Luisa Laureti

Activation d'un cluster de gènes de polycétide synthase de type I chez Streptomyces ambofaciens ATCC 23877 : isolation et caractérisation d'un nouveau macrolide géant: La recherche de nouveaux métabolites d'intérêt médical est toujours d'actualité, surtout si l'on considère que d'anciennes, mais aussi des nouvelles infections bactériennes ou virales apparaissent régulièrement. Les actinomycètes, et plus particulièrement les Streptomyces, sont les principaux producteurs de molécules anti-microbiennes. En effet, ils produisent presque 60-70% des produits naturels d'origine microbienne. La plupart de ces métabolites appartient à la classe des polycétides, qui sont synthétisés par des complexes multienzymatiques, les polycétide-synthétases (PKS). Les PKS utilisent des acides gras simples pour assembler des structures polycétidiques très diversifiées. Une approche très prometteuse pour identifier des nouvelles voies de biosynthèse de métabolites secondaires est basée sur une approche génomique ou « genome mining ». Le séquençage du chromosome linéaire de Streptomyces ambofaciens ATCC23877 a, entre autre, révélé sur le bras chromosomique droit, un cluster cryptique de gènes de PKS de type I de grande taille. Ce cluster contient 25 gènes, dont 9 gènes de biosynthèse, pour un total de 25 modules, tous fonctionnels. Les analyses in silico des gènes de PKS ont permis de prédire que le cluster serait responsable de la synthèse d'une molécule appartenant à la famille des macrolides. Dans des conditions standard de laboratoire, le cluster était silencieux. Afin d'activer l'expression du cluster, un gène de régulation, samR0484, présent dans le cluster et codant un régulateur de la famille LAL (Large ATP binding protein of the LuxR family), a été surexprimé dans la souche sauvage. Les analyses transcriptionelles ont montré que cela se traduisait par l'induction de l'expression des gènes de biosynthèse. Par conséquence, une stratégie de « comparative metabolic profiling » a été menée entre la souche sauvage et la souche mutante afin d'identifier le nouveau métabolite. Quatre formes différentes d'un macrolide avec un cycle lactonique de 50 carbones, ont été isolées et caractérisées. Ces composants, nommés sambomycine A, B, C et D, ont montré une activité antibactérienne et une activité antiproliférative intéressante. La détermination de la structure de la sambomycine a révélé des caractéristiques uniques et intéressantes, concernant la réaction de cyclisation et la synthèse d'un précurseur atypique. Ces mécanismes de biosynthèse ont fait l'objet d'une étude plus approfondie. Nous nous sommes également intéressés à la régulation de ce cluster. Le régulateur LAL agit comme un activateur transcriptionnel essentiel. Des analyses préliminaires indiquent que ce régulateur se fixe aux régions promotrices de certains gènes, notamment celles des gènes de biosynthèse ainsi que celles d'autres gènes de post-modification, activant ainsi leur transcription.

Following encounter with an unrepaired DNA lesion, replication is halted and can restart downstream of the lesion leading to the formation of a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gap. To complete replication, this ssDNA gap is filled in by one of the two lesion tolerance pathways: the error-prone Translesion Synthesis (TLS) or the error-free Homology Directed Gap Repair (HDGR). In the present work, we evidence a role for the RecBC complex distinct from its canonical function in homologous recombination at DNA double strand breaks. We show that upon lesion encounter RecBC (independently of its catalytic activity and of the RecD subunit) is required to protect the nascent DNA in order to promote efficient lesion bypass. In the absence of RecBC, our data indicate that the nuclease ExoI can access and degrade the nascent DNA, affecting both TLS and HDGR mechanisms. We show that the recruitment of RecBC becomes particularly important at strong blocking lesions, when postreplicative ssDNA gaps persist and are covered by the ssDNA binding proteins. This protective role of RecBC is reminiscent of the role of BRCA2 in protecting the nascent DNA in human cells, highlighting once again the evolutionary conservation of DNA replication mechanisms across all living organisms.

