Click here to close
Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly.
We suggest using a current version of Chrome,
FireFox, or Safari.
???displayArticle.abstract??? Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex (MRN) is essential to suppress the generation of double-strand breaks (DSBs) during DNA replication. MRN also plays a role in the response to DSBs created by DNA damage. Hypomorphic mutations in Mre11 (which causes an ataxia-telangiectasia-like disease [ATLD]) and mutations in the ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) gene lead to defects in handling damaged DNA and to similar clinical and cellular phenotypes. Using Xenopus egg extracts, we have designed a simple assay to define the biochemistry of Mre11. MRN is required for efficient activation of the DNA damage response induced by DSBs. We isolated a high molecular weight DNA damage signaling complex that includes MRN, damaged DNA molecules, and activated ATM. Complex formation is partially dependent upon Zn(2+) and requires an intact Mre11 C-terminal domain that is deleted in some ATLD patients. The ATLD truncation can still perform the role of Mre11 during replication. Our work demonstrates the role of Mre11 in assembling DNA damage signaling centers that are reminiscent of irradiation-induced foci. It also provides a molecular explanation for the similarities between ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) and ATLD.
Figure 1. Functional MRN Is Required for the Response to DSBs, and Mre11âATLD Separates Essential and Nonessential Mre11 Functions(A) The activity of protein kinases responsive to DSBs in Xenopus laevis egg extracts was monitored by incorporation of 32P from γ-32P-ATP into H2AX-derived peptides in the presence (plus DSB) or absence (minus DSB) of fragmented DNA. Labels: Wild-Type, H2AX substrate peptide containing serine 134 and serine 139; S134A, H2AX substrate peptide with a substitution of serine 134 to alanine; S139A, H2AX substrate peptide with a substitution of serine 139 to alanine; S134A/S139A, H2AX substrate peptide with a substitution of both serines to alanine.(B) Extract incubated with linear DNA at 50 ng/μl (equivalent to 4.5 à 1010 breaks/μl) was assayed with H2AX peptide in the presence of buffer (Control), ATM-neutralizing antibodies (ATM Ab), ATR-neutralizing antibodies (ATR Ab), ATM- and ATR-neutralizing antibodies (ATM/ATR Abs), ATM- and ATR-neutralizing antibodies in Ku70-depleted extracts (ATM/ATR Abs; Ku depletion), 5 mM caffeine (Caffeine).(C) DSB-responsive kinase activity was measured in the presence of 0, 5, 10, 25, and 50 ng/μl of linear DNA in control extract (filled diamonds), mock-depleted extract (open diamonds), Mre11-depleted extract (open squares), Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with 500 nM of recombinant MRN (filled squares), or Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with 500 nM MRN-ATLD1/2 (filled triangles).(D) DSB accumulation during DNA replication was monitored by TUNEL assay. Postreplicative nuclei were isolated from a control extract (stripes), Mre11-depleted extract (dots), Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with MRN (diamonds), Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with MRN-ATLD1/2 (gray) or mock-depleted extract (white).
Figure 2. Requirements for the Assembly of DNAâProtein ComplexesElution profiles of α-32P-dATP-labeled 1 kb linear DNA from BioGel A15m chromatography columns. After loading, fractions 1â31 were collected and radioactivity was counted in a scintillation counter.(AâE) Complete elution profile. (A) Linear DNA alone. (B) Linear DNA incubated 2 h in extract at 22°C. (C) α-32P-dATP-labeled circular plasmid incubated for 2 h in extract at 22°C. (D) Linear DNA incubated with extract treated with 1 mg/ml proteinase K immediately prior to loading. (E) Linear DNA incubated in Mre11-depleted extract.(F and G) Excluded volume (fractions 6â14). (F) Linear DNA incubated in the following extracts: Mre11-depleted extract (open triangles), Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with 500 nM of MRN (filled triangles), Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with 500 nM of MRN-ATLD1/2 (open squares), or control extract supplemented with MRN (filled squares). (G) Linear DNA incubated in the following extracts: control extract (filled circles), extract treated with 5 mM caffeine (open circles), extract treated with TPEN at 100 μM (open diamonds).
Figure 3. Mre11 Tethers DSB-Containing DNA(A) Control and treated extracts were incubated with α-32P-dATP-labeled DNA fragments and loaded onto BioGel A15 columns. Fractions 10 and 25 were collected and incubated with polyclonal antibodies against Mre11 or protein A beads alone. Beads were collected and washed, and radioactivity was counted in a scintillation counter. Shown are control extract (stripes), Mre11-depleted extract (dots), or Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with Mre11 that had been immunoprecipitated from the extract (diamonds), and extract incubated with beads alone (black).(B) Biotinylated DNA fragments were mixed with α-32P-dATP-labeled DNA fragments and incubated with various extracts. The extracts were then loaded onto BioGel A15 columns. Fractions 10 and 25 were collected and incubated with streptavidin-magnetic beads. Beads were collected and washed, and radioactivity was counted in a scintillation counter. Shown are control extract (stripes), Mre11-depleted extract (dots), Mre11-depleted extract supplemented with 500 nM MRN (diamonds), and streptavidin beads (black).
Figure 4. DNAâProtein Complexes Are Signaling Centers Containing Active Mre11 and ATM(A) Western blot analysis of eluted fractions. Fraction numbers are indicated at bottom. Fractions were collected following chromatography of extracts incubated with fragmented (plus DSBs) or without fragmented DNA (minus DSBs). Samples from fractions were processed for SDS-PAGE and blotted with polyclonal antibodies against Mre11, ATM, and phosphorylated ATM.(B) Activity of ATM and ATR kinases in fractions 10 and 25. Extracts were incubated with DNA fragments and applied to BioGel A15m columns. Fraction 10 and fraction 25 from control extract were assayed for H2AX activity in presence of buffer (light gray), ATM-neutralizing antibodies (checks), ATR-neutralizing antibodies (dark gray), 300 μM vanillin (stripes), or 5 mM caffeine (black).(C) Activity of ATM and ATR kinases in fraction 10 and total extract. Control extracts or extracts supplemented with 500 nM recombinant MRN were incubated with DSBs and loaded onto BioGel A15m columns. Total control extract and fraction 10 were assayed for H2AX activity in the presence of buffer (light gray), ATM-neutralizing antibodies (checks), ATR-neutralizing antibodies (dark gray), or 5 mM caffeine (black).
Figure 5. Schematic Representation of the Mre11-Dependent Assembly of DNA Damage Signaling ComplexesMRN promotes the assembly of DNAâprotein structures containing linear DNA fragments enriched with active ATM molecules. These active signaling complexes resemble IRIF in that they are the morphological and functional unit of the DNA damage response.
Abraham,
Cell cycle checkpoint signaling through the ATM and ATR kinases.
2001, Pubmed
Abraham,
Cell cycle checkpoint signaling through the ATM and ATR kinases.
2001,
Pubmed
Andegeko,
Nuclear retention of ATM at sites of DNA double strand breaks.
2001,
Pubmed
Aten,
Dynamics of DNA double-strand breaks revealed by clustering of damaged chromosome domains.
2004,
Pubmed
Bakkenist,
DNA damage activates ATM through intermolecular autophosphorylation and dimer dissociation.
2003,
Pubmed
Burma,
ATM phosphorylates histone H2AX in response to DNA double-strand breaks.
2001,
Pubmed
Carney,
The hMre11/hRad50 protein complex and Nijmegen breakage syndrome: linkage of double-strand break repair to the cellular DNA damage response.
1998,
Pubmed
Carson,
The Mre11 complex is required for ATM activation and the G2/M checkpoint.
2003,
Pubmed
Costanzo,
An ATR- and Cdc7-dependent DNA damage checkpoint that inhibits initiation of DNA replication.
2003,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Costanzo,
Mre11 protein complex prevents double-strand break accumulation during chromosomal DNA replication.
2001,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Costanzo,
Reconstitution of an ATM-dependent checkpoint that inhibits chromosomal DNA replication following DNA damage.
2000,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
D'Amours,
The Mre11 complex: at the crossroads of dna repair and checkpoint signalling.
2002,
Pubmed
de Jager,
Human Rad50/Mre11 is a flexible complex that can tether DNA ends.
2001,
Pubmed
Digweed,
Nijmegen breakage syndrome: consequences of defective DNA double strand break repair.
1999,
Pubmed
Durant,
Vanillins--a novel family of DNA-PK inhibitors.
2003,
Pubmed
Gatei,
ATM-dependent phosphorylation of nibrin in response to radiation exposure.
2000,
Pubmed
Gatti,
The pathogenesis of ataxia-telangiectasia. Learning from a Rosetta Stone.
2001,
Pubmed
Goldberg,
MDC1 is required for the intra-S-phase DNA damage checkpoint.
2003,
Pubmed
Haber,
The many interfaces of Mre11.
1998,
Pubmed
Hopfner,
Structural biochemistry and interaction architecture of the DNA double-strand break repair Mre11 nuclease and Rad50-ATPase.
