RT Journal Article T1 WASp modulates RPA function on single-stranded DNA in response to replication stress and DNA damage. A1 Han, Seong-Su A1 Wen, Kuo-Kuang A1 García-Rubio, María L A1 Wold, Marc S A1 Aguilera, Andrés A1 Niedzwiedz, Wojciech A1 Vyas, Yatin M AB Perturbation in the replication-stress response (RSR) and DNA-damage response (DDR) causes genomic instability. Genomic instability occurs in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), a primary immunodeficiency disorder, yet the mechanism remains largely uncharacterized. Replication protein A (RPA), a single-strand DNA (ssDNA) binding protein, has key roles in the RSR and DDR. Here we show that human WAS-protein (WASp) modulates RPA functions at perturbed replication forks (RFs). Following genotoxic insult, WASp accumulates at RFs, associates with RPA, and promotes RPA:ssDNA complexation. WASp deficiency in human lymphocytes destabilizes RPA:ssDNA-complexes, impairs accumulation of RPA, ATR, ETAA1, and TOPBP1 at genotoxin-perturbed RFs, decreases CHK1 activation, and provokes global RF dysfunction. las17 (yeast WAS-homolog)-deficient S. cerevisiae also show decreased ScRPA accumulation at perturbed RFs, impaired DNA recombination, and increased frequency of DNA double-strand break (DSB)-induced single-strand annealing (SSA). Consequently, WASp (or Las17)-deficient cells show increased frequency of DSBs upon genotoxic insult. Our study reveals an evolutionarily conserved, essential role of WASp in the DNA stress-resolution pathway, such that WASp deficiency provokes RPA dysfunction-coupled genomic instability. YR 2022 FD 2022-06-29 LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/19539 UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/19539 LA en DS RISalud RD Apr 15, 2025