ABSTRACT
Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) commonly occurs as intermediates in DNA metabolic pathways. The ssDNA binding protein, RPA, not only protects the integrity of ssDNA, but also directs the downstream factor that signals or repairs the ssDNA intermediate. However, it remains unclear how these enzymes/factors outcompete RPA to access ssDNA. Using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system, we find that Dna2 - a key nuclease in DNA replication and repair - employs a bimodal interface to act with RPA both in cis and in trans. The cis-activity makes RPA a processive unit for Dna2-catalyzed ssDNA digestion, where RPA delivers its bound ssDNA to Dna2. On the other hand, activity in trans is mediated by an acidic patch on Dna2, which enables it to function with a sub-optimal amount of RPA, or to overcome DNA secondary structures. The trans-activity mode is not required for cell viability, but is necessary for effective double strand break (DSB) repair.
Subject(s)
DNA Helicases/metabolism , DNA, Fungal/metabolism , DNA, Single-Stranded/metabolism , Replication Protein A/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Biocatalysis , Cell Survival/drug effects , DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded , DNA Repair , Models, Biological , Mutation/genetics , Peptides/metabolism , Phleomycins/pharmacology , Protein Binding , Protein Domains , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/chemistry , Tyrosine/metabolismABSTRACT
The S. cerevisiae Pif1 helicase functions with DNA polymerase (Pol) δ in DNA synthesis during break-induced replication (BIR), a conserved pathway responsible for replication fork repair and telomere recombination. Pif1 interacts with the DNA polymerase processivity clamp PCNA, but the functional significance of the Pif1-PCNA complex remains to be elucidated. Here, we solve the crystal structure of PCNA in complex with a non-canonical PCNA-interacting motif in Pif1. The structure guides the construction of a Pif1 mutant that is deficient in PCNA interaction. This mutation impairs the ability of Pif1 to enhance DNA strand displacement synthesis by Pol δ in vitro and also the efficiency of BIR in cells. These results provide insights into the role of the Pif1-PCNA-Pol δ ensemble during DNA break repair by homologous recombination.
Subject(s)
DNA Helicases/chemistry , DNA Polymerase III/chemistry , DNA Replication , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/chemistry , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/chemistry , Binding Sites , DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded , DNA Helicases/metabolism , DNA Polymerase III/metabolism , DNA Repair , Humans , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism , Protein Binding , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
DNA double-strand break repair by homologous recombination entails nucleolytic resection of the 5' strand at break ends. Dna2, a flap endonuclease with 5'-3' helicase activity, is involved in the resection process. The Dna2 helicase activity has been implicated in Okazaki fragment processing during DNA replication but is thought to be dispensable for DNA end resection. Unexpectedly, we found a requirement for the helicase function of Dna2 in end resection in budding yeast cells lacking exonuclease 1. Biochemical analysis reveals that ATP hydrolysis-fueled translocation of Dna2 on ssDNA facilitates 5' flap cleavage near a single-strand-double strand junction while attenuating 3' flap incision. Accordingly, the ATP hydrolysis-defective dna2-K1080E mutant is less able to generate long products in a reconstituted resection system. Our study thus reveals a previously unrecognized role of the Dna2 translocase activity in DNA break end resection and in the imposition of the 5' strand specificity of end resection.
