Identification of a DNA non-homologous end-joining complex in bacteria

Weller, Geoffrey R., Kysela, Boris, Roy, Rajat, Tonkin, Louise M., Scanlan, Elizabeth, Della, Marina, Krogh Devine, Susanne, Day, Jonathan P., Wilkinson, Adam, d'Adda di Fagagna, Fabrizio, Devine, Kevin M., Bowater, Richard P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2745-7807, Jeggo, Penny A., Jackson, Stephen P. and Doherty, Aidan J. (2002) Identification of a DNA non-homologous end-joining complex in bacteria. Science, 297 (5587). pp. 1686-1689. ISSN 1095-9203

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

In eukaryotic cells, double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA are generally repaired by the pathway of homologous recombination or by DNA nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Both pathways have been highly conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution, but no equivalent NHEJ system has been identified in prokaryotes. The NHEJ pathway requires a DNA end-binding component called Ku. We have identified bacterial Ku homologs and show that these proteins retain the biochemical characteristics of the eukaryotic Ku heterodimer. Furthermore, we show that bacterial Ku specifically recruits DNA ligase to DNA ends and stimulates DNA ligation. Loss of these proteins leads to hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation in Bacillus subtilis. These data provide evidence that many bacteria possess a DNA DSB repair apparatus that shares many features with the NHEJ system of eukarya and suggest that this DNA repair pathway arose before the prokaryotic and eukaryotic lineages diverged.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Molecular Microbiology Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date Deposited:	01 Oct 2010 13:37
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 10:20
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/462
DOI:	10.1126/science.1074584

Actions (login required)

View Item