Università della Svizzera italiana

Main steps in DNA double-strand break repair : An introduction to homologous recombination and related processes

Ranjha, Lepakshi ; Howard, Sean Michael ; Cejka, Petr

In: Chromosoma, 2018, vol. 127, no. 2 (June), p. 187–214

DNA double-strand breaks arise accidentally upon exposure of DNA to radiation, chemicals or result from faulty DNA metabolic processes. DNA breaks can also be introduced in a programmed manner, such as during the maturation of the immune system, meiosis or cancer chemo- or radiotherapy. Cells have developed a variety of repair pathways, which are fine-tuned to the specific needs of a cell....

Università della Svizzera italiana

NBS1 promotes the endonuclease of the MRE11-RAD50 complex by sensing CtIP phosphorylation

Anand, Roopesh ; Jasrotia, Arti ; Bundschuh, Diana ; Howard, Sean Michael ; Ranjha, Lepakshi ; Stucki, Manuel ; Cejka, Petr

In: The EMBO Journal, 2019, vol. 38, no. 7, p. e101005

DNA end resection initiates DNA break repair by homologous recombination. MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 and phosphorylated CtIP perform the first resection step by MRE11-catalyzed endonucleolytic DNA cleavage. Human NBS1, more than its Xrs2 homologue from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is crucial for this process, highlighting complex mechanisms that regulate the MRE11 nuclease in high eukaryotes. Using a...