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. 1995 Oct;15(10):5700–5706. doi: 10.1128/mcb.15.10.5700

scid cells are deficient in Ku and replication protein A phosphorylation by the DNA-dependent protein kinase.

N V Boubnov 1, D T Weaver 1
PMCID: PMC230820  PMID: 7565721

Abstract

Cell mutants of the Ku nuclear DNA-binding complex are ionizing radiation sensitive and show V(D)J recombination defects. Ku binds and activates a catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), although the substrates for DNA-PK are unknown. We found that scid cell extracts were deficient in Ku phosphorylation by DNA-PK. Human chromosome 8-complemented scid cells, containing the human DNA-PK catalytic subunit, restored Ku phosphorylation. Likewise, radiation-induced RPA hyperphosphorylation was not completed in scid cells compared with control or chromosome 8-reconstituted cells. Thus, the inactivity of DNA-PK is likely responsible for the repair and recombination defects in scid cells.

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Selected References

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