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Published on: June 25, 2013
Genetic and functional interactions between Mus81-Mms4 and Rad27
Min-Jung Kang1, Chul-Hwan Lee, Young-Hoon Kang
1Center for DNA Replication and Genome Instability, Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, Korea.
Abstract:
The two endonucleases, Rad27 (yeast Fen1) and Dna2, jointly participate in the processing of Okazaki fragments in yeasts. Mus81-Mms4 is a structure-specific endonuclease that can resolve stalled replication forks as well as toxic recombination intermediates. In this study, we show that Mus81-Mms4 can suppress dna2 mutational defects by virtue of its functional and physical interaction with Rad27. Mus81-Mms4 stimulated Rad27 activity significantly, accounting for its ability to restore the growth defects caused by the dna2 mutation. Interestingly, Rad27 stimulated the rate of Mus81-Mms4 catalyzed cleavage of various substrates, including regressed replication fork substrates. The ability of Rad27 to stimulate Mus81-Mms4 did not depend on the catalytic activity of Rad27, but required the C-terminal 64 amino acid fragment of Rad27. This indicates that the stimulation was mediated by a specific protein-protein interaction between the two proteins. Our in vitro data indicate that Mus81-Mms4 and Rad27 act together during DNA replication and resolve various structures that can impede normal DNA replication. This conclusion was further strengthened by the fact that rad27 mus81 or rad27 mms4 double mutants were synergistically lethal. We discuss the significance of the interactions between Rad27, Dna2 and Mus81-Mms4 in context of DNA replication.
Insights
The study reveals that Mus81-Mms4 endonuclease suppresses dna2 mutations by interacting with Rad27 (yeast Fen1). This interaction stimulates Rad27 activity, aiding DNA replication fork processing and resolving replication impediments.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Rad27 (yeast Fen1) and Dna2 are key endonucleases for Okazaki fragment processing in yeast.
- Mus81-Mms4 is a structure-specific endonuclease involved in resolving stalled replication forks and recombination intermediates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional and physical interaction between Mus81-Mms4 and Rad27.
- To elucidate the role of this interaction in suppressing dna2 mutational defects and its impact on DNA replication.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assays to assess the stimulation of Rad27 and Mus81-Mms4 activities.
- Analysis of protein-protein interactions, specifically involving the C-terminal fragment of Rad27.
- Genetic analysis of double mutants (rad27 mus81, rad27 mms4) to evaluate synergistic lethality.
Main Results:
- Mus81-Mms4 significantly stimulates Rad27 activity, restoring growth in dna2 mutants.
- Rad27 stimulates Mus81-Mms4 cleavage of various substrates, including regressed replication forks.
- Rad27's stimulation of Mus81-Mms4 is mediated by a protein-protein interaction, independent of Rad27's catalytic activity, requiring its C-terminal 64 amino acids.
Conclusions:
- Mus81-Mms4 and Rad27 collaborate in DNA replication to resolve structures that impede replication progression.
- The synergistic lethality of rad27 mus81 and rad27 mms4 double mutants underscores the critical importance of their combined function.
- The interaction network involving Rad27, Dna2, and Mus81-Mms4 is crucial for maintaining genomic stability during DNA replication.
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