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Faster repair of DNA double-strand breaks in radioresistant human tumor cells.

To investigate the molecular basis of radiation resistance in human tumor cells, the induction and repair of radiation-induced DNA single- and double-strand breaks was determined by DNA elution analysis in two normal human cell lines and 12 early-passage human tumor cell lines of varying radiosensitivities. The radiosensitivities (D0) of the cell lines ranged from 1 to 2.9 Gy. Inherent cellular radiosensitivity was found to directly correlate with the rate at which the DNA double-strand breaks were repaired. Radioresistant cell lines repaired approximately 90% of their radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks within 1 hr of irradiation while more radiosensitive cell lines required 2-4 hr to repair the same fraction of damage. Radioresistant cell lines also had lower initial DNA double-strand break frequencies. DNA single-strand break induction and repair was not found to be an important factor in the radiation response of human tumor and normal cell lines. Therefore, the rate at which DNA double strand breaks are repaired is a critical factor underlying radioresistance in human tumor cell lines.

Cell Line↗

Enhancement of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks and micronuclei in human colon carcinoma cells by N-methylformamide.

The differentiation-inducing agent N-methylformamide (NMF) enhances the sensitivity of some cell lines to ionizing radiation. To elucidate the mechanism of NMF-mediated radiosensitization, we examined the effects of this agent on gamma-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks and micronuclei in two cell lines, clone A (human colon carcinoma) and HCA-1 (murine hepatocarcinoma). Both cell lines form a better differentiated phenotype upon exposure to NMF, yet only clone A is radiosensitized. The neutral (pH 9.6) elution assay was used to evaluate the effects of this maturational agent on radiation-induced double-strand breaks in these cell lines. Exposure of HCA-1 cells to NMF had no effect on the level of DNA double-strand breaks induced by gamma rays. In clone A cells, however, exposure to NMF enhanced the initial formation of gamma-ray-induced double-strand breaks at each dose tested. The repair of double-strand breaks in both cell lines was not influenced by NMF. As a measure of chromosome fragmentation after irradiation, we evaluated micronuclei using the cytokinesis block method. Exposure to NMF had no effect on radiation-induced micronuclei formation in HCA-1 cells yet significantly enhanced the frequency of micronuclei induced by radiation in clone A cells. In clone A cells, the increases in radiation-induced double-strand breaks and micronuclei as a function of NMF exposure time reached maximums by approximately 72 h. These data suggest that NMF-mediated radiosensitization is the result of an increase in the initial level of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Highly conservative reciprocal translocations formed by apparent joining of exchanged DNA double-strand break ends.

Chromosomal translocations induced by ionizing radiation and radiomimetic drugs are thought to arise by incorrect joining of DNA double-strand breaks. To dissect such misrepair events at a molecular level, large-scale, bleomycin-induced rearrangements in the aprt gene of Chinese hamster ovary D422 cells were mapped, the breakpoints were sequenced, and the original non-aprt parental sequences involved in each rearrangement were recovered from nonmutant cells. Of seven rearrangements characterized, six were reciprocal exchanges between aprt and unrelated sequences. Consistent with a mechanism involving joining of exchanged double-strand break ends, there was, in most cases, no homology between the two parental sequences, no overlap in sequences retained at the two newly formed junctions, and little or no loss of parental sequences (usually </=2 bp) at the breakpoints. The breakpoints were strongly correlated (P < 0.0001) with expected sites of bleomycin-induced, double-strand breaks. Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that, in six of the mutants, the rearrangement was accompanied by a chromosomal translocation at the aprt locus, because upstream and downstream flanking sequences were detected on separate chromosomes. The results suggest that repair of free radical-mediated, double-strand breaks in confluence-arrested cells is effected by a conservative, homology-independent, end-joining pathway that does not involve single-strand intermediate and that misjoining of exchanged ends by this pathway can directly result in chromosomal translocations.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗

