The Structure of the Nucleosomal DNA Repair Intermediate Affects the HPF1-Independent Automodification Activity of

Tatyana A Kurgina1, Danil M Shtanov1,2, Mikhail M Kutuzov1

  • 1Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.

Insights

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 2 (PARP2) activity is sensitive to DNA damage structure. DNA gaps affect PARP2 binding and initiation, while lesion location influences PAR chain elongation during DNA repair.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP1 and PARP2) are key nuclear enzymes regulating DNA repair pathways like base excision repair (BER).
  • PARP enzymes are activated by damaged DNA, synthesizing poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) chains that modify target proteins.
  • PARP2 activity is known to be influenced by DNA lesion characteristics, but the precise impact of DNA structure on its auto-PARylation stages remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of single-nucleotide DNA gaps on PARP2 activity at various auto-PARylation stages.
  • To determine how DNA gap presence and location, within free DNA or nucleosomes, affect PARP2 function.
  • To elucidate the role of DNA structure and histone environment in modulating PARP2-mediated PARylation.

Main Methods:

  • Enzymatic assays measuring PARP2 activity on DNA substrates with single-nucleotide gaps.
  • Experiments conducted on both free DNA and DNA within nucleosome structures.
  • Analysis of PARP2 auto-PARylation initiation and elongation in the absence of Histone PARylation Factor 1 (HPF1).

Main Results:

  • The presence of a DNA gap influenced PARP2's affinity for DNA/nucleosomes, affecting the number of active enzyme molecules and PARylation initiation efficiency.
  • PAR chain elongation by PARP2 was sensitive to the lesion's location within the DNA/nucleosome structure, specifically its proximity to blunt ends and histone tail interactions.
  • These findings indicate that DNA structural features significantly modulate both the quantity and length of PAR synthesized by PARP2.

Conclusions:

  • DNA damage structure plays a critical role in regulating PARP2 activity during DNA repair.
  • PARP2's response to DNA lesions involves distinct sensitivities at different stages of the auto-PARylation reaction.
  • The findings provide insights into how DNA context influences PARP enzyme function in maintaining genomic integrity.

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