Beta human papillomavirus 8E6 promotes alternative end joining

  1. Changkun Hu
  2. Taylor Bugbee
  3. Rachel Palinski
  4. Ibukun A Akinyemi
  5. Michael T McIntosh
  6. Thomas MacCarthy
  7. Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh
  8. Nicholas Wallace  Is a corresponding author
  1. Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States
  2. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, United States
  3. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, United States
  4. Child Health Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, United States
  5. Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, United States
  6. Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, United States
10 figures, 11 tables and 1 additional file

Figures

Figure 1 with 1 supplement
8E6 promotes alternative end joining (Alt-EJ) frequency.

(A) Schematic of Alt-EJ reporter. GFP is disrupted by a 46 nt insertion. One CAS9 is used to induce an upstream double strand break (DSB) (5’ end) and another CAS9 is used to induce a downstream DSB (either imbedded or terminal). Following CAS9 expression, a 4 nt microhomology (ACGG) mediated Alt-EJ event can restore GFP expression. (B) Representative images of flow cytometry results of HFK cells that are GFP positive 24 hr after transfection with terminal Alt-EJ. The gating represents GFP positive based off mock transfected control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (C) Percentage of HFK cells that are positive for GFP following transfection with terminal Alt-EJ determined by flow cytometry. (D) Representative images of flow cytometry results of HFK cells that are GFP positive 24 hr after transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ. The gating represents GFP positive based off mock transfected control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (E) Percentage of HFK cells that are positive for GFP following transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ determined by flow cytometry. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between cell lines were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between cell lines. Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three independent flow cytometry experiments.

Figure 1—figure supplement 1
Transfection efficiency represented by CAS9 expression in hTERT human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK).

(A) Representative immunoblotting of CAS9 after transfection with terminal alternative end joining (Alt-EJ). GAPDH is used as a loading control. (B) Densitometry of CAS9 level in cells transfected with terminal Alt-EJ. (C) Representative immunoblotting of CAS9 after transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ. GAPDH is used as a loading control. (D) Densitometry of CAS9 level in cells transfected with imbedded Alt-EJ. All values are represented as mean ± standard error (n=3). The statistical significance of differences between cell lines were determined using Student’s t-test. No significant differences were obtained.

Figure 2 with 1 supplement
Olaparib abrogates alternative end joining (Alt-EJ) frequency and increases persistent pH2AX.

(A) Representative images of flow cytometry results of human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cells treated with DMSO or olaparib (1 μM) that are GFP positive 24 hr after transfection with terminal Alt-EJ. The gating represents GFP positive based off mock transfected control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (B) Percentage of HFK cells that are positive for GFP following transfection with terminal Alt-EJ determined by flow cytometry. (C) Representative images of flow cytometry results of HFK cells treated with DMSO or olaparib that are GFP positive 24 hr after transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ. The gating represents GFP positive based off mock transfected control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (D) Percentage of HFK cells that are positive for GFP following transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ determined by flow cytometry. (E) Representative images of pH2AX in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with DMSO or olaparib (1 μM) following zeocin treatment (10 μg/mL, 10 min). (F) Percentage of pH2AX foci positive cells in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with DMSO or olaparib following zeocin treatment. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between DMSO and olaparib with same cell line (p<0.05). Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three independent flow cytometry experiments.

Figure 2—figure supplement 1
Transfection efficiency represented by CAS9 expression in hTERT human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK).

(A) Representative immunoblotting of CAS9 in cells treated with DMSO or olaparib (1 μM) after transfection with terminal alternative end joining (Alt-EJ). GAPDH is used as a loading control. (B) Densitometry of CAS9 level in cells tranfected with terminal Alt-EJ. (C) Representative immunoblotting of CAS9 in cells treated with DMSO or olaparib after transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ. (D). Densitometry of CAS9 level in cells tranfected with imbedded Alt-EJ. All values are represented as mean ± standard error (n=3). The statistical significance of differences between cell lines were determined using Student’s t-test. No significant differences were obtained.

8E6 promotes polymerase theta (POLθ)-dependent double strand break (DSB) repair.

(A) Representative immunoblotting of POLθ in human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) LXSN and HFK 8E6 cells. (B) Densitometry of POLθ level in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 cells. (C) Relative cell viability at various ART558 concentrations in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 following zeocin treatment. (D) Representative images of pH2AX in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with DMSO or ART588 (1 or 5 μM) 24 hr following zeocin treatment (10 μg/mL, 10 min). (E) Average number of pH2AX foci per cell in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with DMSO or ART558 following zeocin treatment. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 with same ART588 treatment (p<0.05). At least 40 cells were counted for each of three independent microscopy experiments.

Figure 4 with 1 supplement
NU7441 promotes alternative end joining (Alt-EJ).

(A) Representative images of flow cytometry results of human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cells treated with DMSO or NU7441 (1 μM) that are GFP positive 24 hr after transfection with terminal Alt-EJ. The gating represents GFP positive based off mock transfected control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (B) Percentage of HFK cells that are positive for GFP following transfection with terminal Alt-EJ determined by flow cytometry. (C) Representative images of flow cytometry results of HFK cells treated with DMSO or NU7441 that are GFP positive 24 hr after transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ. The gating represents GFP positive based off mock transfected control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (D) Percentage of HFK cells that are positive for GFP following transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ determined by flow cytometry. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between DMSO and NU7441 within the same cell line. Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three independent flow cytometry experiments.

Figure 4—figure supplement 1
Transfection efficiency represented by CAS9 expression in hTERT human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK).

(A) Representative immunoblotting of CAS9 in cells treated with DMSO or NU7441 (1 μM) after transfection with terminal alternative end joining (Alt-EJ). GAPDH is used as a loading control. (B) Densitometry of CAS9 level in cells tranfected with terminal Alt-EJ. (C) Representative immunoblotting of CAS9 in cells treated with DMSO or NU7441 after transfection with imbedded Alt-EJ. GAPDH is used as a loading control. (D) Densitometry of CAS9 level in cells tranfected with imbedded Alt-EJ. All values are represented as mean ± standard error (n=3). The statistical significance of differences between cell lines were determined using Student’s t-test. No significant differences were obtained.

Nu7441 increases double strand break (DSB) repair in cells with 8E6.

(A) Representative images of pH2AX in human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with NU7441 (1 μM) following zeocin treatment (10 μg/mL, 10 min). (B) Percentage of pH2AX foci positive cells in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with NU7441 following zeocin treatment. (C) Representative images of RAD51 in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with NU7441 following zeocin treatment. (D) Percentage of RAD51 foci positive cells in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with NU7441 following zeocin treatment. (E) Representative images of pH2AX in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with SCR7 (1 μM) following zeocin treatment. (F) Percentage of pH2AX foci positive cells in HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 treated with SCR7 following zeocin treatment. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between DMSO and inhibitor treated with the same cell line. At least 150 cells were counted over three independent experiments. Nuclei were determined by DAPI staining. The edge of this staining is shown by a white line depicting the nucleus.

Figure 6 with 2 supplements
NU7441 abrogates RAD51 in G1 induced by 8E6.

(A) Representative cyclin E negative and positive human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) LXSN and HFK 8E6 cells stained for RAD51 (green) and cyclin E (red) treated with DMSO or NU7441 (1 μM) 24 hr following zeocin treatment (10 µg/mL, 10 min). (B) Percentage of RAD51 positive HFK cell in G1 determined by cyclin E staining after zeocin treatment. (C) Representative images of flow cytometry results of HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 cells in G1 stained with RAD51 treated with DMSO or NU7441 24 hr after zeocin treatment. RAD51 intensity is determined by Alexa 488-conjugated secondary antibody and shown on the y-axis. The gating represents RAD51 positive based off secondary only control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (D) Percentage of HFK cells in G1 that are positive for RAD51 as determined by flow cytometry. Nuclei were determined by DAPI staining. The edge of this staining is shown by a white line depicting the nucleus. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between DMSO and NU7441 treatment with the same cell line. At least 150 cells were counted over three independent experiments for microscopy. Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three independent flow cytometry experiments.

Figure 6—figure supplement 1
NU7441 abrogates RAD51 in G1 (cyclin A negative) induced by 8E6.

Percentage of RAD51 positive human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cell treated by DMSO or NU7441 (1 μM) in G1 determined by cyclin A negative after zeocin treatment (10 μg/mL, 10 min). All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between DMSO and NU7441 treatment with same cell line. At least 150 cells were counted over three independent experiments for microscopy.

Figure 6—figure supplement 2
Controls were used to determine RAD51 staining cutoff and G1 gating in human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cells by flow cytometry.

(A) Representative images of cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry following zeocin treatment (10 µg/mL, 10 min). NUCLEAR-ID Red DNA stain was used to determine DNA content and G1 (blue). (B) Representative images of flow cytometry results of HFK LXSN and HFK 8E6 cells stained with Alexa 488-conjugated secondary antibody and shown on the y-axis. The gating represents RAD51 positive based off secondary only control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three flow cytometry experiments.

NU7441 does not increase homologous recombination (HR) in cells with 8E6.