2001,
Pubmed
Hopfner,
The Rad50 zinc-hook is a structure joining Mre11 complexes in DNA recombination and repair.
2002,
Pubmed
Kim,
Specific recruitment of human cohesin to laser-induced DNA damage.
2002,
Pubmed
Lee,
Regulation of Mre11/Rad50 by Nbs1: effects on nucleotide-dependent DNA binding and association with ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder mutant complexes.
2003,
Pubmed
Lim,
ATM phosphorylates p95/nbs1 in an S-phase checkpoint pathway.
2000,
Pubmed
Lukas,
Distinct spatiotemporal dynamics of mammalian checkpoint regulators induced by DNA damage.
2003,
Pubmed
Luo,
Disruption of mRad50 causes embryonic stem cell lethality, abnormal embryonic development, and sensitivity to ionizing radiation.
1999,
Pubmed
Maser,
hMre11 and hRad50 nuclear foci are induced during the normal cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks.
1997,
Pubmed
Mirzoeva,
DNA replication-dependent nuclear dynamics of the Mre11 complex.
2003,
Pubmed
Mirzoeva,
DNA damage-dependent nuclear dynamics of the Mre11 complex.
2001,
Pubmed
Mochan,
53BP1 and NFBD1/MDC1-Nbs1 function in parallel interacting pathways activating ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) in response to DNA damage.
2003,
Pubmed
Paull,
The 3' to 5' exonuclease activity of Mre 11 facilitates repair of DNA double-strand breaks.
1998,
Pubmed
Paull,
Nbs1 potentiates ATP-driven DNA unwinding and endonuclease cleavage by the Mre11/Rad50 complex.
1999,
Pubmed
Petrini,
The cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks: defining the sensors and mediators.
2003,
Pubmed
Petrini,
The Mre11 complex and ATM: collaborating to navigate S phase.
2000,
Pubmed
Ristic,
The architecture of the human Rad54-DNA complex provides evidence for protein translocation along DNA.
2001,
Pubmed
Rogakou,
DNA double-stranded breaks induce histone H2AX phosphorylation on serine 139.
1998,
Pubmed
Shiloh,
ATM: genome stability, neuronal development, and cancer cross paths.
2001,
Pubmed
Shumaker,
TPEN, a Zn2+/Fe2+ chelator with low affinity for Ca2+, inhibits lamin assembly, destabilizes nuclear architecture and may independently protect nuclei from apoptosis in vitro.
1998,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Stewart,
MDC1 is a mediator of the mammalian DNA damage checkpoint.
2003,
Pubmed
Stewart,
The DNA double-strand break repair gene hMRE11 is mutated in individuals with an ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder.
1999,
Pubmed
Symington,
Role of RAD52 epistasis group genes in homologous recombination and double-strand break repair.
2002,
Pubmed
Tauchi,
Nbs1 is essential for DNA repair by homologous recombination in higher vertebrate cells.
2002,
Pubmed
Theunissen,
Checkpoint failure and chromosomal instability without lymphomagenesis in Mre11(ATLD1/ATLD1) mice.
2003,
Pubmed
Trujillo,
DNA structure-specific nuclease activities in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad50*Mre11 complex.
2001,
Pubmed
Uziel,
Requirement of the MRN complex for ATM activation by DNA damage.
2003,
Pubmed
van den Bosch,
The MRN complex: coordinating and mediating the response to broken chromosomes.
2003,
Pubmed
Varon,
Nibrin, a novel DNA double-strand break repair protein, is mutated in Nijmegen breakage syndrome.
1998,
Pubmed
Ward,
Histone H2AX is phosphorylated in an ATR-dependent manner in response to replicational stress.
2001,
Pubmed
Wu,
ATM phosphorylation of Nijmegen breakage syndrome protein is required in a DNA damage response.
2000,
Pubmed
Yamaguchi-Iwai,
Mre11 is essential for the maintenance of chromosomal DNA in vertebrate cells.
1999,
Pubmed
Yuzhakov,
Trading places on DNA--a three-point switch underlies primer handoff from primase to the replicative DNA polymerase.
1999,
Pubmed
Zhao,
Functional link between ataxia-telangiectasia and Nijmegen breakage syndrome gene products.
2000,
Pubmed
Zhou,
The DNA damage response: putting checkpoints in perspective.
2000,
Pubmed
Zhu,
Targeted disruption of the Nijmegen breakage syndrome gene NBS1 leads to early embryonic lethality in mice.
2001,
Pubmed
Zou,
Sensing DNA damage through ATRIP recognition of RPA-ssDNA complexes.
2003,
Pubmed