Following genotoxic insults, eukaryotic cells trigger a signal transduction cascade known as the DNA damage checkpoint response, which involves the loading onto DNA of an apical kinase and several downstream factors. Chromatin modifications play an important role in recruiting checkpoint proteins. In budding yeast, methylated H3-K79 is bound by the checkpoint factor Rad9. Loss of Dot1 prevents H3-K79 methylation, leading to a checkpoint defect in the G 1 phase of the cell cycle and to a reduction of checkpoint activation in mitosis, suggesting that another pathway contributes to Rad9 recruitment in M phase. We found that the replication factor Dpb11 is the keystone of this second pathway. dot1⌬ dpb11-1 mutant cells are sensitive to UV or Zeocin treatment and cannot activate Rad53 if irradiated in M phase. Our data suggest that Dpb11 is held in proximity to damaged DNA through an interaction with the phosphorylated 9-1-1 complex, leading to Mec1-dependent phosphorylation of Rad9. Dpb11 is also phosphorylated after DNA damage, and this modification is lost in a nonphosphorylatable ddc1-T602A mutant. Finally, we show that, in vivo, Dpb11 cooperates with Dot1 in promoting Rad9 phosphorylation but also contributes to the full activation of Mec1 kinase.The cellular response to DNA damage is based on signal transduction mechanisms that are essential for the maintenance of genome integrity. The molecules involved and the organization of the pathway are generally conserved in all eukaryotes (2,29,30,42). A major output of this response is a controlled delay in cell cycle progression that regulates the G 1 -S transition (G 1 checkpoint) or the G 2 -M transition (G 2 /M checkpoint; in budding yeast, this response does not regulate the passage from G 2 to M but prevents the anaphase-to-metaphase transition). This is achieved by regulating Cdk kinase or anaphase-promoting complex activities. The current model predicts that genotoxin treatments activate the DNA damage checkpoint response through the recruitment of the ATM and ATR phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related kinases to damaged chromatin (42, 51). The molecular details of the DNA damage signaling pathway in fission and budding yeasts have been mostly worked out by following the phosphorylation of critical kinase substrates in appropriately mutated genetic backgrounds (5, 25). In budding yeast, the prevalent apical kinase is represented by Mec1, which is associated with a Ddc2 subunit. Processing of DNA lesions by repair mechanisms generates single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) filaments that are rapidly coated by replication protein A (RPA). This structure seems to be responsible for the recruitment of 38,51). The first biochemical event in the signal transduction cascade seems to be the direct phosphorylation of Ddc2 (33, 37). A heterotrimeric complex (9-1-1) composed of Rad17, Mec3, and Ddc1 is loaded onto damaged DNA by a replication factor C-like complex and is itself phosphorylated by Mec1 on the Ddc1 subunit (25,28,34). Another Mec1 target is checkpoint factor Rad9, the orth...

Many factors required for chromosomal DNA replication have been identified in unicellular eukaryotes. However, DNA replication in complex multicellular organisms is poorly understood. Here, we report the identification of GEMC1, a novel vertebrate protein required for chromosomal DNA replication. GEMC1 is highly conserved in vertebrates and is preferentially expressed in proliferating cells. Using Xenopus egg extract we show that Xenopus GEMC1 (xGEMC1) binds to checkpoint and replication factor TopBP1, which promotes xGEMC1 binding to chromatin during pre-replication complex (pre-RC) formation. We demonstrate that xGEMC1 directly interacts with replication factors such as Cdc45 and Cdk2-CyclinE by which it is heavily phosphorylated. Phosphorylated xGEMC1 stimulates initiation of DNA replication whereas depletion of xGEMC1 prevents DNA replication onset due to impairment of Cdc45 loading onto chromatin. Likewise, inhibition of GEMC1 expression by morpholino and siRNA oligos prevents DNA replication in embryonic and somatic vertebrate cells. These data suggest that GEMC1 promotes initiation of chromosomal DNA replication in higher eukaryotes by mediating TopBP1 and Cdk2 dependent recruitment of Cdc45 onto replication origins.

The Mre11 complex is a central component of the DNA damage response, with roles in damage sensing, molecular bridging, and end resection. We have previously shown that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ku70 (yKu70) deficiency reduces the ionizing radiation sensitivity of mre11⌬ mutants. In this study, we show that yKu70 deficiency suppressed the camptothecin (CPT) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) sensitivity of nuclease-deficient mre11-3 and sae2⌬ mutants in an Exo1-dependent manner. CPT-induced G 2 /M arrest, ␥-H2AX persistence, and chromosome breaks were elevated in mre11-3 mutants. These outcomes were reduced by yKu70 deficiency. Given that the genotoxic effects of CPT are manifest during DNA replication, these data suggest that Ku limits Exo1-dependent double-strand break (DSB) resection during DNA replication, inhibiting the initial processing steps required for homology-directed repair. We propose that Mre11 nuclease-and Sae2-dependent DNA end processing, which initiates DSB resection prevents Ku from engaging DSBs, thus promoting Exo1-dependent resection. In agreement with this idea, we show that Ku affinity for binding to short single-stranded overhangs is much lower than for blunt DNA ends. Collectively, the data define a nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)-independent, S-phase-specific function of the Ku heterodimer.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can be processed by the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex, which is essential to promote ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) activation. However, the molecular mechanisms linking MRN activity to ATM are not fully understood. Here, using Xenopus laevis egg extract we show that MRN-dependent processing of DSBs leads to the accumulation of short singlestranded DNA oligonucleotides (ssDNA oligos). The MRN complex isolated from the extract containing DSBs is bound to ssDNA oligos and stimulates ATM activity. Elimination of ssDNA oligos results in rapid extinction of ATM activity. Significantly, ssDNA oligos can be isolated from human cells damaged with ionizing radiation and injection of small synthetic ssDNA oligos into undamaged cells also induces ATM activation. These results suggest that MRN-dependent generation of ssDNA oligos, which constitute a unique signal of ongoing DSB repair not encountered in normal DNA metabolism, stimulates ATM activity.

