Targeting Noncanonical TEAD Axis to Overcome DNA Repair-Driven Chemoresistance

Abstract

How transcription factors contribute to DNA damage repair (DDR) independent of canonical gene regulation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that DNA double-strand break (DSB) triggers a functional state transition in TEAD, disengaging it from YAP-dependent transcription and translocating it to DNA lesions as a chromatin-associated DDR factor. Upon genotoxic stress, TEAD is rapidly recruited to damaged chromatin through a biphasic mechanism involving early poly(ADP-ribose)-dependent recruitment followed by ATM-driven {gamma}H2AX-mediated retention. At DNA lesions, TEAD constrains chromatin over-relaxation, suppresses excessive end resection, and promotes non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) independent of its canonical function. Conserved residues within the TEA domain mediate this noncanonical chromatin engagement of TEAD and define a druggable N-terminal interface. Pharmacological targeting of this interface impaired TEAD-dependent DSB repair and sensitized tumors to chemotherapy. Together, these findings establish noncanonical TEAD as a critical DNA repair factor and a clinically actionable driver of chemoresistance, while providing a conceptual framework for understanding how broader families of transcription factors may be repurposed as targetable DNA damage regulators in cancer.