Stability of the human fragile X (CGG)(n) triplet repeat array in Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficient in aspects of DNA metabolism.
Expanded trinucleotide repeats underlie a growing number of human diseases. The human FMR1 (CGG)(n) array can exhibit genetic instability characterized by progressive expansion over several generations leading to gene silencing and the development of the fragile X syndrome. While expansion is dependent upon the length of uninterrupted (CGG)(n), instability occurs in a limited germ line and early developmental window, suggesting that lineage-specific expression of other factors determines the cellular environment permissive for expansion. To identify these factors, we have established normal- and premutation-length human FMR1 (CGG)(n) arrays in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and assessed the frequency of length changes greater than 5 triplets in cells deficient in various DNA repair and replication functions. In contrast to previous studies with Escherichia coli, we observed a low frequency of orientation-dependent large expansions in arrays carrying long uninterrupted (CGG)(n) arrays in a wild-type background. This frequency was unaffected by deletion of several DNA mismatch repair genes or deletion of the EXO1 and DIN7 genes and was not enhanced through meiosis in a wild-type background. Array contraction occurred in an orientation-dependent manner in most mutant backgrounds, but loss of the Sgs1p resulted in a generalized increase in array stability in both orientations. In contrast, FMR1 arrays had a 10-fold-elevated frequency of expansion in a rad27 background, providing evidence for a role in lagging-strand Okazaki fragment processing in (CGG)(n) triplet repeat expansion.
Fragile X Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom.
P J
PJ
White
R H
RH
Borts
M C
MC
Hirst
D048948:14-3-3 Proteins; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D053484:RecQ Helicases; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D019680:Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
D048948:14-3-3 Proteins; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D053484:RecQ Helicases; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; C497683:FMR1 protein, human; C000605867:CHEK1 protein, human; C105071:DIN7 protein, S cerevisiae; C090472:SGS1 protein, S cerevisiae