Mutations in the BRCT binding site of BRCA1 result in hyper-recombination

Aging (Albany NY). 2011 May;3(5):515-32. doi: 10.18632/aging.100325.

Abstract

We introduced a K1702M mutation in the BRCA1 BRCT domain known to prevent the binding of proteins harboring pS-X-X-F motifs such as Abraxas-RAP80, BRIP1, and CtIP. Surprisingly, rather than impairing homologous recombination repair (HRR), expression of K1702M resulted in hyper-recombination coinciding with an accumulation of cells in S-G2 and no effect on nonhomologous end-joining. These cells also showed increased RAD51 and RPA nuclear staining. More pronounced effects were seen with a naturally occurring BRCT mutant (M1775R) that also produced elevated levels of ssDNA, in part co-localizing with RPA, in line with excessive DNA resection. M1775R induced unusual, thread-like promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies and clustered RPA foci rather than the typical juxtaposed RPA-PML foci seen with wild-type BRCA1. Interestingly, K1702M hyper-recombination diminished with a second mutation in the BRCA1 RING domain (I26A) known to reduce BRCA1 ubiquitin-ligase activity. Thesein vitro findings correlated with elevated nuclear RAD51 and RPA staining of breast cancer tissue from a patient with the M1775R mutation. Altogether, the disruption of BRCA1 (BRCT)-pS-X-X-F protein binding results in ubiquitination-dependent hyper-recombination via excessive DNA resection and the appearance of atypical PML-NBs. Thus, certain BRCA1 mutations that cause hyper-recombination instead of reduced DSB repair might lead to breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • BRCA1 Protein / chemistry
  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics*
  • BRCA1 Protein / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Repair
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Female
  • Genetic Vectors
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rad51 Recombinase / metabolism
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • BRCA1 Protein
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • PML protein, human
  • DNA
  • Rad51 Recombinase
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • RBBP8 protein, human