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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by exuberant deposition of extracellular matrix components, leading to the deterioration of lung architecture and respiratory functions. Profibrotic mechanisms are controlled by multiple regulatory molecules, including MAPKs, in turn regulated by multiple phosphorylation cascades. MAP3K8 is an MAPK kinase kinase suggested to pleiotropically regulate multiple pathogenic pathways in the context of inflammation and cancer; however, a possible role in the pathogenesis of IPF has not been investigated. In this report, MAP3K8 mRNA levels were found decreased in the lungs of IPF patients and of mice upon bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Ubiquitous genetic deletion of Map3k8 in mice exacerbated the modeled disease, whereas bone marrow transfer experiments indicated that although MAP3K8 regulatory functions are active in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells, Map3k8 in hematopoietic cells has a more dominant role. Macrophage-specific deletion of Map3k8 was further found to be sufficient for disease exacerbation thus confirming a major role for macrophages in pulmonary fibrotic responses and suggesting a main role for Map3k8 in the homeostasis of their effector functions in the lung. Map3k8 deficiency was further shown to be associated with decreased Cox-2 expression, followed by a decrease in PGE2 production in the lung; accordingly, exogenous administration of PGE2 reduced inflammation and reversed the exacerbated fibrotic profile of Map3k8 −/− mice. Therefore, MAP3K8 has a central role in the regulation of inflammatory responses and Cox-2–mediated PGE2 production in the lung, and the attenuation of its expression is integral to pulmonary fibrosis development.

During central nervous system (CNS) development, proper and timely induction of neurite elongation is critical for generating functional, mature neurons, and neuronal networks. Despite the wealth of information on the action of extracellular cues, little is known about the intrinsic gene regulatory factors that control this developmental decision. Here, we report the identification of Prox1, a homeobox transcription factor, as a key player in inhibiting neurite elongation. Although Prox1 promotes acquisition of early neuronal identity and is expressed in nascent post-mitotic neurons, it is heavily down-regulated in the majority of terminally differentiated neurons, indicating a regulatory role in delaying neurite outgrowth in newly formed neurons. Consistently, we show that Prox1 is sufficient to inhibit neurite extension in mouse and human neuroblastoma cell lines. More importantly, Prox1 overexpression suppresses neurite elongation in primary neuronal cultures as well as in the developing mouse brain, while Prox1 knock-down promotes neurite outgrowth. Mechanistically, RNA-Seq analysis reveals that Prox1 affects critical pathways for neuronal maturation and neurite extension. Interestingly, Prox1 strongly inhibits many components of Ca2+ signaling pathway, an important mediator of neurite extension and neuronal maturation. In accordance, Prox1 represses Ca2+ entry upon KCl-mediated depolarization and reduces CREB phosphorylation. These observations suggest that Prox1 acts as a potent suppressor of neurite outgrowth by inhibiting Ca2+ signaling pathway. This action may provide the appropriate time window for nascent neurons to find the correct position in the CNS prior to initiation of neurites and axon elongation.

Inhibition of transcription caused by DNA damage-impaired RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation conceals a local increase in de novo transcription, slowly progressing from Transcription Start Sites (TSSs) to gene ends. Although associated with accelerated repair of Pol II-encountered lesions and limited mutagenesis, it is still unclear how this mechanism is maintained during genotoxic stress-recovery. Here we uncover a widespread gain in chromatin accessibility and preservation of the active H3K27ac mark after UV-irradiation. The concomitant increase in Pol II escape from promoter-proximal pause (PPP) sites of most active genes, PROMPTs and enhancer RNAs favors unrestrained initiation, as evidenced by the synthesis of nascent RNAs including start RNAs. Accordingly, drug-inhibition of PPP-release replenishes levels of pre-initiating Pol II at TSSs after UV. Our data show that such continuous engagement of Pol II molecules ensures maximal transcription-driven repair throughout expressed genes and regulatory loci. Importantly, revealing this unanticipated regulatory layer of UV-response provides physiological relevant traction to the emerging concept that Pol II initiation rate is determined by pause-release dynamics., A transcription-driven cellular response is activated upon UV stress. Here the authors reveal mechanistic insights into the regulatory process affecting transcription and chromatin dynamics, showing how maintaining Pol II firing safeguards the integrity of cells’ transcriptome

