title: After double-strand break induction by UV-A, homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining cooperate at the same DSB if both systems are available.
abstract: After induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) two repair systems, the error-prone 'nonhomologous end joining' (NHEJ) and the more accurate 'homologous recombination repair' (HRR) can compete for the same individual DSB site. In the human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, we have tested the spatial co-localisation and the temporal sequence of events. We used UV-A (365 nm) as a damaging agent, which can be applied in clearly defined doses and can lead to rare DSBs via propagation of clustered single-strand breaks (SSBs). DNA fragmentation and repair was measured by the Comet assay and persisting DSBs were quantified by the micronucleus assay. Direct DSB detection was performed by immunohistochemical labelling of gamma-H2AX, a phosphorylated histone that is assumed to form one foci per DSB. Intra- and inter-pathway interactions were quantified by co-localisation, FRET imaging and by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) of XRCC4, DNA-PK and Ku70 as representatives of NHEJ, Rad51 and Rad52 for HRR and gamma-H2AX, Mre11 and Rad50 as representatives of both pathways. In G2 cells, where both systems are available, the temporal sequence after irradiation is: (1) gamma-H2AX (2) Mre11 (3) DNA-PK Rad51 (4) XRCC4. That is, the first two proteins involved in both pathways 'label' the damaged site and initiate repair, followed by the NHEJ, which is temporally overlapping with HRR activity. Taking all these observations together we suggest that a cell tries to repair DSBs with a combination of both HRR and NHEJ, if available.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biotechnology Jena, Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Germany. bar@imb-jena.de
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.forename: Karl Otto
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Greulich
mesh_terms: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004260:DNA Repair; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D016195:G2 Phase; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C101467:XRCC4 protein, human; C475961:gamma-H2AX protein, mouse; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; C497263:PRKDC protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C495153:RAD51 protein, human; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; C000606509:Xrcc6 protein, human; C000606510:Xrcc6 protein, mouse; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen