Inhibiting DNA-PKcs in a non-homologous end-joining pathway in response to DNA double-strand breaks Journal Article


Authors: Dong, J.; Zhang, T.; Ren, Y.; Wang, Z.; Ling, C. C.; He, F.; Li, G. C.; Wang, C.; Wen, B.
Article Title: Inhibiting DNA-PKcs in a non-homologous end-joining pathway in response to DNA double-strand breaks
Abstract: DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is a distinct factor in the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway involved in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. We examined the crosstalk between key proteins in the DSB NHEJ repair pathway and cell cycle regulation and found that mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells deficient in DNA-PKcs or Ku70 were more vulnerable to ionizing radiation (IR) compared with wildtype cells and that DSB repair was delayed. γH2AX was associated with phospho-Ataxiatelangiectasia mutated kinase (Ser1987) and phospho-checkpoint effector kinase 1 (Ser345) foci for the arrest of cell cycle through the G2/M phase. Inhibition of DNA-PKcs prolonged IR-induced G2/M phase arrest because of sequential activation of cell cycle checkpoints. DSBs were introduced, and cell cycle checkpoints were recruited after exposure to IR in nasopharyngeal carcinoma SUNE-1 cells. NU7441 radiosensitized MEF cells and SUNE-1 cells by interfering with DSB repair. Together, these results reveal a mechanism in which coupling of DSB repair with the cell cycle radiosensitizes NHEJ repair-deficient cells, justifying further development of DNA-PK inhibitors in cancer therapy.
Keywords: nasopharyngeal carcinoma; non-homologous end-joining; double-strand break; dna-pkcs; nu7441
Journal Title: Oncotarget
Volume: 8
Issue: 14
ISSN: 1949-2553
Publisher: Impact Journals  
Date Published: 2017-04-04
Start Page: 22662
End Page: 22673
Language: English
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15153
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 28186989
PMCID: PMC5410253
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 May 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Gloria C Li
    132 Li
  2. Bixiu Wen
    23 Wen
  3. Fuqiu He
    24 He
  4. C Clifton Ling
    331 Ling