Synovial fibroblasts (SFs) are specialized cells of the synovium that provide nutrients and lubricants for the maintenance of proper function of diarthrodial joints. Chronic TNF signals are known to trigger activation of SFs and orchestration of arthritic pathology via proinflammatory effector functions, secretion of cartilage degrading proteases and promotion of osteolysis. We performed single-cell (sc) profiling of SF’s transcriptome by RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and of chromatin accessibility by scATAC-seq in normal mouse SFs and SFs derived from early and advanced TNF-driven arthritic disease. We describe here distinct subsets of SFs in the homeostatic synovium, serving diverse functions such as chondro- and osteogenesis, tissue repair and immune regulation. Strikingly, development of spontaneous arthritis by transgenic TNF overexpression primes the emergence of distinct pathology-associated SF subtypes. We reveal 7 constitutive and 2 disease-specific SF subtypes. The latter emerge in the early stage, expand in late disease and are localized in areas at the interface between the invasive pannus and the articular bone. The associated transcription profiles are characterized by enhanced inflammatory responses, promigratory behaviour, neovascularization and collagen metabolic processes. Temporal reconstruction of transcriptomic events indicated which specific sublining cells may function as progenitors at the root of trajectories leading to intermediate subpopulations and culminating to a destructive lining inflammatory identity. Integrated analysis of chromatin accessibility and transcription changes revealed key transcription factors such as Bach and Runx1 to drive arthritogenesis. Parallel analysis of human arthritic SF data showed highly conserved core regulatory and transcriptional programs between the two species. Therefore, our study dissects the dynamic SF landscape in TNF-mediated arthritis and sets the stage for future investigations that might address the functions of specific SF subpopulations to understand joint pathophysiology and combat chronic inflammatory and destructive arthritic diseases.

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a DNA repair syndrome characterized by a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations such as neurodegeneration, premature aging, developmental impairment, photosensitivity and other symptoms. Mutations in Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB) are present in the vast majority of CS patients and in other DNA repair-related pathologies. In the literature, the role of CSB in different DNA repair pathways has been highlighted, however, new CSB functions have been identified in DNA transcription, mitochondrial biology, telomere maintenance and p53 regulation. Herein, we present an overview of identified structural elements and processes that impact on CSB activity and its post-translational modifications, known to balance the different roles of the protein not only during normal conditions but most importantly in stress situations. Moreover, since CSB has been found to be overexpressed in a number of different tumors, its role in cancer is presented and possible therapeutic targeting is discussed.

Specific capture of chromatin fractions with distinct and well-defined features has emerged as both challenging and a key strategy towards a comprehensive understanding of genome biology. In this context, we developed aniFOUND (accelerated native isolation of factors on unscheduled nascent DNA), an antibody-free method, which can label, capture, map and characterise nascent chromatin fragments that are synthesized in response to specific cues outside S-phase. We used the ‘unscheduled’ DNA synthesis (UDS) that takes place during the repair of UV-induced DNA lesions and coupled the captured chromatin to high-throughput analytical technologies. By mass-spectrometry we identified several factors with no previously known role in UVC-DNA damage response (DDR) as well as known DDR proteins. We experimentally validated the repair-dependent recruitment of the chromatin remodeller RSF1 and the cohesin-loader NIPBL at sites of UVC-induced photolesions. Developing aniFOUND-seq, a protocol for mapping UDS activity with high resolution, allowed us to monitor the landscape of UVC repair-synthesis events genome wide. We further resolved repair efficacy of the rather unexplored repeated genome, in particular rDNA and telomeres. In summary, aniFOUND delineates the proteome composition and genomic landscape of chromatin loci with specific features by integrating state-of-the-art ‘omics’ technologies to promote a comprehensive view of their function.

