• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.265-274
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• 2023

Defects in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair signaling permit cancer cells to accumulate genomic alterations that confer their aggressive phenotype. Nevertheless, tumors depend on residual DNA repair abilities to survive the DNA damage induced by genotoxic stress. This is why only isolated DNA repair signaling is inactivated in cancer cells. DNA DSB repair signaling contributes to general mechanism for various types of lesions in diverse cell cycle phases. DNA DSB repair genes are frequently mutated and amplified in cancer; however, limited data exist regarding the overall genomic prospect and functional result of these modifications. We list the DNA repair genes and related E3 ligases. Mutation and expression frequencies of these genes were analyzed in COSMIC and TCGA. The 11 genes with a high frequency of mutation differed between cancers, and mutations in many DNA DSB repair E3 ligase genes were related to a higher total mutation burden. DNA DSB repair E3 ligase genes are involved in tumor suppressive or oncogenic functions, such as RNF168 and FBXW7, by assisting the functionality of these genomic alterations. DNA damage response-related E3 ligases, such as RNF168, FBXW7, and HERC2, were generated with more than 10% mutation in several cancer cells. This study provides a broad list of candidate genes as potential biomarkers for genomic instability and novel therapeutic targets in cancer. As a DSB related proteins considerably appear the possibilities for targeting DNA repair defective tumors or hyperactive DNA repair tumors. Based on recent research, we describe the relationship between unstable DSB repairs and DSB-related E3 ligases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.437-443
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• 2018

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and to a lesser extent, the error-free pathway known as homology-directed repair (HDR) are cellular mechanisms for recovery from double-strand DNA breaks (DSB) induced by RNA-guided programmable nuclease CRISPR/Cas. Since NHEJ is equivalent to using a duck tape to stick two pieces of metals together, the outcome of this repair mechanism is prone to error. Any out-of-frame mutations or premature stop codons resulting from NHEJ repair mechanism are extremely handy for loss-of-function studies. Substitution of a mutation on the genome with the correct exogenous repair DNA requires coordination via an error-free HDR, for targeted transgenesis. However, several practical limitations exist in harnessing the potential of HDR to replace a faulty mutation for therapeutic purposes in all cell types and more so in somatic cells. In germ cells after the DSB, copying occurs from the homologous chromosome, which increases the chances of incorporation of exogenous DNA with some degree of homology into the genome compared with somatic cells where copying from the identical sister chromatid is always preferred. This review summarizes several strategies that have been implemented to increase the frequency of HDR with a focus on somatic cells. It also highlights the limitations of this technology in gene therapy and suggests specific solutions to circumvent those barriers.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2019

RAD51 recombinase plays a critical role in homologous recombination and DNA damage repair. Here we showed that expression of RAD51 is frequently upregulated in lung cancer tumors compared with normal tissues and is associated with poor survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 2, P = 0.0009). Systematic investigation of lung cancer cell lines revealed higher expression of RAD51 in KRAS mutant (MT) cells compared to wildtype (WT) cells. We further showed that MT KRAS, but not WT KRAS, played a critical role in RAD51 overexpression via MYC. Moreover, our results revealed that KRAS MT cells are highly dependent on RAD51 for survival and depletion of RAD51 resulted in enhanced DNA double strand breaks, defective colony formation and cell death. Together, our results suggest that mutant KRAS promotes RAD51 expression to enhance DNA damage repair and lung cancer cell survival, suggesting that RAD51 may be an effective therapeutic target to overcome chemo/radioresistance in KRAS mutant cancers.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.331-338
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• 2005

Ionizing radiation and doxorubicin both produce oxidative damage and double-strand breaks in DNA. Double-strand breaks and oxidative damage are highly toxic and cause cell cycle arrest, provoking DNA repair and apoptosis in cancer cell lines. To investigate the response of normal human cells to agents causing oxidative damage, we monitored alterations in gene expression in F65 normal human fibroblasts. Treatment with ${\gamma}$-irradiation and doxorubicin altered the expression of 23 and 68 known genes, respectively, with no genes in common. Both agents altered the expression of genes involved in cell cycle arrest, and arrested the treated cells in $G_2M$ phase 12 h after treatment. 24 h after ${\gamma}$-irradiation, the percentage of $G_1$ cells increased, whereas after doxorubicin treatment the percentage of $G_2M$ cells remained constant for 24 h. Our results suggest that F65 cells respond differently to ${\gamma}$-irradiation- and doxorubicin-induced DNA damage, probably using entirely different biochemical pathways.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.405-409
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• 2009

When DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were induced in mammalian cells, many DNA damage response proteins are accumulated at damage sites to form nuclear foci called IR-induced foci. Although the formation of foci has been shown to promote repair efficiency, the structural organization of chromatin in foci remains obscure. BAF53 is an actin-related protein which is required for maintenance of chromosome territory. In this study, we show that the formation of IR-induced foci by $\gamma$-H2AX and 53BP1 were reduced when BAF53 is depleted, while DSB- activated ATM pathway and the phosphorylation of H2AX remains intact after DNA damage in BAF53 knockdown cells. We also found that DSB repair efficiency was largely compromised in BAF53 knockdown cells. These results indicate that BAF53 is critical for formation of foci by $\gamma$-H2AX decorated chromatin at damage sites and the structural organization of chromatin in foci is an important factor to achieve the maximum efficiency of DNA repair.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1321-1324
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• 2012

Background: DNA polymerase beta ($pol{\beta}$) is a key enzyme in the base excision repair pathway. It is 39kDa protein, with two subunits, one large subunit of 31 kDa having catalytic activity between exon V to exon XIV, and an 8 kDa smaller subunit having single strand DNA binding activity. Exons V to VII have double strand DNA binding activity, whereas exons VIII to XI account for the nucleotidyl transferase activity and exons XII to XIV the dNTP selection activity. Aim: To examine the association between $pol{\beta}$ polymorphisms and the risk of ovarian cancer, the present case control study was performed using 152 cancer samples and non-metastatic normal samples from the same patients. In this study, mutational analysis of $pol{\beta}$ genomic DNA was undertaken using primers from exons IX to XIV - the portion having catalytic activity. Results: We detected alteration in DNA polymerase beta by SSCP. Two specific heterozygous point mutations of $pol{\beta}$ were identified in Exon 9:486, A->C (polymorphism 1; 11.18%) and in Exon 11:676, A->C (polymorphism 2; 9.86%). The correlation study involving polymorphism 1 and 4 types of tissue showed a significant correlation between mucinous type with a Pearson correlation value of 4.03 (p=0.04). The association among polymorphism 2 with serous type and stage IV together have shown Pearson ${\chi}^2$ value of 3.28 with likelihood ratio of 4.4 (p=0.07) with OR =2.08 (0.3-14.55). This indicates that there is a tendency of correlation among polymorphism 2, serous type and stage IV, indicating a risk factor for ovarian cancer. Conclusion: Hence, the results indicate that there is a tendency for $pol{\beta}$ polymorphisms being a risk factor for ovarian carcinogenesis in India.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2015

The plant breeding technology was developed with genetic engineering. Many researchers and breeders have turned from traditional breeding to molecular breeding. Genetically modified organisms (GMO) were developed via molecular breeding technology. Currently, molecular breeding technologies facilitate efficient plant breeding without introducing foreign genes, in virtue by of gene editing technology. Gene targeting (GT) via homologous recombination (HR) is one of the best gene editing methods available to modify specific DNA sequences in genomes. GT utilizes DNA repair pathways. Thus, DNA repair systems are controlled to enhance HR processing. Engineered sequence specific endonucleases were applied to improve GT efficiency. Engineered sequence specific endonucleases like the zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), TAL effector nuclease (TALEN), and CRISPR-Cas9 create DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) that can stimulate HR at a target site. RecQl4, Exo1 and Rad51 are effectors that enhance DSB repair via the HR pathway. This review focuses on recent developments in engineered sequence specific endonucleases and ways to improve the efficiency of GT via HR effectors in plants.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.126-137
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• 2022

