and apoptosis, which eliminates heavily damaged or seriously deregulated cells, is analyzed.
Abstract: DNA damage is a relatively common event in the life of a cell and may lead to mutation, cancer, and cellular or organismic death. Damage to DNA induces several cellular responses that enable the cell either to eliminate or cope with the damage or to activate a programmed cell death process, presumably to eliminate cells with potentially catastrophic mutations. These DNA damage response reactions include: (a) removal of DNA damage and restoration of the continuity of the DNA duplex; (b) activation of a DNA damage checkpoint, which arrests cell cycle progression so as to allow for repair and prevention of the transmission of damaged or incompletely replicated chromosomes; (c) transcriptional response, which causes changes in the transcription profile that may be beneficial to the cell; and (d) apoptosis, which eliminates heavily damaged or seriously deregulated cells. DNA repair mechanisms include direct repair, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, double-strand break repair, and cross-link repair. The DNA damage checkpoints employ damage sensor proteins, such as ATM, ATR, the Rad17-RFC complex, and the 9-1-1 complex, to detect DNA damage and to initiate signal transduction cascades that employ Chk1 and Chk2 Ser/Thr kinases and Cdc25 phosphatases. The signal transducers activate p53 and inactivate cyclin-dependent kinases to inhibit cell cycle progression from G1 to S (the G1/S checkpoint), DNA replication (the intra-S checkpoint), or G2 to mitosis (the G2/M checkpoint). In this review the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and the DNA damage checkpoints in mammalian cells are analyzed.

3,171 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
18 Nov 2004-Nature
TL;DR: All life on earth must cope with constant exposure to DNA-damaging agents such as the Sun's radiation, and how cells respond to DNA damage are critical determinants of whether that individual will develop cancer.
Abstract: All life on earth must cope with constant exposure to DNA-damaging agents such as the Sun's radiation. Highly conserved DNA-repair and cell-cycle checkpoint pathways allow cells to deal with both endogenous and exogenous sources of DNA damage. How much an individual is exposed to these agents and how their cells respond to DNA damage are critical determinants of whether that individual will develop cancer. These cellular responses are also important for determining toxicities and responses to current cancer therapies, most of which target the DNA.

2,725 citations


Cites background from "Sensing DNA Damage Through ATRIP Re..."

  • ...ATR exists in a complex with the ATR-interacting protein (ATRIP), both before and after exposure to stresses such as ultraviolet irradiatio...

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Journal ArticleDOI
14 Apr 2005-Nature
TL;DR: It is shown that in clinical specimens from different stages of human tumours of the urinary bladder, breast, lung and colon, the early precursor lesions commonly express markers of an activated DNA damage response.
Abstract: During the evolution of cancer, the incipient tumour experiences 'oncogenic stress', which evokes a counter-response to eliminate such hazardous cells. However, the nature of this stress remains elusive, as does the inducible anti-cancer barrier that elicits growth arrest or cell death. Here we show that in clinical specimens from different stages of human tumours of the urinary bladder, breast, lung and colon, the early precursor lesions (but not normal tissues) commonly express markers of an activated DNA damage response. These include phosphorylated kinases ATM and Chk2, and phosphorylated histone H2AX and p53. Similar checkpoint responses were induced in cultured cells upon expression of different oncogenes that deregulate DNA replication. Together with genetic analyses, including a genome-wide assessment of allelic imbalances, our data indicate that early in tumorigenesis (before genomic instability and malignant conversion), human cells activate an ATR/ATM-regulated DNA damage response network that delays or prevents cancer. Mutations compromising this checkpoint, including defects in the ATM-Chk2-p53 pathway, might allow cell proliferation, survival, increased genomic instability and tumour progression.

2,641 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: New insights are provided into the mechanisms that control ATR activation, which 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.
Abstract: 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.

1,687 citations


Cites background from "Sensing DNA Damage Through ATRIP Re..."

  • ...Most data suggest that this structure contains single-stranded DNA (ssDNA...

