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I. Twin study on DNA repair efficiency and healthy human aging II. Posttranslational regulation of the RecQ helicase WRN. Christian H. Garm, MSc, Ph.d. student Enrolled: March 2009 Supervisors: Kaare Christensen/SDU Tinna Stevnsner/AU. VELUX FONDEN.
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I. Twin study on DNA repair efficiency and healthy human aging II. Posttranslational regulation of the RecQhelicase WRN Christian H. Garm, MSc, Ph.d. student Enrolled: March 2009 Supervisors: Kaare Christensen/SDU Tinna Stevnsner/AU VELUX FONDEN Why do we age so differently? Funded by:
Project outline • Twin study • DNA repair efficiency • DNA damage response • Mitochondrial function • Posttranslational regulation of the RecQhelicase WRN • Regulation of WRN functions • Protein interaction • Intercellular localization
The twin study DNA repair efficiency • Comet Assays (neutral & alkaline) DNA damage response • Flow Cytometry & Immunocytochemistry γH2AX, 53BP1, XRCC1 • Mitochondrial function • Mitochondrial membrane potential • Bloodsamples from MADT twins are currently collected in Aarhus • Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells • Lymphocytes • MZ; DZ; Old; Young
Irradiated Method outline • Twin study: • DNA repair (Comet assay) • DNA damage response • Mitochondrial function DSB Response γH2AX IR Unirradiated γ-H2AX DAPI DNA Repair + Unirradiated control TMRM 6,3 Gy Gamma-irradiation -
DNA repair activity & DNA damage response DSB SSB XRCC1 gH2AX
Mitochondrial membrane potential CTRL cells Membrane potential No of cells/well
WRN protein and DNA repair • Diverse roles of WRN in DNA repair • DSB repair • SSB repair • Replication forks • Telomere repair • WRN is a modular multifunctional enzyme • DNA dependent ATPase • 3´-5´ helicase • 3´-5´ exonuclease • Strand annealing • Strand exchange
Posttranslational modification of the WRN protein • Sumoylation • Covalent conjugation of SUMO proteins at lysine residues • SUMO-1 • SUMO-2/3: 96 % identity • SUMO-4 • Functions: • Cellular localization • Protein interactions • Catalytic activity • Proteinstability • Conclusion: • Mono-conjugation of SUMO-1 • Poly-conjugation of SUMO-2/3 chains
Effect of sumoylation on WRN helicase and strand-annealing activity SUMO-2/3 Helicase SUMO-1 SUMO-2/3 Strand-annealing Conclusions: • WRN helicase activity is stimulated by conjugation of SUMO-2/3 but not SUMO-1 • SUMO-2/3 conjugation reduces the DNA strand-annealing activity of WRN Work performed by Rikke Frölich
Ongoing and future studies • Twin project • Intertwin differences in DNA repair & mitochondrial functions (MZ) • Correlate w. information from interviews. • Environmental contribution to aging. • Intertwin differences in MZ vs. DZ twins • Genetic contribution to aging • Differences between young and old twins • Regulation with age • WRN project • Regulation of WRN functions & interactions by sumoylation • Characterization of sumoylation deficient WRN • Protein interactions • Cellular localization • Telomere function