title: Functional characterization of the RAD51D E233G genetic variant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  RAD51D, a paralog of the mammalian RAD51 gene, is an important component for DNA repair and telomere maintenance. A RAD51D variant, E233G, was initially identified as a potential susceptibility allele in high-risk, site-specific, familial breast cancer. We describe in this report, the effects of this amino acid change on RAD51D protein interaction and function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To examine the effect of the variant on cellular resistance to DNA damage, a complementation analysis by using Rad51d-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts was performed. Results indicated that the E233G variant actually increased the cellular resistance to the DNA-damaging agents, mitomycin C, cisplatin, methyl methane sulfonate, and ultraviolet light as well as to taxol. In addition, the E233G variant reduced the anaphase bridge index, a telomere dysfunction correlate, and conferred increased cellular proliferation, suggesting that the E to G substitution may affect telomere function. Yeast two-hybrid analyses demonstrated that interaction between RAD51C and RAD51D (E233G) was decreased by two fold, whereas normal levels of interaction between XRCC2 and the variant were maintained. Molecular modeling suggested that the glutamic acid-233 forms a salt bridge with lysine-23 in the N-terminal domain of RAD51D, and the glycine substitution may disrupt an interdomain interaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the E233G variant affects RAD51D functions and protein interactions and increases cellular chemoresistance. This study is the first to analyze the functional effects of a clinically relevant RAD51D amino acid substitution. Further study of this variant will provide mechanistic insight into the role of RAD51D in cellular response to anticancer agents and as a molecular target for cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadkarni
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furda
authors.forename: Changanamkandath
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.forename: Campbell
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McInnes
authors.forename: Randall J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ruch
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Pittman
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D014644:Genetic Variation; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C491807:Rad51d protein, mouse