Article
Break-induced RNA–DNA hybrids (BIRDHs) in homologous recombination: friend or foe?
Author/s | Gómez González, Belén
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Aguilera López, Andrés ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Department | Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Genética |
Publication Date | 2023 |
Deposit Date | 2023-10-20 |
Published in |
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Abstract | Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most harmful DNA lesions, with a strong impact on cell proliferation and genome integrity. Depending on cell cycle stage, DSBs are preferentially repaired by non-homologous end joining ... Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most harmful DNA lesions, with a strong impact on cell proliferation and genome integrity. Depending on cell cycle stage, DSBs are preferentially repaired by non-homologous end joining or homologous recombination (HR). In recent years, numerous reports have revealed that DSBs enhance DNA–RNA hybrid formation around the break site. We call these hybrids “break-induced RNA–DNA hybrids” (BIRDHs) to differentiate them from sporadic R-loops consisting of DNA–RNA hybrids and a displaced single-strand DNA occurring co-transcriptionally in intact DNA. Here, we review and discuss the most relevant data about BIRDHs, with a focus on two main questions raised: (i) whether BIRDHs form by de novo transcription after a DSB or by a pre-existing nascent RNA in DNA regions undergoing transcription and (ii) whether they have a positive role in HR or are just obstacles to HR accidentally generated as an intrinsic risk of transcription. We aim to provide a comprehensive view of the exciting and yet unresolved questions about the source and impact of BIRDHs in the cell. |
Funding agencies | Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España |
Project ID. | PID2019-104270GB-I00/BMC
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Citation | Gómez González, B. y Aguilera López, A. (2023). Break-induced RNA–DNA hybrids (BIRDHs) in homologous recombination: friend or foe?. EMBO Reports, e57801. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202357801. |
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