Bioenergetic metabolites regulate base excision repair-dependent cell death in response to DNA damage

Base excision repair (BER) protein expression is important for resistance to DNA damage-induced cytotoxicity. Conversely, BER imbalance [DNA polymerase β (Polβ) deficiency or repair inhibition] enhances cytotoxicity of radiation and chemotherapeutic DNA-damaging agents. Whereas inhibition of critical steps in the BER pathway result in the accumulation of cytotoxic DNA double-strand breaks, we report that DNA damage-induced cytotoxicity due to deficiency in the BER protein Polβ triggers cell death dependent on poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase activation yet independent of PAR-mediated apoptosis-inducing factor nuclear translocation or PAR glycohydrolase, suggesting that cytotoxicity is not from PAR or PAR catabolite signaling. Cell death is rescued by the NAD⁺ metabolite β-nicotinamide mononucleotide and is synergistic with inhibition of NAD⁺ biosynthesis, showing that DNA damage-induced cytotoxicity mediated via BER inhibition is primarily dependent on cellular metabolite bioavailability. We offer a mechanistic justification for the elevated alkylation-induced cytotoxicity of Polβ-deficient cells, suggesting a linkage between DNA repair, cell survival, and cellular bioenergetics.