The Schizosaccharomyces pombe S-Phase Checkpoint Differentiates Between Different Types of DNA Damage

We have identified an S-phase DNA damage checkpoint in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This checkpoint is dependent on Rad3, the S. pombe homolog of the mammalian ATM/ATR checkpoint proteins, and Cds1. Cds1 had previously been believed to be involved only in the replication checkpoint. The requirement of Cds1 in the DNA damage checkpoint suggests that Cds1 may be a general target of S-phase checkpoints. Unlike other checkpoints, the S. pombe S-phase DNA damage checkpoint discriminates between different types of damage. UV-irradiation, which causes base modification that can be repaired during G1 and S-phase, invokes the checkpoint, while γ-irradiation, which causes double-stranded breaks that cannot be repaired by a haploid cell if induced before replication, does not invoke the checkpoint. Because the same genes are required to respond to UV- and γ-irradiation during G2, this discrimination may represent an active suppression of the γ response during S-phase.