Differential DNA double strand break fixation dependence on poly(ADP-ribosylation) in L5178Y and CHO cells.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of poly(ADP-ribosylation) in DNA double-strand break repair and fixation in murine lymphoma L5178Y (LY) sublines, LY-R and LY-S, and a pair of Chinese hamster ovary lines: wild-type and mutant xrs6 cells, that have differences in repair competence and degree of radiosensitization with poly(ADP-ribosylation) inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells (asynchronous, logarithmic phase) were pre-incubated with 2 mM aminobenzamide at 37 or 25 degrees C, X-irradiated with 10 Gy and allowed to repair DNA breaks for 15, 60 and 120 min at 37 or 25 degrees C. The remaining double-strand break were estimated by the neutral comet assay. RESULTS: At 37 degrees C, no effect of AB treatment on the repair kinetics was observed either in xrs6 or Chinese hamster ovary (wild-type) cells. In contrast, aminobenzamide decreased the repair of double-strand break in the LY-S line but not the LY-R line, in agreement with the previously observed radiosensitization of LY cells by poly(ADP-ribosylation) inhibition. However, double-strand break rejoining in the repair competent cell lines, Chinese hamster ovary and LY-R, also was affected by aminobenzamide when the post-irradiation incubation was carried out at 25 degrees C. Analysis of these results together with earlier data on LY-S cells have been interpreted in terms of Radford's model of radiation damage fixation. CONCLUSION: The reported results indicate that poly(ADP-ribosylation) can be an important modulator of the conversion of DNA damage to lethal events.

Animals↗

Repair of DNA double-strand breaks and its effect on RBE.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are induced linearly with absorbed dose both for sparsely and densely ionizing radiations. By enzymatic repair the linear relationship between the number of DSB and absorbed dose is converted into a non linear one. Furthermore, the RBE-values of high LET radiations for residual DSB increase with increasing amount of DSB repair especially in the low dose range. Unrepaired and/or misrepaired DSB are supposed to be responsible for chromosomal aberrations, cell killing, oncogenic cell transformation and gene mutation. At low doses, for these endpoints much higher RBE-values than those for initial DSB are observed. However, with increasing doses the RBE-values for these endpoints approach those for initial DSB. These observations are likely to be interpreted using the following two parameters of the energy deposition structure: 1. The distribution of clusters with respect to their size at the nm-scale and to the number of ionizations per cluster (cluster distribution). 2. The distribution of distances between clusters of definite size and with definite number of ionizations (distance distribution of clusters). For the induction of DSB solely the ionization density in clusters of nm-dimensions (i.e. the cluster distribution) is important. For unrepaired or misrepaired DSB (responsible for chromosome aberrations, cell killing, oncogenic cell transformation and gene mutation) both the cluster distribution and the distance distribution of clusters are relevant. At low doses the distance distribution of clusters along a single particle track determines the RBE-value. However, with increasing dose the distribution of clusters produced by all particles traversing the cell nucleus becomes increasingly determinant. Here, solely the cluster distribution is important as it is the case for the induction of DSB.

Alpha Particles↗

Repair of DNA double strand breaks by non-homologous end joining.

DNA double strand breaks (DSB) are the most serious form of DNA damage. If not repaired they can lead to cell death. If misrepaired DSBs contribute to chromosomal aberrations and genomic instability. Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is one of two major pathways for the repair of DSBs in human cells. Proteins known to be required for NHEJ include the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), XRCC4, DNA ligase IV, and Artemis. This review discusses how these and other accessory proteins may function in the repair of DSBs produced by ionizing radiation (IR) and by V(D)J recombination.

Animals↗

The DNA double-strand break response in the nervous system.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) require a coordinated molecular response to ensure cellular or organism survival. Many factors required for the DSB response, including those involved in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination repair (HRR) are essential during nervous system development. Additionally, human syndromes resulting from defective responses to DNA damage often feature overt neuropathology such as neurodegeneration. Thus, appropriate responses to DSBs are critical for the normal development and maintenance of the nervous system.

Animals↗

Gamma-ray and hydrogen peroxide induction of gene amplification in hamster cells deficient in DNA double strand break repair.

