title: Coincident In Vitro Analysis of DNA-PK-Dependent and -Independent Nonhomologous End Joining.
abstract: In mammalian cells, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are primarily repaired by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). The current model suggests that the Ku 70/80 heterodimer binds to DSB ends and recruits DNA-PK(cs) to form the active DNA-dependent protein kinase, DNA-PK. Subsequently, XRCC4, DNA ligase IV, XLF and most likely, other unidentified components participate in the final DSB ligation step. Therefore, DNA-PK plays a key role in NHEJ due to its structural and regulatory functions that mediate DSB end joining. However, recent studies show that additional DNA-PK-independent NHEJ pathways also exist. Unfortunately, the presence of DNA-PK(cs) appears to inhibit DNA-PK-independent NHEJ, and in vitro analysis of DNA-PK-independent NHEJ in the presence of the DNA-PK(cs) protein remains problematic. We have developed an in vitro assay that is preferentially active for DNA-PK-independent DSB repair based solely on its reaction conditions, facilitating coincident differential biochemical analysis of the two pathways. The results indicate the biochemically distinct nature of the end-joining mechanisms represented by the DNA-PK-dependent and -independent NHEJ assays as well as functional differences between the two pathways.
authors: Radiology & Imaging Sciences Department, Nuclear Medicine Section, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors: Cynthia L
authors: CL
authors: Hendrickson
authors: Shubhadeep
authors: S
authors: Purkayastha
authors: Elzbieta
authors: E
authors: Pastwa
authors: Ronald D
authors: RD
authors: Neumann
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Winters