(A) Schematic of DR-GFP reporter. GFP open reading frame is disrupted by insertion of ISCE-1 site (SceGFP). Downstream of the reporter is a truncated internal GFP(iGFP) that can be used as a template to remove the ISCE-1 site and restore GFP expression during HR event. (B) Representative images of flow cytometry results of U2OS cells that are GFP positive treated with DMSO or NU7441(1 μM) 24 hr after ISCE-1 transfection. The gating represents GFP positive based off mock transfected control. The x-axis shows cells distributed by forward scatter to avoid debris. (C) Percentage of U2OS cells that are positive for GFP determined by flow cytometry. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between DMSO and NU7441 with same cell line. Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three independent flow cytometry experiments.

Losing p300 activity promotes alternative end joining (Alt-EJ) frequency.

(A–B) Percentage of U2OS cells that are positive for Alt-EJ following transfection with (A) terminal or (B) imbedded determined by flow cytometry. (C–D) Percentage of human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) WT and HFK p300 KO cells that are positive for Alt-EJ following transfection with (C) terminal or (D) imbedded determined by flow cytometry. (E–F) Percentage of HFK cells treated with DMSO or CCS1477 (1 μM) that are positive for Alt-EJ following transfection with (E) terminal or (F) imbedded determined by flow cytometry. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between cell lines and treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between LXSN and 8E6 (A–B); WT and p300KO (C–D); and DMSO and CCS1477 treatment (E–F). Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three independent flow cytometry experiments.

NU7441 abrogates RAD51 in G1 induced by losing p300 activity.

(A–B) Percentage of U2OS treated with DMSO or NU7441 (1 μM) in G1 that RAD51 staining after zeocin treatment (10 µg/mL, 10 min) as determined by (A) cyclin E staining or (B) flow cytometry. (C–D) Percentage of human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) cells treated with DMSO or NU7441 in G1 that RAD51 staining after zeocin treatment determined by (C) cyclin E staining or (D) flow cytometry. (E–F) Percentage of HFK cells treated with DMSO, CCS1477 (1 μM), or NU7441 in G1 that RAD51 staining after zeocin treatment determined by (E) cyclin E staining or (F) flow cytometry. All values are represented as mean ± standard error. The statistical significance of differences between treatments were determined using Student’s t-test. p-Values indicate significant difference between DMSO and NU7441 with same cell line. At least 150 cells were counted over three independent experiments for microscopy. Twenty thousand cells were counted for each of three independent flow cytometry experiments.

Alternative end joining (Alt-EJ) repairs double strand breaks (DSBs) in cells expressing 8E6.

(i) DSB occurs in G1 phase in cells expressing 8E6. (ii) Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) initiates with auto-phosphorated DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). (iii) 8E6 stalls NHEJ by degrading p300 (Hu et al., 2020). (iv) Homologous recombination (HR) initiates and fails at the site of failed NHEJ (Hu and Wallace, 2022c). (v) Finally, PARP-1-dependent Alt-EJ repairs the DSB, which lead to microhomology mediated indels.

