Rescue of collapsed replication forks is dependent on NSMCE2 to prevent mitotic DNA damage

PLoS Genet. 2019 Feb 8;15(2):e1007942. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007942. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Abstract

NSMCE2 is an E3 SUMO ligase and a subunit of the SMC5/6 complex that associates with the replication fork and protects against genomic instability. Here, we study the fate of collapsed replication forks generated by prolonged hydroxyurea treatment in human NSMCE2-deficient cells. Double strand breaks accumulate during rescue by converging forks in normal cells but not in NSMCE2-deficient cells. Un-rescued forks persist into mitosis, leading to increased mitotic DNA damage. Excess RAD51 accumulates and persists at collapsed forks in NSMCE2-deficient cells, possibly due to lack of BLM recruitment to stalled forks. Despite failure of BLM to accumulate at stalled forks, NSMCE2-deficient cells exhibit lower levels of hydroxyurea-induced sister chromatid exchange. In cells deficient in both NSMCE2 and BLM, hydroxyurea-induced double strand breaks and sister chromatid exchange resembled levels found in NSCME2-deficient cells. We conclude that the rescue of collapsed forks by converging forks is dependent on NSMCE2.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA Damage*
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA Replication
  • Epistasis, Genetic
  • Genomic Instability
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyurea / pharmacology
  • Ligases / deficiency
  • Ligases / genetics
  • Ligases / metabolism*
  • Mitosis*
  • Models, Biological
  • Rad51 Recombinase / genetics
  • Rad51 Recombinase / metabolism
  • RecQ Helicases / deficiency
  • RecQ Helicases / genetics
  • RecQ Helicases / metabolism
  • Sister Chromatid Exchange / drug effects
  • Sumoylation

Substances

  • RAD51 protein, human
  • Rad51 Recombinase
  • Bloom syndrome protein
  • RecQ Helicases
  • Ligases
  • NSMCE2 protein, human
  • Hydroxyurea