Mapping the human kinome in response to DNA damage

We provide a catalog for the effects of the human kinome on cell survival in response to DNA damaging agents, selected to cover all major DNA repair pathways. By treating 313 kinase-deficient cell lines with ten diverse DNA damaging agents, including seven commonly used chemotherapeutics, we were able to identify kinase specific vulnerabilities and resistances. In order to identify novel synthetic lethal interactions, we investigate the cellular response to carmustine for 25 cell lines, by establishing a phenotypic FACS assay designed to mechanistically investigate and validate gene-drug interactions. We show apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA damage and proliferation after alkylation or crosslink-induced damage for selected cell lines and rescue the cellular sensitivity of DYRK4, EPHB6, MARK3, PNCK as a proof of principle for our study. Our data suggest that some cancers with inactivated DYRK4, EPHB6, MARK3 or PNCK gene could be particularly vulnerable to treatment by alkylating chemotherapeutic agents carmustine or temozolomide.