BRCA2 promotes R-loop resolution by DDX5 helicase at DNA breaks to facilitate their repair by homologous recombination

The BRCA2 tumor suppressor is a DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair factor essential for maintaining genome integrity. BRCA2-deficient cells spontaneously accumulate DNA-RNA hybrids, a known source of genome instability. However, the specific role of BRCA2 on these structures remains poorly understood. Here we identified the DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX5 as a BRCA2-interacting protein. DDX5 associates with DNA-RNA hybrids that form in the vicinity of DSBs, and this association is enhanced by BRCA2. Notably, BRCA2 stimulates the DNA-RNA hybrid-unwinding activity of DDX5 helicase. An impaired BRCA2-DDX5 interaction, as observed in cells expressing the breast cancer variant BRCA2-T207A, reduces the association of DDX5 with DNA-RNA hybrids, decreases the number of RPA foci, and alters the kinetics of appearance of RAD51 foci upon irradiation. Our findings are consistent with DNA-RNA hybrids constituting an impediment for the repair of DSBs by homologous recombination and reveal BRCA2 and DDX5 as active players in their removal.

Automated summary

BRCA2-deficient cells accumulate DNA-RNA hybrids, and the BRCA2-DDX5 interaction helps in unwinding these structures, enhancing helicase activity and promoting repair of double-strand breaks.