Tables

Table 1
Read counts.
LXSNReadsQuality reads8E6ReadsQuality reads
R1480,023,697466,581,986R1326,902,764312,236,357
R2480,023,697466,581,986R2326,902,764312,236,357
Table 2
Genome coverage of reads normalized to 624,472,714.
SamplesMean read depthCoverage (%)Reads mapped (%)
LXSN45.492.499.74
8E644.692.499.76
Table 3
Summary of variant analysis reads normalized to 624,472,714.
Genome (GRCh37)LXSN8E6
Number of variants processed1,031,891928,763
Number of effects2,514,0532,251,061
Genome total length3,234,834,6903,234,834,690
Genome effective length3,095,677,4133,095,677,413
Variant rate1 variant every 3000 bases1 variant every 3333 bases
Number of annotated genes71,84571,078
Insertions476,516431,055
Deletions555,375497,708
Table 4
Characteristics of microhomology (Mh) mediated short deletions (2–29 bp) in HFK 8E6 cells.
LXSNtotalMinimum Mh (bp)Alt-EJFrequency(%)E6totalMinimum Mh (bp)Alt-EJFrequency(%)p-Value
49,119240,4408232,763228,425872.2e-16
322,58046315,512471.13e-4
416,37033411,337351.61e-4
510,8262257664236.06e-6
689181866468201.33e-8
770761475037151.37e-4
862431384557147.16e-7
948701093507112.72e-4
1043929103165105.22e-4
113621711249880.1825
123234712229270.0222
132448513170050.1957
142211514152250.3412
151847415118540.2958
161602316106030.8522
17123831776320.0861
18108321868220.2440
1986621950920.0240
2076522046710.1358
Table 5
Characteristics of microhomology (Mh) long deletions (30–500 bp) in human foreskin keratinocyte (HFK) 8E6 cells.
LXSNtotalMinimum Mh (bp)Alt-EJFrequency(%)E6totalMinimum Mh (bp)Alt-EJFrequency(%)p-Value
2612219597511682888760.5247
31844713842720.3704
41735664782670.7790
51689655765650.6460
61635636722620.6734
71594617693590.3429
81536598673580.5171
91487579656560.6868
1014335510634540.7669
1113815311616530.9684
1213325112596511.0000
1312864913568490.7580
1412454814543460.5265
1512024615530450.7410
1611684516505430.4172
1711314317485420.3249
1810894218468400.3673
1910514019451390.3644
2010103920433370.3697
Table 6
Filtered variants for Alt-EJ analyses.
LXSN8E6
Pre-filtered879,302820,766
Unique INDELs168,005104,322
Table 7
Short deletions bearing microhomology signatures of Alt-EJ.
SampleShort deletions (2–29 bp)Matching Alt-EJFrequency (%)p-Value
LXSN49,11940,44082.33
8E632,76328,42586.752.2e-16
Table 8
Long deletions bearing microhomology signatures of Alt-EJ.
SampleLong deletions (≥30 bp)Matching Alt-EJFrequency (%)p-Value
LXSN2612195975.00
8E6116888876.030.5247
Table 9
Short insertions bearing microhomology signatures of Alt-EJ.
SampleShort insertions (<5 bp)Matching Alt-EJFrequency (%)p-Value
LXSN50,3909591.905.62e-10
8E627,6113671.33
Table 10
Long insertions bearing microhomology signatures of Alt-EJ.
SampleLong insertions (≥18 bp)Matching Alt-EJFrequency %p-Value
LXSN5485106819.471.547e-05
8E6254539215.40
Key resources table
Reagent type (species) or resourceDesignationSource or referenceIdentifiersAdditional information
Cell line (Homo sapiens)HFKThis paperDerived from neonatal foreskins
Cell line (Homo sapiens)N/TERT HFKMichael Underbrink (PMID:18256157)N/TERT immortalized HFK
Cell line (Homo sapiens)U2OSPMID:10541549Cell line used to measure HR frequency
Recombinant DNA reagentAlt-EJ reporterAddgene#113619Alt-EJ reporter using 4 nt microhomology
Recombinant DNA reagentAlt-EJ reporter (5’ end)Addgene#113620sgRNA/CAS9 to induce the 5’ end DSB
Recombinant DNA reagentAlt-EJ reporter (terminal)Addgene#113625
#113625
sgRNA/CAS9 to induce the DSB at the edge of the microhomology
Recombinant DNA reagentAlt-EJ reporter (imbedded)Addgene#113626sgRNA/CAS9 to induce the DSB 8 nt upstream of the microhomology
AntibodyAnti-RAD51
(Mouse monoclonal)
Abcamab1837IF (1:200)
AntibodyAnti-cyclin E (Rabbit monoclonal)Cell Signaling4132SIF (1:200)
AntibodyAnti-pH2AX S139 (Rabbit monoclonal)Cell Signaling9718SIF (1:200)
AntibodyAnti-cyclin A (Mouse monoclonal)Abcamab39IF (1:200)
AntibodyAlexa Fluor 594 (Goat polyclonal)Thermo Fisher ScientificA11012IF (1:500)
AntibodyAlexa Fluor 488 (Goat polyclonal)Thermo Fisher ScientificA11001IF (1:500)
Chemical compound, drugCCS1477ChemietekCT-CCS1477P300 inhibitor
Chemical compound, drugNU7441SelleckchemS2638DNA-PKcs inhibitor
Chemical compound, drugZeocinAlfa AesarJ67140-XFUsed to induce DSBs
Chemical compound, drugART558MedChem ExpressHY-141520Pol Theta inhibitor
Chemical compound, drugDAPI stainInvitrogenD1306IF (10 µM)
Chemical compound, drugNUCLEAR-ID RedEnzo Life ScienceENZ-52406Flow cytometry (1:1000)
Software, algorithmImageJImageJ (https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/)Version 2.3.0
Software, algorithmGraphPad PrismGraphPad Prism (https://graphpad.com)Version 9.0.0

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  1. Changkun Hu
  2. Taylor Bugbee
  3. Rachel Palinski
  4. Ibukun A Akinyemi
  5. Michael T McIntosh
  6. Thomas MacCarthy
  7. Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh
  8. Nicholas Wallace
(2023)
Beta human papillomavirus 8E6 promotes alternative end joining
eLife 12:e81923.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.81923