Pif1 helicase and Polδ promote recombination-coupled DNA synthesis via bubble migration

Abstract

During DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR), DNA synthesis copies information from a template DNA molecule. Multiple DNA polymerases have been implicated in repair-specific DNA synthesis1–3, but it has remained unclear whether a DNA helicase is involved in this reaction. A good candidate is Pif1, an evolutionarily conserved helicase in S. cerevisiae important for break-induced replication (BIR)4 as well as HR-dependent telomere maintenance in the absence of telomerase5 found in 10–15% of all cancers6. Pif1 plays a role in DNA synthesis across hard-to-replicate sites7, 8 and in lagging strand synthesis with Polδ9–11. Here we provide evidence that Pif1 stimulates DNA synthesis during BIR and crossover recombination. The initial steps of BIR occur normally in Pif1-deficient cells, but Polδ recruitment and DNA synthesis are decreased, resulting in premature resolution of DNA intermediates into half crossovers. Purified Pif1 protein strongly stimulates Polδ-mediated DNA synthesis from a D-loop made by the Rad51 recombinase. Importantly, Pif1 liberates the newly synthesized strand to prevent the accumulation of topological constraint and to facilitate extensive DNA synthesis via the establishment of a migrating D-loop structure. Our results uncover a novel function of Pif1 and provide insights into the mechanism of HR.