The ubiquitin ligase RFWD3 is required for translesion DNA synthesis

Irene Gallina, Ivo A Hendriks, Saskia Hoffmann, Nicolai B Larsen, Joachim Johansen, Camilla S Colding-Christensen, Lisa Schubert, Selene Sellés-Baiget, Zita Fábián, Ulrike Kühbacher, Alan O Gao, Markus Räschle, Simon Rasmussen, Michael L Nielsen, Niels Mailand, Julien P Duxin

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)
148 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Lesions on DNA uncouple DNA synthesis from the replisome, generating stretches of unreplicated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) behind the replication fork. These ssDNA gaps need to be filled in to complete DNA duplication. Gap-filling synthesis involves either translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) or template switching (TS). Controlling these processes, ubiquitylated PCNA recruits many proteins that dictate pathway choice, but the enzymes regulating PCNA ubiquitylation in vertebrates remain poorly defined. Here we report that the E3 ubiquitin ligase RFWD3 promotes ubiquitylation of proteins on ssDNA. The absence of RFWD3 leads to a profound defect in recruitment of key repair and signaling factors to damaged chromatin. As a result, PCNA ubiquitylation is inhibited without RFWD3, and TLS across different DNA lesions is drastically impaired. We propose that RFWD3 is an essential coordinator of the response to ssDNA gaps, where it promotes ubiquitylation to drive recruitment of effectors of PCNA ubiquitylation and DNA damage bypass.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMolecular Cell
Volume81
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)442-458.e9
Number of pages27
ISSN1097-2765
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin/genetics
  • DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA Replication
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/genetics
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics
  • Ubiquitination
  • Xenopus laevis

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