SUMMARY53BP1 is a multi-functional double-strand break (DSB) repair protein that is essential for class switch recombination in B lymphocytes and for sensitizing BRCA1-deficient tumors to PARP inhibitors. Central to all 53BP1 activities is its recruitment to DSBs via the interaction of the tandem Tudor domain with dimethylated lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20me2). Here we identify an uncharacterized protein, TIRR (Tudor Interacting Repair Regulator) that directly binds the tandem Tudor domain and masks its H4K20me2 binding motif. Upon DNA damage, ATM phosphorylates 53BP1 and recruits RIF1 to dissociate the 53BP1-TIRR complex. However, overexpression of TIRR impedes 53BP1 function by blocking its localization to DSBs. Depletion of TIRR destabilizes 53BP1 in the nuclear soluble fraction and also alters the DSB-induced protein complex centering 53BP1. These findings identify TIRR as a new factor that influences DSB †

Limited DNA end resection is the key to impaired homologous recombination (HR) in BRCA1mutant cells. Here through a loss-of-function CRISPR screen we identify DYNLL1 as an inhibitor of DNA end resection. Loss of DYNLL1 allows DNA end resection and restores HR in BRCA1mutant cells, thereby inducing resistance to platinum drugs and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase

High-grade serous ovarian cancer is characterized by extensive copy number alterations, among which the amplification of MYC oncogene occurs in nearly half of tumors. We demonstrate that ovarian cancer cells highly depend on MYC for maintaining their oncogenic growth, indicating MYC as a therapeutic target for this difficult-to-treat malignancy. However, targeting MYC directly has proven difficult. We screen small molecules targeting transcriptional and epigenetic regulation, and find that THZ1 - a chemical inhibiting CDK7, CDK12, and CDK13 - markedly downregulates MYC. Notably, abolishing MYC expression cannot be achieved by targeting CDK7 alone, but requires the combined inhibition of CDK7, CDK12, and CDK13. In 11 patient-derived xenografts models derived from heavily pre-treated ovarian cancer patients, administration of THZ1 induces significant tumor growth inhibition with concurrent abrogation of MYC expression. Our study indicates that targeting these transcriptional CDKs with agents such as THZ1 may be an effective approach for MYC-dependent ovarian malignancies.

High-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOCs) with BRCA1/2 mutations exhibit improved outcome and sensitivity to double-strand DNA break (DSB)-inducing agents [i.e. platinum and Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis)] due to an underlying defect in homologous recombination (HR). However, resistance to platinum and PARPis represents a significant barrier to the long-term survival of these patients. Although, BRCA1/2-reversion mutations are a clinically validated resistance mechanism, they account for less than half of platinum resistant BRCA1/2-mutated HGSOCs. We uncover a resistance mechanism by which a microRNA, miR-622 induces resistance to PARPis and platinum in BRCA1-mutant HGSOCs by targeting the Ku complex and restoring HR-mediated DSB repair., Physiologically, miR-622 inversely correlates with Ku expression during the cell cycle, suppressing non-homologous end joining and facilitating HR-mediated DSB repair in S-phase. Importantly, high expression of miR-622 in BRCA1-deficient HGSOCs is associated with worse outcome after platinum chemotherapy, indicating microRNA-mediated resistance through HR rescue.

Effective planning for the medical response to a radiologic or nuclear accident is complex. Due to limited resources for medical countermeasures, the key would be to accurately triage and identify victims most likely to benefit from treatment. We had used a mouse model system to provide evidence that serum microRNAs (miRNAs) may effectively predict the impact of radiation on long-term viability of animals. Here we use non-human primates (NHPs) to demonstrate that this concept is conserved and serum miRNA signatures have the potential to serve as prediction biomarkers for radiation-induced fatality in a human population. We identified a signature of seven miRNAs that are altered by irradiation in both mice and NHPs. Genomic analysis of these conserved miRNAs revealed that there is a combination of seven transcription factors that are predicted to regulate these miRNAs in human, mice, and NHPs. Moreover, a combination of three miRNAs (miR-133b, miR-215, and miR-375) can identify, with nearly complete accuracy, NHPs exposed to radiation versus unexposed NHPs. Consistent with historical data, female macaques appeared to be more sensitive to radiation, but the difference was not significant. Sex-based stratification allowed us to identify an interaction between gender and miR-16-2 expression, which affected the outcome of radiation exposure. Moreover, we developed a classifier based on two miRNAs (miR-30a and miR-126) that can reproducibly predict radiation-induced mortality. Altogether, we have obtained a 5-miRNA composite signature that can identify irradiated macaques and predict their probability of survival.

SUMMARY BRCA1/2-mutated ovarian cancers (OCs) are defective in homologous recombination repair (HRR) of double-strand breaks (DSBs) and thereby sensitive to platinum and PARP inhibitors (PARPis). Multiple PARPis have recently received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment of OCs, and resistance to PARPis is a major clinical problem. Utilizing primary and recurrent BRCA1/2-mutated carcinomas from OC patients, patient-derived lines, and an in vivo BRCA2-mutated mouse model, we identified a microRNA, miR-493-5p, that induced platinum/PARPi resistance exclusively in BRCA2-mutated carcinomas. However, in contrast to the most prevalent resistance mechanisms in BRCA mutant carcinomas, miR-493-5p did not restore HRR. Expression of miR-493-5p in BRCA2-mutated/depleted cells reduced levels of nucleases and other factors involved in maintaining genomic stability. This resulted in relatively stable replication forks, diminished single-strand annealing of DSBs, and increased R-loop formation. We conclude that impact of miR-493-5p on multiple pathways pertinent to genome stability cumulatively causes PARPi/platinum resistance in BRCA2 mutant carcinomas.

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