Inhibition of RNA synthesis caused by DNA damage-impaired RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation is found to conceal a local increase in de novo transcription, slowly progressing from Transcription Start Sites (TSSs) to gene ends. Although associated with accelerated repair of Pol II-encountered lesions and limited mutagenesis, it is still unclear how this mechanism is maintained during recovery from genotoxic stress. Here we uncover a surprising widespread gain in chromatin accessibility and preservation of the active histone mark H3K27ac after UV-irradiation. We show that the concomitant increase in Pol II release from promoter-proximal pause (PPP) sites of most active genes, PROMoter uPstream Transcripts (PROMPTs) and enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) favors unrestrained initiation, as demonstrated by the synthesis of short nascent RNAs, including TSS-associated RNAs (start-RNAs). In accordance, drug-inhibition of the transition into elongation replenished the post-UV reduced levels of pre-initiating pol II at TSSs. Continuous engagement of new Pol II thus ensures maximal transcription-driven DNA repair of active genes and non-coding regulatory loci. Together, our results reveal an unanticipated layer regulating the UV-triggered transcriptional-response and provide physiologically relevant traction to the emerging concept that transcription initiation rate is determined by pol II pause-release dynamics.

Background:Our previous studies highlighted the fundamental in vivo role of synovial fibroblasts (SFs) in TNF-mediated murine chronic arthritis1,2and recent findings identified different SF identities based on their transcriptomic profiles with distinct contributions in acute, autoimmunity-based, murine arthritis3.Objectives:In this study, we focus on delineating the map of SF subpopulations in healthy joint and in the course of arthritic disease and the underlying regulatory networks functioning towards pathogenicity.Methods:Sorted single cell suspensions (CD45-, Pdpl+) and their fragmented nuclei from synovial joints of WT, early and late arthritic hTNFtg mice were processed for scRNAseq and scATAC employing a droplet-based technology (10x Genomics). To define the transcriptional and epigenetic signatures originating from the two different assays, we developed an integrative analysis pipeline based on the Seurat software package (v3.1). Meta-analysis of previously reported data of K/BxN serum transfer of arthritis was employed to define commonalities and differences in SF subsets among murine modelled disease.Results:The transition from healthy to chronically affected synovial microenvironment (SME) due to overexpression of hTNF is characterized by a dynamic transformation of SF clusters. The Lining arthritic Thy1lowsynovial layer (L-SFs) is hyper-populated while Sub-Lining Thy1highSF clusters (SL-SFs) are remodeled towards catabolic and inflammatory phenotypes compared to naïve SF organization pattern. Interestingly, trajectory analysis revealed that the SL clusters, which normally exhibit a gradual developmental-like process towards different profiles, differentially change during disease. We identified that the previously reported proliferating SL cluster is absent in healthy synovium, dominates mainly in early stages of chronic arthritis and it is closely related to the L-SFs. Mapping of the gene regulatory networks by RNAseq was supported by scATAC analysis. Similarly, meta-analysis of SF profiles derived from naïve and the K/BxN-serum–treated mice showed significant differences, possibly reflecting the phenotypes of the two established models of arthritis.Conclusion:Our approach unravels for the first time the regulatory heterogeneity and gene expression profiling of SF subpopulations in normal synovium, and reveals deep biological insights of the functional re-organization of SME during development of disease. It further identifies the common and divergent features of the different subtypes of murine arthritis that may well reflect the diversity of RA subtypes and the response to therapies.References:[1]Armaka et al; J Exp Med (2008): 205(2):331-7.[2]Armaka et al; Nat Commun (2018): 9(1):618.[3]Croft et al; Nature (2019): 570(7760):246-251.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Complex molecular responses preserve gene expression accuracy and genome integrity in the face of environmental perturbations. Here we report that, in response to UV irradiation, RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) molecules are dynamically and synchronously released from promoter-proximal regions into elongation to promote uniform and accelerated surveillance of the whole transcribed genome. The maximised influx of de novo released RNAPII correlates with increased damage-sensing, as confirmed by RNAPII progressive accumulation at dipyrimidine sites and by the average slow-down of elongation rates in gene bodies. In turn, this transcription elongation ‘safe’ mode guarantees efficient DNA repair regardless of damage location, gene size and transcription level. Accordingly, we detect low and homogenous rates of mutational signatures associated with UV exposure or cigarette smoke across all active genes. Our study reveals a novel advantage for transcription regulation at the promoter-proximal level and provides unanticipated insights into how active transcription shapes the mutagenic landscape of cancer genomes., Precise orchestration of gene expression regulation upon DNA damage is essential for genome integrity. Here the authors identify a novel widespread stress-triggered defence mechanism that promotes rapid transcription-driven genomic surveillance thus limiting mutagenesis and shaping cancer genomes.

Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) allows RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-blocking lesions to be rapidly removed from the transcribed strand of active genes. Defective TCR in humans is associated with Cockayne syndrome (CS), typically caused by defects in either CSA or CSB. Here, we show that CSB contains a ubiquitin-binding domain (UBD). Cells expressing UBD-less CSB (CSB(del)) have phenotypes similar to those of cells lacking CSB, but these can be suppressed by appending a heterologous UBD, so ubiquitin binding is essential for CSB function. Surprisingly, CSB(del) remains capable of assembling nucleotide excision repair factors and repair synthesis proteins around damage-stalled RNAPII, but such repair complexes fail to excise the lesion. Together, our results indicate an essential role for protein ubiquitylation and CSB's UBD in triggering damage incision during TC-NER and allow us to integrate the function of CSA and CSB in a model for the process.

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family members are chromatin-associated proteins involved in transcription, replication, and chromatin organization. We show that HP1 isoforms HP1-α, HP1-β, and HP1-γ are recruited to ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage and double-strand breaks (DSBs) in human cells. This response to DNA damage requires the chromo shadow domain of HP1 and is independent of H3K9 trimethylation and proteins that detect UV damage and DSBs. Loss of HP1 results in high sensitivity to UV light and ionizing radiation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, indicating that HP1 proteins are essential components of DNA damage response (DDR) systems. Analysis of single and double HP1 mutants in nematodes suggests that HP1 homologues have both unique and overlapping functions in the DDR. Our results show that HP1 proteins are important for DNA repair and may function to reorganize chromatin in response to damage.

The replication of damaged DNA templates by translesion synthesis (TLS) is associated with mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This perspective discusses the different levels at which TLS may be controlled and proposes a model for TLS of severely helix-distorting DNA lesions that includes a decisive role for the Rad9-Hus1-Rad1 DNA-damage-signaling clamp. The dual involvement of this clamp in both DNA-damage signaling and TLS may have profound implications in determining cellular responses to DNA damage.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) removes damage from DNA in a tightly regulated multiprotein process. Defects in NER result in three different human disorders, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), trichothiodystrophy (TTD) and Cockayne syndrome (CS). Two cases with the combined features of XP and CS have been assigned to the XP–D complementation group. Despite their extreme UV sensitivity, these cells appeared to incise their DNA as efficiently as normal cells in response to UV damage. These incisions were, however, uncoupled from the rest of the repair process. Using cell-free extracts, we were unable to detect any incision activity in the neighbourhood of the damage. When irradiated plasmids were introduced into unirradiated XP–D/CS cells, the ectopically introduced damage triggered the induction of breaks in the undamaged genomic DNA. XP–D/CS cells thus have a unique response to sensing UV damage, which results in the introduction of breaks into the DNA at sites distant from the damage. We propose that it is these spurious breaks that are responsible for the extreme UV sensitivity of these cells.

Transcriptional arrest caused by DNA damage is detrimental for cells and organisms as it impinges on gene expression and thereby on cell growth and survival. To alleviate transcriptional arrest, cells trigger a transcription-dependent genome surveillance pathway, termed transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) that ensures rapid removal of such transcription-impeding DNA lesions and prevents persistent stalling of transcription. Defective TC-NER is causatively linked to Cockayne syndrome, a rare severe genetic disorder with multisystem abnormalities that results in patients' death in early adulthood. Here we review recent data on how damage-arrested transcription is actively coupled to TC-NER in mammals and discuss new emerging models concerning the role of TC-NER-specific factors in this process.

