title: Regulation of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity in eukaryotic cells.
abstract: The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is a trimeric nuclear serine/threonine protein kinase consisting of a large catalytic sub-unit and the Ku heterodimer that regulates kinase activity by its association with DNA. DNA-PK is a major component of the DNA double strand break repair apparatus, and cells deficient in one of its component are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation. DNA-PK is also required to lymphoid V(D)J recombination and its absence confers in mice a severe combined immunodeficiency phenotype. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms that contribute to regulate DNA-PK activity in vivo or in vitro and relates them to the role of DNA-PK in cellular functions. Finally, the studies devoted to drug-inhibition of DNA-PK in order to enhance cancer therapy by DNA-damaging agents are presented.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, CNRS, UPR 906, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calsou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frit
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D004265:DNA Helicases; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D004265:DNA Helicases; C106893:XRCC5 protein, human; C000606509:Xrcc6 protein, human; C000606510:Xrcc6 protein, mouse; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen