Homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining pathways of DNA double-strand break repair have overlapping roles in the maintenance of chromosomal integrity in vertebrate cells

  • Minoru Takata
  • , Masao S. Sasaki
  • , Eiichiro Sonoda
  • , Ciaran Morrison
  • , Mitsumasa Hashimoto
  • , Hiroshi Utsumi
  • , Yuko Yamaguchi-Iwai
  • , Akira Shinohara
  • , Shunichi Takeda

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer)Articlepeer-review

1071 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Eukaryotic cells repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by at least two pathways, homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). Rad54 participates in the first recombinational repair pathway while Ku proteins are involved in NHEJ. To investigate the distinctive as well as redundant roles of these two repair pathways, we analyzed the mutants RAD54(-/-), KU70(-/-) and RAD54(-/-)/KU70(-/-), generated from the chicken B-cell line DT40. We found that the NHEJ pathway plays a dominant role in repairing γ-radiation-induced DSBs during G1-early S phase while recombinational repair is preferentially used in late S-G2 phase. RAD54(-/-)/KU70(-/-) cells were profoundly more sensitive to γ-rays than either single mutant, indicating that the two repair pathways are complementary. Spontaneous chromosomal aberrations and cell death were observed in both RAD54(-/-) and RAD54(-/-)/KU70(-/-) cells, with RAD54(-/-)/KU70(-/-) cells exhibiting significantly higher levels of chromosomal aberrations than RAD54(-/-) cells. These observations provide the first genetic evidence that both repair pathways play a role in maintaining chromosomal DNA during the cell cycle.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5497-5508
Number of pages12
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume17
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sep 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Homologous recombination
  • Ku
  • Non-homologous end-joining
  • Rad54
  • Spontaneous chromosomal break

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