Maintenance of telomeres requires both DNA replication and telomere ‘capping’ by shelterin. These two processes employ two single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding proteins, replication protein A (RPA) and protection of telomeres 1 (POT1). Although RPA and POT1 each have a critical role at telomeres, how they function in concert is not clear. POT1 ablation leads to activation of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) checkpoint kinase at telomeres1, 2, suggesting that POT1 antagonizes RPA binding to telomeric ssDNA. Unexpectedly, we found that purified POT1 and its functional partner TPP1 are unable to efficiently prevent RPA binding to telomeric ssDNA. In cell extracts, we identified a novel activity that specifically displaces RPA, but not POT1, from telomeric ssDNA. Using purified protein, we show that the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1) recapitulates the RPA displacing activity. The RPA displacing activity is inhibited by the telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) in early S phase, but is then unleashed in late S phase when TERRA levels decline at telomeres3. Interestingly, TERRA also promotes POT1 binding to telomeric ssDNA by removing hnRNPA1, suggesting that the reaccumulation of TERRA after S phase helps to complete the RPA-to-POT1 switch on telomeric ssDNA. Together, our data suggest that hnRNPA1, TERRA, and POT1 act in concert to displace RPA from telomeric ssDNA following DNA replication, and promote telomere capping to preserve genomic integrity.

The proper coordination between DNA replication and mitosis during cell cycle progression is crucial for genomic stability. During G2 and mitosis, Set8 catalyzes monomethylation of histone H4 on lysine 20 (H4K20me1), which promotes chromatin compaction. Set8 levels decline in S phase, but why and how this occurs is unclear. Here, we show that Set8 is targeted for proteolysis in S phase and in response to DNA damage by the E3 ubiquitin ligase, CRL4Cdt2. Set8 ubiquitylation occurs on chromatin, and is coupled to DNA replication via a specific degron in Set8 that binds PCNA. Inactivation of CRL4Cdt2 leads to Set8 stabilization and aberrant H4K20me1 accumulation in replicating cells. Transient S phase expression of a Set8 mutant lacking the degron promotes premature H4K20me1 accumulation and chromatin compaction, and triggers a checkpoint-mediated G2 arrest. Thus, CRL4Cdt2-dependent destruction of Set8 in S phase preserves genome stability by preventing aberrant chromatin compaction during DNA synthesis.

SummaryRecA is important in recombination, DNA repair and repair of replication forks. It functions through the production of a protein-DNA filament. To study the localization of RecA in live Escherichia coli cells, the RecA protein was fused to the green fluorescence protein (GFP). Strains with this gene have recombination/DNA repair activities three-to tenfold below wild type (or about 1000-fold above that of a recA null mutant). RecA-GFP cells have a background of green fluorescence punctuated with up to five foci per cell. Two types of foci have been defined: 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-sensitive foci that are bound to DNA and DAPI-insensitive foci that are DNA-less aggregates/storage structures. In log phase cells, foci were not localized to any particular region. After UV irradiation, the number of foci increased and they localized to the cell centre. This suggested colocalization with the DNA replication factory. recA , recB and recF strains showed phenotypes and distributions of foci consistent with the predicted effects of these mutations.

SUMMARY PCNA is a key component of DNA replication and repair machineries. DNA damage-induced PCNA ubiquitylation serves as a molecular mark to orchestrate postreplication repair. Here, we have identified and characterized Spartan, a protein that specifically recognizes ubiquitylated PCNA and plays an important role in cellular resistance to UV radiation. In vitro, Spartan engages ubiquitylated PCNA via both a PIP box and a UBZ domain. In cells, Spartan is recruited to sites of UV damage in a manner dependent upon the PIP box, the UBZ domain, and PCNA ubiquitylation. Furthermore, Spartan colocalizes and interacts with Rad18, the E3 ubiquitin ligase that modifies PCNA. Surprisingly, while Spartan is recruited by ubiquitylated PCNA, knockdown of Spartan compromised chromatin association of Rad18, monoubiquitylation of PCNA, and localization of Pol η to UV damage. Thus, as a “reader” of ubiquitylated PCNA, Spartan promotes an unexpected feed-forward loop to enhance PCNA ubiquitylation and translesion DNA synthesis.

