SCAI promotes DNA double-strand break repair in distinct chromosomal contexts

Rebecca Kring Hansen, Andreas Mund, Sara Lund Poulsen, Maria Sandoval, Karolin Klement, Katerina Tsouroula, Maxim A X Tollenaere, Markus Räschle, Rebeca Soria, Stefan Offermanns, Thomas Worzfeld, Robert Grosse, Dominique T Brandt, Björn Rozell, Matthias Mann, Francesca Cole, Evi Soutoglou, Aaron A Goodarzi, Jeremy A Daniel, Niels MailandSimon Bekker-Jensen

14 Citations (Scopus)
146 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are highly cytotoxic DNA lesions, whose accurate repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR) is crucial for genome integrity and is strongly influenced by the local chromatin environment. Here, we identify SCAI (suppressor of cancer cell invasion) as a 53BP1-interacting chromatin-associated protein that promotes the functionality of several DSB repair pathways in mammalian cells. SCAI undergoes prominent enrichment at DSB sites through dual mechanisms involving 53BP1-dependent recruitment to DSB-surrounding chromatin and 53BP1-independent accumulation at resected DSBs. Cells lacking SCAI display reduced DSB repair capacity, hypersensitivity to DSB-inflicting agents and genome instability. We demonstrate that SCAI is a mediator of 53BP1-dependent repair of heterochromatin-associated DSBs, facilitating ATM kinase signalling at DSBs in repressive chromatin environments. Moreover, we establish an important role of SCAI in meiotic recombination, as SCAI deficiency in mice leads to germ cell loss and subfertility associated with impaired retention of the DMC1 recombinase on meiotic chromosomes. Collectively, our findings uncover SCAI as a physiologically important component of both NHEJ- and HR-mediated pathways that potentiates DSB repair efficiency in specific chromatin contexts.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNature Cell Biology
Volume18
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)1357–1366
ISSN1465-7392
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2016

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SCAI promotes DNA double-strand break repair in distinct chromosomal contexts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this