BLAP75/RMI1 promotes the BLM-dependent dissolution of homologous recombination intermediates

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Mar 14;103(11):4068-73. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0508295103. Epub 2006 Mar 6.

Abstract

BLM encodes a member of the highly conserved RecQ DNA helicase family, which is essential for the maintenance of genome stability. Homozygous inactivation of BLM gives rise to the cancer predisposition disorder Bloom's syndrome. A common feature of many RecQ helicase mutants is a hyperrecombination phenotype. In Bloom's syndrome, this phenotype manifests as an elevated frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and interhomologue recombination. We have shown previously that BLM, together with its evolutionarily conserved binding partner topoisomerase IIIalpha (hTOPO IIIalpha), can process recombination intermediates that contain double Holliday junctions into noncrossover products by a mechanism termed dissolution. Here we show that a recently identified third component of the human BLM/hTOPO IIIalpha complex, BLAP75/RMI1, promotes dissolution catalyzed by hTOPO IIIalpha. This activity of BLAP75/RMI1 is specific for dissolution catalyzed by hTOPO IIIalpha because it has no effect in reactions containing either Escherichia coli Top1 or Top3, both of which can also catalyze dissolution in a BLM-dependent manner. We present evidence that BLAP75/RMI1 acts by recruiting hTOPO IIIalpha to double Holliday junctions. Implications of the conserved ability of type IA topoisomerases to catalyze dissolution and how the evolution of factors such as BLAP75/RMI1 might confer specificity on the execution of this process are discussed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / chemistry
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism*
  • Bloom Syndrome / genetics
  • Bloom Syndrome / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA Helicases / chemistry
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / chemistry
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / genetics
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / metabolism
  • DNA, Cruciform / chemistry
  • DNA, Cruciform / genetics
  • DNA, Cruciform / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Binding
  • RecQ Helicases
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Sister Chromatid Exchange

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA, Cruciform
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RMI1 protein, human
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Bloom syndrome protein
  • DNA Helicases
  • RecQ Helicases
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I