The effects of ATM and ATR signalling induced by chromosomal breakage have been described extensively in modulating cell cycle progression up to the onset of mitosis.However, DNA damage checkpoint responses in mitotic cells are not well understood.This thesis reports on the effects of double strand breaks on the progression of mitosis.We found ATM and ATR activation can occur in mitotic Xenopus laevis egg extract and the induction of ATM and ATR by chromosomal breakages inhibits spindle assembly in both Xenopus egg extract and somatic cells. The delay in mitotic progression induced by ATM and ATR was found not to involve major spindle assembly factors activities such as, Cdk1, Plx1 and RCC1/Ran-GTP. However, normal anastral spindles formation around linear DNA coated beads, which can activate ATM and ATR, linked centrosome-driven spindle assembly to ATM and ATR dependent spindle defects. cDNA expression library screening was undertaken to identify novel ATM and ATR targets in this mitotic checkpoint pathway, through which the novel centrosomal protein XCEP63 was identified as a likely candidate. Data obtained from depletion and reconstitution of XCEP63 in Xenopus egg extract established that normal centrosome-driven spindle assembly requires XCEP63. Moreover, ATM and ATR phosphorylates XCEP63 on serine 560 and promotes delocalisation from the centrosome. ATM and ATR inhibition or addition of non-phosphorylable XCEP63 recombinant protein mutated at serine 560 prevents spindle assembly abnormalities.These findings suggest that ATM and ATR regulate mitotic events by targeting XCEP63 and centrosome-dependent spindle assembly. This pathway may provide support for DNA repair processes or regulate cell survival in the presence of mitotic DNA damage. 3

Despite the development of effective therapies, a substantial proportion of asthmatics continue to have uncontrolled symptoms, airflow limitation, and exacerbations. Transient receptor potential cation channel member A1 (TRPA1) agonists are elevated in human asthmatic airways, and in rodents, TRPA1 is involved in the induction of airway inflammation and hyperreactivity. Here, the discovery and early clinical development of GDC-0334, a highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable TRPA1 antagonist, is described. GDC-0334 inhibited TRPA1 function on airway smooth muscle and sensory neurons, decreasing edema, dermal blood flow (DBF), cough, and allergic airway inflammation in several preclinical species. In a healthy volunteer Phase 1 study, treatment with GDC-0334 reduced TRPA1 agonist-induced DBF, pain, and itch, demonstrating GDC-0334 target engagement in humans. These data provide therapeutic rationale for evaluating TRPA1 inhibition as a clinical therapy for asthma.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a nonselective calcium-permeable ion channel highly expressed in the primary sensory neurons functioning as a polymodal sensor for exogenous and endogenous stimuli and has generated widespread interest as a target for inhibition due to its implication in neuropathic pain and respiratory disease. Herein, we describe the optimization of a series of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable TRPA1 small molecule antagonists, leading to the discovery of a novel tetrahydrofuran-based linker. Given the balance of physicochemical properties and strong in vivo target engagement in a rat AITC-induced pain assay, compound 20 was progressed into a guinea pig ovalbumin asthma model where it exhibited significant dose-dependent reduction of inflammatory response. Furthermore, the structure of the TRPA1 channel bound to compound 21 was determined via cryogenic electron microscopy to a resolution of 3 Å, revealing the binding site and mechanism of action for this class of antagonists.

SUMMARY Single-ended double-strand breaks (DSBs) are a common form of spontaneous DNA break, generated when the replisome encounters a discontinuity in the DNA template. Given their prevalence, understanding the mechanisms governing the fate(s) of single-ended DSBs is important. We describe the influence of the Ku heterodimer and Mre11 nuclease activity on processing of single-ended DSBs. Separation-of-function alleles of yku70 were derived that phenocopy Ku deficiency with respect to single-ended DSBs but remain proficient for NHEJ. The Ku mutants fail to regulate Exo1 activity, and bypass the requirement for Mre11 nuclease activity in the repair of camptothecin-induced single-ended DSBs. Ku mutants exhibited reduced affinity for DNA ends, manifest as both reduced end engagement and enhanced probability of diffusing inward on linear DNA. This study reveals an interplay between Ku and Mre11 in the metabolism of single-ended DSBs that is distinct from repair pathway choice at double-ended DSBs.