Double-stranded break can be repaired by single-stranded oligonucleotides via the ATM/ATR pathway in mammalian cells

Oligonucleotides. 2008 Spring;18(1):21-32. doi: 10.1089/oli.2007.0093.

Abstract

Single-stranded oligonucleotide (SSO)-mediated gene modification is a newly developed tool for site-specific gene repair in mammalian cells; however, the corrected cells always show G2/M arrest and cannot divide to form colonies. This phenomenon and the unclear mechanism seriously challenge the future application of this technique. In this study, we developed an efficient SSO-mediated DNA repair system based on double-stranded break (DSB) induction. We generated a mutant EGFP gene with insertions of 24 bp to 1.6 kb in length as a reporter integrated in mammalian cell lines. SSOs were successfully used to delete the insertion fragments upon DSB induction at a site near the insertion. We demonstrated that this process is dependent on the ATM/ATR pathway. Importantly, repaired cell clones were viable. Effects of deletion length, SSO length, strand bias, and SSO modification on gene repair frequency were also investigated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • DNA Damage*
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA Repair*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Oligonucleotides / metabolism*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Oligonucleotides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • ATM protein, human
  • ATR protein, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases