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ATM orchestrates the DNA-damage response to counter toxic non-homologous end-joining at broken replication forks.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Coates, Julia 
Demir, Mukerrem 
Sczaniecka-Clift, Matylda 

Abstract

Mutations in the ATM tumor suppressor gene confer hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents. To explore genetic resistance mechanisms, we performed genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens in cells treated with the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan. Thus, we here establish that inactivating terminal components of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) machinery or of the BRCA1-A complex specifically confer topotecan resistance to ATM-deficient cells. We show that hypersensitivity of ATM-mutant cells to topotecan or the poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib reflects delayed engagement of homologous recombination at DNA-replication-fork associated single-ended double-strand breaks (DSBs), allowing some to be subject to toxic NHEJ. Preventing DSB ligation by NHEJ, or enhancing homologous recombination by BRCA1-A complex disruption, suppresses this toxicity, highlighting a crucial role for ATM in preventing toxic LIG4-mediated chromosome fusions. Notably, suppressor mutations in ATM-mutant backgrounds are different to those in BRCA1-mutant scenarios, suggesting new opportunities for patient stratification and additional therapeutic vulnerabilities for clinical exploitation.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins, BRCA1 Protein, CRISPR-Cas Systems, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Survival, DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded, DNA End-Joining Repair, DNA Ligase ATP, DNA Replication, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Female, Humans, Mice, Mice, Inbred NOD, Mice, Knockout, Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells, Mutation, Neoplasms, Experimental, Phthalazines, Piperazines, Topotecan

Journal Title

Nat Commun

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723
2041-1723

Volume Title

10

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Cancer Research Uk (None)
Cancer Research UK (18796)
Wellcome Trust (206388/Z/17/Z)
Cancer Research UK (C6/A21454)
Cancer Research UK (C6946/A24843)
Wellcome Trust (203144/Z/16/Z)