Repository logo
 

Mutational signatures are jointly shaped by DNA damage and repair

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Volkova, Nadezda V.  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3368-3920
Meier, Bettina 
González-Huici, Víctor 
Bertolini, Simone 

Abstract

Abstract: Cells possess an armamentarium of DNA repair pathways to counter DNA damage and prevent mutation. Here we use C. elegans whole genome sequencing to systematically quantify the contributions of these factors to mutational signatures. We analyse 2,717 genomes from wild-type and 53 DNA repair defective backgrounds, exposed to 11 genotoxins, including UV-B and ionizing radiation, alkylating compounds, aristolochic acid, aflatoxin B1, and cisplatin. Combined genotoxic exposure and DNA repair deficiency alters mutation rates or signatures in 41% of experiments, revealing how different DNA alterations induced by the same genotoxin are mended by separate repair pathways. Error-prone translesion synthesis causes the majority of genotoxin-induced base substitutions, but averts larger deletions. Nucleotide excision repair prevents up to 99% of point mutations, almost uniformly across the mutation spectrum. Our data show that mutational signatures are joint products of DNA damage and repair and suggest that multiple factors underlie signatures observed in cancer genomes.

Description

Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council East of Scotland Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership Ph.D. studentship


Funder: Korean Institute for Basic Science, IBS-R022-A1-2019

Keywords

Article, /631/67/69, /631/114/2397, /631/337/1427, /631/337/1427/1430, /631/337/1427/2354, /45/70, /45/23, /64/11, article

Journal Title

Nature Communications

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723

Volume Title

11

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group UK
Sponsorship
Worldwide Cancer Research (18-0644)
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) (C11852/A14695)