DNA damage is one of the most important factors in cancer development in humans, and yet it also contributes to the therapeutic efficacy of many anti-cancer drugs. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanistic basis underlying DNA double strand break (DSB) repair and cellular responses to DNA DSB inducing agents (i.e. ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutics) is essential in deciphering the molecular basis underlying cancer development, as well as providing a foundation for developing new anti-cancer strategies. Recent experiments have demonstrated that interplays between hMSH5 and various protein interacting partners are critically involved in DNA damage response and repair. In particular, the interaction between hMSH5 and hMSH4 provided a basis for the formation of a specific heterocomplex that was capable of binding to Holliday junction intermediates, implicating their potential functions in recombinational repair. Furthermore, hMSH5 physically and functionally interacted with c-Abl;the latter is a critical tyrosine kinase playing essential roles in cell cycle arrests, DNA repair, and apoptosis. Our recent preliminary results indicate that DSB triggers local recruitments of endogenous hMSH5 and hMSH4 proteins, and the DSB- induced hMSH5 loading is dependent on functional hMRE11 and hRad51 proteins. Our recent study reveals that the activation of c-Abl kinase can be modulated through hMSH5 interaction, in which this interaction promotes the activation of c-Abl kinase activity and leads to hMSH5 tyrosine phosphorylation. Together, our results suggest important roles of hMSH5 in mitotic DNA recombinational repair and cellular response to DNA damage, implicating that the function of hMSH5 in DNA repair is closely coupled with DNA damage response pathway. It is conceivable that any deviations of such dynamics could significantly affect normal cell cycle progression as well as cellular responses to radiomimetic cancer treatments. The overall objective of our studies outlined in this proposal is to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of hMSH5 in recombinational repair and cellular response to DNA damaging agents through a series of systematic and comprehensive experimental explorations. The long- term goal of this research program is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved with different types of DNA recombinational repair and their links to DNA damage response pathways. The outcome of these studies will provide a foundation for developing more efficient therapeutic means and novel molecular targets in cancer treatments.

Public Health Relevance

The outcomes of the proposed studies are expected to have a high impact on improving the effectiveness of cancer therapy, and at the same the results of our studies will serve as a springboard for developing new ways to treat cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM084353-01A2
Application #
7781702
Study Section
Radiation Therapeutics and Biology Study Section (RTB)
Program Officer
Hagan, Ann A
Project Start
2010-03-15
Project End
2014-02-28
Budget Start
2010-03-15
Budget End
2011-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$273,971
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington State University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041485301
City
Pullman
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
99164
Xu, Yang; Wu, Xiling; Her, Chengtao (2015) hMSH5 Facilitates the Repair of Camptothecin-induced Double-strand Breaks through an Interaction with FANCJ. J Biol Chem 290:18545-58
Xu, Yang; Her, Chengtao (2013) VBP1 facilitates proteasome and autophagy-mediated degradation of MutS homologue hMSH4. FASEB J 27:4799-810
Chu, Yen-Lin; Wu, Xiling; Xu, Jing et al. (2013) DNA damage induced MutS homologue hMSH4 acetylation. Int J Mol Sci 14:20966-82
Clark, Nicole; Wu, Xiling; Her, Chengtao (2013) MutS Homologues hMSH4 and hMSH5: Genetic Variations, Functions, and Implications in Human Diseases. Curr Genomics 14:81-90
Chu, Yen-Lin; Wu, Xiling; Xu, Yang et al. (2013) MutS homologue hMSH4: interaction with eIF3f and a role in NHEJ-mediated DSB repair. Mol Cancer 12:51
Wu, Xiling; Xu, Yang; Feng, Katey et al. (2013) MutS homologue hMSH5: recombinational DSB repair and non-synonymous polymorphic variants. PLoS One 8:e73284
Xu, Keqian; Wu, Xiling; Tompkins, Joshua D et al. (2012) Assessment of anti-recombination and double-strand break-induced gene conversion in human cells by a chromosomal reporter. J Biol Chem 287:29543-53
Tompkins, Joshua D; Wu, Xiling; Her, Chengtao (2012) MutS homologue hMSH5: role in cisplatin-induced DNA damage response. Mol Cancer 11:10
Wu, Xiling; Xu, Yang; Chai, Weihang et al. (2011) Causal link between microsatellite instability and hMRE11 dysfunction in human cancers. Mol Cancer Res 9:1443-8