Mattarocci Stefano, Baconnais Sonia, Roisné-Hamelin Florian, Pobiega Sabrina, Alibert Olivier, Morin Vincent, Deshayes Alice, Veaute Xavier, Ropars Virginie, Chevreuil Maelenn, Mehringer Johannes, Busso Didier, Mazon Gerard, Fernandez Varela Paloma, Le Cam Éric, Charbonnier Jean-Baptiste, Cuniasse Philippe, Marcand Stéphane
Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Cité, CEA, Inserm, Institut de biologie François Jacob, UMR Stabilité Génétique Cellules Souches et Radiations, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
Genome Integrity and Cancer, UMR 9019 CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 24;16(1):6824. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-61864-1.
Safeguarding chromosome ends against fusions via nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is essential for genome integrity. Paradoxically, the conserved NHEJ core factor Ku binds telomere ends. How it is prevented from promoting NHEJ remains unclear, as does the mechanism that allows Ku to coexist with telomere-protective DNA binding proteins, Rap1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we find that Rap1 directly inhibits Ku's NHEJ function at telomeres. A single Rap1 molecule near a double-stand break suppresses NHEJ without displacing Ku in cells. Furthermore, Rap1 and Ku form a complex on short DNA duplexes in vitro. Cryo-EM shows Rap1 blocks Ku's inward translocation on DNA - an essential step for NHEJ at DSBs. Nanopore sequencing of telomere fusions confirms this mechanism protects native telomere ends. These findings uncover a telomere protection mechanism where Rap1 restricts Ku's inward translocation. This switches Ku from a repair-promoting to a protective role preventing NHEJ at telomeres.
通过非同源末端连接(NHEJ)保护染色体末端不发生融合对于基因组完整性至关重要。矛盾的是,保守的NHEJ核心因子Ku会结合端粒末端。目前尚不清楚它是如何被阻止促进NHEJ的,与Ku如何与端粒保护DNA结合蛋白(酿酒酵母中的Rap1)共存的机制一样不清楚。在这里,我们发现Rap1直接抑制Ku在端粒处的NHEJ功能。双链断裂附近的单个Rap1分子可抑制NHEJ,而不会在细胞中取代Ku。此外,Rap1和Ku在体外短DNA双链体上形成复合物。冷冻电镜显示Rap1会阻止Ku在DNA上向内移位——这是DSB处NHEJ的关键步骤。端粒融合的纳米孔测序证实了这种机制可保护天然端粒末端。这些发现揭示了一种端粒保护机制,其中Rap1限制了Ku的向内移位。这将Ku从促进修复的角色转变为防止端粒处NHEJ的保护角色。
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