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The Smc5–Smc6 complex and SUMO modification of Rad52 regulates recombinational repair at the ribosomal gene locus

Nature Cell Biology volume 9, pages 923–931 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Homologous recombination (HR) is crucial for maintaining genome integrity by repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and rescuing collapsed replication forks. In contrast, uncontrolled HR can lead to chromosome translocations, loss of heterozygosity, and deletion of repetitive sequences. Controlled HR is particularly important for the preservation of repetitive sequences of the ribosomal gene (rDNA) cluster. Here we show that recombinational repair of a DSB in rDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae involves the transient relocalization of the lesion to associate with the recombination machinery at an extranucleolar site. The nucleolar exclusion of Rad52 recombination foci entails Mre11 and Smc5–Smc6 complexes and depends on Rad52 SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier) modification. Remarkably, mutations that abrogate these activities result in the formation of Rad52 foci within the nucleolus and cause rDNA hyperrecombination and the excision of extrachromosomal rDNA circles. Our study also suggests a key role of sumoylation for nucleolar dynamics, perhaps in the compartmentalization of nuclear activities.

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Figure 1: Localization of checkpoint and repair proteins relative to the nucleolus.
Figure 2: Localization of an I-SceI-induced DSB in the rDNA.
Figure 3: Rad52 foci in the nucleolus in Smc5–Smc6 complex mutants.
Figure 4: RAD52-dependent formation of ERCs at the rDNA locus in smc6-9 cells.
Figure 5: Genetic requirements for Rad52 focus formation in the nucleolus.
Figure 6: Dynamics of the rDNA locus.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Wagner, R. Tsien, M. Jasin and K. Nasmyth for plasmids and strains, and members of the Rothstein, Aragon, Jentsch and Lisby laboratories for helpful discussions on this work. This work was supported by grants to R.R. from the NIH (GM50237 and GM67055), the Human Frontiers Science Program (RGP0238/2001) and the Tonnesen Foundation (RGP0238/2001), to M.L. from the Danish Natural Science Research Council, the Alfred Benzon Foundation, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Foundation, and to N.E.B. from the Lundbeck Foundation. The Aragon laboratory was supported by the Medical Research Council, UK.

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Author notes

  1. Jordi Torres-Rosell

    Present address: Current address: Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, IRBLLEIDA, Universitat de Lleida, C/ Montserrat Roig 2, 25008 Lleida, Spain.,

  2. Jordi Torres-Rosell, Ivana Sunjevaric, Giacomo De Piccoli and Meik Sacher: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cell Cycle Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK

    Jordi Torres-Rosell, Giacomo De Piccoli & Luis Aragón

  2. Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 West 168th Street, New York, 10032-2704, New York, USA

    Ivana Sunjevaric, Robert Reid & Rodney Rothstein

  3. Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, 82152, Germany

    Meik Sacher & Stefan Jentsch

  4. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, Copenhagen N, DK-2200, Denmark

    Nadine Eckert-Boulet & Michael Lisby

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Torres-Rosell, J., Sunjevaric, I., De Piccoli, G. et al. The Smc5–Smc6 complex and SUMO modification of Rad52 regulates recombinational repair at the ribosomal gene locus. Nat Cell Biol 9, 923–931 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1619

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