Objective: Efficient gene editing technology is critical for successful knock-in in domestic animals. RAD51 recombinase (RAD51) gene plays an important role in strand invasion during homologous recombination (HR) in mammals, and is regulated by checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) and CHK2 genes, which are upstream elements of RAD51 recombinase (RAD51). In addition, mismatch repair (MMR) system is inextricably linked to HR-related pathways and regulates HR via heteroduplex rejection. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated knock-in efficiency of human lactoferrin (hLF) knock-in vector in the bovine β-casein gene locus can be increased by suppressing DNA MMR-related genes (MSH2, MSH3, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2) and overexpressing DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair-related genes (RAD51, CHK1, CHK2). Methods: Bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells were transfected with a knock-in vector, RAD51, CHK1, or CHK2 overexpression vector and CRISPR/sgRNA expression vector to target the bovine β-casein gene locus, followed by treatment of the cells with CdCl₂ for 24 hours. After 3 days of CdCl₂ treatment, the knock-in efficiency was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mRNA expression levels of DNA MMR-related and DNA DSB repair-related genes were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: Treatment with CdCl₂ decreased the mRNA expression of RAD51 and MMRrelated genes but did not increase the knock-in efficiency in MAC-T cells. Also, the overexpression of DNA DSB repair-related genes in MAC-T cells did not significantly affect the mRNA expression of MMR-related genes and failed to increase the knock-in efficiency. Conclusion: Treatment with CdCl₂ inhibited the mRNA levels of RAD51 and DNA MMR-related genes in MAC-T cells. However, the function of MMR pathway in relation to HR may differ in various cell types or species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2008

Stalled DNA replication forks activate specific DNA repair mechanism called post-replication repair (PRR) pathways that simply bypass DNA damage. The bypassing of DNA damage by PRR prevents prolonged stalling of DNA replication that could result in double strand breaks (DSBs). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) functions to initiate and choose different bypassing pathways of PRR. In yeast, DNA replication forks stalled by DNA damage induces monoubiquitination of PCNA at K164, which is catalyzed by Rad6/Rad18 complex. PCNA monoubiquitination triggers the replacement of replicative polymerase with special translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases that are able to replicate past DNA lesions. The PCNA interaction motif and/or the ubiquitin binding motif in most TLS polymerases seem to be important for the regulation of TLS. The TLS pathway is usually error-prone because TLS polymerases have low fidelity and no proofreading activity. PCNA can also be further polyubiquitinated by Ubc13/ Mms2/Rad5 complex, which adds an ubiquitin chain onto monoubiquitinated K164 of PCNA. PCNA polyubiquitination directs a different PRR pathway known as error-free damage avoidance, which uses the newly synthesized sister chromatid as a template to bypass DNA damage presumably through template switching mechanism. Mammalian homologues of all of the yeast PRR proteins have been identified, thus PRR is well conserved throughout evolution. Mutations of some PRR genes are associated with a higher risk for cancers in mice and human patients, strongly supporting the importance of PRR as a tumor suppressor pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2003

Recent studies indicated that cancer cells become resistant to ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy drugs by enhanced DNA repair of the lesions. Therefore, it is expected to increase the killing of cancer cells and reduce drug resistance by inhibiting DNA repair pathways that tumor cells rely on to escape chemotherapy. There are a number of key human DNA repair pathways which depend on multimeric polypeptide activities. For example, Ku heterodimer regulatory DNA binding subunits (Ku70/Ku80) on binding to double strand DNA breaks (DSBs) are able to interact with 470-kDa DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), and are essential for DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity. It has been known that DNA-PK is an important factor for DNA repair and also is a sensor-transmitting damage signal to downstream targets, leading to cell cycles arrest. Our ultimate goal is to develop a treatment of breast tumors by targeting proteins involved in damage-signaling pathway and/or DNA repair. This would greatly facilitate tumor cell cytotoxic activity and programmed cell death through DNA damaging drug treatment. Therefore, we designed a domain of Ku80 mutants that binds to Ku70 but not DNA end binding activity and used the peptide in co-therapy strategy to see whether the targeted inhibition of DNA-PK activity sensitized breast cancer cells to irradiation or chemotherapy drug. We observed that the synthesized peptide (HNI-38) prevented DNA-PKcs from binding to Ku70/Ku80, thus resulting in inactivation of DNA-PK activity. Consequently, the peptide treated cells exhibited poor to no DNA repair, and became highly sensitive to IR or chemotherapy drugs, and the growth of breast cancer cells was inhibited. Additionally, the results obtained in the present study also support the physiological role of resistance of cancer cells to IR or chemotherapy.