title: Genome instability in rad54 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: The RAD54 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a conserved dsDNA-dependent ATPase of the Swi2/Snf2 family with a specialized function during recombinational DNA repair. Here we analyzed the consequences of the loss of Rad54 function in vegetative (mitotic) cells. Mutants in RAD54 exhibited drastically reduced rates of spontaneous intragenic recombination but were proficient for spontaneous intergenic recombinant formation. The intergenic recombinants likely arose by a RAD54-independent pathway of break-induced replication. Significantly increased rates of spontaneous chromosome loss for diploid rad54/rad54 cells were identified in several independent assays. Inter estingly, the increase in chromosome loss appeared to depend on the presence of a homolog. In addition, the rate of complex genetic events involving chromosome loss were drastically increased in diploid rad54/rad54 cells. Together, these data suggest a role for Rad54 protein in the repair of spontaneous damage, where in the absence of Rad54 protein, homologous recombination is initiated but not properly terminated, leading to misrepair and chromosome loss.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616-8665, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmuckli-Maurer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rolfsmeier
authors.forename: Ho
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Wolf-Dietrich
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Heyer
mesh_terms: D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004260:DNA Repair; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005785:Gene Conversion; D018390:Gene Targeting; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D008938:Mitosis; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006657:Histones; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C075468:RAD54 protein, S cerevisiae; D004265:DNA Helicases; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes