Inhibition of homologous recombination by hyperthermia shunts early double strand break repair to non-homologous end-joining (original) (raw)

The type and yield of ionising radiation induced chromosomal aberrations depend on the efficiency of different DSB repair pathways in mammalian cells

Mutation research, 2008

In order to evaluate the relative role of two major DNA double strand break repair pathways, i.e., non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination repair (HRR), CHO mutants deficient in these two pathways and the parental cells (AA8) were X-irradiated with various doses. The cells were harvested at different times after irradiation, representing G2, S and G1 phase at the time of irradiation, The mutant cell lines used were V33 (NHEJ deficient), Irs1SF, 51-D1 (HRR deficient). In addition to parental cell line (AA8), a revertant of V33, namely V33-155 was employed. Both types of mutant cells responded with increased frequencies of chromosomal aberrations at all recovery times in comparison to the parental and revertant cells. Mutant cells deficient in NHEJ were more sensitive in all cell stages in comparison to HRR deficient mutant cells, indicating NHEJ is the major repair pathway for DSB repair through out the cell cycle. Both chromosome and chromatid types of exchang...

The impact of heterochromatin on DSB repair

Biochemical Society Transactions, 2009

DNA NHEJ (non-homologous end-joining) is the major DNA DSB (double-strand break) repair pathway in mammalian cells. Although NHEJ-defective cell lines show marked DSB-repair defects, cells defective in ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) repair most DSBs normally. Thus NHEJ functions independently of ATM signalling. However, ∼15% of radiation-induced DSBs are repaired with slow kinetics and require ATM and the nuclease Artemis. DSBs persisting in the presence of an ATM inhibitor, ATMi, localize to heterochromatin, suggesting that ATM is required for repairing DSBs arising within or close to heterochromatin. Consistent with this, we show that siRNA (small interfering RNA) of key heterochromatic proteins, including KAP-1 [KRAB (Krüppel-associated box) domain-associated protein 1], HP1 (heterochromatin protein 1) and HDAC (histone deacetylase) 1/2, relieves the requirement for ATM for DSB repair. Furthermore, ATMi addition to cell lines with genetic alterations that have an impact on h...

DNA double-strand break repair: From mechanistic understanding to cancer treatment

d n a r e p a i r 6 (2 0 0 7) 923–935 a v a i l a b l e a t w w w. s c i e n c e d i r e c t. c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / d n a r e p a i r DNA double-strand break Non-homologous end joining DNA damage response Replication DNA repair a b s t r a c t Accurate repair of DNA double-strand breaks is essential to life. Indeed, defective DNA double-strand break repair can lead to toxicity and large scale sequence rearrangements that cause cancer and promote premature aging. Here, we highlight the two major repair systems for handling DNA double-strand breaks: homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining. To clarify recombination mechanisms, we present animations that illustrate DNA strand movements. In addition to describing how these pathways operate, we also describe why appropriate pathway choice is critical to genomic stability, and we summarize key pathway control features related to cell cycle checkpoint and apoptosis signaling. Importantly , recent progress in delineating the effects of specific defects in repair and checkpoint control has helped to explain several disease phenotypes, including cancer and premature aging. Improved understanding of these pathways has also sparked development of novel chemotherapeutic strategies that kill tumors with increased specificity and efficacy. This review aims to provide a foundational understanding of how the homologous recombina-tion and non-homologous end joining pathways operate, and to demonstrate how a better understanding of these processes has advanced both our understanding of the underlying causes of cancer and our ability to innovate novel cancer treatment strategies.