Cernunnos interacts with the XRCC4 x DNA-ligase IV complex and is homologous to the yeast nonhomologous end-joining factor Nej1

J Biol Chem. 2006 May 19;281(20):13857-60. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C500473200. Epub 2006 Mar 29.

Abstract

DNA double strand breaks are considered as the most harmful DNA lesions and are repaired by either homologous recombination or nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). A new NHEJ factor, Cernunnos, has been identified, the defect of which leads to a severe immunodeficiency condition associated with microcephaly and other developmental defects in humans. This presentation is reminiscent to that of DNA-ligase IV deficiency and suggests a possible interplay between Cernunnos and the XRCC4 x DNA-ligase IV complex. We show here that Cernunnos physically interacts with the XRCC4 x DNA-ligase IV complex. Moreover, a combination of sensitive methods of sequence analysis revealed that Cernunnos can be associated with the XRCC4 family of proteins and that it corresponds to the genuine homolog of the yeast Nej1 protein. Altogether these results shed new lights on the last step, the DNA religation, of the NHEJ pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • DNA Ligase ATP
  • DNA Ligases / chemistry*
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • DNL4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • LIG4 protein, human
  • NEJ1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • NHEJ1 protein, human
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • XRCC4 protein, human
  • DNA Ligases
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • DNA Ligase ATP