EXO5-DNA structure and BLM interactions direct DNA resection critical for ATR-dependent replication restart

Shashank Hambarde, Chi Lin Tsai, Raj K. Pandita, Albino Bacolla, Anirban Maitra, Vijay Charaka, Clayton R. Hunt, Rakesh Kumar, Oliver Limbo, Remy Le Meur, Walter J. Chazin, Susan E. Tsutakawa, Paul Russell, Katharina Schlacher, Tej K. Pandita, John A. Tainer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Stalled DNA replication fork restart after stress as orchestrated by ATR kinase, BLM helicase, and structure-specific nucleases enables replication, cell survival, and genome stability. Here we unveil human exonuclease V (EXO5) as an ATR-regulated DNA structure-specific nuclease and BLM partner for replication fork restart. We find that elevated EXO5 in tumors correlates with increased mutation loads and poor patient survival, suggesting that EXO5 upregulation has oncogenic potential. Structural, mechanistic, and mutational analyses of EXO5 and EXO5-DNA complexes reveal a single-stranded DNA binding channel with an adjacent ATR phosphorylation motif (T88Q89) that regulates EXO5 nuclease activity and BLM binding identified by mass spectrometric analysis. EXO5 phospho-mimetic mutant rescues the restart defect from EXO5 depletion that decreases fork progression, DNA damage repair, and cell survival. EXO5 depletion furthermore rescues survival of FANCA-deficient cells and indicates EXO5 functions epistatically with SMARCAL1 and BLM. Thus, an EXO5 axis connects ATR and BLM in directing replication fork restart.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2989-3006.e9
JournalMolecular cell
Volume81
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 15 2021

Keywords

  • ATR phosphorylation
  • Bloom
  • Fanconi anemia
  • SCE
  • exonuclease
  • fork restart
  • genetic instability
  • interstrand crosslink repair
  • replication stress
  • sister chromatid exchange
  • tumor proliferation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'EXO5-DNA structure and BLM interactions direct DNA resection critical for ATR-dependent replication restart'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this