There is a fundamental gap in understanding how stalled DNA replication forks are rescued. Continued existence of this gap represents an important problem because, until it is filled, a complete and clear understanding of the mechanism of stalled fork reactivation will be lacking. This understanding is crucial as defects in these repair mechanisms in higher organisms lead to the accumulation of mutations leading to cancer, and the proposed studies are therefore directly relevant to human disease. Consequently, the long term goal is to understand the mechanism of stalled DNA replication fork reactivation. The main objective of this proposal is to understand the interplay between the single stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) and key fork rescue enzymes on nucleoid templates and of the subsequent processing events leading to restoration of a fork structure. To achieve this objective, this proposal is divided into three specific aims: 1), Determine the mechanism(s) of fork regression; 2,) To determine how fork impediments affect fork regression; and 3), Ascertain the effects of nucleoid associated proteins on fork rescue enzymes. Under the first aim, magnetic tweezers and atomic force microscopy (both in air and high-speed in buffer) will be used to determine how SSB loading and regression by RecG are affected by PriA and to ascertain whether RecA and RuvAB are able to catalyze an efficient and unidirectional fork regression reaction. When the proposed studies for Aim 1 are complete, a clear picture of the events at a nascent, stalled replication fork will be provided. Under the second aim, the same two single DNA molecule approaches will be used to provide insight into the effects of replisome impediments on stalled fork rescue, with high spatial and temporal resolution. At the conclusion of the proposed studies for Aim 2, the effects of DNA lesions and protein-DNA complexes on fork rescue will be made clear and it is anticipated that the mechanism(s) for displacing stalled RNA polymerase in the vicinity of forks will be obtained. Under the final aim, magnetic tweezers to manipulate single molecules of DNA will be used to ascertain the effects of nucleoid associated proteins (NAPs) on fork rescue. When the proposed studies for Aim 3 are complete, it will be ascertained whether NAPs catalyze regression on their own and if they assist or inhibit fork rescue enzymes. The proposed research is innovative because of the combinatorial strategy taken. It is also innovative because of the exciting and novel single molecule approaches used, the focus on nucleoid templates and an understanding to be gained of how the primary protein barrier(s) causing replisome stalling are removed. Finally, the work is also innovative because of the care taken in elucidating how recombination helicases function in the presence of SSB. The proposed research is significant because it will allow, for the first time, the development of clear models of the mechanistic events occurring at a stalled fork embedded within nucleoid templates and, it will provide the first real-time insight into the range of events that transpire to reactivate a stalled fork in vivo.
Understanding how stalled DNA replication forks are rescued is important to public health as defects in these repair mechanisms in higher organisms lead to the accumulation of mutations leading to cancer. The proposed research is relevant to the part of NIH?s mission that pertains to fostering fundamental creative discoveries, innovative research strategies, and their applications as a basis for ultimately protecting and improving health.
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