Repair of dsDNA breaks requires processing to produce 39-terminated ssDNA. We biochemically reconstituted DNA end resection using purified human proteins: Bloom helicase (BLM); DNA2 helicase/nuclease; Exonuclease 1 (EXO1); the complex comprising MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1 (MRN); and Replication protein A (RPA). Resection occurs via two routes. In one, BLM and DNA2 physically and specifically interact to resect DNA in a process that is ATP-dependent and requires BLM helicase and DNA2 nuclease functions. RPA is essential for both DNA unwinding by BLM and enforcing 59 / 39 resection polarity by DNA2. MRN accelerates processing by recruiting BLM to the end. In the other, EXO1 resects the DNA and is stimulated by BLM, MRN, and RPA. BLM increases the affinity of EXO1 for ends, and MRN recruits and enhances the processivity of EXO1. Our results establish two of the core machineries that initiate recombinational DNA repair in human cells.

Summary Completion of DNA replication after replication stress depends on PCNA, which undergoes mono-ubiquitination to stimulate direct bypass of DNA lesions by specialized DNA polymerases or is poly-ubiquitinated to promote recombination dependent DNA synthesis across DNA lesions by template switching mechanisms. Here we report that the ZRANB3 translocase, a SNF2 family member related to the SIOD disorder SMARCAL1 protein, is recruited by poly-ubiquitinated PCNA to promote fork restart following replication arrest. ZRANB3 depletion in mammalian cells results in an increased frequency of sister chromatid exchange and DNA damage sensitivity after treatment with agents that cause replication stress. Using in vitro biochemical assays, we show that recombinant ZRANB3 remodels DNA structures mimicking stalled replication forks and disassembles recombination intermediates. We therefore propose that ZRANB3 maintains genomic stability at stalled or collapsed replication forks by facilitating fork restart and limiting inappropriate recombination that could occur during template switching events.

The error-free repair of double-stranded DNA breaks by homologous recombination requires processing of broken ends. These processed ends are substrates for assembly of DNA strand exchange proteins that mediate DNA strand invasion. Here, we establish that human BLM helicase, a member of the RecQ family, stimulates the nucleolytic activity of human exonuclease 1 (hExo1), a 5 33 double-stranded DNA exonuclease. The stimulation is specific because other RecQ homologs fail to stimulate hExo1. Stimulation of DNA resection by hExo1 is independent of BLM helicase activity and is, instead, mediated by an interaction between the 2 proteins. Finally, we show that DNA ends resected by hExo1 and BLM are used by human Rad51, but not its yeast or bacterial counterparts, to promote homologous DNA pairing. This in vitro system recapitulates initial steps of homologous recombination and provides biochemical evidence for a role of BLM and Exo1 in the initiation of recombinational DNA repair.Bloom syndrome ͉ Rad51 ͉ recombination ͉ RecQ ͉ DNA pairing H omologous recombination contributes toward the maintenance of genomic integrity by accurately repairing doublestranded DNA (dsDNA) breaks. The recombinational repair of dsDNA breaks (DSBs) proceeds by successive reactions that start with processing of the broken DNA ends to reveal single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) (1). Processing requires the action of a helicase and/or nuclease. The resultant 3Ј-terminated ssDNA is used by a DNA strand exchange protein as the substrate for assembly of the nucleoprotein filament that is the active species in the search for homologous DNA and subsequent DNA pairing. It is unclear which enzymes in eukaryotes resect the DNA break to initiate recombination; however, much is known about the process in bacteria. In Escherichia coli, recombinational DNA repair occurs by either the RecBCD or the RecF pathway (1). RecBCD is a helicase/nuclease that processes dsDNA to produce 3Ј-tailed ssDNA onto which RecA is loaded. In the RecF pathway, a separate helicase and nuclease are used for resection of DSBs and ssDNA-gaps: RecQ, a 3Ј35Ј helicase, and RecJ, a 5Ј33Ј exonuclease (1).

Background: DNA strand exchange proteins Dmc1 and Rad51 and translocases Tid1 and Rad54 function in DNA break repair during meiosis.Results: We biochemically demonstrate that Dmc1 and Rad51 are specifically stimulated by Tid1 and Rad54, respectively. Conclusion: Dmc1-Tid1 and Rad51-Rad54 represent functional pairs for DNA pairing and joint molecule formation. Significance: The separate and independent functioning of these proteins offers insight into DNA pairing in meiosis.

SummaryHerpesviruses are large double stranded DNA animal viruses with the distinguishing ability to establish latent, life-long infections. To date, eight human herpesviruses that exhibit distinct biological and corresponding pathological/clinical properties have been identified. During their life cycles, herpesviruses execute an intricate chain of events geared towards optimizing their replication. This sets an interesting paradigm to study fundamental biological processes. This review summarizes recent developments in herpesvirus research with emphasis on genome transactions, particularly with respect to the prototypic herpes simplex virus type-1. IUBMB Life, 55: 13-22, 2003