PCNA unloading is crucial for the bypass of DNA lesions by homologous recombination

The DNA Damage Tolerance (DDT) mechanisms allow cells to bypass lesions in the DNA during replication. This allows cells to progress normally through the cell cycle in face of abnormalities in their DNA. PCNA, a homotrimeric sliding clamp complex plays a central role in the coordination of various processes during DNA replication, including the choice of mechanism used during DNA damage bypass. Mono-or poly-ubiquitination of PCNA facilitates an error-prone or an error-free bypass mechanism, respectively. In contrast, SUMOylation recruits the Srs2 helicase, which prevents local homologous recombination. The Elg1 RFC-like complex plays an important role in unloading PCNA from the chromatin. We analyse the interaction of mutations that destabilize PCNA with mutations in the Elg1 clamp unloader and the Srs2 helicase. Our results suggest that in addition to its role as a coordinator of bypass mechanisms, the very presence of PCNA on the chromatin prevents homologous recombination, even in the absence of the Srs2 helicase. Thus, PCNA unloading seems to be a pre-requisite for recombinational repair.