Maintenance of genomic integrity is fundamental to life. The genome is under constant assault by endogenous metabolites and environmental sources that damage the DNA molecule, giving rise to heritable changes in the sequence of genes. DNA repair pathways are 'molecular guardians'of genomic integrity and are one of the first lines of defense against a wide range of human diseases, including spontaneous and environmentally induced cancers. The broad objective of this proposal is to understand the molecular details of DNA packaging in both DNA damage and its repair, and the response of DNA packaging to these events. The target of DNA damaging agents and the 'landscape'of DNA repair enzymes in eukaryotes is the highly compact and dynamic structure of chromatin. The mechanisms by which the cell gains access to the occluded DNA are not clearly defined, but include combinations of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histone proteins and recruitment of chromatin remodeling (CR) complexes. Understanding the regulation of these chromatin modulating activities is essential for understanding the management of DNA repair. We will use UV radiation and a DNA methylating chemical as prototype environmental agents for studies on nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER), respectively, in yeast and human cells. As we found that CR complexes are recruited to NER sites in yeast chromatin, and physically interact with a DNA damage recognition complex, we will examine the efficiency of both NER and BER in yeast cells deficient in each of the four different classes of CR complexes (Aim I). We will also examine BER in human cells with variable CR activity (Aim I). Secondly, we have identified a conserved sequence cassette in yeast histone H2B (named the HBR cassette) that plays a critical role in gene repression, sensitivity to DNA damaging agents, and efficiency of ER.
In Aim II, we will investigate the mechanisms by which the HBR cassette regulates ER, using nuclease digestion and DNA topology assays to follow nucleosome stability and loading, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to follow recruitment of chromatin modifying enzymes. Thirdly, as we found that the DNA polymerase ss step in BER is blocked by oligo-nucleosome (Oligo-N) formation in vitro, we will analyze NER of UV damage in Oligo-Ns, including histone PTMs during NER and their effect on NER efficiency (Aim III). Finally, we will examine the role of histone PTMs in regulating ER in chromatin in yeast and human cells (Aim IV). We will characterize the functions of both well-established and potentially novel histone PTMs in ER, including examination of a potentially novel role for histone methylation-ubiquitylation in the ER pathway. This proposal is an ongoing investigation of the effects of DNA packaging in chromatin on the two major ER pathways (NER and BER) found in cells. As all eukaryotes, including humans, must deal with this 'packaging paradox'for surveillance of the genome, results from these studies are relevant to the broad spectrum of cancer etiology, prevention and treatment.

Public Health Relevance

DNA damage is detrimental to all organisms and repair of these lesions in mammalian cells is a 'frontline defense'against mutations and cancer. We expose cells to prototype DNA-damaging agents to elicit DNA repair in regions of DNA associated with different states of packaging to determine how cells cope with repair of 'chromatin-buried'lesions. Thus, the project results have implications for the broad spectrum of cancer etiology, prevention and treatment. These studies will also help provide a rational basis for regulatory policies associated with environmental exposure to DNA damaging agents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES002614-34
Application #
8431685
Study Section
Radiation Therapeutics and Biology Study Section (RTB)
Program Officer
Reinlib, Leslie J
Project Start
1980-08-01
Project End
2016-02-28
Budget Start
2013-03-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
34
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$424,956
Indirect Cost
$137,639
Name
Washington State University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041485301
City
Pullman
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
99164
Rodriguez, Yesenia; Duan, Mingrui; Wyrick, John J et al. (2018) A cassette of basic amino acids in histone H2B regulates nucleosome dynamics and access to DNA damage. J Biol Chem 293:7376-7386
Brown, Alexander J; Al-Soodani, Aneesa T; Saul, Miles et al. (2018) High-Throughput Analysis of DNA Break-Induced Chromosome Rearrangements by Amplicon Sequencing. Methods Enzymol 601:111-144
Mao, Peng; Brown, Alexander J; Esaki, Shingo et al. (2018) ETS transcription factors induce a unique UV damage signature that drives recurrent mutagenesis in melanoma. Nat Commun 9:2626
Mao, Peng; Wyrick, John J; Roberts, Steven A et al. (2017) UV-Induced DNA Damage and Mutagenesis in Chromatin. Photochem Photobiol 93:216-228
Mao, Peng; Brown, Alexander J; Malc, Ewa P et al. (2017) Genome-wide maps of alkylation damage, repair, and mutagenesis in yeast reveal mechanisms of mutational heterogeneity. Genome Res 27:1674-1684
Hodges, Amelia J; Gloss, Lisa M; Wyrick, John J (2017) Residues in the Nucleosome Acidic Patch Regulate Histone Occupancy and Are Important for FACT Binding in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 206:1339-1348
Hinz, John M; Laughery, Marian F; Wyrick, John J (2016) Nucleosomes Selectively Inhibit Cas9 Off-target Activity at a Site Located at the Nucleosome Edge. J Biol Chem 291:24851-24856
Mao, Peng; Smerdon, Michael J; Roberts, Steven A et al. (2016) Chromosomal landscape of UV damage formation and repair at single-nucleotide resolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:9057-62
Rodriguez, Yesenia; Hinz, John M; Laughery, Marian F et al. (2016) Site-specific Acetylation of Histone H3 Decreases Polymerase ? Activity on Nucleosome Core Particles in Vitro. J Biol Chem 291:11434-45
Meas, Rithy; Smerdon, Michael J (2016) Nucleosomes determine their own patch size in base excision repair. Sci Rep 6:27122

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