- Cohen, S;
- Guenolé, A;
- Lazar, I;
- Marnef, A;
- Clouaire, T;
- Vernekar, DV;
- Puget, N;
- Rocher, V;
- Arnould, C;
- Aguirrebengoa, M;
- Genais, M;
- Firmin, N;
- Shamanna, RA;
- Mourad, R;
- Bohr, VA;
- Borde, V;
- Legube, G
Transcriptionally active loci are particularly prone to breakage and mounting evidence suggests that DNA Double-Strand Breaks arising in active genes are handled by a dedicated repair pathway, Transcription-Coupled DSB Repair (TC-DSBR), that entails R-loop accumulation and dissolution. Here, we uncover a function for the Bloom RecQ DNA helicase (BLM) in TC-DSBR in human cells. BLM is recruited in a transcription dependent-manner at DSBs where it fosters resection, RAD51 binding and accurate Homologous Recombination repair. However, in an R-loop dissolution-deficient background, we find that BLM promotes cell death. We report that upon excessive RNA:DNA hybrid accumulation, DNA synthesis is enhanced at DSBs, in a manner that depends on BLM and POLD3. Altogether our work unveils a role for BLM at DSBs in active chromatin, and highlights the toxic potential of RNA:DNA hybrids that accumulate at transcription-associated DSBs.