Sgs1 helicase is required for efficient PCNA monoubiquitination and translesion DNA synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

DNA-damage tolerance (DDT) is employed by eukaryotes to deal with replication blocks on the template strand, and is divided into two parallel pathways that are activated by sequential ubiquitination of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) at the Lys164 residue. Rad6-Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination promotes translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) and the monoubiquitinated PCNA can be further polyubiquitinated by an Mms2-Ubc13-Rad5 complex, leading to error-free lesion bypass. We previously reported that the DNA helicase Sgs1 is required for error-free lesion bypass, probably through the double-Holliday junction migration and subsequent resolution. Surprisingly, a synthetic genetic array (SGA) screen using rev1 and rev3 as baits did not reveal an anticipated synthetic effect with sgs1, indicating a possible involvement of Sgs1 in TLS. Here, we report detailed genetic analyses demonstrating that Sgs1 plays a key role in efficient TLS and that it is probably required for the signaling of DNA damage leading to PCNA monoubiquitination. These studies collectively illustrate that Sgs1 participates in both branches of DDT and possibly plays a role in pathway choice.