Effect of ATR inhibition on transcription after UV irradiation

UV irradiation causes significant changes in gene expression and induces DNA damage. DNA damage is detrimental to the cell and has to be repaired in a timely manner. DNA damage checkpoints regulate progression through the cell cycle when DNA damage is detected and give time for the cell to repair the damage efficiently. We have preliminary evidence suggesting that ATR, otherwise known for its role of DNA damage checkpoint in S phase and G2/M phase, might also be involved in a yet unheeded UV-induced G1 block. To investigate this, we performed mRNA sequencing, in the hope to unravel which genes/gene families are involved in this checkpoint in response to UV, how this changes in response to ATR inhibition, and the overall changes in gene expression. Overall design: HEK293 Flp In T-REx WT cells were UV irradiated, allowed to recover for 3h, and then treated with DMSO or ATRi (VE-821 3uM). Samples were harvested 0h, 3h, h, and 20h after UV irradiation.