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

Figure 3. Structure of Eukaryotic, Prokaryotic, and Phage Ku Proteins.

Figure 3

The structure of the human Ku heterodimer bound to DNA [22] is depicted in two different orientations. Ku encircles the end of the DNA like a “nut on a bolt.” The predicted structures of the Ku from Mt and Gam homodimers are also shown. The smaller Ku homologues retain the regions required for dimerization and DNA binding but lack the N-terminal vWA domains, the C-terminal SAP (Ku70), and the DNA-PKcs binding (Ku80) domains present in the larger eukaryotic Ku proteins.