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HELZ promotes R loop resolution to facilitate DNA double-strand break repair by homologous recombination

Haji-Seyed-Javadi, R.; Koyen, A. E.; Rath, S. K.; Madden, M. Z.; Hou, Y.; Song, B. S.; Kenney, A. M.; Lan, L.; Yao, B.; Yu, D. S.

2023-12-15 molecular biology
10.1101/2023.12.14.571747 bioRxiv
Show abstract

R loop homeostasis is critical for DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair; however, how R loops are resolved in this context is poorly understood. Here, we define HELZ as a unique RNA-DNA helicase that resolves R loops to facilitate homologous recombination (HR) repair. From a synthetic lethal etoposide resistance siRNA screen, we found that HELZ depletion causes R loop-mediated hypersensitivity to DSB-inducing agents, and HELZ localizes and binds to DSBs. HELZ preferentially binds to and unwinds RNA-DNA hybrids with 5ssRNA overhangs to promote R loop resolution genome-wide and at DSBs. Interestingly, HELZ facilitates BRCA1 recruitment to DSBs by preventing R loop accumulation, thereby promoting DNA end resection and HR to prevent R loop mediated genomic instability. Our findings define a role for HELZ in resolving R loops critical for HR that promotes genome stability and governs DSB-inducing agent resistance.

Published in Nature Communications (predicted rank #1) · training set

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