title: DNA-dependent protein kinase complex: a multifunctional protein in DNA repair and damage checkpoint.
abstract: DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is a nuclear serine/threonine protein kinase that is activated upon DNA damage generated by ionizing radiation or UV-irradiation. It is a three-protein complex consisting of a 470-kDa catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and the regulatory DNA binding subunits, Ku heterodimer (Ku70 and Ku80). Mouse and human cells deficient in DNA-PKcs are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation and defective in V(D)J recombination, suggesting a role for the kinase in double-strand break repair and recombination. The Ku heterodimer binds to double-strand DNA breaks produced by either DNA damage or recombination, protects DNA ends from degradation, orients DNA ends for re-ligation, and recruits its catalytic subunit and additional factors necessary for successful end-joining. DNA-PK is also involved in an early stage of damage-induced cell cycle arrest, however, it remains unclear how the enzyme senses DNA damage and transmits signals to downstream gene(s) and proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA. slee@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Suk-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chung-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D004247:DNA; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; C497263:PRKDC protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases