Mutants defective in Rad1-Rad10-Slx4 exhibit a unique pattern of viability during mating-type switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics. 2008 Aug;179(4):1807-21. doi: 10.1534/genetics.108.090654. Epub 2008 Jun 24.

Abstract

Efficient repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) requires the coordination of checkpoint signaling and enzymatic repair functions. To study these processes during gene conversion at a single chromosomal break, we monitored mating-type switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains defective in the Rad1-Rad10-Slx4 complex. Rad1-Rad10 is a structure-specific endonuclease that removes 3' nonhomologous single-stranded ends that are generated during many recombination events. Slx4 is a known target of the DNA damage response that forms a complex with Rad1-Rad10 and is critical for 3'-end processing during repair of DSBs by single-strand annealing. We found that mutants lacking an intact Rad1-Rad10-Slx4 complex displayed RAD9- and MAD2-dependent cell cycle delays and decreased viability during mating-type switching. In particular, these mutants exhibited a unique pattern of dead and switched daughter cells arising from the same DSB-containing cell. Furthermore, we observed that mutations in post-replicative lesion bypass factors (mms2Delta, mph1Delta) resulted in decreased viability during mating-type switching and conferred shorter cell cycle delays in rad1Delta mutants. We conclude that Rad1-Rad10-Slx4 promotes efficient repair during gene conversion events involving a single 3' nonhomologous tail and propose that the rad1Delta and slx4Delta mutant phenotypes result from inefficient repair of a lesion at the MAT locus that is bypassed by replication-mediated repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Survival
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • DNA Repair*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / genetics*
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism
  • Endonucleases / genetics*
  • Endonucleases / metabolism
  • Models, Genetic
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein / analysis
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism
  • Mutation*
  • Phenotype
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / analysis
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Endonucleases
  • RAD1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • SLX4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • RAD10 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases
  • MSH2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein
  • DNA Repair Enzymes