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. 2006 Feb 24;2(2):e8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0020008

Figure 1. DSB Repair by the NHEJ Complex.

Figure 1

The Ku complex locates to the break site (step 1), where it may serve as an end-bridging and alignment factor. Following binding to the broken DNA ends, additional processing enzymes are recruited by Ku to the break site (step 2). Ku may translocate away from the ends, allowing access by other factors to the break termini. When DNA ends are non-complementary and/or are damaged, the DNA end-processing, gap-filling, and nucleolytic activities generate DNA termini, capable of being ligated, prior to ligation (step 3). Subsequently, the broken ends are joined by an NHEJ-specific DNA ligase (step 4) and the NHEJ complex dissociates.