Open AccessThe Fission Yeast Crb2/Chk1 Pathway Coordinates the DNA Damage and Spindle Checkpoint in Response to Replication Stress Induced by Topoisomerase I Inhibitor
Author(s) -
Ada Collura,
Joël Blaisonneau,
Giuseppe Baldacci,
Stefania Francesconi
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.25.17.7889-7899.2005
Subject(s) - g2 m dna damage checkpoint , spindle checkpoint , biology , chek1 , cell cycle checkpoint , microbiology and biotechnology , dna damage , dna replication , mad2 , dna repair , spindle apparatus , kinetochore , eukaryotic dna replication , genetics , cell cycle , dna , chromosome , cell division , cell , gene
Living organisms experience constant threats that challenge their genome stability. The DNA damage checkpoint pathway coordinates cell cycle progression with DNA repair when DNA is damaged, thus ensuring faithful transmission of the genome. The spindle assembly checkpoint inhibits chromosome segregation until all chromosomes are properly attached to the spindle, ensuring accurate partition of the genetic material. Both the DNA damage and spindle checkpoint pathways participate in genome integrity. However, no clear connection between these two pathways has been described. Here, we analyze mutants in the BRCT domains of fission yeast Crb2, which mediates Chk1 activation, and provide evidence for a novel function of the Chk1 pathway. When the Crb2 mutants experience damaged replication forks upon inhibition of the religation activity of topoisomerase I, the Chk1 DNA damage pathway induces sustained activation of the spindle checkpoint, which in turn delays metaphase-to-anaphase transition in a Mad2-dependent fashion. This new pathway enhances cell survival and genome stability when cells undergo replicative stress in the absence of a proficient G(2)/M DNA damage checkpoint.