Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.

DNA repair mechanisms in mitotically proliferating cells avoid generating crossovers, which can contribute to genome instability. Most models for the production of crossovers involve an intermediate with one or more four-stranded Holliday junctions (HJs), which are resolved into duplex molecules thr...

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Main Authors: Sabrina L Andersen, H Kenny Kuo, Daniel Savukoski, Michael H Brodsky, Jeff Sekelsky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-10-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3192830?pdf=render
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author Sabrina L Andersen
H Kenny Kuo
Daniel Savukoski
Michael H Brodsky
Jeff Sekelsky
author_facet Sabrina L Andersen
H Kenny Kuo
Daniel Savukoski
Michael H Brodsky
Jeff Sekelsky
author_sort Sabrina L Andersen
collection DOAJ
description DNA repair mechanisms in mitotically proliferating cells avoid generating crossovers, which can contribute to genome instability. Most models for the production of crossovers involve an intermediate with one or more four-stranded Holliday junctions (HJs), which are resolved into duplex molecules through cleavage by specialized endonucleases. In vitro studies have implicated three nuclear enzymes in HJ resolution: MUS81-EME1/Mms4, GEN1/Yen1, and SLX4-SLX1. The Bloom syndrome helicase, BLM, plays key roles in preventing mitotic crossover, either by blocking the formation of HJ intermediates or by removing HJs without cleavage. Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants that lack Sgs1 (the BLM ortholog) and either Mus81-Mms4 or Slx4-Slx1 are inviable, but mutants that lack Sgs1 and Yen1 are viable. The current view is that Yen1 serves primarily as a backup to Mus81-Mms4. Previous studies with Drosophila melanogaster showed that, as in yeast, loss of both DmBLM and MUS81 or MUS312 (the ortholog of SLX4) is lethal. We have now recovered and analyzed mutations in Drosophila Gen. As in yeast, there is some redundancy between Gen and mus81; however, in contrast to the case in yeast, GEN plays a more predominant role in responding to DNA damage than MUS81-MMS4. Furthermore, loss of DmBLM and GEN leads to lethality early in development. We present a comparison of phenotypes occurring in double mutants that lack DmBLM and either MUS81, GEN, or MUS312, including chromosome instability and deficiencies in cell proliferation. Our studies of synthetic lethality provide insights into the multiple functions of DmBLM and how various endonucleases may function when DmBLM is absent.
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spelling doaj.art-49c1c69e401e4f4fa86188b7c2c0eac22022-12-22T02:19:37ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042011-10-01710e100231510.1371/journal.pgen.1002315Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.Sabrina L AndersenH Kenny KuoDaniel SavukoskiMichael H BrodskyJeff SekelskyDNA repair mechanisms in mitotically proliferating cells avoid generating crossovers, which can contribute to genome instability. Most models for the production of crossovers involve an intermediate with one or more four-stranded Holliday junctions (HJs), which are resolved into duplex molecules through cleavage by specialized endonucleases. In vitro studies have implicated three nuclear enzymes in HJ resolution: MUS81-EME1/Mms4, GEN1/Yen1, and SLX4-SLX1. The Bloom syndrome helicase, BLM, plays key roles in preventing mitotic crossover, either by blocking the formation of HJ intermediates or by removing HJs without cleavage. Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants that lack Sgs1 (the BLM ortholog) and either Mus81-Mms4 or Slx4-Slx1 are inviable, but mutants that lack Sgs1 and Yen1 are viable. The current view is that Yen1 serves primarily as a backup to Mus81-Mms4. Previous studies with Drosophila melanogaster showed that, as in yeast, loss of both DmBLM and MUS81 or MUS312 (the ortholog of SLX4) is lethal. We have now recovered and analyzed mutations in Drosophila Gen. As in yeast, there is some redundancy between Gen and mus81; however, in contrast to the case in yeast, GEN plays a more predominant role in responding to DNA damage than MUS81-MMS4. Furthermore, loss of DmBLM and GEN leads to lethality early in development. We present a comparison of phenotypes occurring in double mutants that lack DmBLM and either MUS81, GEN, or MUS312, including chromosome instability and deficiencies in cell proliferation. Our studies of synthetic lethality provide insights into the multiple functions of DmBLM and how various endonucleases may function when DmBLM is absent.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3192830?pdf=render
spellingShingle Sabrina L Andersen
H Kenny Kuo
Daniel Savukoski
Michael H Brodsky
Jeff Sekelsky
Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.
PLoS Genetics
title Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.
title_full Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.
title_fullStr Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.
title_full_unstemmed Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.
title_short Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila.
title_sort three structure selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of blm helicase in drosophila
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3192830?pdf=render
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