Continued association of RPA with sites of incomplete nucleotide excision repair averts further incision events until repair is completed., Single-stranded DNA gaps that might arise by futile repair processes can lead to mutagenic events and challenge genome integrity. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is an evolutionarily conserved repair mechanism, essential for removal of helix-distorting DNA lesions. In the currently prevailing model, NER operates through coordinated assembly of repair factors into pre- and post-incision complexes; however, its regulation in vivo is poorly understood. Notably, the transition from dual incision to repair synthesis should be rigidly synchronized as it might lead to accumulation of unprocessed repair intermediates. We monitored NER regulatory events in vivo using sequential UV irradiations. Under conditions that allow incision yet prevent completion of repair synthesis or ligation, preincision factors can reassociate with new damage sites. In contrast, replication protein A remains at the incomplete NER sites and regulates a feedback loop from completion of DNA repair synthesis to subsequent damage recognition, independently of ATR signaling. Our data reveal an important function for replication protein A in averting further generation of DNA strand breaks that could lead to mutagenic and recombinogenic events.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) operates through coordinated assembly of repair factors into pre- and postincision complexes. The postincision step of NER includes gap-filling DNA synthesis and ligation. However, the exact composition of this NER-associated DNA synthesis complex in vivo and the dynamic interactions of the factors involved are not well understood. Using immunofluorescence, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and live-cell protein dynamic studies, we show that replication factor C (RFC) is implicated in postincision NER in mammalian cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of RFC impairs upstream removal of UV lesions and abrogates the downstream recruitment of DNA polymerase delta. Unexpectedly, RFC appears dispensable for PCNA recruitment yet is required for the subsequent recruitment of DNA polymerases to PCNA, indicating that RFC is essential to stably load the polymerase clamp to start DNA repair synthesis at 3' termini. The kinetic studies are consistent with a model in which RFC exchanges dynamically at sites of repair. However, its persistent localization at stalled NER complexes suggests that RFC remains targeted to the repair complex even after loading of PCNA. We speculate that RFC associates with the downstream 5' phosphate after loading; such interaction would prevent possible signaling events initiated by the RFC-like Rad17 and may assist in unloading of PCNA.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is the most versatile DNA repair system that deals with the major UV photoproducts in DNA, as well as many other DNA adducts. The early steps of NER are well understood, whereas the later steps of repair synthesis and ligation are not. In particular, which polymerases are definitely involved in repair synthesis and how they are recruited to the damaged sites has not yet been established. We report that, in human fibroblasts, approximately half of the repair synthesis requires both pol kappa and pol delta, and both polymerases can be recovered in the same repair complexes. Pol kappa is recruited to repair sites by ubiquitinated PCNA and XRCC1 and pol delta by the classical replication factor complex RFC1-RFC, together with a polymerase accessory factor, p66, and unmodified PCNA. The remaining repair synthesis is dependent on pol epsilon, recruitment of which is dependent on the alternative clamp loader CTF18-RFC.

Defects in the DNA repair mechanism nucleotide excision repair (NER) may lead to tumors in xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) or to premature aging with loss of subcutaneous fat in Cockayne syndrome (CS). Mutations of mitochondrial (mt)DNA play a role in aging, but a link between the NER-associated CS proteins and base excision repair (BER)-associated proteins in mitochondrial aging remains enigmatic. We show functional increase of CSA and CSB inside mt and complex formation with mtDNA, mt human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase (mtOGG)-1, and mt single-stranded DNA binding protein (mtSSBP)-1 upon oxidative stress. MtDNA mutations are highly increased in cells from CS patients and in subcutaneous fat of aged Csbm/m and Csa−/− mice. Thus, the NER-proteins CSA and CSB localize to mt and directly interact with BER-associated human mitochondrial 8-oxoguanine glycosylase-1 to protect from aging- and stress-induced mtDNA mutations and apoptosis-mediated loss of subcutaneous fat, a hallmark of aging found in animal models, human progeroid syndromes like CS and in normal human aging.