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
23 Nov 2000-Nature
TL;DR: The inability to repair DNA damage properly in mammals leads to various disorders and enhanced rates of tumour development, and this work has shown that direct activation of DNA repair networks is needed to correct this problem.
Abstract: The inability to repair DNA damage properly in mammals leads to various disorders and enhanced rates of tumour development. Organisms respond to chromosomal insults by activating a complex damage response pathway. This pathway regulates known responses such as cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis (programmed cell death), and has recently been shown to control additional processes including direct activation of DNA repair networks.

3,230 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These checkpoints contain, as their most proximal signaling elements, sensor proteins that scan chromatin for partially replicated DNA, DNA strand breaks, or other abnormalities, and translate these DNA-derived stimuli into biochemical signals that modulate the functions of specific downstream target proteins.
Abstract: The genomes of eukaryotic cells are under continuous assault by environmental agents (e.g., UV light and reactive chemicals) as well as the byproducts of normal intracellular metabolism (e.g., reactive oxygen intermediates and inaccurately replicated DNA). Whatever the origin, genetic damage threatens cell survival, and, in metazoans, leads to organ failure, immunodeficiency, cancer, and other pathologic sequelae. To ensure that cells pass accurate copies of their genomes on to the next generation, evolution has overlaid the core cell-cycle machinery with a series of surveillance pathways termed cell-cycle checkpoints. The overall function of these checkpoints is to detect damaged or abnormally structured DNA, and to coordinate cell-cycle progression with DNA repair. Typically, cell-cycle checkpoint activation slows or arrests cell-cycle progression, thereby allowing time for appropriate repair mechanisms to correct genetic lesions before they are passed on to the next generation of daughter cells. In certain cell types, such as thymocytes, checkpoint proteins link DNA strand breaks to apoptotic cell death via induction of p53. Hence, loss of either of two biochemically connected checkpoint kinases, ATM or Chk2, paradoxically increases the resistance of immature (CD4CD8) T cells to ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis (Xu and Baltimore 1996; Hirao et al. 2000). In a broader context, cell-cycle checkpoints can be envisioned as signal transduction pathways that link the pace of key cell-cycle phase transitions to the timely and accurate completion of prior, contingent events. It is important to recognize that checkpoint surveillance functions are not confined solely to the happenings within the nucleus–extranuclear parameters, such as growth factor availability and cell mass accumulation, also govern the pace of the cell cycle (Stocker and Hafen 2000). However, for the purposes of this review we will focus exclusively on the subset of checkpoints that monitor the status and structure of chromosomal DNA during cell-cycle progression (Fig. 1). These checkpoints contain, as their most proximal signaling elements, sensor proteins that scan chromatin for partially replicated DNA, DNA strand breaks, or other abnormalities, and translate these DNA-derived stimuli into biochemical signals that modulate the functions of specific downstream target proteins. Despite the recent explosion of information regarding the molecular components of cell-cycle checkpoints in eukaryotic cells, we still have only a skeletal understanding of both the identities of the DNA damage sensors and the mechanisms through which they initiate and terminate the activation of checkpoints. However, members of the Rad group of checkpoint proteins, which include Rad17, Rad1, Rad9, Rad26, and Hus1 (nomenclature based on the Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene products) are widely expressed in all eukaryotic cells, and are prime suspects in the lineup of candidate DNA damage sensors (Green et al. 2000; O’Connell et al. 2000). Three of these Rad proteins, Rad1, Rad9, and Hus1, exhibit structural similarity to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and accumulating evidence supports the idea that this similarity may extend to function as well (Thelen et al. 1999; Burtelow et al. 2000). During DNA replication, PCNA forms a homotrimeric complex that encircles DNA, creating a “sliding clamp” that tethers DNA polymerase to the DNA strand. Rad1, Rad9, and Hus1 are also found as a heterotrimeric complex in intact cells, and it has been postulated that the Rad1–Rad9–Hus1 complex encircles DNA at or near sites of damage to form a checkpoint sliding clamp (CSC) (O’Connell et al. 2000), which could serve as a nucleus for the recruitment of the checkpoint signaling machinery to broken or abnormally structured DNA. The analogy between PCNA and the Rad1–Rad9–Hus1 complex extends even further. The loading of the PCNA clamp onto DNA is controlled by the clamp loading complex, replication factor C (RFC). Interestingly, yet another member of the Rad family, Rad17, bears homology to the RFC subunits and, in fact, associates with RFC subunits to form a putative checkpoint clamp loading complex (CLC) that governs the interaction of the Rad1– Rad9–Hus1 CSC with damaged DNA (Green et al. 2000; O’Connell et al. 2000). Although this model is fascinating, rigorous biochemical evaluations of the interplay between the CLC and CSC complexes, and the interactions of both complexes with damaged chromatin, are needed before the model can be accepted without reservation. Present address: The Burnham Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA E-MAIL abraham@burnham.org; FAX (858) 713-6268. Article and publication are at http://www.genesdev.org/cgi/doi/10.1101/ gad.914401.

