Telomeres resemble common fragile sites (CFSs) in that they are difficult-to-replicate and exhibit fragility in mitosis in response to DNA replication stress. At CFSs, this fragility is associated with a delay in the completion of DNA replication until early mitosis, whereupon cells are proposed to switch to a RAD52-dependent form of break-induced replication. Here, we show that this mitotic DNA synthesis (MiDAS) is also a feature of human telomeres. Telomeric MiDAS is not restricted to those telomeres displaying overt fragility, and is a feature of a wide range of cell lines irrespective of whether their telomeres are maintained by telomerase or by the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. MiDAS at telomeres requires RAD52, and is mechanistically similar to CFS-associated MiDAS, with the notable exception that telomeric MiDAS does not require the MUS81-EME1 endonuclease. We propose a model whereby replication stress initiates a RAD52-dependent form of break-induced replication that bypasses a requirement for MUS81-EME1 to complete DNA synthesis in mitosis.

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Folate deprivation drives the instability of a group of rare fragile sites (RFSs) characterized by CGG trinucleotide repeat (TNR) sequences. Pathological expansion of the TNR within theFRAXAlocus perturbs DNA replication and is the major causative factor for fragile X syndrome, a sex-linked disorder associated with cognitive impairment. Although folate-sensitive RFSs share many features with common fragile sites (CFSs; which are found in all individuals), they are induced by different stresses and share no sequence similarity. It is known that a pathway (termed MiDAS) is employed to complete the replication of CFSs in early mitosis. This process requires RAD52 and is implicated in generating translocations and copy number changes at CFSs in cancers. However, it is unclear whether RFSs also utilize MiDAS and to what extent the fragility of CFSs and RFSs arises by shared or distinct mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that MiDAS does occur atFRAXAfollowing folate deprivation but proceeds via a pathway that shows some mechanistic differences from that at CFSs, being dependent on RAD51, SLX1, and POLD3. A failure to complete MiDAS atFRAXAleads to severe locus instability and missegregation in mitosis. We propose that break-induced DNA replication is required for the replication ofFRAXAunder folate stress and define a cellular function for human SLX1. These findings provide insights into how folate deprivation drives instability in the human genome.

SignificanceDietary folate deficiency is associated with fetal neural tube defects, psychological disorders, and age-associated dementia. However, it remains unclear how folate deficiency could be a causative factor in such a diverse range of disorders. Through analysis of the FRAXA locus, which contains an extensive CGG repeat sequence, we show that folate deprivation triggers extensive mitotic missegregation of the locus. Moreover, the entire chromosome X becomes unstable during a period of long-term folate deprivation. Considering that the human genome contains several loci associated with extensive CGG repeat regions, these findings suggest a mechanism by which folate deficiency contributes to the onset of a wide range of human diseases.

Graphical Abstract Highlights d Ultrafine anaphase bridges (UFBs) activate the abscission checkpoint in human cells d The UFB binding protein RIF1 targets protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to the midbody d PP1 counteracts the Aurora-B-kinase-driven checkpoint by targeting CHMP4C d The RIF1/PP1 axis regulates abscission timing