Human Rad54 protein stimulates human Mus81-Eme1 endonuclease

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Nov 25;105(47):18249-54. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0807016105. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

Abstract

Rad54, a key protein of homologous recombination, physically interacts with a DNA structure-specific endonuclease, Mus81-Eme1. Genetic data indicate that Mus81-Eme1 and Rad54 might function together in the repair of damaged DNA. In vitro, Rad54 promotes branch migration of Holliday junctions, whereas the Mus81-Eme1 complex resolves DNA junctions by endonucleolytic cleavage. Here, we show that human Rad54 stimulates Mus81-Eme1 endonuclease activity on various Holliday junction-like intermediates. This stimulation is the product of specific interactions between the human Rad54 (hRad54) and Mus81 proteins, considering that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad54 protein does not stimulate human Mus81-Eme1 endonuclease activity. Stimulation of Mus81-Eme1 cleavage activity depends on formation of specific Rad54 complexes on DNA substrates occurring in the presence of ATP and, to a smaller extent, of other nucleotide cofactors. Thus, our results demonstrate a functional link between the branch migration activity of hRad54 and the structure-specific endonuclease activity of hMus81-Eme1, suggesting that the Rad54 and Mus81-Eme1 proteins may cooperate in the processing of Holliday junction-like intermediates during homologous recombination or DNA repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Helicases
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism*
  • Endonucleases / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • DNA
  • Eme1 protein, human
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Endonucleases
  • MUS81 protein, human
  • DNA Helicases
  • RAD54L protein, human