To investigate the role of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and of their repair in gene amplification, we analyzed this process in the V3 Chinese hamster cell line and in the parental line AA8, after exposure to gamma-rays and to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). V3 is defective in DSB repair because of a mutation in the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) gene, a gene involved in the non-homologous end-joining pathway. As a measure of gene amplification we used the frequency of colonies resistant to N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA), since in rodent cells PALA resistance is mainly achieved through the amplification of the CAD (carbamyl-P-synthetase, aspartate transcarbamylase, dihydro-orotase) gene. After treatment with different doses of gamma-rays and of H2O2, we found a dose related increase in the frequency of gene amplification and of chromosome aberrations. When the same doses of damaging agents were used, these increments were higher in V3 than in AA8. These results indicate that DSBs that are not efficiently repaired can be responsible for the induction of gene amplification. H2O2 stimulates gene amplification as well as gamma-rays, however, at similar levels of amplification induction, chromosome damage was about 50% lower. This suggests that gene amplification can be induced by H2O2 through pathways alternative to a direct DNA damage. Stimulation of gene amplification by H2O2, which is one of the products of the aerobic metabolism, supports the hypothesis that cellular metabolic products themselves can be a source of genome instability.

Animals↗

Binding of double-strand breaks in DNA by human Rad52 protein.

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA are caused by ionizing radiation. These chromosomal breaks can kill the cell unless repaired efficiently, and inefficient or inappropriate repair can lead to mutation, gene translocation and cancer. Two proteins that participate in the repair of DSBs are Rad52 and Ku: in lower eukaryotes such as yeast, DSBs are repaired by Rad52-dependent homologous recombination, whereas vertebrates repair DSBs primarily by Ku-dependent non-homologous end-joining. The contribution of homologous recombination to vertebrate DSB repair, however, is important. Biochemical studies indicate that Ku binds to DNA ends and facilitates end-joining. Here we show that human Rad52, like Ku, binds directly to DSBs, protects them from exonuclease attack and facilitates end-to-end interactions. A model for repair is proposed in which either Ku or Rad52 binds the DSB. Ku directs DSBs into the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway, whereas Rad52 initiates repair by homologous recombination. Ku and Rad52, therefore, direct entry into alternative pathways for the repair of DNA breaks.

Antigens, Nuclear↗

Variant XRCC3 implicated in cancer is functional in homology-directed repair of double-strand breaks.

Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes, including double-strand break (DSB) repair genes, are postulated to confer increased cancer risk. A variant of the XRCC3 gene, which is involved in DSB repair, has been associated with increased risk of malignant skin melanoma and bladder cancer. We tested the hypothesis that this variant, Thr241Met, may affect cancer risk by disrupting a critical function of XRCC3, i.e., promoting homology-directed repair (HDR) of chromosomal DSBs. Using a quantitative fluorescence assay, we find that the variant XRCC3 protein is functionally active for HDR, complementing the HDR defects of an XRCC3 mutant cell line as well as the wild-type protein. We also examined cells expressing this variant for sensitivity to the interstrand cross-linking agent, mitomycin C (MMC), as HDR mutant cell lines, including the XRCC3 mutant, have been found to be hypersensitive to this DNA damaging agent. Cells expressing the variant protein were found to be no more sensitive than cells expressing the wild-type protein. These results suggest that the increased cancer risk associated with this variant may not be due to an intrinsic HDR defect.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

ATP-dependent and ATP-independent roles for the Rad54 chromatin remodeling enzyme during recombinational repair of a DNA double strand break.

The efficient and accurate repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) is critical to cell survival, and defects in this process can lead to genome instability and cancers. In eukaryotes, the Rad52 group of proteins dictates the repair of DSBs by the error-free process of homologous recombination (HR). A critical step in eukaryotic HR is the formation of the initial Rad51-single-stranded DNA presynaptic nucleoprotein filament. This presynaptic filament participates in a homology search process that leads to the formation of a DNA joint molecule and recombinational repair of the DSB. Recently, we showed that the Rad54 protein functions as a mediator of Rad51 binding to single-stranded DNA, and here, we find that this activity does not require ATP hydrolysis. We also identify a novel Rad54-dependent chromatin remodeling event that occurs in vivo during the DNA strand invasion step of HR. This ATP-dependent remodeling activity of Rad54 appears to control subsequent steps in the HR process.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Effect of wild-type, S15D and R175H p53 proteins on DNA end joining in vitro: potential mechanism of DNA double-strand break repair modulation.

