Maintenance of genetic integrity is critical for both cell viability and the suppression of human disease, including cancer. Therefore, the DNA damage response (DDR) has evolved to combat the myriad threats that the genome encounters on a daily basis e.g. genotoxins arising in the environment or as byproducts of cellular metabolism. Given the fundamental importance of the DDR in disease suppression, it has been the subject of intense investigation, resulting in the identification of a well-defined set of core DDR protein. However, the equally important questions of how these core DDR factors are recruited to, and cleared from, DNA lesions to promote DNA repair remains largely unanswered. Studies so far have revealed a complex cascade of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) e.g. phosphorylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation that drives DDR protein dynamics; but in most cases, key mechanistic detail is missing. We address this critical deficiency in our proposal, by building on our recent discoveries of (i) a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) that selectively ubiquitinates SUMO chain modified proteins to generate a dual PTM signal and (ii) the unanticipated recognition of this SUMO-ubiquitin signal by the molecular segregase Cdc48(p97)-Ufd1-Npl4 (Cdc48-UN). This functional coupling of STUbL activity to the Cdc48-UN segregase motor suggests a novel mechanism for the dynamic control of DDR proteins by SUMO and ubiquitin i.e. through the selective extraction of SUMO-ubiquitin co-modified proteins from DNA lesions, coupled or not to proteasomal degradation. Consistent with this, inactivating STUbL or Cdc48-UN, both of which localize to DNA lesions, disrupts normal DDR protein dynamics and causes severe genome instability. Herein, we propose to define the specific joint targets and mechanisms of STUbL and Cdc48-UN in the DDR through our three synergistic Specific Aims.
In Aim 1, we will delineate co-functions for STUbL and Cdc48-UN in remodeling the proteome at topoisomerase 1 (Top1)-DNA adducts, which is crucial for the repair of this highly genotoxic lesion.
In Aim 2, we will determine the cooperative mechanisms of STUbL and Cdc48-UN that promote the DDR elicited by de-protected telomeres in fission yeast. In humans, such telomere de-protection occurs spontaneously e.g. during ageing, and can be tumorigenic.
In Aim 3, exemplifying the strength of pioneering analyses in fission yeast (Aim 2), we reveal that STUbL also promotes the DDR at de-protected mammalian telomeres. We will define the key STUbL targets in this DDR and determine if they are also p97 (Cdc48) targets. These focused Aims will be achieved collaboratively using innovative genetic, cell biological, biochemical and proteomic approaches in both fission yeast and mammalian cells. Results will provide mechanistic insight into how SUMO and ubiquitin signaling is integrated at DNA lesions to remodel the proteome, and thereby promote the DDR. Moreover, as STUbL mediates the therapeutic effect of arsenic trioxide in leukemia, and p97 (Cdc48) is also being targeted in disease therapy, our results will critically guide the development and improvement of such therapies.

Public Health Relevance

Our proposal focuses on a novel protein family that we recently discovered called STUbLs, which play key roles in genome stability, and mediate the action of certain current cancer therapies. Towards harnessing the activity of STUbLs for the treatment of human disease, we will identify the critical cellular proteins and pathways targeted by STUbLs, and define STUbL regulation and mechanism of action at the molecular level. Achieving our aims is necessary to fully realize the potential of STUbLs in cancer therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM081840-06
Application #
8996575
Study Section
Molecular Genetics B Study Section (MGB)
Program Officer
Willis, Kristine Amalee
Project Start
2009-01-01
Project End
2018-11-30
Budget Start
2015-12-01
Budget End
2016-11-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Scripps Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
781613492
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Zilio, Nicola; Boddy, Michael N (2017) Improved Tandem Affinity Purification Tag and Methods for Isolation of Proteins and Protein Complexes from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2017:
Nie, Minghua; Moser, Bettina A; Nakamura, Toru M et al. (2017) SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase activity can either suppress or promote genome instability, depending on the nature of the DNA lesion. PLoS Genet 13:e1006776
Nie, Minghua; Boddy, Michael N (2017) Large-Scale Purification of Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier (SUMO)-Modified Proteins from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2017:
Nie, Minghua; Arner, Emily; Prudden, John et al. (2016) Functional Crosstalk between the PP2A and SUMO Pathways Revealed by Analysis of STUbL Suppressor, razor 1-1. PLoS Genet 12:e1006165
Nie, Minghua; Boddy, Michael N (2016) Cooperativity of the SUMO and Ubiquitin Pathways in Genome Stability. Biomolecules 6:14
Nie, Minghua; Vashisht, Ajay A; Wohlschlegel, James A et al. (2015) High Confidence Fission Yeast SUMO Conjugates Identified by Tandem Denaturing Affinity Purification. Sci Rep 5:14389
Nie, Minghua; Boddy, Michael N (2015) Pli1(PIAS1) SUMO ligase protected by the nuclear pore-associated SUMO protease Ulp1SENP1/2. J Biol Chem 290:22678-85
Zilio, Nicola; Codlin, Sandra; Vashisht, Ajay A et al. (2014) A novel histone deacetylase complex in the control of transcription and genome stability. Mol Cell Biol 34:3500-14
Groocock, Lynda M; Nie, Minghua; Prudden, John et al. (2014) RNF4 interacts with both SUMO and nucleosomes to promote the DNA damage response. EMBO Rep 15:601-8
Groocock, Lynda M; Prudden, John; Perry, J Jefferson P et al. (2012) The RecQ4 orthologue Hrq1 is critical for DNA interstrand cross-link repair and genome stability in fission yeast. Mol Cell Biol 32:276-87

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