The ubiquitination of PCNA is an essential event in the operation of the DNA Damage Tolerance (DDT) pathway that is activated after DNA damage caused by UV or chemical agents during S-phase. This pathway allows the bypass of DNA damage by translesion synthesis that would otherwise cause replication fork stalling. PCNA is mono-ubiquitinated by Rad18-Rad6, and polyubiquitinated by Rad5-Ubc13/Uev1 in the DDT pathway. Mono-and polyubiquitination of PCNA are key processes in the translesion bypass and template switching sub-pathways of the DDT. DNA damage by IR causes DSBs, which trigger the DNA Damage Response (DDR). The ubiquitin ligase RNF8 has a critical role in the assembly of BRCA1 complexes at the DSBs in the DDR. We show that RNF8 readily mono-ubiquitinates PCNA in the presence of UbcH5c, and polyubiquitinates PCNA in the added presence of Ubc13/Uev1a. These reactions are the same as those performed by Rad18-Rad6 and Rad5-Ubc13. RNF8 depletion suppressed both UV and MNNG-stimulated mono-ubiquitination of PCNA, revealing that an RNF8-dependent pathway for PCNA ubiquitination is operative in vivo. These findings provide evidence that RNF8, a key E3 ligase in the DDR, may also play a role in the DDT.

No abstract

The p12 subunit of polymerase delta (Pol d) is degraded in response to DNA damage induced by UV, alkylating agents, oxidative, and replication stresses. This leads to the conversion of the Pol d4 holoenzyme to the heterotrimer, Pol d3. We review studies that establish that Pol d3 formation is an event that could have a major impact on cellular processes in genomic surveillance, DNA replication, and DNA repair. p12 degradation is dependent on the apical ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) kinase and is mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Pol d3 exhibits properties of an ''antimutator'' polymerase, suggesting that it could contribute to an increased surveillance against mutagenesis, for example, when Pol d carries out bypass synthesis past small base lesions that engage in spurious base pairing. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and examination of the spatiotemporal recruitment of Pol d to sites of DNA damage show that Pol d3 is the primary form of Pol d associated with cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer lesions and therefore should be considered as the operative form of Pol d engaged in DNA repair. We propose a model for the switching of Pol d with translesion polymerases, incorporating the salient features of the recently determined structure of monoubiquitinated proliferating cell nuclear antigen and emphasizing the role of Pol d3. Because of the critical role of Pol d activity in DNA replication and repair, the formation of Pol d3 in response to DNA damage opens the prospect that pleiotropic effects may ensue. This opens the horizons for future exploration of how this novel response to DNA damage contributes to genomic stability. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 53:683-698, 2012. V V C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

No abstract