Balanced regulation of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is crucial for genetic integrity and cell survival. Cells perform DSB repair either by homologous recombination (HR) or by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Either option carries risk for DNA instability. The presence in the cell of the tumour suppressor p53 has been shown to suppress the levels of HR; however, the effect of p53 on DNA EJ is less well understood. Here we demonstrate dramatically increased DNA EJ activity in cell-free extracts from p53(-/-) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) compared with p53(+/+) MEFs. The addition of wild-type (wt) p53 to p53(-/-) MEFs extracts inhibited DNA EJ in a dose-dependent manner. Binding of wt p53 to DNA ends in vitro protected them from exonuclease attack and inhibited T4 DNA ligase-dependent EJ. This inhibitory effect was markedly enhanced for p53 R175H, a cancer-derived mutant of p53. In contrast, inhibition was negated in the presence of p53 S15D, a phosphorylation-mimicking mutant protein. Interestingly, p53 S15D stimulated in vitro DNA EJ of the blunt-ended DNA by T4 DNA ligase. Here we discuss the possibility that, in conjunction with its ability to control levels of HR, p53 may also serve to suppress DNA EJ in cells under normal conditions. This suppression may be associated with DNA-dependent protein kinases or ATM kinases, providing potential crosstalk between major cellular pathways of DNA repair and cell-cycle checkpoint mechanisms.

Alleles↗

Heat effects on DNA repair after ionising radiation: hyperthermia commonly increases the number of non-repaired double-strand breaks and structural rearrangements.

After ionising radiation double-strand breaks (dsb) are lethal if not repaired or misrepaired. Cell killing is greatly enhanced by hyperthermia and it is questioned here whether heat not only affects dsb repair capacity but also fidelity in a chromosomal context. dsb repair experiments were designed so as to mainly score non-homologous end joining, while homologous recombination was largely precluded. Human male G(0) fibroblasts were either preheated (45 degrees C, 20 min) or not before X-irradiation. dsb induction and repair were measured by conventional gel electrophoresis and an assay combining restriction digestion using a rare cutting enzyme (NotI) and Southern hybridisation, which detects large chromosomal rearrangements (>100 kb). dsb induction rate in an X-chromosomal NotI fragment was 4.8 x 10(-3) dsb/Gy/MB: Similar values were found for the genome overall and also when cells were preheated. After 50 Gy, fibroblasts were competent to largely restore the original restriction fragment size. Five per cent of dsb remained non-rejoined and 14% were misrejoined. Correct restitution of restriction fragments occurred preferably during the first hour but continued at a slow rate for 12-16 h. In addition, dsb appeared to misrejoin throughout the entire repair period. After hyperthermia the fractions of non-rejoined and misrejoined dsb were similarly increased to 13 and 51%, respectively. It is suggested that heat increases the probability of dsb being incorrectly rejoined but it is not likely to interfere with one dsb repair pathway in particular.

Cell Survival↗

DNA double strand break induction in yeast.

The induction of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) by accelerated heavy ions was systematically measured in diploid yeast cells. Particles were provided by the accelerators at GSI, Darmstadt, and HMI, Berlin. DNA was separated using pulsed field gel electrophoresis and the intensity of the largest bands used to determine the loss of molecular weight. Since the DNA content of each chromosome is exactly known absolute values for DSB induction can be measured without calibration procedures. Ions used range from protons to uranium with LET values between 2 and about 15,000 keV.micron-1. Induction cross sections increase in the lower LET region approaching a plateau around 200 keV.micron-1. With higher LET values the dependence can no longer be described by a common curve with each ion showing a specific behaviour. With very heavy particles the influence of the penumbra becomes obvious: cross sections decrease with LET because of the reduced penumbra extensions. Classical target theory would predict cross sections to follow a simple saturation function which is not substantiated by the data. Track structure analysis as introduced by Butts and Katz in 1967 is also not able to predict the experimental results. A semi-empirical fit indicates a linear-quadratic dependence of induction cross sections on LET up to about 1000 keV.micron-1. RBE for DSB induction rises above unity reaching a maximum of about 2.5 around 200 keV.micron-1. This is different from many experiments in mammalian cells and is presumably due to differences in chromatin structure since yeast cells seem to lack a functional III histone.

DNA Damage↗

The corepressor silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor facilitates cellular recovery from DNA double-strand breaks.

