Oxidation resistance 1 prevents genome instability through maintenance of G2/M arrest in gamma-ray-irradiated cells

Human oxidation resistance 1 (OXR1) was identified as a protein that decreases genomic mutations in Escherichia coli caused by oxidative DNA damage. However, the mechanism by which OXR1 defends against genome instability has not been elucidated. To clarify how OXR1 maintains genome stability, the effects of OXR1-depletion on genome stability were investigated in OXR1-depleted HeLa cells using gamma-rays (γ-rays). The OXR1-depleted cells had higher levels of superoxide and micronucleus (MN) formation than control cells after irradiation. OXR1-overexpression alleviated the increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and MN formation after irradiation. The increased MN formation in irradiated OXR1-depleted cells was partially attenuated by the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine, suggesting that OXR1-depeletion increases ROS-dependent genome instability. We also found that OXR1-depletion shortened the duration of γ-ray-induced G2/M arrest. In the presence of the cell cycle checkpoint inhibitor caffeine, the level of MN formed after irradiation was similar between control and OXR1-depleted cells, demonstrating that OXR1-depletion accelerates MN formation through abrogation of G2/M arrest. In OXR1-depleted cells, the level of cyclin D1 protein expression was increased. Here we report that OXR1 prevents genome instability by cell cycle regulation as well as oxidative stress defense.