Biology subjects

Dujeancourt-Henry, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Dujeancourt-Henry, A..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Single locus phosphoproteomics reveals phosphorylation of RPA-1 is required for generation of single-strand DNA following a break at a subtelomeric locus.

Damage to the genetic material of the cell poses a universal threat to all forms of life. Central to the DNA damage response (DDR) is a phosphorylation signalling cascade that leads to the co-ordination of the cellular response to a DNA break. Identifying the proteins that are phosphorylated is crucial to understanding the mechanisms underlying this DDR. We have used SILAC-based quantitative phosphoproteomics to profile changes in phosphorylation site abundance following a single double strand break (DSB) at a chromosome internal locus and the subtelomeric bloodstream form expression site in Trypanosoma brucei. We report >6500 phosphorylation sites, including a core set of 211 DSB responsive phosphorylation sites. Along with phosphorylation of canonical DNA damage factors, we find that there is a striking distinction between the proteins phosphorylated in response to a chromosome internal DSB and one at the active BES and describe a single phosphorylation event on Replication factor A (RPA) 1 that is required for efficient resection at a bloodstream form expression site.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

DNA double strand break position leads to distinct gene expression changes and regulates VSG switching pathway choice.

Antigenic variation is an immune evasion strategy used by Trypanosoma brucei that results in the periodic exchange of the surface protein coat. Underlying this process is the movement of variant surface glycoprotein genes in or out of a specialized locus known as bloodstream form expression site by homologous recombination, facilitated by blocks of repetitive sequence known as the 70-bp repeats, that provide homology for gene conversion events. DNA double strand breaks are potent drivers of antigenic variation, however where these breaks must fall to elicit a switch is not well understood. To understand how the position of a break influences antigenic variation we established a series of cell lines to study the effect of an I-SceI meganuclease break in the active expression site. We found that a DNA break within repetitive regions is not productive for VSG switching, and show that the break position leads to a distinct gene expression profile and DNA repair response which dictates how antigenic variation proceeds in African trypanosomes.

molecular biology↗