Guardian of genome: Protein helps prevent damaged DNA in yeast

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/cu-ot073010.php

Like a scout that runs ahead to spot signs of damage, a protein in yeast safeguards the yeast cell’s genome during replication.

Researchers from Cornell University’s Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology have discovered how a protein called Mec1 plays the role of “guardian of the genome”, explained Marcus Smolka, assistant professor of molecular biology and genetics. The findings, “DNA Damage Signalling Recruits the Rtt 107-Six4 Scaffolds via Dpb11 to Mediate Replication Stress Response,” published in Jornal Molecualar Cell, July 30,2010.

Previous Studies have shown that cells lacking Mec1 accumulate damaged DNA and become more sensitive to agents that interfere with replication. The researchers report that the Mec1 protein monitors and repairs the machinery responsible for replicating the DNA. At times, when DNA becomes damaged, the replication machinery can actually detach from the DNA, but Mec1 coordinates the repair of the machinery and the DNA itself, allowing it to restart and continue replicating.

“Mec1 organize the cell’s response against things that jeopardize the integrity of the genome,” Smolka said.

During replication process, Mec1 accumulates at trouble spots such as lesions in the DNA or other blocks to replication. Mec1 is know as a kinase, a type of enzyme that modifies other proteins by adding a phosphate group to them, phosphorylation, which then leads to functional change in the protein. Mec1 adds a phosphate group to a protein known as Six4, which then triggers Six4 to anchor to the replication machinery. Six4 then can employ a variety of tools to repair DNA and the replication machinery.

The findings are important because researchers have discovered  counterparts, orthologues to Mec1 & related proteins with similar biological pathways in humans. Also, mutations to the human genes that produce Mec1 and related proteins can lead to cancer predisposition and neurological disorders.At the same time, cancer cells employ their own similar replication repair system.

Recently, other researchers discovered that the human version of Mec1 called ATR, phosphorylates a protein that is the human counterpart to Six4. The next step, Smolka said, will be to see if after phosphorylation the human Six4 also anchors to the replication machinery to repair any damaged machinery or DNA.