Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJ

Abstract Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the main repair pathway for double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in mammals. DNA polymerases lambda (Pol λ) and mu (Pol μ), members of the Pol X family, play a key role in this process. However, their interaction within the NHEJ complexes is unclear. Here, we...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Philippe Frit, Himani Amin, Sayma Zahid, Nadia Barboule, Chloe Hall, Gurdip Matharu, Steven W. Hardwick, Jeanne Chauvat, Sébastien Britton, Dima Y. Chirgadze, Virginie Ropars, Jean-Baptiste Charbonnier, Patrick Calsou, Amanda K. Chaplin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59133-2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849312001805778944
author Philippe Frit
Himani Amin
Sayma Zahid
Nadia Barboule
Chloe Hall
Gurdip Matharu
Steven W. Hardwick
Jeanne Chauvat
Sébastien Britton
Dima Y. Chirgadze
Virginie Ropars
Jean-Baptiste Charbonnier
Patrick Calsou
Amanda K. Chaplin
author_facet Philippe Frit
Himani Amin
Sayma Zahid
Nadia Barboule
Chloe Hall
Gurdip Matharu
Steven W. Hardwick
Jeanne Chauvat
Sébastien Britton
Dima Y. Chirgadze
Virginie Ropars
Jean-Baptiste Charbonnier
Patrick Calsou
Amanda K. Chaplin
author_sort Philippe Frit
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the main repair pathway for double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in mammals. DNA polymerases lambda (Pol λ) and mu (Pol μ), members of the Pol X family, play a key role in this process. However, their interaction within the NHEJ complexes is unclear. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of Pol λ in complex with the DNA-PK long-range synaptic complex, and Pol μ bound to Ku70/80-DNA. These structures identify interaction sites between Ku70/80 and Pol X BRCT domains. Using mutants at the proteins interface in functional assays including cell transfection with an original gap-filling reporter, we define the role of the BRCT domain in the recruitment and activity of the two Pol X members in NHEJ and in their contribution to cell survival following DSBs. Finally, we propose a unified model for the interaction of all Pol X members with Ku70/80.
format Article
id doaj-art-28cd83edd27a4b9abaebbc20f42c1f3f
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-28cd83edd27a4b9abaebbc20f42c1f3f2025-08-20T03:53:13ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-59133-2Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJPhilippe Frit0Himani Amin1Sayma Zahid2Nadia Barboule3Chloe Hall4Gurdip Matharu5Steven W. Hardwick6Jeanne Chauvat7Sébastien Britton8Dima Y. Chirgadze9Virginie Ropars10Jean-Baptiste Charbonnier11Patrick Calsou12Amanda K. Chaplin13Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier (UT3)Leicester Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterLeicester Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterInstitut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier (UT3)Leicester Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterLeicester Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterDepartment of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of CambridgeInstitut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier (UT3)Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier (UT3)Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of CambridgeInstitute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Institute Joliot, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-SaclayInstitute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Institute Joliot, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-SaclayInstitut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier (UT3)Leicester Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterAbstract Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the main repair pathway for double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in mammals. DNA polymerases lambda (Pol λ) and mu (Pol μ), members of the Pol X family, play a key role in this process. However, their interaction within the NHEJ complexes is unclear. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of Pol λ in complex with the DNA-PK long-range synaptic complex, and Pol μ bound to Ku70/80-DNA. These structures identify interaction sites between Ku70/80 and Pol X BRCT domains. Using mutants at the proteins interface in functional assays including cell transfection with an original gap-filling reporter, we define the role of the BRCT domain in the recruitment and activity of the two Pol X members in NHEJ and in their contribution to cell survival following DSBs. Finally, we propose a unified model for the interaction of all Pol X members with Ku70/80.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59133-2
spellingShingle Philippe Frit
Himani Amin
Sayma Zahid
Nadia Barboule
Chloe Hall
Gurdip Matharu
Steven W. Hardwick
Jeanne Chauvat
Sébastien Britton
Dima Y. Chirgadze
Virginie Ropars
Jean-Baptiste Charbonnier
Patrick Calsou
Amanda K. Chaplin
Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJ
Nature Communications
title Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJ
title_full Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJ
title_fullStr Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJ
title_full_unstemmed Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJ
title_short Structural and functional insights into the interaction between Ku70/80 and Pol X family polymerases in NHEJ
title_sort structural and functional insights into the interaction between ku70 80 and pol x family polymerases in nhej
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59133-2
work_keys_str_mv AT philippefrit structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT himaniamin structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT saymazahid structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT nadiabarboule structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT chloehall structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT gurdipmatharu structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT stevenwhardwick structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT jeannechauvat structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT sebastienbritton structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT dimaychirgadze structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT virginieropars structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT jeanbaptistecharbonnier structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT patrickcalsou structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej
AT amandakchaplin structuralandfunctionalinsightsintotheinteractionbetweenku7080andpolxfamilypolymerasesinnhej