Tdp1 protects from topoisomerase 1–mediated chromosomal breaks in adult zebrafish but is dispensable during larval development

Abstract

Deficiency in the DNA end-processing enzyme, tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1), causes progressive neurodegeneration in humans. Here, we generated a <i>tdp1</i> knockout zebrafish and confirmed the lack of TDP1 activity. In adulthood, homozygotes exhibit hypersensitivity to topoisomerase 1 (Top1) poisons and a very mild locomotion defect. Unexpectedly, embryonic <i>tdp1</i> ^-/- zebrafish were not hypersensitive to Top1 poisons and did not exhibit increased Top1-DNA breaks. This is in contrast to the hypersensitivity of Tdp1-deficient vertebrate models reported to date. Tdp1 is dispensable in the zebrafish embryo with transcript levels down-regulated in response to Top1-DNA damage. In contrast, <i>apex2</i> and <i>ercc4</i> (<i>xpf</i>) transcripts were up-regulated. These findings identify the <i>tdp1^-/-</i> zebrafish embryo as the first vertebrate model that does not require Tdp1 to protect from Top1-DNA damage and identify <i>apex2</i> and <i>ercc4</i> (<i>xpf</i>) as putative players fulfilling this role. It highlights the requirement of distinct DNA repair factors across the life span of vertebrates.