The set1Delta mutation unveils a novel signaling pathway relayed by the Rad53-dependent hyperphosphorylation of replication protein A that leads to transcriptional activation of repair genes

Genes Dev. 2001 Jul 15;15(14):1845-58. doi: 10.1101/gad.193901.

Abstract

SET domain proteins are present in chromosomal proteins involved in epigenetic control of transcription. The yeast SET domain protein Set1p regulates chromatin structure, DNA repair, and telomeric functions. We investigated the mechanism by which the absence of Set1p increases DNA repair capacities of checkpoint mutants. We show that deletion of SET1 induces a response relayed by the signaling kinase Rad53p that leads to the MEC1/TEL1-independent hyperphosphorylation of replication protein A middle subunit (Rfa2p). Consequently, the binding of Rfa2p to upstream repressing sequences (URS) of repair genes is decreased, thereby leading to their derepression. Our results correlate the set1Delta-dependent phosphorylation of Rfa2p with the transcriptional induction of repair genes. Moreover, we show that the deletion of the amino-terminal region of Rfa2p suppresses the sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation of a mec3Delta checkpoint mutant, abolishes the URS-mediated repression, and increases the expression of repair genes. This work provides an additional link for the role of Rfa2p in the regulation of the repair capacity of the cell and reveals a role for the phosphorylation of Rfa2p and unveils unsuspected connections between chromatin, signaling pathways, telomeres, and DNA repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2
  • DNA Repair / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Silencing
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Models, Genetic
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Replication Protein A
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MEC3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Replication Protein A
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • SET1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2
  • MEC1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • TEL1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • RAD53 protein, S cerevisiae