Regulation of repair pathway choice at two-ended DNA double-strand breaks.

A DNA double-strand break (DSB) is considered to be a critical DNA lesion because its misrepair can cause severe mutations, such as deletions or chromosomal translocations. For the precise repair of DSBs, the repair pathway that is optimal for the particular circumstance needs to be selected. Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) functions in G1/S/G2 phase, while homologous recombination (HR) becomes active only in S/G2 phase after DNA replication. DSB end structure is another factor affecting the repair pathway. For example, one-ended DSBs in S phase are mainly repaired by HR due to the lack of a partner DSB end for NHEJ. In contrast, two-ended DSBs, which are mainly induced by ionizing radiation, are repaired by either NHEJ or HR in G2 cells. Under the current model in terms of DSB repair pathway usage in G2 phase, NHEJ repairs ∼70% of two-ended DSBs, whereas HR repairs only ∼30%. Recent studies propose that NHEJ factors can bind all the DSB ends and are then either used to progress that pathway of DSB repair, or the repair proceeds by HR. In addition, molecular regulation by BRCA1 and 53BP1 has also been proposed. At DSB sites, BRCA1 functions to alleviate the 53BP1 barrier to resection by promoting 53BP1 dephosphorylation, followed by RIF1 release and 53BP1 repositioning. This timely 53BP1 repositioning may be important for the establishment of a chromatin environment that promotes the recruitment of EXO1 for resection in HR. This review summarizes current knowledge on factors regulating DSB repair pathway choice in terms of spatiotemporal regulation by focusing on the repair events at two-ended DSBs in G2 cells.

Shibata A 《-》

BRCA1 Directs the Repair Pathway to Homologous Recombination by Promoting 53BP1 Dephosphorylation.

BRCA1 promotes homologous recombination (HR) by activating DNA-end resection. By contrast, 53BP1 forms a barrier that inhibits DNA-end resection. Here, we show that BRCA1 promotes DNA-end resection by relieving the 53BP1-dependent barrier. We show that 53BP1 is phosphorylated by ATM in S/G2 phase, promoting RIF1 recruitment, which inhibits resection. 53BP1 is promptly dephosphorylated and RIF1 released, despite remaining unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). When resection is impaired by CtIP/MRE11 endonuclease inhibition, 53BP1 phosphorylation and RIF1 are sustained due to ongoing ATM signaling. BRCA1 depletion also sustains 53BP1 phosphorylation and RIF1 recruitment. We identify the phosphatase PP4C as having a major role in 53BP1 dephosphorylation and RIF1 release. BRCA1 or PP4C depletion impairs 53BP1 repositioning, EXO1 recruitment, and HR progression. 53BP1 or RIF1 depletion restores resection, RAD51 loading, and HR in PP4C-depleted cells. Our findings suggest that BRCA1 promotes PP4C-dependent 53BP1 dephosphorylation and RIF1 release, directing repair toward HR.

Isono M ，Niimi A ，Oike T ，Hagiwara Y ，Sato H ，Sekine R ，Yoshida Y ，Isobe SY ，Obuse C ，Nishi R ，Petricci E ，Nakada S ，Nakano T ，Shibata A ... -  《Cell Reports》

Roles for 53BP1 in the repair of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks.

In mammalian cells, the mediator protein, 53BP1, exerts distinct impacts on the repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) depending on the setting, for example whether the DSBs arise at telomeres or during replication or class switch recombination. Here, we focus on two roles of 53BP1 in response to ionising radiation (IR)-induced DSBs (IR-DSBs). Canonical DNA non-homologous end-joining (c-NHEJ) is the major DSB repair pathway with homologous recombination (HR) contributing to DSB repair in S/G2 phase. ATM signalling promotes histone modifications and protein assembly in the DSB vicinity, which can be visualised as irradiation induced foci (IRIF). 53BP1 assembles at DSBs in a complex manner involving the formation of nano-domains. In G1 and G2 phase, X- or gamma-ray induced DSBs are repaired with biphasic kinetics. 70-80 % of DSBs are repaired with fast kinetics in both cell cycle phases by c-NHEJ; the remaining DSBs are repaired with slower kinetics in G2 phase via HR and in G1 by a specialised form of c-NHEJ termed Artemis and resection-dependent c-NHEJ, due to a specific requirement for the nuclease, Artemis and resection factors. 53BP1 is essential for the repair of DSBs rejoined with slow kinetics in G1 and G2 phase. This 53BP1 function requires its tandem BRCT domain and interaction with NBS1. As a distinct function, 53BP1 suppresses resection during both HR and Artemis and resection-dependent c-NHEJ. This latter role requires RIF1 and is counteracted by BRCA1. 53BP1 appears to be dispensable for the rejoining of the fast c-NHEJ repair process.

Shibata A ，Jeggo PA 《-》

H4K20me2 distinguishes pre-replicative from post-replicative chromatin to appropriately direct DNA repair pathway choice by 53BP1-RIF1-MAD2L2.

Simonetta M ，de Krijger I ，Serrat J ，Moatti N ，Fortunato D ，Hoekman L ，Bleijerveld OB ，Altelaar AFM ，Jacobs JJL ... -  《-》

Roles for the DNA-PK complex and 53BP1 in protecting ends from resection during DNA double-strand break repair.

p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) exerts distinct impacts in different situations involving DNA double-strand break (DSB) rejoining. Here we focus on how 53BP1 impacts upon the repair of ionising radiation-induced DSBs (IR-DSBs) and how it interfaces with Ku, the DNA end-binding component of canonical non-homologous end-joining (c-NHEJ), the major DSB repair pathway in mammalian cells. We delineate three forms of IR-DSB repair: resection-independent c-NHEJ, which rejoins most IR-DSBs with fast kinetics in G1 and G2, and Artemis and resection-dependent c-NHEJ and homologous recombination (HR), which repair IR-DSBs with slow kinetics in G1 and G2 phase, respectively. The fast component of DSB repair after X-ray exposure occurs via c-NHEJ with normal kinetics in the absence of 53BP1. Ku is highly abundant and has avid DNA end-binding capacity which restricts DNA end-resection and promotes resection-independent c-NHEJ at most IR-DSBs. Thus, 53BP1 is largely dispensable for resection-independent c-NHEJ. In contrast, 53BP1 is essential for the process of rejoining IR-DSBs with slow kinetics. This role requires 53BP1's breast cancer susceptibility gene I (BRCA1) C-terminal (BRCT) 2 domain, persistent ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activation and potentially relaxation of compacted chromatin at heterochromatic-DSBs. In distinction, 53BP1 inhibits resection-dependent IR-DSB repair in G1 and G2, and this resection-inhibitory function can be counteracted by BRCA1. We discuss a model whereby most IR-DSBs are rapidly repaired by 53BP1-independent and resection-independent c-NHEJ due to the ability of Ku to inhibit resection, but, if delayed, then resection in the presence of Ku is triggered, the 53BP1 barrier comes into force and BRCA1 counteraction is required for resection.

Shibata A ，Jeggo PA 《-》