Small molecule-based targeting of chromatin regulatory factors has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy in recent years. The development and ongoing clinical evaluation of novel agents targeting a range of chromatin regulatory processes, including DNA or histone modifiers, histone readers, and chromatin regulatory protein complexes, has inspired the field to identify and act upon the full compendium of therapeutic opportunities. Emerging studies highlight the frequent involvement of altered mammalian Switch/Sucrose-Nonfermentable (mSWI/SNF) chromatin-remodeling complexes (also called BAF complexes) in both human cancer and neurological disorders, suggesting new mechanisms and accompanying routes toward therapeutic intervention. Here, we review current approaches for direct targeting of mSWI/SNF complex structure and function and discuss settings in which aberrant mSWI/SNF biology is implicated in oncology and other diseases. The Mammalian SWI/SNF Family of Chromatin-Remodeling Complexes and Their Roles in CancerGene regulation is crucial for the proper execution of all biological processes. The >3.2 billion base-pairs of DNA in every human cell are compacted into higher order chromatin structures, dynamic regulation of which is critical to ensure the proper timing, location, and sequence of events. A range of well-established processes govern chromatin topology, including DNA modifications, histone modifications, and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling. In this review, we focus specifically on the mSWI/SNF (BAF) family of chromatin-remodeling complexes.Recent advances in proteomics, biochemical characterization strategies, genetic manipulation approaches, and 3D structural insights, have significantly advanced our understanding of the modular organization and assembly of the mSWI/SNF complexes. Notably, it is now clear that the products of the 29 genes encoding mSWI/SNF subunits assemble into three distinct mSWI/SNF complexes, termed canonical BAF (cBAF), polybromo-associated BAF (PBAF), and noncanonical BAF (ncBAF), each of which comprises common as well as complex-specific subunits (Figure 1A, Key Figure , and Table 1). All three complexes contain one of two mutually exclusive catalytic subunits, SMARCA4 or SMARCA2 (also referred to as BRG1 or BRM, respectively), which contain DNA-stimulated ATPase activity and utilize the energy provided by ATP hydrolysis to remodel chromatin through nucleosome sliding and eviction [1][2][3][4][5]. The contribution of noncatalytic subunits to nucleosome remodeling remains to be comprehensively understood. Recently, SMARCB1 was shown to make direct contact with the nucleosome acidic patch; and this interaction is required for the full remodeling potential of the mSWI/SNF complex [6]. The cBAF complex is a 12-member containing complex, distinguished by the incorporation of Highlights Over 20% of human cancers carry a mutation in mSWI/SNF complex subunit genes.Mistargeting of mSWI/SNF activity by disease-relevant transcription factors contributes to oncogenic gene expressio...

Pharmacological inhibition of chromatin co-regulatory factors represents a clinically validated strategy to modulate oncogenic signaling through selective attenuation of gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that CBP/EP300 bromodomain inhibition preferentially abrogates the viability of multiple myeloma cell lines. Selective targeting of multiple myeloma cell lines through CBP/EP300 bromodomain inhibition is the result of direct transcriptional suppression of the lymphocyte-specific transcription factor IRF4, which is essential for the viability of myeloma cells, and the concomitant repression of the IRF4 target gene c-MYC. Ectopic expression of either IRF4 or MYC antagonizes the phenotypic and transcriptional effects of CBP/EP300 bromodomain inhibition, highlighting the IRF4/MYC axis as a key component of its mechanism of action. These findings suggest that CBP/EP300 bromodomain inhibition represents a viable therapeutic strategy for targeting multiple myeloma and other lymphoid malignancies dependent on the IRF4 network.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10483.001

RecA is important for recombination, DNA repair, and SOS induction. In Escherichia coli, RecBCD, RecFOR, and RecJQ prepare DNA substrates onto which RecA binds. UvrD is a 3-to-5 helicase that participates in methyl-directed mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair. uvrD deletion mutants are sensitive to UV irradiation, hypermutable, and hyper-rec. In vitro, UvrD can dissociate RecA from singlestranded DNA. Other experiments suggest that UvrD removes RecA from DNA where it promotes unproductive reactions. To test if UvrD limits the number and/or the size of RecA-DNA structures in vivo, an uvrD mutation was combined with recA-gfp. This recA allele allows the number of RecA structures and the amount of RecA at these structures to be assayed in living cells. uvrD mutants show a threefold increase in the number of RecA-GFP foci, and these foci are, on average, nearly twofold higher in relative intensity. The increased number of RecA-green fluorescent protein foci in the uvrD mutant is dependent on recF, recO, recR, recJ, and recQ. The increase in average relative intensity is dependent on recO and recQ. These data support an in vivo role for UvrD in removing RecA from the DNA.

Background: CRL4Cdt2 requires that a substrate bind to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) on DNA prior to ligase recruitment, but the precise role of PCNA is unclear. Results: A specific PCNA residue is required for destruction of CRL4 Cdt2 substrates. Conclusion: CRL4Cdt2 recognizes a composite surface composed of PCNA and substrate residues. Significance: This is the first ubiquitin ligase whose substrate recognition requires creation of a bipartite substrate surface.