Mismatch-repair protein MSH6 is associated with Ku70 and regulates DNA double-strand break repair

Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Mar;39(6):2130-43. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkq1095. Epub 2010 Nov 12.

Abstract

MSH6, a key component of the MSH2-MSH6 complex, plays a fundamental role in the repair of mismatched DNA bases. Herein, we report that MSH6 is a novel Ku70-interacting protein identified by yeast two-hybrid screening. Ku70 and Ku86 are two key regulatory subunits of the DNA-dependent protein kinase, which plays an essential role in repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) through the non-homologous end-joining (NEHJ) pathway. We found that association of Ku70 with MSH6 is enhanced in response to treatment with the radiomimetic drug neocarzinostatin (NCS) or ionizing radiation (IR), a potent inducer of DSBs. Furthermore, MSH6 exhibited diffuse nuclear staining in the majority of untreated cells and forms discrete nuclear foci after NCS or IR treatment. MSH6 colocalizes with γ-H2AX at sites of DNA damage after NCS or IR treatment. Cells depleted of MSH6 accumulate high levels of persistent DSBs, as detected by formation of γ-H2AX foci and by the comet assay. Moreover, MSH6-deficient cells were also shown to exhibit impaired NHEJ, which could be rescued by MSH6 overexpression. MSH6-deficient cells were hypersensitive to NCS- or IR-induced cell death, as revealed by a clonogenic cell-survival assay. These results suggest a potential role for MSH6 in DSB repair through upregulation of NHEJ by association with Ku70.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Nuclear / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded*
  • DNA Repair*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Histones / analysis
  • Humans
  • Ku Autoantigen
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Antigens, Nuclear
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • G-T mismatch-binding protein
  • H2AX protein, human
  • Histones
  • Xrcc6 protein, human
  • Ku Autoantigen