Role of HELLS chromatin remodeler in genome maintenance

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Project Summary Robust and tightly regulated DNA repair is critical to maintain genome stability and prevent disease development. Eukaryotic DNA is packaged into chromatin that has a profound, yet not well understood regulatory influence on DNA repair, replication and genome maintenance. There is a fundamental gap in understanding how DNA repair pathways are regulated and coordinated within structurally diverse chromatin, and across the heterogeneous genomic landscape. The HELLS (Helicase Lymphoid Specific) is a poorly understood chromatin-associated protein, with an emerging new role in genome maintenance. Mouse HELLS is essential for gametogenesis and proper development of the immune system. Mutations in human HELLS cause severe immunodeficiency syndrome ICF (Immunodeficiency Centromeric Instability Facial anomalies). Despite substantial progress in understanding the molecular functions of the mammalian HELLS in DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, its role in DNA repair and genome maintenance is poorly understood and remains elusive. The unresolved questions remain whether HELLS regulates multiple DNA repair pathways, and whether it has specialized roles in the repair and maintenance of a distinct genomic loci or domains. We have established and validated fungal model, Neurospora crassa to advance the fundamental understanding of HELLS-mediated mechanisms of genome stability. Our studies reveal a new, previously unrecognized link between HELLS proteins and cellular responses to DNA alkylation damage in fungal and human cells. We hypothesize that HELLS protects cells form alkylation-induced toxicity and plays important roles in the repair and stability of the constitutive heterochromatin domains. This hypothesis is founded based on a strong preliminary data in the fungal model Neurospora and in human cells demonstrating that cells deficient in HELLS exhibit sensitivity to DNA alkylation damage and are deficient in the repair of the constitutive heterochromatin. In addition, we discovered that loss of fungal WDR76 protein in HELLS mutant cells leads to the synthetic rescue of the alkylation sensitivity phenotype, implying that WDR76 acts as genetic suppressor of HELLS deficiency. In Aim 1 we will determine the role of fungal and human HELLS remodelers in the repair of alkylation DNA damage. In Aim 2 we will define precise genomic and chromatin contexts that depend on HELLS for genome maintenance. In Aim 3 we will determine the functional relationship between HELLS and WDR76, a WD40 protein implicated in response to DNA alkylation. Successful completion of the proposed research will define HELLS-mediated mechanisms of genome maintenance, and identify additional regulators and pathways cooperating with HELLS in protecting the cells from detrimental consequences of genotoxic stress. These studies will provide important insights into the origin of the disease- causing chromosomal rearrangements and breaks found in many human diseases, including the ICF syndrome.