High-fidelity DNA ligation enforces accurate Okazaki fragment maturation during DNA replication

Jessica S. Williams, Percy P. Tumbale, Mercedes E. Arana, Julian A. Rana, R. Scott Williams () and Thomas A. Kunkel ()
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Jessica S. Williams: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Percy P. Tumbale: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Mercedes E. Arana: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Julian A. Rana: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
R. Scott Williams: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Thomas A. Kunkel: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract DNA ligase 1 (LIG1, Cdc9 in yeast) finalizes eukaryotic nuclear DNA replication by sealing Okazaki fragments using DNA end-joining reactions that strongly discriminate against incorrectly paired DNA substrates. Whether intrinsic ligation fidelity contributes to the accuracy of replication of the nuclear genome is unknown. Here, we show that an engineered low-fidelity LIG1Cdc9 variant confers a novel mutator phenotype in yeast typified by the accumulation of single base insertion mutations in homonucleotide runs. The rate at which these additions are generated increases upon concomitant inactivation of DNA mismatch repair, or by inactivation of the Fen1Rad27 Okazaki fragment maturation (OFM) nuclease. Biochemical and structural data establish that LIG1Cdc9 normally avoids erroneous ligation of DNA polymerase slippage products, and this protection is compromised by mutation of a LIG1Cdc9 high-fidelity metal binding site. Collectively, our data indicate that high-fidelity DNA ligation is required to prevent insertion mutations, and that this may be particularly critical following strand displacement synthesis during the completion of OFM.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20800-1

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