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Frontiers in Microbiology 2021
PubMed: 34394067
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.722509 -
Nature Mar 2024Telomerase adds G-rich telomeric repeats to the 3' ends of telomeres, counteracting telomere shortening caused by loss of telomeric 3' overhangs during leading-strand...
Telomerase adds G-rich telomeric repeats to the 3' ends of telomeres, counteracting telomere shortening caused by loss of telomeric 3' overhangs during leading-strand DNA synthesis ('the end-replication problem'). Here we report a second end-replication problem that originates from the incomplete duplication of the C-rich telomeric repeat strand (C-strand) by lagging-strand DNA synthesis. This problem is resolved by fill-in synthesis mediated by polymerase α-primase bound to Ctc1-Stn1-Ten1 (CST-Polα-primase). In vitro, priming for lagging-strand DNA replication does not occur on the 3' overhang and lagging-strand synthesis stops in a zone of approximately 150 nucleotides (nt) more than 26 nt from the end of the template. Consistent with the in vitro data, lagging-end telomeres of cells lacking CST-Polα-primase lost 50-60 nt of telomeric CCCTAA repeats per population doubling. The C-strands of leading-end telomeres shortened by around 100 nt per population doubling, reflecting the generation of 3' overhangs through resection. The measured overall C-strand shortening in the absence of CST-Polα-primase fill-in is consistent with the combined effects of incomplete lagging-strand synthesis and 5' resection at the leading ends. We conclude that canonical DNA replication creates two telomere end-replication problems that require telomerase to maintain the G-rich strand and CST-Polα-primase to maintain the C-strand.
Topics: Humans; DNA Polymerase I; DNA Primase; DNA Replication; Telomerase; Telomere; Telomere-Binding Proteins
PubMed: 38418884
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07137-1 -
Nucleic Acids Research Jun 2022The human primosome, a four-subunit complex of primase and DNA polymerase alpha (Polα), synthesizes chimeric RNA-DNA primers of a limited length for DNA polymerases...
The human primosome, a four-subunit complex of primase and DNA polymerase alpha (Polα), synthesizes chimeric RNA-DNA primers of a limited length for DNA polymerases delta and epsilon to initiate DNA replication on both chromosome strands. Despite recent structural insights into the action of its two catalytic centers, the mechanism of DNA synthesis termination is still unclear. Here we report results of functional and structural studies revealing how the human primosome counts RNA-DNA primer length and timely terminates DNA elongation. Using a single-turnover primer extension assay, we defined two factors that determine a mature primer length (∼35-mer): (i) a tight interaction of the C-terminal domain of the DNA primase large subunit (p58C) with the primer 5'-end, and (ii) flexible tethering of p58C and the DNA polymerase alpha catalytic core domain (p180core) to the primosome platform domain by extended linkers. The obtained data allow us to conclude that p58C is a key regulator of all steps of RNA-DNA primer synthesis. The above-described findings provide a notable insight into the mechanism of DNA synthesis termination by a eukaryotic primosome, an important process for ensuring successful primer handover to replication DNA polymerases and for maintaining genome integrity.
Topics: Chromosomes; DNA; DNA Polymerase I; DNA Primase; DNA Primers; DNA Replication; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Humans; RNA
PubMed: 35689638
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac492 -
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) Feb 2023DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) pose a major threat to the genome, so the efficient repair of such breaks is essential. DSB processing and repair is affected by 53BP1,...
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) pose a major threat to the genome, so the efficient repair of such breaks is essential. DSB processing and repair is affected by 53BP1, which has been proposed to determine repair pathway choice and/or promote repair fidelity. 53BP1 and its downstream effectors, RIF1 and shieldin, control 3' overhang length, and the mechanism has been a topic of intensive research. Here, we highlight recent evidence that 3' overhang control by 53BP1 occurs through fill-in synthesis of resected DSBs by CST/Polα/primase. We focus on the crucial role of fill-in synthesis in BRCA1-deficient cells treated with PARPi and discuss the notion of fill-in synthesis in other specialized settings and in the repair of random DSBs. We argue that - in addition to other determinants - repair pathway choice may be influenced by the DNA sequence at the break which can impact CST binding and therefore the deployment of Polα/primase fill-in.
