Werner protein cooperates with the XRCC4-DNA ligase IV complex in end-processing

Biochemistry. 2008 Jul 15;47(28):7548-56. doi: 10.1021/bi702325t. Epub 2008 Jun 18.

Abstract

Werner syndrome is a rare human disease characterized by the premature onset of aging-associated pathologies, cancer predisposition, and genomic instability. The Werner protein (WRN), which is defective in Werner syndrome ( WS) patients, belongs to the RecQ family helicases and interacts with several DNA metabolic proteins, including DNA repair factors and telomere associated proteins. Nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is an important pathway in the repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), and the DNA-PK complex, composed of the heterodimer Ku 70/86 and the DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), together with the XRCC4-DNA ligase IV complex (X4L4), are major factors. One of the most prominent protein interactions of WRN is with Ku 70/86, and it is possible that WRN is involved in NHEJ via its associations with Ku 70/86 and DNA-PKcs. This study demonstrates that WRN physically interacts with the major NHEJ factor, X4L4, which stimulates WRN exonuclease but not its helicase activity. The human RecQ helicase, BLM, which possesses only helicase activity, does not bind to X4L4, and its helicase activity is not affected by X4L4. In a DNA end-joining assay, we find that a substrate, which is processed by WRN, is ligated by X4L4, thus further supporting the significance of their functional interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Nucleus / enzymology
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Ligase ATP
  • DNA Ligases / metabolism*
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases / genetics
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • RecQ Helicases / genetics
  • RecQ Helicases / metabolism*
  • Werner Syndrome / genetics*
  • Werner Syndrome / metabolism
  • Werner Syndrome Helicase

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • LIG4 protein, human
  • NHEJ1 protein, human
  • XRCC4 protein, human
  • DNA
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases
  • RecQ Helicases
  • WRN protein, human
  • Werner Syndrome Helicase
  • DNA Ligases
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • DNA Ligase ATP