Defects in BRCA1 and BRCA2 tumor suppressors predispose one to breast and ovarian cancer. The current treatment for BRCA-deficient cancers is mastectomy. Because both copies of the tumor suppressor need to be defective for cancer to occur, identifying cellular mechanisms that specifically target BRCA-deficient cells is of paramount importance. Luckily, recent experiments have shown that depletion of a protein named RAD52 in BRCA1 or BRCA2 cancer cells causes them to die. Therefore, we can use small molecules to stop the RAD52 protein from functioning. We need, however, to know which of the RAD52 activities to inhibit and how. One function of RAD52 that likely underlies all cellular activities is its ability to bind single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). To identify if small molecules could inhibit the RAD52-ssDNA complex, I screened a small library of compounds and found 13 potential inhibitors. We validated that these small molecules bind to RAD52 and inhibit RAD52 DNA binding and annealing activities. The identification of these small molecules is important because we can use them to dissect the function of RAD52 in normal and malignant cells, which to date remains elusive. In an attempt to further advance our understanding of RAD52 function and regulation we are also investigating how a novel binding partner, DSS1, interacts with RAD52 and modulates its activities. My data show that this protein enhances the way RAD52 finds separate complementary DNA templates and anneals them to make a double-stranded product. At least in part, these studies have identified some residues likely involved in the binding site of DSS1 on RAD52. In aggregate, the outcome of the two projects deepens our understanding of the complex and interconnected cellular pathways that support the integrity of genomes.

According to our previous results, ethephon-induced sweet potato leaf senescence and senescence-associated gene SPCP1 expression was affected by reduced glutathione, EGTA, and cycloheximide (Chen et al., 2009). These data suggest that calcium influx, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and de novo synthesized proteins can affect ethephon-mediated effects. Therefore, PCR-selective substractive hybridization and RACE-PCR methods were used to clone 5 full-length cDNAs encoded putative calmodulin (SPCAM), catalase (SPCATA), anionic peroxidase (SPPA), ACC oxidase (SPACO), and DSS1-like protein (SPDSS1) from mixed samples of ethephon-treated leaves for 6 and 24 hours. The ORF of SPCAM contains 450 nucleotides and encodes 149 amino acids. There are 4 putative EF-motifs in the deduced protein structure. SPCAM exhibited amino acid sequence identity with isolated Arabidopsis calmodulins from 48% to 100%, and was completely the same as CaM7 calmodulin. The ORF of SPCATA contains 1479 nucleotides and encodes 492 amino acids. SPCAM exhibited high amino acid sequence identity with other plant catalases from 71.2% to 80.9%, and had the highest identity with mangrove catalase. The ORF of SPPA contains 1068 nucleotides and encodes 355 amino acids. SPPA exhibited amino acid sequence identity with other published sweet potato peroxidase isoforms from 28.7% to 97.5%, and had the highest identity with anionic peroxidase SWPA4. The ORF of SPACO contains 930 nucleotides and encodes 309 amino acids. SPACO exhibited high amino acid sequence identity with other plant ACC oxidases from 62.3% to 81.5%, and had the highest identity with tobacco ACC oxidase. The ORF of SPDSS1 contains 228 nucleotides and encodes 75 amino acids. SPDSS1 exhibited amino acid sequence identity with other DSS1 from 25.2% to 62.3%, and had the highest identity with maize DSS1. The chlorophyll contents and Fv/Fm values were significantly reduced, however, the isolated gene expression was remarkably enhanced in natural senescent leaves. DAB staining showed that H2O2 amount was remarkably elevated at S3 senescent leaves compared to leaves of the other developmental stages. Evan blue staining also demonstrated that S3 senescent leaf had more cell death compared to S0 young leaves. In addition ethephon-induced leaf senescence exhibited similar results. The chlorophyll contents and Fv/Fm values were significantly reduced, however, the isolated gene expression was remarkably enhanced in ethephon-treated leaves compared to dark control. DAB staining showed that H2O2 amount was remarkably elevated at 72 hours in ethephon-treated leaves compared to dark control. Evan blue staining also demonstrated that ethephon-treated leaf for 72 hours had more cell death compared to dark control. Based on these data we conclude that SPCAM, SPCATA, SPPA, SPACO and SPDSS1 gene expression were significantly increased in natural and ethephon-induced senescent leaves. The possible functions of these isolated genes in association with events in ethephon-induced leaf senescence, including calcium influx, ROS elevation or scavenge, and following signaling will be discussed.