Cells are frequently challenged by DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) that threaten their normal function and survival. In mammalian cells, the repair of DSBs is predominantly mediated by the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex. We unexpectedly found that the corepressor silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT) associates with the DNA-PK repair complex. The SMRT/histone deacetylase 3 complex is required for the transcriptional repressive property of the Ku70 subunit of the repair complex. Moreover, SMRT, but not the related Nuclear Receptor Corepressor, is required for cellular recovery from DNA DSBs induced by ionizing radiation or DNA damage-inducing drugs. Thus, the corepressor SMRT plays a novel and critical role in the cellular response to DSBs.

Antigens, Nuclear↗

Radiation-induced genomic rearrangements formed by nonhomologous end-joining of DNA double-strand breaks.

Two major pathways for repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) have been identified in mammalian cells, nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). Inactivation of NHEJ is known to lead to an elevated level of spontaneous and radiation-induced chromosomal rearrangements associated with an increased risk of tumorigenesis. This has raised the idea of a caretaker role for NHEJ. It is, however, not known whether NHEJ itself can also cause rearrangements. To investigate, on the DNA level, the influence of a defect in NHEJ on the formation of genomic rearrangements, we applied an assay based on Southern hybridization that allows the identification and quantification of incorrectly rejoined DSB ends produced by ionizing radiation. After 80 Gy of X-irradiation at a high dose rate (23 Gy/min), wild-type cells repaired 50% of the induced DSBs within 24 h by incorrect rejoining. This frequency of DSB misrejoining is considerably reduced in NHEJ-deficient cells. Low-dose-rate experiments, in which the cells were exposed to 80 Gy over a period of 14 days under repair conditions, led to no detectable misrejoining in wild-type cells but revealed a misrejoining frequency of 10% in NHEJ-deficient cells. This shows that in situations of separated breaks, NHEJ deficiency leads to genomic rearrangements, in agreement with chromosomal studies. However, if multiple DSBs coincide, even wild-type cells form genomic rearrangements frequently. These repair events are absent in Ku80-, DNA-PKcs-, and DNA ligase IV-deficient cells but are present in RAD54(-/-) cells. This strongly suggests that NHEJ has, in addition to its caretaker role, also the potential to effect genomic rearrangements. We propose that it serves as an efficient pathway for rejoining correct break ends in situations of separated breaks but generates genomic rearrangements if DSBs are close in time and space.

Animals↗

Etoposide and illegitimate DNA double-strand break repair in the generation of MLL translocations: new insights and new questions.

Faithful repair of chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs) is central to genome integrity and the suppression of genome rearrangements including translocations that are a hallmark of leukemia, lymphoma, and soft-tissue sarcomas [B. Elliott, M. Jasin, Double-strand breaks and translocations in cancer, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 59 (2002) 373-385; D.C. van Gent, J.H. Hoeijmakers, R. Kanaar, Chromosomal stability and the DNA double-stranded break connection, Nat. Rev. Genet. 2 (2001) 196-206]. Chemotherapy agents that target the essential cellular enzyme topoisomerase II (topo II) are known promoters of DSBs and are associated with therapy-related leukemias. There is a clear clinical association between previous exposure to etoposide and therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) characterized by chromosomal rearrangements involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene on chromosome band 11q23 [C.A. Felix, Leukemias related to treatment with DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors, Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 36 (2001) 525-535]. Most MLL rearrangements initiate within a well-characterized 8.3 kb region that contains both putative topo II cleavage recognition sequences and repetitive elements leading to the logical hypothesis that MLL is particularly susceptible to aberrant cleavage and homology-mediated fusion to repetitive elements located on novel chromosome partners. In this review, we will discuss the findings and implications of recent attempts to confirm this hypothesis.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Differences in heavy-ion-induced DNA double-strand breaks in a mouse DNA repair-deficient mutant cell line (SL3-147) before and after chromatin proteolysis.

DNA double-strand breaks induced by X- or neon beam-irradiation in a DNA double-strand break-repair-deficient mutant cell line (SL3-147) were examined. The increase in the number of DNA double-strand breaks was dose depend after irradiation with X-rays and neon beams and was enhanced by chromatin-proteolysis treatment before irradiation. These results suggest that the induction of DNA double-strand breaks by ionizing radiation, including heavy-ions, is influenced by the chromatin structure.

Animals↗