RASSF1A-LATS1 signalling stabilizes replication forks by restricting CDK2-mediated phosphorylation of BRCA2

Nat Cell Biol. 2014 Oct;16(10):962-71, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/ncb3035. Epub 2014 Sep 14.

Abstract

Genomic instability is a key hallmark of cancer leading to tumour heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance. BRCA2 has a fundamental role in error-free DNA repair but also sustains genome integrity by promoting RAD51 nucleofilament formation at stalled replication forks. CDK2 phosphorylates BRCA2 (pS3291-BRCA2) to limit stabilizing contacts with polymerized RAD51; however, how replication stress modulates CDK2 activity and whether loss of pS3291-BRCA2 regulation results in genomic instability of tumours are not known. Here we demonstrate that the Hippo pathway kinase LATS1 interacts with CDK2 in response to genotoxic stress to constrain pS3291-BRCA2 and support RAD51 nucleofilaments, thereby maintaining genomic fidelity during replication stalling. We also show that LATS1 forms part of an ATR-mediated response to replication stress that requires the tumour suppressor RASSF1A. Importantly, perturbation of the ATR-RASSF1A-LATS1 signalling axis leads to genomic defects associated with loss of BRCA2 function and contributes to genomic instability and 'BRCA-ness' in lung cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins / genetics
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins / metabolism
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics
  • BRCA2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Comet Assay
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / metabolism*
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA Replication*
  • Humans
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Models, Genetic
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • Rad51 Recombinase / genetics
  • Rad51 Recombinase / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • BRCA2 Protein
  • RASSF1 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • LATS1 protein, human
  • ATR protein, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • CDK2 protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2
  • Rad51 Recombinase