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bioRxiv2022

C1orf112 is a novel regulator of interstrand crosslink that decreases FIGNL1-RAD51 interaction

Interstrand DNA crosslinks (ICLs) represent complex lesions that block essential biological processes, including DNA replication, recombination, and transcription. Several pathways have been involved in ICL repair, in particular nucleotide excision repair (NER), translesion DNA synthesis (TLS), Fanconi anemia (FA), and homologous recombination (HR). Still, the extent of factors involved in the resolution of ICL-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) remains poorly defined. Using CRISPR-based genome-wide screening, we identified the poorly characterized C1orf112 (also known as Apolo1) as a novel sensitizer to the clinically relevant ICL-inducing agent mafosfamide. Consistently, we noted that low expression of C1orf112 correlates with increased sensitivity to a series of ICL agents and PARP inhibitors in a panel of cell lines. We showed that lack of C1orf112 does not impact the initial recruitment and ubiquitylation of FANCD2 at the ICL site but rather impairs the resolution of RAD51 from ICL-induced DSBs, thereby compromising homology-directed DNA repair pathways. Our proximal mapping of C1orf112 protein neighbours coupled to structure-function analysis revealed that C1orf112, through its WCF motif, forms a complex with the N-terminal domain of the AAA+ ATPase FIGNL1 and regulates the interaction of FIGNL1 with RAD51. Our work establishes the C1orf112-FIGNL1 complex as an integral part of the HR-mediated response to ICLs by regulating the unloading of RAD51 during ICL repair.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The immediate early protein 1 of the human herpesvirus 6B counteracts NBS1 and prevents homologous recombination repair pathways

Viral infection often trigger an ATM-dependent DNA damage response (DDR) in host cells that suppresses viral replication. To counteract this antiviral surveillance system, viruses evolved different strategies to induce the degradation of the MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 (MRN) complex and prevent subsequent DDR signaling. Here, we report that human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) infection causes genomic instability by suppressing the host cells ability to induce ATM-dependent signaling pathways. Expression of immediate early protein 1 (IE1) phenocopies this phenotype and blocks further homology-directed double-strand break (DSB) repair. In contrast to other viruses, IE1 does not affect the stability of the MRN complex. Instead, it uses two distinct domains to inhibit ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATM) activation at DSBs. Structure-based analyses revealed that the N-terminal domain of IE1 interacts with the BRCA1 C-terminal domain 2 of nibrin (NBN, also known as NBS1), while ATM inhibition is attributable to on its C-terminal domain. Consistent with the role of the MRN complex in antiviral responses, NBS1 depletion resulted in increased HHV-6B replication in infected cells. However, in semi-permissive cells, viral integration of HHV-6B into the telomeres was not strictly dependent on NBS1, supporting models where this process occurs via telomere elongation rather than through DNA repair. Interestingly, as IE1 expression has been detected in cells of subjects with inherited chromosomally-integrated form of HHV-6B (iciHHV-6B), a condition associated with several health conditions, our results raise the possibility of a link between genomic instability and the development of iciHHV-6-associated diseases. Significance StatementMany viruses have evolved ways to inhibit DNA damage signaling, presumably to prevent infected cells from activating an antiviral response. Here, we show that this is also true for human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B), through its immediate early protein 1 (IE1). However, in contrast to adenovirus immediate early proteins, HHV-6B IE1 is recruited to double-strand breaks in an NBS1-dependent manner and inhibits ATM serine/threonine kinase activation. Characterizing this phenotype revealed a unique mechanism by which HHV-6B manipulates DNA damage signaling in infected cells. Consistently, viral replication is restricted by the MRN complex in HHV-6B infected cells. Viral integration of HHV-6B into the hosts telomeres is not strictly dependent on NBS1, challenging current models where integration occurs through homology-directed repair.

microbiology↗