Werner Syndrome Protein and DNA Replication
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Werner Syndrome Protein and DNA Replication Shibani Mukherjee, Debapriya Sinha, Souparno Bhattacharya, Kalayarasan Srinivasan, Salim Abdisalaam and Aroumougame Asaithamby * Division of Molecular Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; [email protected] (S.M.); [email protected] (D.S.); [email protected] (S.B.); [email protected] (K.S.); [email protected] (S.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Fax: +1-214-648-5995 Received: 17 September 2018; Accepted: 25 October 2018; Published: 2 November 2018 Abstract: Werner Syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the premature development of aging features. Individuals with WS also have a greater predisposition to rare cancers that are mesenchymal in origin. Werner Syndrome Protein (WRN), the protein mutated in WS, is unique among RecQ family proteins in that it possesses exonuclease and 30 to 50 helicase activities. WRN forms dynamic sub-complexes with different factors involved in DNA replication, recombination and repair. WRN binding partners either facilitate its DNA metabolic activities or utilize it to execute their specific functions. Furthermore, WRN is phosphorylated by multiple kinases, including Ataxia telangiectasia mutated, Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related, c-Abl, Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, in response to genotoxic stress. These post-translational modifications are critical for WRN to function properly in DNA repair, replication and recombination. Accumulating evidence suggests that WRN plays a crucial role in one or more genome stability maintenance pathways, through which it suppresses cancer and premature aging. Among its many functions, WRN helps in replication fork progression, facilitates the repair of stalled replication forks and DNA double-strand breaks associated with replication forks, and blocks nuclease-mediated excessive processing of replication forks. In this review, we specifically focus on human WRN’s contribution to replication fork processing for maintaining genome stability and suppressing premature aging. Understanding WRN’s molecular role in timely and faithful DNA replication will further advance our understanding of the pathophysiology of WS. Keywords: cancer; DNA double-strand repair; premature aging; post-translational modification; protein stability; replication stress; Werner Syndrome; Werner Syndrome Protein 1. Introduction Werner Syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that causes symptoms of premature aging and is accompanied by a higher risk of cancer [1–3]. Individuals with WS show a greater predisposition to diseases usually observed in older age, such as arteriosclerosis, cataracts, osteoporosis, and type II diabetes mellitus [4–6]. In addition, individuals with WS are more susceptible to rare cancers that are mesenchymal in origin [1,2]. Myocardial infarction and cancer are the most common causes of death among patients with WS [2]. Primary cells derived from these patients exhibit elevated levels of chromosomal translocations, inversions, and deletions of large segments of DNA, and they have a high spontaneous mutation rate [7,8]. Additionally, WS fibroblasts have a markedly shorter replicative life span than age-matched controls in culture [4,9]. Most WS cases have been linked to mutations in a single gene, the Werner syndrome gene (WRN), which is located on chromosome 8 [10]. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 3442; doi:10.3390/ijms19113442 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 17 Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 3442 2 of 18 WRN, the protein defective in WS, belongs to the RecQ helicase family. The human genome containsWRN, five the RecQ protein genes: defective RecQ1, in Bloom WS, belongssyndrome to protein the RecQ (BLM), helicase WRN, family. RecQ4, The and human RecQ5. genome WRN containsis a 1432 five amino RecQ acid-long genes: RecQ1, multifunctional Bloom syndrome protein protein that comprises (BLM), WRN, four RecQ4, distinct and functional RecQ5. WRN domains is a 1432(Figure amino 1). acid-longWRN has multifunctional an exonuclease protein (E84) that domain comprises (38–236 four distinct aa) and functional a WRN-WRN domains interaction (Figure1). WRN(multimerization has an exonuclease or oligomerization) (E84) domain domain (38–236 (251–333 aa) and aa) a WRN-WRNin the N-terminal interaction region. (multimerization It has adenosine ortriphosphatase oligomerization) (ATPase), domain helicase (251–333 (K577) aa) in (558–724 the N-terminal aa), and region. RecQ ItC-terminal has adenosine (RQC) triphosphatase (749–899 aa) (ATPase),domains helicasein the middle (K577) region (558–724 and aa), a helicase-and-ribonuclease and RecQ C-terminal (RQC) D-C-terminal (749–899 aa) (HRDC) domains domain in the middle (940– region1432 aa) and in athe helicase-and-ribonuclease C-terminal region. Though D-C-terminal the crystal (HRDC) structure domain for full-length (940–1432 WRN aa) in is the not C-terminal available region.yet, crystal Though structures the crystal of the structure exonuclease for full-length and HRDC WRN domains is not have available been solved. yet, crystal The structurescrystal structure of the exonucleaseof the exonuclease and HRDC domain domains (1–333 have aa) been at solved.2.0 angstrom The crystal resolution structure showed of the exonucleasea ring of six domain WRN (1–333exonuclease aa) at 2.0domains, angstrom the resolution perfect size showed to slip a around ring of sixa DNA WRN helix, exonuclease with their domains, binding the and perfect catalytic size tosites slip oriented around ainward DNA helix, toward with the their encircled binding andDNA catalytic [11]. This sites orientedstudy furt inwardher revealed toward thethat encircled WRN’s 2+ 2+ DNAexonuclease [11]. This domain study furtherpossesses revealed Mg thatand WRN’s Mn exonucleasebinding sites, domain which possesses help modulate Mg2+ and WRN’s Mn2+ bindingexonuclease sites, whichactivities help [11]. modulate Additionally, WRN’s exonucleasefull-length activitiesWRN forms [11]. Additionally,a trimer [12], full-length and the WRNWRN formsexonuclease a trimer construct [12], and (1–333 the WRN aa) exonuclease forms a trimer construct when (1–333 purified aa) forms by gel a trimer filtration when analysis purified and by gelhomohexamers filtration analysis upon and interaction homohexamers with DNA upon or interaction with Proliferating with DNA cell or with nuclear Proliferating antigen cell(PCNA), nuclear as antigenexamined (PCNA), by atomic as examined force microscope by atomic [13,14]. force Subsequently, microscope [13 Perry,14]. et Subsequently, al. (2010) identified Perry etthe al. 250–333 (2010) identifiedamino acids the as 250–333 being aminonot only acids responsible as being not for onlyWRN’ responsibles homomultimerization, for WRN’s homomultimerization, but also critical for but its alsoexonuclease critical for processivity its exonuclease [15]. The processivity HRDC domain’s [15]. The cr HRDCystal structure domain’s revealed crystal structurethat this domain revealed exists that thisas a domain monomer exists in assolution a monomer and inhas solution weak DNA and has binding weak DNAability binding in vitro ability [16].in However, vitro [16]. the However, HRDC thedomain HRDC is known domain to is interact known with to interact many differen with manyt proteins, different which proteins, suggests which that suggestsWRN’s DNA that WRN’sbinding DNAspecificity binding is dictated specificity by is another dictated domain. by another Thus, domain. structural Thus, analyses structural of analyses N- and ofC-terminal N- and C-terminal domains domainshave provided have provided a wealth a of wealth information of information about WRN’s about WRN’sexonuclease exonuclease activities activities and its andability its abilityto act on to actdifferent on different DNA DNAstructures. structures. FigureFigure 1. SchematicSchematic showing showing different different functional functional domain domains,s, exonuclease exonuclease (E84), (E84), helicase helicase (K577) (K577) active activesites, and sites, DNA-PKcs and DNA-PKcs (S440 and (S440 S467), and ATM S467), (S1058, ATM S1141 (S1058, and S1141 S1292), and ATR S1292), (S991, ATR S1411, (S991, T1152 S1411, and T1152S1256) and and S1256) CDK1 and(S1133) CDK1 phosphorylation, (S1133) phosphorylation, and acetylation and acetylation(K366, K887, (K366, K1117, K887, K1127, K1117, K1389 K1127, and K1389K1413) and sites K1413) in WRN. sites TDD-Trimerization in WRN. TDD-Trimerization (oligomerization/multimerization) (oligomerization/multimerization) domain (250–333aa); domain A- (250–333aa);acidic repeats A-acidic (2X27; 424–477 repeats aa); (2X27; RQC-RecQ 424–477 C-term aa); RQC-RecQinal (749–899 C-terminal aa); NLS-nuclear (749–899 localization aa); NLS-nuclear signal; localizationaa-amino acid; signal; black aa-amino dotted lines acid; denote black dottedacetylat linesion events; denote solid acetylation red arrows events; indicate solid redDNA-PKcs- arrows indicatemediated DNA-PKcs-mediated phosphorylation sites; phosphorylation solid dark blue sites; lines solid represent dark blue ATM-mediated lines represent phosphorylation ATM-mediated phosphorylationevents; dotted orange events; arrows dotted represent