The repair of melphalan-induced N-alkylpurine monoadducts and interstrand cross-links was examined in different repair backgrounds, focusing on four genes (beta-actin, p53, N-ras, and delta-globin) with dissimilar transcription activities. Adducts were found to be substrates for both global genome repair (GGR) and transcription-coupled repair (TCR), with TCR being less efficient than GGR. In nucleotide excision repair-deficient cells, adducts accumulated to similar levels in all four genes. The repair efficiency in different gene loci varied in a qualitatively and quantitatively similar way in both GGR-deficient and TCR-deficient backgrounds and correlated with transcriptional activity and local chromatin condensation. No strand-specific repair was found in GGR(+)/TCR(+) cells, implying that GGR dominated. Adducts were lost over two sharply demarcated phases: a rapid phase resulting in the removal within 1 hour of up to approximately 80% of the adducts, and a subsequent phase with t(1/2) approximately 36 to 48 hours. Following pretreatment of cells with alpha-amanitin, the rate of transcription, the state of chromatin condensation, and the repair efficiencies (both TCR and GGR) of the transcribed beta-actin, p53, and N-ras genes became similar to those of the nontranscribed delta-globin gene. In conclusion, a continuous, parallel variation of the state of transcription and local chromatin condensation, on one hand, and the rates of both GGR and TCR, on the other hand, have been shown. Grant support: ECNIS (Environmental Cancer, Nutrition and Individual Susceptibility) Network of Excellence of the European Union (contract no. 513943).

A novel mouse model reveals that the dynamic behavior of transcription factors can vary considerably between different cells of an organism., Studies based on cell-free systems and on in vitro–cultured living cells support the concept that many cellular processes, such as transcription initiation, are highly dynamic: individual proteins stochastically bind to their substrates and disassemble after reaction completion. This dynamic nature allows quick adaptation of transcription to changing conditions. However, it is unknown to what extent this dynamic transcription organization holds for postmitotic cells embedded in mammalian tissue. To allow analysis of transcription initiation dynamics directly into living mammalian tissues, we created a knock-in mouse model expressing fluorescently tagged TFIIH. Surprisingly and in contrast to what has been observed in cultured and proliferating cells, postmitotic murine cells embedded in their tissue exhibit a strong and long-lasting transcription-dependent immobilization of TFIIH. This immobilization is both differentiation driven and development dependent. Furthermore, although very statically bound, TFIIH can be remobilized to respond to new transcriptional needs. This divergent spatiotemporal transcriptional organization in different cells of the soma revisits the generally accepted highly dynamic concept of the kinetic framework of transcription and shows how basic processes, such as transcription, can be organized in a fundamentally different fashion in intact organisms as previously deduced from in vitro studies., Author Summary The accepted model of eukaryotic mRNA production is that transcription factors spend most of their time diffusing throughout the cell nucleus, encountering gene promoters (their substrate) in a random fashion and binding to them for a very short time. A similar modus operandi has been accepted as a paradigm for interactions within most of the chromatin-associated enzymatic processes (transcription, replication, DNA damage response). However, it is not known whether such behavior is indeed a common characteristic for all cells in the organism. To answer this question, we generated a knock-in mouse that expresses in all cells a fluorescently tagged transcription factor (TFIIH) that functions in both transcription initiation and DNA repair. This new tool, when combined with quantitative imaging techniques, allowed us to monitor the mobility of this transcription factor in virtually all living tissues. In this study, we show that, in contrast to the aforementioned paradigm, in highly differentiated postmitotic cells such as neurons, hepatocytes, and cardiac myocytes, TFIIH is effectively immobilized on the chromatin during transcription, whereas in proliferative cells, TFIIH has the same dynamic behavior as in cultured cells. Our study also points out that results obtained from in vitro or cultured cell systems cannot always be directly extrapolated to the whole organism. More importantly, this raises a question for researchers in the transcription field: why do some cells opt for a dynamic framework for transcription, whereas others exhibit a static one?