2,053 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that in human cells, Chk1 is phosphorylated on serine 345 (S345) in response to UV, IR, and hydroxyurea (HU).
Abstract: Chk1, an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase, has been implicated in cell cycle checkpoint control in lower eukaryotes. By gene disruption, we show that CHK1 deficiency results in a severe proliferation defect and death in embryonic stem (ES) cells, and peri-implantation embryonic lethality in mice. Through analysis of a conditional CHK1-deficient cell line, we demonstrate that ES cells lacking Chk1 have a defective G(2)/M DNA damage checkpoint in response to gamma-irradiation (IR). CHK1 heterozygosity modestly enhances the tumorigenesis phenotype of WNT-1 transgenic mice. We show that in human cells, Chk1 is phosphorylated on serine 345 (S345) in response to UV, IR, and hydroxyurea (HU). Overexpression of wild-type Atr enhances, whereas overexpression of the kinase-defective mutant Atr inhibits S345 phosphorylation of Chk1 induced by UV treatment. Taken together, these data indicate that Chk1 plays an essential role in the mammalian DNA damage checkpoint, embryonic development, and tumor suppression, and that Atr regulates Chk1.

1,707 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
16 Feb 2001-Science
TL;DR: Modulation of DNA repair should lead to clinical applications including improvement of radiotherapy and treatment with anticancer drugs and an advanced understanding of the cellular aging process.
Abstract: Cellular DNA is subjected to continual attack, both by reactive species inside cells and by environmental agents. Toxic and mutagenic consequences are minimized by distinct pathways of repair, and 130 known human DNA repair genes are described here. Notable features presently include four enzymes that can remove uracil from DNA, seven recombination genes related to RAD51, and many recently discovered DNA polymerases that bypass damage, but only one system to remove the main DNA lesions induced by ultraviolet light. More human DNA repair genes will be found by comparison with model organisms and as common folds in three-dimensional protein structures are determined. Modulation of DNA repair should lead to clinical applications including improvement of radiotherapy and treatment with anticancer drugs and an advanced understanding of the cellular aging process.

1,581 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
Marc S. Wold1
TL;DR: Replication protein A (RPA) is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein that is required for multiple processes in eukaryotic DNA metabolism, including DNA replication, DNA repair, and recombination.
Abstract: Replication protein A [RPA; also known as replication factor A (RFA) and human single-stranded DNA-binding protein] is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein that is required for multiple processes in eukaryotic DNA metabolism, including DNA replication, DNA repair, and recombination. RPA homologues have been identified in all eukaryotic organisms examined and are all abundant heterotrimeric proteins composed of subunits of approximately 70, 30, and 14 kDa. Members of this family bind nonspecifically to single-stranded DNA and interact with and/or modify the activities of multiple proteins. In cells, RPA is phosphorylated by DNA-dependent protein kinase when RPA is bound to single-stranded DNA (during S phase and after DNA damage). Phosphorylation of RPA may play a role in coordinating DNA metabolism in the cell. RPA may also have a role in modulating gene expression.

1,454 citations