POLD3 is haploinsufficient for DNA replication in mice Matilde Murga1, Emilio Lecona1, Irene Kamileri2, Marcos Díaz3, Natalia Lugli2, Sotirios K. Sotiriou2, Marta E. Anton1, Juan Méndez3, Thanos D. Halazonetis2 and Oscar Fernandez-Capetillo1,4 1 Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain. 2Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 3 DNA Replication Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain. 4Science for Life Laboratories, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Correspondence: O.F. (
[email protected]) Contact: Oscar Fernandez-Capetillo Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) Melchor Fernandez Almagro, 3 Madrid 28029, Spain Tel.: +34.91.732.8000 Ext: 3480 Fax: +34.91.732.8028 Email:
[email protected] POLD3 deficient mice SUMMARY The Pold3 gene encodes a subunit of the Polδ DNA polymerase complex. Pold3 orthologues are not essential in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or chicken DT40 cells, but the Schizzosaccharomyces pombe orthologue is essential. POLD3 also has a specialized role in the repair of broken replication forks, suggesting that POLD3 activity could be particularly relevant for cancer cells enduring high levels of DNA replication stress. We report here that POLD3 is essential for mouse development and is also required for viability in adult animals. Strikingly, even Pold3+/- mice were born at sub-Mendelian ratios and, of those born, some presented hydrocephaly and had a reduced lifespan. In cells, POLD3 deficiency led to replication stress and cell death, which were aggravated by expression of activated oncogenes. Finally, we show that Pold3 deletion destabilizes all members of the Polδ complex, explaining its major role in DNA replication and the severe impact of its deficiency.