Chromosomal translocations caused by either pol32-dependent or pol32-independent triparental break-induced replication.

Abstract

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are harmful DNA lesions that can generate chromosomal rearrangements or chromosome losses if not properly repaired. Despite their association with a number of genetic diseases and cancer, the mechanisms by which DSBs cause rearrangements remain unknown. Using a newly developed experimental assay for the analysis of translocations occurring between two chromosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we found that a single DSB located on one chromosome uses a short homologous sequence found in a third chromosome as a bridge to complete DSB repair, leading to chromosomal translocations. Such translocations are dramatically reduced when the short homologous sequence on the third chromosome is deleted. Translocations rely on homologous recombination (HR) proteins, such as Rad51, Rad52, and Rad59, as well as on the break-induced replication-specific protein Pol32 and on Srs2, but not on Ku70. Our results indicate that a single chromosomal DSB efficiently searches for short homologous sequences throughout the genome for its repair, leading to triparental translocations between heterologous chromosomes. Given the abundance of repetitive DNA in eukaryotic genomes, the results of this study open the possibility that HR rather than nonhomologous end joining may be a major source of chromosomal translocations.

• Authors: José F Ruiz, Belén Gómez-González, Andrés Aguilera
• Journal: Molecular and cellular biology (Mol Cell Biol) Vol. 29 Issue 20 Pg. 5441-54 (Oct 2009) ISSN: 1098-5549 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19651902 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Act1 protein, S cerevisiae
• Actins
• Antigens, Nuclear
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Pol32 protein, S cerevisiae
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
• SRS2 protein, S cerevisiae
• DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
• Endonucleases
• MUS81 protein, S cerevisiae
• RAD1 protein, S cerevisiae
• DNA Helicases
• Ku Autoantigen
• DNA Repair Enzymes

Topics

• Actins (metabolism)
• Antigens, Nuclear (metabolism)
• DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
• DNA Helicases (metabolism)
• DNA Repair Enzymes (metabolism)
• DNA Replication (genetics, physiology)
• DNA-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase (metabolism)
• Endonucleases (metabolism)
• Ku Autoantigen
• Recombination, Genetic (genetics, physiology)
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (genetics, metabolism)
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins (metabolism)
• Translocation, Genetic (genetics, physiology)