RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 ATRIP protects progenitor cells against DNA damage in vivo JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2020.02.14.948265 DO 10.1101/2020.02.14.948265 A1 Gabriel E. Matos-Rodrigues A1 Paulius Grigaravicius A1 Bernard S. Lopez A1 Thomas Hofmann A1 Pierre-Olivier Frappart A1 Rodrigo A. P. Martins YR 2020 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/02/14/2020.02.14.948265.abstract AB The maintenance of genomic stability during the cell cycle of progenitor cells is essential for the faithful transmission of genetic information. Mutations in genes that ensure genome stability lead to human developmental syndromes. Mutations in Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) or in ATR-interacting protein (ATRIP) lead to Seckel syndrome, which is characterized by developmental malformations and short life expectancy. While the roles of ATR in replicative stress response and chromosomal segregation are well established, it is unknown how ATRIP contributes to maintaining genomic stability in progenitor cells in vivo. Here, we generated the first mouse model to investigate ATRIP function. Conditional inactivation of Atrip in progenitor cells of the CNS and eye led to microcephaly, microphthalmia and postnatal lethality. To understand the mechanisms underlying these malformations, we used lens progenitor cells as a model and found that ATRIP loss promotes replicative stress and TP53-dependent cell death. Trp53 inactivation in Atrip-deficient progenitor cells rescued apoptosis but increased mitotic DNA damage and mitotic defects. Our findings demonstrate an essential role of ATRIP in preventing DNA damage accumulation during unchallenged replication.