Topics: DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; DNA Primase; Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1; DNA Repair; DNA End-Joining Repair
PubMed: 36205622
DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2123886 -
PrimPol: A Breakthrough among DNA Replication Enzymes and a Potential New Target for Cancer Therapy.Biomolecules Feb 2022DNA replication can encounter blocking obstacles, leading to replication stress and genome instability. There are several mechanisms for evading this blockade. One... (Review)
Review
DNA replication can encounter blocking obstacles, leading to replication stress and genome instability. There are several mechanisms for evading this blockade. One mechanism consists of repriming ahead of the obstacles, creating a new starting point; in humans, PrimPol is responsible for carrying out this task. PrimPol is a primase that operates in both the nucleus and mitochondria. In contrast with conventional primases, PrimPol is a DNA primase able to initiate DNA synthesis de novo using deoxynucleotides, discriminating against ribonucleotides. In vitro, PrimPol can act as a DNA primase, elongating primers that PrimPol itself sythesizes, or as translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase, elongating pre-existing primers across lesions. However, the lack of evidence for PrimPol polymerase activity in vivo suggests that PrimPol only acts as a DNA primase. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of human PrimPol covering its biochemical properties and structure, in vivo function and regulation, and the processes that take place to fill the gap-containing lesion that PrimPol leaves behind. Finally, we explore the available data on human PrimPol expression in different tissues in physiological conditions and its role in cancer.
Topics: DNA Primase; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Humans; Multifunctional Enzymes; Neoplasms
PubMed: 35204749
DOI: 10.3390/biom12020248 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2021Human PrimPol belongs to the archaeo-eukaryotic primase superfamily of primases and is involved in de novo DNA synthesis downstream of blocking DNA lesions and non-B DNA...
Human PrimPol belongs to the archaeo-eukaryotic primase superfamily of primases and is involved in de novo DNA synthesis downstream of blocking DNA lesions and non-B DNA structures. PrimPol possesses both DNA/RNA primase and DNA polymerase activities, and also bypasses a number of DNA lesions in vitro. In this work, we have analyzed translesion synthesis activity of PrimPol in vitro on DNA with an 1,2-intrastrand cisplatin cross-link (1,2-GG CisPt CL) or a model DNA-protein cross-link (DpCL). PrimPol was capable of the 1,2-GG CisPt CL bypass in the presence of Mn ions and preferentially incorporated two complementary dCMPs opposite the lesion. Nucleotide incorporation was stimulated by PolDIP2, and yeast Pol ζ efficiently extended from the nucleotides inserted opposite the 1,2-GG CisPt CL in vitro. DpCLs significantly blocked the DNA polymerase activity and strand displacement synthesis of PrimPol. However, PrimPol was able to reach the DpCL site in single strand template DNA in the presence of both Mg and Mn ions despite the presence of the bulky protein obstacle.
Topics: Cisplatin; Cross-Linking Reagents; DNA; DNA Damage; DNA Primase; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Humans; Multifunctional Enzymes
PubMed: 34475447
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96692-y -
Nature Communications Jun 2023The eukaryotic polymerase α (Pol α) synthesizes an RNA-DNA hybrid primer of 20-30 nucleotides. Pol α is composed of Pol1, Pol12, Primase 1 (Pri1), and Pri2. Pol1 and...
The eukaryotic polymerase α (Pol α) synthesizes an RNA-DNA hybrid primer of 20-30 nucleotides. Pol α is composed of Pol1, Pol12, Primase 1 (Pri1), and Pri2. Pol1 and Pri1 contain the DNA polymerase and RNA primase activities, respectively. It has been unclear how Pol α hands over an RNA primer from Pri1 to Pol1 for DNA primer extension, and how the primer length is defined. Here we report the cryo-EM analysis of yeast Pol α in the apo, primer initiation, primer elongation, RNA primer hand-off from Pri1 to Pol1, and DNA extension states, revealing a series of very large movements. We reveal a critical point at which Pol1-core moves to take over the 3'-end of the RNA from Pri1. DNA extension is limited by a spiral motion of Pol1-core. Since both Pri1 and Pol1-core are flexibly attached to a stable platform, primer growth produces stress that limits the primer length.
Topics: DNA Primase; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; DNA Replication; DNA; RNA; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; DNA Primers
PubMed: 37344454
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39441-1 -
Nature Communications Jul 2023The T4 bacteriophage gp41 helicase and gp61 primase assemble into a primosome to couple DNA unwinding with RNA primer synthesis for DNA replication. How the primosome is...
