RAD52 and SLX4 act nonepistatically to ensure telomere stability during alternative telomere lengthening

Priyanka Verma, Robert L. Dilley, Tianpeng Zhang, Melina T. Gyparaki, Yiwen Li, Roger A. Greenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

Approximately 15% of cancers use homologous recombination for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). How the initiating genomic lesions invoke homology-directed telomere synthesis remains enigmatic. Here, we show that distinct dependencies exist for telomere synthesis in response to replication stress or DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). RAD52 deficiency reduced spontaneous telomeric DNA synthesis and replication stress-associated recombination in G2, concomitant with telomere shortening and damage. However, viability and proliferation remained unaffected, suggesting that alternative telomere recombination mechanisms compensate in the absence of RAD52. In agreement, RAD52 was dispensable for DSB-induced telomere synthesis. Moreover, a targeted CRISPR screen revealed that loss of the structure-specific endonuclease scaffold SLX4 reduced the proliferation of RAD52-null ALT cells. While SLX4 was dispensable for RAD52-mediated ALT telomere synthesis in G2, combined SLX4 and RAD52 loss resulted in elevated telomere loss, unresolved telomere recombination intermediates, and mitotic infidelity. These findings establish that RAD52 and SLX4 mediate distinct postreplicative DNA repair processes that maintain ALT telomere stability and cancer cell viability.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)221-235
Number of pages15
JournalGenes and Development
Volume33
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2019

Keywords

  • FANCD2
  • Homologous recombination
  • RAD52
  • Replication stress]
  • SLX4
  • Telomere
  • [ ALT

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'RAD52 and SLX4 act nonepistatically to ensure telomere stability during alternative telomere lengthening'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this