Microbial specialised metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (SMBGCs) are a formidable source of natural products of pharmaceutical interest. With the multiplication of genomic data available, very efficient bioinformatic tools for automatic SMBGC detection have been developed. Nevertheless, most of these tools identify SMBGCs based on sequence similarity with enzymes typically involved in specialised metabolism and thus may miss SMBGCs coding for under characterised enzymes. Here we present SYNTERUPTOR ( https://bioi2.i2bc.paris-saclay.fr/synteruptor ) , a program that identifies genomic islands, known to be enriched in SMBGCs, in the genomes of closely related species. With this tool, we identified a SMBGC in the genome of Streptomyces ambofaciens ATCC23877, undetected by earlier versions of antiSMASH, and experimentally demonstrated that it directs the biosynthesis of two metabolites, one of which was identified as sphydrofuran. SYNTERUPTOR is also a valuable resource for the delineation of individual SMBGCs within antiSMASH regions that may encompass multiple clusters, and for refining the boundaries of these SMBGCs.

Following encounter with an unrepaired DNA lesion, replication is halted and can restart downstream of the lesion leading to the formation of a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gap. To complete replication, this ssDNA gap is filled in by one of the two lesion tolerance pathways: the error-prone Translesion Synthesis (TLS) or the error-free Homology Directed Gap Repair (HDGR). In the present work, we evidence a new role for the RecBC complex distinct from its canonical function in homologous recombination at DNA double strand breaks. We show that upon lesion encounter RecBC (independently of its catalytic activity and of the RecD subunit) is required to protect the nascent DNA in order to promote efficient lesion bypass. In the absence of RecBC, our data indicate that the nuclease ExoI can access and degrade the nascent DNA, affecting both TLS and HDGR mechanisms. We show that the recruitment of RecBC becomes particularly important at strong blocking lesions, when post-replicatively ssDNA gaps persist and are covered by the single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB). This protective role of RecBC is reminiscent of the role of BRCA2 in protecting the nascent DNA in human cells, highlighting once again the evolutionary conservation of DNA replication mechanisms across all living organisms. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In the presence of unrepaired lesions, stalled replication can restart ahead of the lesion creating a single stranded DNA gap. To preserve genome stability, this gap needs to be later filled in by one of the two lesion tolerance pathways, Translesion Synthesis or Homology Directed Gap Repair. In this study, we unveil a role for the RecBC complex in protecting the nascent DNA blocked at the lesion site from degradation by the ExoI nuclease. This protection is essential for an efficient repair of the single-stranded DNA gap. In the absence of RecBC, both lesion tolerance pathways are affected and genome stability is compromised.

During replication, the presence of unrepaired lesions results in the formation of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps that need to be repaired to preserve genome integrity and cell survival. All organisms have evolved two major lesion tolerance pathways to continue replication: Translesion Synthesis (TLS), potentially mutagenic, and Homology Directed Gap Repair (HDGR), that relies on homologous recombination. In Escherichia coli, the RecF pathway repairs such ssDNA gaps by processing them to produce a recombinogenic RecA nucleofilament during the presynaptic phase. In this study, we show that the presynaptic phase is crucial for modulating lesion tolerance pathways since the competition between TLS and HDGR occurs at this stage. Impairing either the extension of the ssDNA gap (mediated by the nuclease RecJ and the helicase RecQ) or the loading of RecA (mediated by RecFOR) leads to a decrease in HDGR and a concomitant increase in TLS. Hence, we conclude that defects in the presynaptic phase delay the formation of the D-loop and increase the time window allowed for TLS. In contrast, we show that a defect in the postsynaptic phase that impairs HDGR does not lead to an increase in TLS. Unexpectedly, we also reveal a strong genetic interaction between recF and recJ genes, that results in a recA deficient-like phenotype in which HDGR is almost completely abolished.

