Structure-forming CAG/CTG repeats interfere with gap repair to cause repeat expansions and chromosome breaks

Abstract Expanded CAG/CTG repeats are sites of DNA damage, leading to changes in repeat length. To determine how ssDNA gap filling affects repeat instability, we inserted (CAG)70 or (CTG)70 repeats into a single-strand annealing (SSA) assay system such that resection and filling in the ssDNA gap would occur across the repeat tract. After resection, when the CTG sequence was the single-stranded template for fill-in synthesis, repeat contractions were elevated and the ssDNA created a fragile site that led to large deletions involving flanking homologous sequences. In contrast, resection was inhibited when CTG was on the resected strand, resulting in repeat expansions. Deleting Rad9, the ortholog of 53BP1, rescued repeat instability and lost viability by increasing resection and fill-in speed. Deletion of Rad51 increased CTG contractions and decreased survival, implicating Rad51 in protecting ssDNA during gap filling. Taken together, DNA sequence within a single-stranded gap determines repair kinetics, fragility, and repeat instability.