Cockayne syndrome (CS) 6 is a segmental premature aging syndrome with progressive neurological degeneration (1). CS is caused by mutations in CS complementation groups A (CSA) or B (CSB) genes (2, 3). Approximately 80% of CS patients have mutations in the CSB gene, which encodes a 168-kDa protein belonging to the SWI/SNF2 family of chromatin remodeling proteins (4). Cells from CS patients are hypersensitive to UV radiation-induced DNA damage, and the CSB protein is required for the transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair of UV radiation-induced DNA lesions (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 6-pyrimidine-4-pyrimidone products) (5). CSB is also believed to play a role in transcription elongation and interacts with the RNA polymerase II elongation complex (6). The molecular basis of the progressive neurological defects in CS patients, however, remains unknown; it has been proposed that neurological symptoms in CS may be due to defective repair and/or processing of oxidative DNA damage in CSB-deficient cells (7).Oxidative DNA damage can be caused by endogenous and exogenous agents. Reactive oxygen species, including highly reactive hydroxyl radicals, are formed as byproducts of normal metabolism, mostly during the process of mitochondrial respiration. It has been estimated that up to 2% of all the O 2 consumed by respiration may be released as reactive oxygen species (8, 9). The central nervous system relies exclusively on mitochondria to generate ATP through oxidative metabolism. As a result, neurons are susceptible to increased levels of oxidative stress, and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (for a review, see Ref. 10).Hydroxyl radicals attack DNA bases and the sugar-phosphate DNA backbone, generating modified bases and singlestranded DNA (ssDNA) breaks, respectively (11). Many oxida-

DNA decatenation mediated by Topoisomerase II is required to separate the interlinked sister chromatids post-replication. SGS1, a yeast homolog of the human RecQ family of helicases interacts with Topoisomerase II and plays a role in chromosome segregation, but this functional interaction has yet to be identified in higher organisms. Here, we report a physical and functional interaction of Topoisomerase IIα with RECQL5, one of five mammalian RecQ helicases, during DNA replication. Direct interaction of RECQL5 with Topoisomerase IIα stimulates the decatenation activity of Topoisomerase IIα. Consistent with these observations, RECQL5 co-localizes with Topoisomerase IIα during S-phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, cells with stable depletions of RECQL5 display a slow proliferation rate, a G2/M cell cycle arrest and late S-phase cycling defects. Metaphase spreads generated from RECQL5-depleted cells exhibit undercondensed and entangled chromosomes. Further, RECQL5-depleted cells activate a G2/M checkpoint and undergo apoptosis. These phenotypes are similar to those observed when Topoisomerase II catalytic activity is inhibited. These results reveal an important role for RECQL5 in the maintenance of genomic stability and a new insight into the decatenation process.

Five human RecQ helicases are involved in genome maintenance. RECQL5, one of the important members of this helicase family, is involved in DNA single-strand break repair and base excision DNA repair.

BackgroundThe Werner protein (WRNp), a member of the RecQ helicase family, is strongly associated with the nucleolus, as is nucleolin (NCL), an important nucleolar constituent protein. Both WRNp and NCL respond to the effects of DNA damaging agents. Therefore, we have investigated if these nuclear proteins interact and if this interaction has a possible functional significance in DNA damage repair.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we report that WRNp interacts with the RNA-binding protein, NCL, based on immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescent co-localization in live and fixed cells, and direct binding of purified WRNp to nucleolin. We also map the binding region to the C-terminal domains of both proteins. Furthermore, treatment of U2OS cells with 15 µM of the Topoisomerase I inhibitor, camptothecin, causes the dissociation of the nucleolin-Werner complex in the nucleolus, followed by partial re-association in the nucleoplasm. Other DNA damaging agents, such as hydroxyurea, Mitomycin C, and aphidicolin do not have these effects. Nucleolin or its C-terminal fragment affected the helicase, but not the exonuclease activity of WRNp, by inhibiting WRN unwinding of G4 tetraplex DNA structures, as seen in activity assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA).Conclusions/SignificanceThese data suggest that nucleolin may regulate G4 DNA unwinding by WRNp, possibly in response to certain DNA damaging agents. We postulate that the NCL-WRNp complex may contain an inactive form of WRNp, which is released from the nucleolus upon DNA damage. Then, when required, WRNp is released from inhibition and can participate in the DNA repair processes.