Structure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathway

DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) has been identified as a crucial alternative non-homologous end-joining factor in mammalian cells. Polθ is upregulated in a range of cancer cell types defective in homologous recombination, and knockdown has been shown to inhibit cell survival in a subset of these, making...

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Main Authors: Newman, J, Cooper, C, Aitkenhead, H, Gileadi, O
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Cell Press 2015
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author Newman, J
Cooper, C
Aitkenhead, H
Gileadi, O
author_facet Newman, J
Cooper, C
Aitkenhead, H
Gileadi, O
author_sort Newman, J
collection OXFORD
description DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) has been identified as a crucial alternative non-homologous end-joining factor in mammalian cells. Polθ is upregulated in a range of cancer cell types defective in homologous recombination, and knockdown has been shown to inhibit cell survival in a subset of these, making it an attractive target for cancer treatment. We present crystal structures of the helicase domain of human Polθ in the presence and absence of bound nucleotides, and a characterization of its DNA-binding and DNA-stimulated ATPase activities. Comparisons with related helicases from the Hel308 family identify several unique features. Polθ exists as a tetramer both in the crystals and in solution. We propose a model for DNA binding to the Polθ helicase domain in the context of the Polθ tetramer, which suggests a role for the helicase domain in strand annealing of DNA templates for subsequent processing by the polymerase domain.
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spelling oxford-uuid:57bbe073-022a-412e-8e78-29cb44d8dc012022-03-26T16:58:32ZStructure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathwayJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:57bbe073-022a-412e-8e78-29cb44d8dc01EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordCell Press2015Newman, JCooper, CAitkenhead, HGileadi, ODNA polymerase theta (Polθ) has been identified as a crucial alternative non-homologous end-joining factor in mammalian cells. Polθ is upregulated in a range of cancer cell types defective in homologous recombination, and knockdown has been shown to inhibit cell survival in a subset of these, making it an attractive target for cancer treatment. We present crystal structures of the helicase domain of human Polθ in the presence and absence of bound nucleotides, and a characterization of its DNA-binding and DNA-stimulated ATPase activities. Comparisons with related helicases from the Hel308 family identify several unique features. Polθ exists as a tetramer both in the crystals and in solution. We propose a model for DNA binding to the Polθ helicase domain in the context of the Polθ tetramer, which suggests a role for the helicase domain in strand annealing of DNA templates for subsequent processing by the polymerase domain.
spellingShingle Newman, J
Cooper, C
Aitkenhead, H
Gileadi, O
Structure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathway
title Structure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathway
title_full Structure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathway
title_fullStr Structure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathway
title_full_unstemmed Structure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathway
title_short Structure of the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology-mediated end-joining pathway
title_sort structure of the helicase domain of dna polymerase theta reveals a possible role in the microhomology mediated end joining pathway
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