Cooperation of breast cancer proteins PALB2 and piccolo BRCA2 in stimulating homologous recombination

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2010 Oct;17(10):1247-54. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.1915. Epub 2010 Sep 26.

Abstract

Inherited mutations in human PALB2 are associated with a predisposition to breast and pancreatic cancers. PALB2's tumor-suppressing effect is thought to be based on its ability to facilitate BRCA2's function in homologous recombination. However, the biochemical properties of PALB2 are unknown. Here we show that human PALB2 binds DNA, preferentially D-loop structures, and directly interacts with the RAD51 recombinase to stimulate strand invasion, a vital step of homologous recombination. This stimulation occurs through reinforcing biochemical mechanisms, as PALB2 alleviates inhibition by RPA and stabilizes the RAD51 filament. Moreover, PALB2 can function synergistically with a BRCA2 chimera (termed piccolo, or piBRCA2) to further promote strand invasion. Finally, we show that PALB2-deficient cells are sensitive to PARP inhibitors. Our studies provide the first biochemical insights into PALB2's function with piBRCA2 as a mediator of homologous recombination in DNA double-strand break repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BRCA2 Protein / chemistry
  • BRCA2 Protein / physiology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA Repair / physiology*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group N Protein
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Rad51 Recombinase / chemistry
  • Rad51 Recombinase / physiology*
  • Recombination, Genetic / physiology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BLID protein, human
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group N Protein
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PALB2 protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • PARP1 protein, human
  • Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1
  • RAD51 protein, human
  • Rad51 Recombinase