DNA replication stress is a major source of DNA strand breaks and genomic instability, and a hallmark of precancerous lesions. In these hyperproliferative tissues, activation of the DNA damage response results in apoptosis or senescence preventing or delaying their development to full malignancy. In cells, in which this antitumor barrier is disabled by mutations (for example, in p53), viability and further uncontrolled proliferation depend on factors that help to cope with replication-associated DNA damage. Replication problems preferentially arise in chromatin regions harboring complex DNA structures. DEK is a unique chromatin architectural factor which binds to non-B-form DNA structures, such as cruciform DNA or four-way junctions. It regulates DNA topology and chromatin organization, and is essential for the maintenance of heterochromatin integrity. Since its isolation as part of an oncogenic fusion in a subtype of AML, DEK has been consistently associated with tumor progression and chemoresistance. How DEK promotes cancer, however, is poorly understood. Here we show that DEK facilitates cellular proliferation under conditions of DNA replication stress by promoting replication fork progression. DEK also protects from the transmission of DNA damage to the daughter cell generation. We propose that DEK counteracts replication stress and ensures proliferative advantage by resolving problematic DNA and/or chromatin structures at the replication fork.
INTRODUC110NDEK is a biochemically and structurally unique non-histone chromatin protein which is conserved in all higher eukaryotes. It binds to non-8-form DNA structures, such as cruciform DNA or four-way junctions, regulates DNA topology and chromatin organization, and is essential for the maintenance of heterochromatin integrity.
•2 At the cellular level, it displays pleiotropic functions and has been shown to influence differentiation, apoptosis, senescence and maintenance of cell stemness.
-6Since its isolation as part of an oncogenic fusion in a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia, 7 DEK has been consistently associated with tumor progression and chemoresistance.s-10 Several lines of evidence, such as DEK-dependent formation of papilloma in a mouse model of skin cancerogenesis, 10 have led to its classification as a bona fide oncogene. In melanomas, high levels of DEK expression correlate positively with metastatic potential. chemoresistance and poor treatment outcome. Significantly, DEK expression levels can distinguish benign nevi from malignant melanoma, raising the possibility of using DEK as a tumor marker.
• 9We and others have shown that DEK is involved in DNA repair and the response to DNA damage: cells with downregulated DEK expression are hypersensitive to genotoxic insults and show increased susceptibility to sublethal doses of DNA damaging agents.
•12 DNA repair is affected by DEK ablation, as DNA strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired less efficiently and nonhomologous end-joining appears to be defective. 12 · 13 DEK is also a substrate for covalent and n...