Break-induced replication repair of damaged forks induces genomic duplications in human cells

Science. 2014 Jan 3;343(6166):88-91. doi: 10.1126/science.1243211. Epub 2013 Dec 5.

Abstract

In budding yeast, one-ended DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and damaged replication forks are repaired by break-induced replication (BIR), a homologous recombination pathway that requires the Pol32 subunit of DNA polymerase delta. DNA replication stress is prevalent in cancer, but BIR has not been characterized in mammals. In a cyclin E overexpression model of DNA replication stress, POLD3, the human ortholog of POL32, was required for cell cycle progression and processive DNA synthesis. Segmental genomic duplications induced by cyclin E overexpression were also dependent on POLD3, as were BIR-mediated recombination events captured with a specialized DSB repair assay. We propose that BIR repairs damaged replication forks in mammals, accounting for the high frequency of genomic duplications in human cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle
  • Cyclin E / biosynthesis
  • Cyclin E / genetics
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded*
  • DNA Polymerase III / genetics
  • DNA Polymerase III / physiology*
  • DNA Repair / genetics*
  • DNA Replication / genetics*
  • Gene Duplication*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / genetics*

Substances

  • Cyclin E
  • POLD3 protein, human
  • DNA Polymerase III