The T4 bacteriophage gp41 helicase and gp61 primase assemble into a primosome to couple DNA unwinding with RNA primer synthesis for DNA replication. How the primosome is assembled and how the primer length is defined are unclear. Here we report a series of cryo-EM structures of T4 primosome assembly intermediates. We show that gp41 alone is an open spiral, and ssDNA binding triggers a large-scale scissor-like conformational change that drives the ring closure and activates the helicase. Helicase activation exposes a cryptic hydrophobic surface to recruit the gp61 primase. The primase binds the helicase in a bipartite mode in which the N-terminal Zn-binding domain and the C-terminal RNA polymerase domain each contain a helicase-interacting motif that bind to separate gp41 N-terminal hairpin dimers, leading to the assembly of one primase on the helicase hexamer. Our study reveals the T4 primosome assembly process and sheds light on the RNA primer synthesis mechanism.
Topics: Bacteriophage T4; DNA Primase; DNA Helicases; DNA Replication; DNA Primers; DNA, Viral
PubMed: 37474605
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40106-2 -
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta.... May 2021WD repeat and HMG-box DNA binding protein 1 (Wdhd1) is the mouse ortholog of budding yeast Chromosome Transmission Fidelity 4 (CTF4), the protein product of which...
WD repeat and HMG-box DNA binding protein 1 (Wdhd1) is the mouse ortholog of budding yeast Chromosome Transmission Fidelity 4 (CTF4), the protein product of which integrates the MCM2-7 helicase and DNA polymerase α/primase complex to initiate DNA replication. Previous work in fruit flies, Xenopus egg extracts, and human cell lines suggest that Wdhd1 is required for efficient DNA synthesis. However, rigorous in vivo functional studies on Wdhd1 in mammals are unavailable. In the present study, we have successfully generated a Wdhd1 null allele in mice through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to investigate the role of Wdhd1 in embryogenesis in vivo. We characterized Wdhd1 expression using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and assessed embryonic cell proliferation by histology in both pre- and peri-implantation embryos. While Wdhd1 heterozygous mutant mice were grossly normal and fertile, we observed a reduction in cell proliferation by the gastrulation stage in Wdhd1 homozygous null mutant embryos which severely hampered their growth and viability. These results indicate that Wdhd1 plays a major role in cell proliferation during embryogenesis in mice.
Topics: Animals; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation; DNA-Binding Proteins; Embryonic Development; Fertility; Gastrulation; Gene Editing; Loss of Function Mutation; Mice
PubMed: 33716172
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.119011 -
Nature Aug 2022Telomeres are the physical ends of linear chromosomes. They are composed of short repeating sequences (such as TTGGGG in the G-strand for Tetrahymena thermophila) of...
Telomeres are the physical ends of linear chromosomes. They are composed of short repeating sequences (such as TTGGGG in the G-strand for Tetrahymena thermophila) of double-stranded DNA with a single-strand 3' overhang of the G-strand and, in humans, the six shelterin proteins: TPP1, POT1, TRF1, TRF2, RAP1 and TIN2. TPP1 and POT1 associate with the 3' overhang, with POT1 binding the G-strand and TPP1 (in complex with TIN2) recruiting telomerase via interaction with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). The telomere DNA ends are replicated and maintained by telomerase, for the G-strand, and subsequently DNA polymerase α-primase (PolαPrim), for the C-strand. PolαPrim activity is stimulated by the heterotrimeric complex CTC1-STN1-TEN1 (CST), but the structural basis of the recruitment of PolαPrim and CST to telomere ends remains unknown. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of Tetrahymena CST in the context of the telomerase holoenzyme, in both the absence and the presence of PolαPrim, and of PolαPrim alone. Tetrahymena Ctc1 binds telomerase subunit p50, a TPP1 orthologue, on a flexible Ctc1 binding motif revealed by cryo-EM and NMR spectroscopy. The PolαPrim polymerase subunit POLA1 binds Ctc1 and Stn1, and its interface with Ctc1 forms an entry port for G-strand DNA to the POLA1 active site. We thus provide a snapshot of four key components that are required for telomeric DNA synthesis in a single active complex-telomerase-core ribonucleoprotein, p50, CST and PolαPrim-that provides insights into the recruitment of CST and PolαPrim and the handoff between G-strand and C-strand synthesis.
Topics: Cryoelectron Microscopy; DNA; DNA Primase; Holoenzymes; Protein Binding; Shelterin Complex; Telomerase; Telomere; Tetrahymena
PubMed: 35831498
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04931-7