Coordination of structure-specific nucleases by human SLX4/BTBD12 is required for DNA repair

Mol Cell. 2009 Jul 10;35(1):116-27. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2009.06.020.

Abstract

Budding yeast Slx4 interacts with the structure-specific endonuclease Slx1 to ensure completion of ribosomal DNA replication. Slx4 also interacts with the Rad1-Rad10 endonuclease to control cleavage of 3' flaps during repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here we describe the identification of human SLX4, a scaffold for DNA repair nucleases XPF-ERCC1, MUS81-EME1, and SLX1. SLX4 immunoprecipitates show SLX1-dependent nuclease activity toward Holliday junctions and MUS81-dependent activity toward other branched DNA structures. Furthermore, SLX4 enhances the nuclease activity of SLX1, MUS81, and XPF. Consistent with a role in processing recombination intermediates, cells depleted of SLX4 are hypersensitive to genotoxins that cause DSBs and show defects in the resolution of interstrand crosslink-induced DSBs. Depletion of SLX4 causes a decrease in DSB-induced homologous recombination. These data show that SLX4 is a regulator of structure-specific nucleases and that SLX4 and SLX1 are important regulators of genome stability in human cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded*
  • DNA Repair*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Endonucleases / genetics
  • Endonucleases / metabolism*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Recombinases / genetics
  • Recombinases / metabolism*
  • Transfection
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinases
  • xeroderma pigmentosum group F protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • ERCC1 protein, human
  • Endonucleases
  • MUS81 protein, human
  • SLX4 protein, human