The encounter of elongating RNA polymerase II (RNAPIIo) with DNA lesions has severe consequences for the cell as this event provides a strong signal for P53-dependent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. To counteract prolonged blockage of transcription, the cell removes the RNAPIIo-blocking DNA lesions by transcription-coupled repair (TC-NER), a specialized subpathway of nucleotide excision repair (NER). Exposure of mice to UVB light or chemicals has elucidated that TC-NER is a critical survival pathway protecting against acute toxic and long-term effects (cancer) of genotoxic exposure. Deficiency in TC-NER is associated with mutations in the CSA and CSB genes giving rise to the rare human disorder Cockayne syndrome (CS). Recent data suggest that CSA and CSB play differential roles in mammalian TC-NER: CSB as a repair coupling factor to attract NER proteins, chromatin remodellers and the CSA- E3-ubiquitin ligase complex to the stalled RNAPIIo. CSA is dispensable for attraction of NER proteins, yet in cooperation with CSB is required to recruit XAB2, the nucleosomal binding protein HMGN1 and TFIIS. The emerging picture of TC-NER is complex: repair of transcription-blocking lesions occurs without displacement of the DNA damage-stalled RNAPIIo, and requires at least two essential assembly factors (CSA and CSB), the core NER factors (except for XPC-RAD23B), and TC-NER specific factors. These and yet unidentified proteins will accomplish not only efficient repair of transcription-blocking lesions, but are also likely to contribute to DNA damage signalling events.

Defects in the XPD gene can result in several clinical phenotypes, including xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), trichothiodystrophy, and, less frequently, the combined phenotype of XP and Cockayne syndrome (XP-D/CS). We previously showed that in cells from two XP-D/CS patients, breaks were introduced into cellular DNA on exposure to UV damage, but these breaks were not at the sites of the damage. In the present work, we show that three further XP-D/CS patients show the same peculiar breakage phenomenon. We show that these breaks can be visualized inside the cells by immunofluorescence using antibodies to either gamma-H2AX or poly-ADP-ribose and that they can be generated by the introduction of plasmids harboring methylation or oxidative damage as well as by UV photoproducts. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II transcription by four different inhibitors dramatically reduced the number of UV-induced breaks. Furthermore, the breaks were dependent on the nucleotide excision repair (NER) machinery. These data are consistent with our hypothesis that the NER machinery introduces the breaks at sites of transcription initiation. During transcription in UV-irradiated XP-D/CS cells, phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II occurred normally, but the elongating form of the polymerase remained blocked at lesions and was eventually degraded.

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe , rad18 is an essential gene involved in the repair of DNA damage produced by ionizing radiation and in tolerance of UV‐induced DNA damage. The Rad18 protein is a member of the SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) superfamily, and we show that, like the other SMC proteins in condensin and cohesin, Rad18 is a component of a high‐molecular‐weight complex. This complex contains at least six other proteins, the largest of which is Spr18, a novel SMC family member closely related to Rad18, and likely to be its heterodimeric partner. SMC proteins have ATP‐binding domains at the N‐ and C‐termini, and two extended coiled‐coil domains separated by a hinge in the middle. We show that the N‐terminal ATP‐binding domain of Rad18 is essential for all functions, and overexpression of an N‐terminal mutant has a dominant‐negative effect. We have identified an important mutation (S1045A) near the C‐terminus of Rad18 that separates its repair and essential roles. Potential models for the role of the Rad18–Spr18 complex during DNA repair are discussed.

The accumulation of stochastic DNA damage throughout an organism's lifespan is thought to contribute to ageing. Conversely, ageing seems to be phenotypically reproducible and regulated through genetic pathways such as the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) receptors, which are central mediators of the somatic growth axis. Here we report that persistent DNA damage in primary cells from mice elicits changes in global gene expression similar to those occurring in various organs of naturally aged animals. We show that, as in ageing animals, the expression of IGF-1 receptor and GH receptor is attenuated, resulting in cellular resistance to IGF-1. This cell-autonomous attenuation is specifically induced by persistent lesions leading to stalling of RNA polymerase II in proliferating, quiescent and terminally differentiated cells; it is exacerbated and prolonged in cells from progeroid mice and confers resistance to oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that the accumulation of DNA damage in transcribed genes in most if not all tissues contributes to the ageing-associated shift from growth to somatic maintenance that triggers stress resistance and is thought to promote longevity.