The MRE11, RAD50, and NBN genes encode for the nuclear MRN protein complex, which senses the DNA double strand breaks and initiates the DNA repair. The MRN complex also participates in the activation of ATM kinase, which coordinates DNA repair with the p53-dependent cell cycle checkpoint arrest. Carriers of homozygous germline pathogenic variants in the MRN complex genes or compound heterozygotes develop phenotypically distinct rare autosomal recessive syndromes characterized by chromosomal instability and neurological symptoms. Heterozygous germline alterations in the MRN complex genes have been associated with a poorly-specified predisposition to various cancer types. Somatic alterations in the MRN complex genes may represent valuable predictive and prognostic biomarkers in cancer patients. MRN complex genes have been targeted in several next-generation sequencing panels for cancer and neurological disorders, but interpretation of the identified alterations is challenging due to the complexity of MRN complex function in the DNA damage response. In this review, we outline the structural characteristics of the MRE11, RAD50 and NBN proteins, the assembly and functions of the MRN complex from the perspective of clinical interpretation of germline and somatic alterations in the MRE11, RAD50 and NBN genes.

• Klíčová slova
• ATLD, DNA repair, MRE11, NBN, NBS, NBSLD, NGS, RAD50, TP53, hereditary cancer syndromes, variant interpretation,
• MeSH
• ATM protein genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• DNA vazebné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• enzymy opravy DNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• homologní protein MRE11 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• hydrolasy působící na anhydridy kyselin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• jaderné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny * genetika   MeSH
• oprava DNA genetika   MeSH
• proteiny buněčného cyklu * metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ATM protein MeSH
• DNA vazebné proteiny MeSH
• enzymy opravy DNA MeSH
• homologní protein MRE11 MeSH
• hydrolasy působící na anhydridy kyselin MeSH
• jaderné proteiny MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny * MeSH
• NBN protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny buněčného cyklu * MeSH
• RAD50 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč

BACKGROUND: Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is an autosomal-recessive chromosome instability disorder characterized by, among others, hypersensitivity to X-irradiation and an exceptionally high risk for lymphoid malignancy. The vast majority of NBS patients is homozygous for a common Slavic founder mutation, c.657del5, of the NBN gene, which is involved in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The founder mutation also predisposes heterozygous carriers to cancer, apparently however, with a higher risk in the Czech Republic/Slovakia (CS) than in Poland. AIM: To examine whether the age of cancer manifestation and cancer death of NBN homozygotes is different between probands from CS and Poland. METHODS: The study is restricted to probands born until 1989, before replacement of the communist regime by a democratic system in CS and Poland, and a substantial transition of the health care systems. Moreover, all patients were recruited without knowledge of their genetic status since the NBN gene was not identified until 1998. RESULTS: Here, we show that cancer manifestation of NBN homozygotes is at a significantly earlier age in probands from CS than from Poland. This is explained by the difference in natural and medical radiation exposure, though within the permissible dosage. CONCLUSION: It is reasonable to assume that this finding also sheds light on the higher cancer risk of NBN heterozygotes in CS than in Poland. This has implications for genetic counseling and individualized medicine also of probands with other DNA repair defects.

• Klíčová slova
• NBS, age of cancer manifestation, cancer risk of heterozygotes, environmental and medical exposure to ionizing radiation,
• MeSH
• heterozygot MeSH
• jaderné proteiny genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• nádory * MeSH
• proteiny buněčného cyklu genetika   MeSH
• syndrom Nijmegen breakage * genetika   patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• jaderné proteiny MeSH
• NBN protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny buněčného cyklu MeSH

BACKGROUND: Nibrin, as part of the NBN/MRE11/RAD50 complex, is mutated in Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), which leads to impaired DNA damage response and lymphoid malignancy. RESULTS: Telomere length (TL) was markedly reduced in homozygous patients (and comparably so in all chromosomes) by ~40% (qPCR) and was slightly reduced in NBS heterozygotes older than 30 years (~25% in qPCR), in accordance with the respective cancer rates. Humanized cancer-free NBS mice had normal TL. Telomere elongation was inducible by telomerase and/or alternative telomere lengthening but was associated with abnormal expression of telomeric genes involved in aging and/or cell growth. Lymphoblastoid cells from NBS patients with long survival times (>12 years) displayed the shortest telomeres and low caspase 7 activity. CONCLUSIONS: NBS is a secondary telomeropathy. The two-edged sword of telomere attrition enhances the cancer-prone situation in NBS but can also lead to a relatively stable cellular phenotype in tumor survivors. Results suggest a modular model for progeroid syndromes with abnormal expression of telomeric genes as a molecular basis. METHODS: We studied TL and function in 38 homozygous individuals, 27 heterozygotes, one homozygous fetus, six NBS lymphoblastoid cell lines, and humanized NBS mice, all with the same founder NBN mutation: c.657_661del5.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA repair, alternative lengthening of telomeres, nibrin, nijmegen breakage syndrome, telomere-position effect over long distances,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• heterozygot MeSH
• homeostáza telomer genetika   MeSH
• homozygot MeSH
• jaderné proteiny genetika   MeSH
• karyotypizace MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myši transgenní MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• progerie genetika   patologie   MeSH
• proteiny buněčného cyklu genetika   MeSH
• syndrom Nijmegen breakage komplikace   genetika   patologie   MeSH
• telomerasa metabolismus   MeSH
• telomery patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• jaderné proteiny MeSH
• NBN protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny buněčného cyklu MeSH
• telomerasa MeSH