Abstract
DNA double strand breaks induce oscillatory expression of the transcription factor p53 that is dependent on ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activity and the rate of double strand break resolution. Although p53 dynamics are known to play a role in the regulation of cell fate determination, the consequences of the variability in dynamics associated with differences in repair rates and utilized repair pathways are unknown. Using single-cell time-lapse microscopy, we found that disruption of specific repair pathways has distinct impacts on p53 dynamics. The small-molecule rucaparib, an inhibitor of the alternative end-joining-associated protein poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), increased p53 pulse duration, altering the temporal expression of multiple p53 target genes. As a result, combination treatments of the radiomimetic drug neocarzinostatin with rucaparib drove prolonged growth arrest beyond that of DNA damage alone. This study highlights how pharmacological manipulation of DNA repair pathways may be used to alter p53 dynamics to enhance therapeutic regimens.