NEAT1 promotes genome stability via m6A methylation-dependent regulation of CHD4

Long non-coding (lnc)RNA emerge as regulators of genome stability. The nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) locus encodes two lncRNA isoforms that modulate gene expression, growth and proliferation in mammals. Interestingly, NEAT1 transcripts are overexpressed in many tumours and induced by DNA damage, suggesting a genome-protective function. However, the precise role of NEAT1 in the DNA damage response (DDR) is unclear. Here, we investigate the expression, modification levels, localization and structure of NEAT1 in response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by the topoisomerase-II inhibitor etoposide or the locus-specific endonuclease AsiSI. We find that induction of DSBs increases both the levels and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) marks on NEAT1, which promotes alterations in NEAT1 secondary structure and accumulation of hyper-methylated NEAT1 at a subset of promoter-associated DSBs to facilitate efficient DSB signalling. The depletion of NEAT1, in turn, delays the response to DSBs and triggers elevated DNA damage. The genome-protective role of NEAT1 is mediated by the RNA methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) and involves spreading of the chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 (CHD4) upon release from NEAT1. Together, we describe a novel RNA-dependent DDR pathway that couples NEAT1 to the recognition and repair of DSBs.