The DNA helicase HELQ promotes replication fork reversal in coordination with BRCA2-and FANCD2-mediated repair pathways

Abstract

HELQ is a 3 '-5 ' DNA helicase whose loss sensitizes cells to DNA-damaging agents, particularly DNA crosslinkers. HELQ interacts with the RAD51 paralog complex RAD51B-RAD51C-RAD51D-XRCC2 (BCDX2), a key mediator of replication fork reversal. Using DNA fiber assays, we show that HELQ and BCDX2 act epistatically to slow replication fork progression under replication stress. Because fork reversal transiently regresses nascent strands into a four-way junction and reduces net DNA synthesis, this fork slowing provides a functional readout of fork reversal. Directly supporting this model, electron microscopy reveals that reversed fork structures are reduced in HELQ-knockout cells. Consistent with a role in fork reversal, HELQ deletion suppresses nascent strand degradation when BRCA2- or FANCD2-dependent fork protection is lost. Mechanistically, biochemical reconstitution shows that HELQ is stimulated by RPA on fork substrates containing a leading strand gap, and these findings are consistent with the cell-based DNA fiber assays. Together, these results identify HELQ as a specialized regulator of replication fork remodeling that promotes fork reversal through the BCDX2 pathway.