Proteomic identification of histone post-translational modifications and proteins enriched at a DNA double-strand break

Here, we use ChAP-MS (chromatin affinity purification with mass spectrometry), for the affinity purification of a sequence-specific single-copy endogenous chromosomal locus containing a DNA double-strand break (DSB). We found multiple new histone post-translational modifications enriched on chromatin bearing a DSB from budding yeast. One of these, methylation of histone H3 on lysine 125, has not previously been reported. Among over 100 novel proteins enriched at a DSB were the phosphatase Sit4, the RNA pol II degradation factor Def1, the mRNA export protein Yra1 and the HECT E3 ligase Tom1. Each of these proteins was required for resistance to radiomimetics, and many were required for resistance to heat, which we show here to cause a defect in DSB repair in yeast. Yra1 and Def1 were required for DSB repair per se, while Sit4 was required for rapid inactivation of the DNA damage checkpoint after DSB repair. Thus, our unbiased proteomics approach has led to the unexpected discovery of novel roles for these and other proteins in the DNA damage response.