The molecular evolution of primate DNA double-strand break repair genes will be studied. These genes are important for genome stability, and many cancer syndromes have been linked to mutations in these genes. Interestingly, many members of this gene family bear signatures of recurrent positive selection. The hypothesis being tested is that these signatures result from the long-term co-evolution between these DNA repair genes and the pervasive, parasitic retroviruses and retrotransposons with which primates have evolved. This may have influenced primate DNA repair genes with respect to both polymorphic and fixed genetic variation. In this proposed research, large primate sequence datasets will be generated for genes involved in human double-strand break repair, and these will be tested for signatures of recurrent positive selection. Retroviral infection assays will then be used to test whether adaptive sequence change in these DNA repair genes has resulted in altered susceptibility to infection. The consequences of this sequence change to cellular DNA repair will also be explored. Preliminary data in a cell culture model system shows that one of the most well-known cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1, may be evolving under the dual selective pressures of DNA repair fidelity and retroviral resistance. Based on this, DNA repair gene evolution can have a profound effect on cancer, and for this reason, it is of great importance that the evolutionary forces that define the evolution of these genes be elucidated. This proposed research is central to the overarching goal of understanding how genetic parasites, through the selective pressures that they exert, shape the sequence of human genes with which they interact.

Public Health Relevance

Human cells contain a complex network of DNA repair pathways, which have evolved to protect the integrity of chromosomes. However, the evolution and function of DNA repair proteins may be influenced by retroviral pathogens, like HIV, which use these proteins for their own benefit. Understanding the evolution of DNA repair genes is important to understanding both the formation of cancers and susceptibility to retroviral infection.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM093086-01
Application #
7865834
Study Section
Genetic Variation and Evolution Study Section (GVE)
Program Officer
Eckstrand, Irene A
Project Start
2010-04-01
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$292,528
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Zhang, Junjie; Zhao, Jun; Xu, Simin et al. (2018) Species-Specific Deamidation of cGAS by Herpes Simplex Virus UL37 Protein Facilitates Viral Replication. Cell Host Microbe 24:234-248.e5
Meyerson, Nicholas R; Zhou, Ligang; Guo, Yusong R et al. (2017) Nuclear TRIM25 Specifically Targets Influenza Virus Ribonucleoproteins to Block the Onset of RNA Chain Elongation. Cell Host Microbe 22:627-638.e7
Nahabedian, John; Sharma, Amit; Kaczmarek, Maryska E et al. (2017) Owl monkey CCR5 reveals synergism between CD4 and CCR5 in HIV-1 entry. Virology 512:180-186
White, Tommy E; Brandariz-Nuñez, Alberto; Han, Kyudong et al. (2016) Modulation of LINE-1 Retrotransposition by a Human SAMHD1 Polymorphism. Virol Rep 6:53-60
Nepveu-Traversy, Marie-Édith; Demogines, Ann; Fricke, Thomas et al. (2016) A putative SUMO interacting motif in the B30.2/SPRY domain of rhesus macaque TRIM5? important for NF-?B/AP-1 signaling and HIV-1 restriction. Heliyon 2:e00056
Lou, Dianne I; Kim, Eui Tae; Meyerson, Nicholas R et al. (2016) An Intrinsically Disordered Region of the DNA Repair Protein Nbs1 Is a Species-Specific Barrier to Herpes Simplex Virus 1 in Primates. Cell Host Microbe 20:178-88
Hussmann, Jeffrey A; Patchett, Stephanie; Johnson, Arlen et al. (2015) Understanding Biases in Ribosome Profiling Experiments Reveals Signatures of Translation Dynamics in Yeast. PLoS Genet 11:e1005732
McBee, Ross M; Rozmiarek, Shea A; Meyerson, Nicholas R et al. (2015) The effect of species representation on the detection of positive selection in primate gene data sets. Mol Biol Evol 32:1091-6
Kerr, Scott A; Jackson, Eleisha L; Lungu, Oana I et al. (2015) Computational and Functional Analysis of the Virus-Receptor Interface Reveals Host Range Trade-Offs in New World Arenaviruses. J Virol 89:11643-53
Ng, Melinda; Ndungo, Esther; Kaczmarek, Maria E et al. (2015) Filovirus receptor NPC1 contributes to species-specific patterns of ebolavirus susceptibility in bats. Elife 4:

Showing the most recent 10 out of 28 publications