The tumour suppressor SLX4 plays multiple roles in the maintenance of genome stability, acting as a scaffold for structure-specific endonucleases and other DNA repair proteins. It directly interacts with the mismatch repair (MMR) protein MSH2 but the significance of this interaction remained unknown until recent findings showing that MutSβ (MSH2-MSH3) stimulates in vitro the SLX4-dependent Holliday junction resolvase activity. Here, we characterize the mode of interaction between SLX4 and MSH2, which relies on an MSH2-interacting peptide (SHIP box) that drives interaction of SLX4 with both MutSβ and MutSα (MSH2-MSH6). While we show that this MSH2 binding domain is dispensable for the well-established role of SLX4 in interstrand crosslink repair, we find that it mediates inhibition of MutSα-dependent MMR by SLX4, unravelling an unanticipated function of SLX4.

The DNA damage response (DDR) preserves the genetic integrity of the cell by sensing and repairing damages after a genotoxic stress. Translesion Synthesis (TLS), an error-prone DNA damage tolerance pathway, is controlled by PCNA ubiquitination. In this work, we raise the question whether TLS is controlled locally or globally. Using a recently developed method that allows to follow the bypass of a single lesion inserted into the yeast genome, we show that (i) TLS is controlled locally at each individual lesion by PCNA ubiquitination, (ii) a single lesion is enough to induce PCNA ubiquitination and (iii) PCNA ubiquitination is imperative for TLS to occur. More importantly, we show that the activation of the DDR that follows a genotoxic stress does not increase TLS at individual lesions. We conclude that unlike the SOS response in bacteria, the eukaryotic DDR does not promote TLS and mutagenesis.

The tumour suppressor SLX4 plays multiple roles in the maintenance of genome stability, acting as a scaffold for structure-specific endonucleases and other DNA repair proteins. It directly interacts with the mismatch repair (MMR) protein MSH2 but the significance of this interaction remained unknown until recent findings showing that MutSβ (MSH2-MSH3) stimulates in vitro the SLX4-dependent Holliday junction resolvase activity. Here, we characterize the mode of interaction between SLX4 and MSH2, which relies on an M SH 2-interacting p eptide (SHIP box) that drives interaction of SLX4 with both MutSβ and MutSα (MSH2-MSH6). While we show that this MSH2 binding domain is dispensable for the well-established role of SLX4 in interstrand crosslink repair, we find that it mediates inhibition of MutSα-dependent MMR by SLX4, unravelling an unanticipated function of SLX4.

During replication, the presence of unrepaired lesions results in the formation of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps that need to be repaired to preserve genome integrity and cell survival. All organisms have evolved two major lesion tolerance pathways to continue replication: Translesion Synthesis (TLS), potentially mutagenic, and Homology Directed Gap Repair (HDGR), that relies on homologous recombination. In Escherichia coli , the RecF pathway repairs such ssDNA gaps by processing them to produce a recombinogenic RecA nucleofilament during the presynaptic phase. In this study, we show that the presynaptic phase is crucial for modulating lesion tolerance pathways. Indeed, impairing either the extension of the ssDNA gap (mediated by the nuclease RecJ and the helicase RecQ) or the loading of RecA (mediated by the RecFOR complex) leads to a decrease in HDGR. We suggest a model where defects in the presynaptic phase delay the formation of the D-loop and increase the time window allowed for TLS. We indeed observe an increase in TLS independent of SOS induction. In addition, we revealed an unexpected synergistic interaction between recF and recJ genes, that results in a recA deficient-like phenotype in which HDGR is almost completely abolished.

DNA replication is mediated by the coordinated actions of multiple enzymes within replisomes. Processivity clamps tether many of these enzymes to DNA, allowing access to the primer/template junction. Many clamp-interacting proteins (CLIPs) are involved in genome maintenance pathways including translesion synthesis (TLS). Despite their abundance, DNA replication in bacteria is not perturbed by these CLIPs. Here we show that while the TLS polymerase Pol IV is largely excluded from moving replisomes, the remodeling of ssDNA binding protein (SSB) upon replisome stalling enriches Pol IV at replication forks. This enrichment is indispensable for Pol IV-mediated TLS on both the leading and lagging strands as it enables Pol IV-processivity clamp binding by overcoming the gatekeeping role of the Pol III epsilon subunit. As we have demonstrated for the Pol IV-SSB interaction, we propose that the binding of CLIPs to the processivity clamp must be preceded by interactions with factors that serve as localization markers for their site of action.