Heterochromatin mainly comprises repeated DNA sequences that are prone to ectopic recombination. In Drosophila cells, 'safe' repair of heterochromatic double-strand breaks by homologous recombination relies on the relocalization of repair sites to the nuclear periphery before strand invasion. The mechanisms responsible for this movement were unknown. Here we show that relocalization occurs by directed motion along nuclear actin filaments assembled at repair sites by the Arp2/3 complex. Relocalization requires nuclear myosins associated with the heterochromatin repair complex Smc5/6 and the myosin activator Unc45, which is recruited to repair sites by Smc5/6. ARP2/3, actin nucleation and myosins also relocalize heterochromatic double-strand breaks in mouse cells. Defects in this pathway result in impaired heterochromatin repair and chromosome rearrangements. These findings identify de novo nuclear actin filaments and myosins as effectors of chromatin dynamics for heterochromatin repair and stability in multicellular eukaryotes.

Homologous recombination (HR) is a central process to ensure genomic stability in somatic cells and during meiosis. HR-associated DNA synthesis determines in large part the fidelity of the process. A number of recent studies have demonstrated that DNA synthesis during HR is conservative, less processive, and more mutagenic than replicative DNA synthesis. In this review, we describe mechanistic features of DNA synthesis during different types of HR-mediated DNA repair, including synthesis-dependent strand annealing, break-induced replication, and meiotic recombination. We highlight recent findings from diverse eukaryotic organisms, including humans, that suggest both replicative and translesion DNA polymerases are involved in HR-associated DNA synthesis. Our focus is to integrate the emerging literature about DNA polymerase involvement during HR with the unique aspects of these repair mechanisms, including mutagenesis and template switching.

bAntivirulence agents inhibit the production of disease-causing virulence factors but are neither bacteriostatic nor bactericidal. Antivirulence agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain USA300, the most widespread community-associated MRSA strain in the United States, were discovered by virtual screening against the response regulator AgrA, which acts as a transcription factor for the expression of several of the most prominent S. aureus toxins and virulence factors involved in pathogenesis. Virtual screening was followed by similarity searches in the databases of commercial vendors. The small-molecule compounds discovered inhibit the production of the toxins alpha-hemolysin and phenol-soluble modulin ␣ in a dose-dependent manner without inhibiting bacterial growth. These antivirulence agents are small-molecule biaryl compounds in which the aromatic rings either are fused or are separated by a short linker. One of these compounds is the FDA-approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diflunisal. This represents a new use for an old drug. Antivirulence agents might be useful in prophylaxis and as adjuvants in antibiotic therapy for MRSA infections.

Alternative end-joining (alt-EJ) repair of DNA double-strand breaks is associated with deletions, chromosome translocations, and genome instability. Alt-EJ frequently uses annealing of microhomologous sequences to tether broken ends. When accessible pre-existing microhomologies do not exist, we have postulated that new microhomologies can be created via limited DNA synthesis at secondary-structure forming sequences. This model, called synthesis-dependent microhomology-mediated end joining (SD-MMEJ), predicts that differences between DNA sequences near double-strand breaks should alter repair outcomes in predictable ways. To test this hypothesis, we injected plasmids with sequence variations flanking an I-SceI endonuclease recognition site into I-SceI expressing Drosophila embryos and used Illumina amplicon sequencing to compare repair junctions. As predicted by the model, we found that small changes in sequences near the I-SceI site had major impacts on the spectrum of repair junctions. Bioinformatic analyses suggest that these repair differences arise from transiently forming loops and hairpins within 30 nucleotides of the break. We also obtained evidence for ‘trans SD-MMEJ,’ involving at least two consecutive rounds of microhomology annealing and synthesis across the break site. These results highlight the importance of sequence context for alt-EJ repair and have important implications for genome editing and genome evolution.

In Drosophila melanogaster, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) created by exposure to gamma or X-ray radiation can be quantified by immunofluorescent detection of phosphorylated histone H2Av (γ-H2Av) foci in imaginal disc tissues. This technique has been less useful for studying DSBs in imaginal discs exposed to DSB-inducing chemicals, since standard protocols require raising larvae in food treated with liquid chemical suspensions. These protocols typically take 3-4 days to complete and result in heterogeneous responses that do not provide information about the kinetics of DSB formation and repair. Here, we describe a novel and rapid method to quantify DSBs in imaginal discs cultured ex vivo with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or other DSB-inducing chemicals. The described method requires less than 24 h and provides precise control over MMS concentration and exposure time, enabling reproducible detection of transient DSBs. Furthermore, this technique can be used for nearly any chemical treatment and can be modified and adapted for several different experimental setups and downstream molecular analyses.