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Ku protein stimulates DNA end joining by mammalian DNA ligases: a direct role for Ku in repair of DNA double‐strand breaks
Author(s) -
Ramsden Dale A.,
Gellert Martin
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/17.2.609
Subject(s) - biology , dna , dna ligases , dna ligase , dna repair , genetics , ku80 , dna clamp , microbiology and biotechnology , dna binding protein , gene , polymerase chain reaction , transcription factor , reverse transcriptase
Ku protein binds to DNA ends and is a cofactor for the DNA‐dependent protein kinase. Both of these components are involved in DNA double‐strand break repair, but it has not been clear if they function indirectly, by sensing DNA damage and activating other factors, or if they are more directly involved in the processing and rejoining of DNA breaks. We demonstrate that intermolecular ligation of DNA fragments is highly dependent on Ku under conditions designed to mimic those existing in the cell. This effect of Ku is specific to eukaryotic DNA ligases. Ku protein, therefore, has an activity consistent with a direct role in rejoining DNA breaks and independent of DNA‐dependent protein kinase.