O-GlcNAc transferase is important for homology-directed repair

O-Linked β-N-acetylglucosamine glycosylation (O-GlcNAcylation) to serine or threonine residues is a reversible and dynamic post-translational modification. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is the only enzyme for O-GlcNAcylation, and is a potential cancer therapeutic target in combination with clastogenic (i.e., chromosomal breaking) therapeutics. Thus, we sought to examine the influence of O-GlcNAcylation on chromosomal break repair. Using a set of DNA double strand break (DSB) reporter assays, we found that the depletion of OGT, and its inhibition with a small molecule each caused a reduction in repair pathways that involve use of homology: RAD51-dependent homology-directed repair (HDR), and single strand annealing. In contrast, such OGT disruption did not obviously affect chromosomal break end joining, and furthermore caused an increase in homology-directed gene targeting. Such disruption in OGT also caused a reduction in clonogenic survival, as well as modifications to cell cycle profiles, particularly an increase in G1-phase cells. We also examined intermediate steps of HDR, finding no obvious effects on an assay for DSB end resection, nor for RAD51 recruitment into ionizing radiation induced foci (IRIF) in proliferating cells. However, we also found that the influence of OGT on HDR and homology-directed gene targeting were dependent on RAD52, and that OGT is important for RAD52 IRIF in proliferating cells. Thus, we suggest that OGT is important for regulation of HDR that is partially linked to RAD52 function.