ATR-Chk1 Checkpoint Research Articles

Abstract 4197: A DNA damage checkpoint response to unrepaired ultraviolet radiation-induced lesions which is defective in melanoma

Abstract Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a major environmental risk factor in the development of skin cancer. Here we describe a G2 phase cell cycle checkpoint response to suberythemal doses of UVR that is defective in a majority of melanoma cell lines tested. The majority of cells in the basal layer of the epidermis are quiescent, and exposure to suberythemal doses of UVR produces not only DNA damage but also provides a mitogenic stimulus to drive cells into the cell cycle. The majority of UVR-induced DNA lesions are rapidly repaired by NER mechanisms, but a small number of DNA lesions fail to be repaired during G1 phase and are encountered by the replication fork during S phase. This triggers Werner helicase (Wrn) dependent lesion bypass, allowing replication to continue relatively unhindered, but producing gaps in the newly replicated DNA strand opposite the lesions. These single stranded DNA gaps recruit replication protein A (RPA) and components of the ATR-Chk1 checkpoint signaling responsible for the G2 phase arrest observed. The RPA foci also co-localise components of the error free RAD18-RAD51 post replication repair pathway which are essential for repair of the gaps and checkpoint signaling. This checkpoint mechanism ensures detection and repair of all UVR induced DNA damage before proceeding into mitosis. Loss of this checkpoint response increases the rate of UVR induced mutation. Thus this checkpoint response is critical for maintaining genomic stability in the epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes, and loss of this checkpoint mechanism may account for the increased UVR signature DNA mutations found in melanomas. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4197. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4197

Interactions of human mismatch repair proteins MutSalpha and MutLalpha with proteins of the ATR‐Chk1 pathway

At clinically relevant doses, chemotherapeutic SN1 DNA methylating agents induce an ATR‐mediated checkpoint response in human cells that is dependent on functional mismatch repair activities MutSα and MutLα. To better understand the mechanisms linking mismatch repair to ATR‐Chk1 checkpoint activation, we have systematically examined interactions of human MutSα and MutLα with proteins of the ATR‐Chk1 pathway using both nuclear extracts and purified proteins. Using nuclear co‐immunoprecipitation, we have detected interaction of MutSα with ATR, TopBP1, BRCA1, Claspin and Chk1, and interaction of MutLα with TopBP1, BRCA1 and Claspin. We were unable to detect interaction of MutSα or MutLα with Rad17, Rad9 or RPA in the extract system. Use of purified proteins confirmed direct interaction of MutSα with ATR, TopBP1 and Chk1, and MutLα with TopBP1. Use of a modified chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that PCNA, ATR, TopBP1, and Chk1 are recruited to chromatin in a MutLα‐ and MutSα‐dependent fashion after treatment with N‐methyl‐N′‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine. While our failure to observe chromatin enrichment of RPA, Claspin, Rad17‐RFC, and Rad9‐Rad1‐Hus1 could be due to sensitivity limitations, these observations may indicate a novel mechanism for ATR activation. This study was financially supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Differential Dynamics of ATR‐Mediated Checkpoint Regulators

The ATR-Chk1 checkpoint pathway is activated by UV-induced DNA lesions and replication stress. Little was known about the spatio and temporal behaviour of the proteins involved, and we, therefore, examined the behaviour of the ATRIP-ATR and Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 putative DNA damage sensor complexes and the downstream effector kinase Chk1. We developed assays for the generation and validation of stable cell lines expressing GFP-fusion proteins. Photobleaching experiments in living cells expressing these fusions indicated that after UV-induced DNA damage, ATRIP associates more transiently with damaged chromatin than members of the Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 complex. Interestingly, ATRIP directly associated with locally induced UV damage, whereas Rad9 bound in a cooperative manner, which can be explained by the Rad17-dependent loading of Rad9 onto damaged chromatin. Although Chk1 dissociates from the chromatin upon UV damage, no change in the mobility of GFP-Chk1 was observed, supporting the notion that Chk1 is a highly dynamic protein.

The Role of Dbf4/Drf1-Dependent Kinase Cdc7 in DNA-Damage Checkpoint Control

The Dbf4/Drf1-dependent S-phase-promoting kinase Cdc7 (Ddk) is thought to be an essential target inactivated by the S-phase checkpoint machinery that inhibits DNA replication. However, we show here that the complex formation, chromatin association, and kinase activity of Ddk are not inhibited during the DNA-damage-induced S-phase checkpoint response in Xenopus egg extracts and mammalian cells. Instead, we find that Ddk plays an active role in regulating S-phase checkpoint signaling. Addition of purified Ddk to Xenopus egg extracts or overexpression of Dbf4 in HeLa cells downregulates ATR-Chk1 checkpoint signaling and overrides the inhibition of DNA replication and cell-cycle progression induced by DNA-damaging agents. These results indicate that Ddk functions as an upstream regulator to monitor S-phase checkpoint signaling. We propose that Ddk modulates the S-phase checkpoint control by attenuating checkpoint signaling and triggering DNA replication reinitiation during the S-phase checkpoint recovery.

Sonic Hedgehog signaling impairs ionizing radiation–induced checkpoint activation and induces genomic instability

The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway plays important roles in embryogenesis, stem cell maintenance, tissue repair, and tumorigenesis. Haploinsufficiency of Patched-1, a gene that encodes a repressor of the Shh pathway, dysregulates the Shh pathway and increases genomic instability and the development of spontaneous and ionizing radiation (IR)–induced tumors by an unknown mechanism. Here we show that Ptc1+/− mice have a defect in the IR-induced activation of the ATR–Chk1 checkpoint signaling pathway. Likewise, transient expression of Gli1, a downstream target of Shh signaling, disrupts Chk1 activation in human cells by preventing the interaction of Chk1 with Claspin, a Chk1 adaptor protein that is required for Chk1 activation. These results suggest that inappropriate Shh pathway activation promotes tumorigenesis by disabling a key signaling pathway that helps maintain genomic stability and inhibits tumorigenesis.

Cdc7 kinase mediates Claspin phosphorylation in DNA replication checkpoint

Cdc7 kinase is evolutionarily conserved and is involved in initiation and progression of DNA replication. However, roles of Cdc7 in checkpoint responses remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that deletion of the Cdc7 genes in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells abrogates hydroxyurea (HU)- or UV-induced activation of Chk1. HU-induced Chk1 activation is also impaired in human cancer cell lines in which Cdc7 is depleted by siRNA, and Cdc7-depleted cells are more sensitive to HU treatment. In contrast, ATR and Rad17 are relocated to chromatin in these cells following HU treatment, indicating that stalled DNA replication forks are detected normally. Cdc7-depleted cells exhibit defects in chromatin association and phosphorylation of Claspin, suggesting that Cdc7 exerts its effect at least partially through Claspin. Consistent with this prediction, Cdc7 interacts with and phosphorylates Claspin. We propose that Cdc7 is required for activation of the ATR-Chk1 checkpoint pathway through regulation of Claspin.