DNA-PKcs-OBA/Ku associate in the absence of DNA, as revealed by two-dimensional capillary gel electromobility shift assay

NAP-2 is part of multi-protein complexes in Hela cells

We previously reported that a complex of nuclear proteins from HeLa cells, among them histone H1 and casein kinase 2 co-eluted from immobilized nucleosome assembly protein 2 (NAP-2)-Sepharose. Here, using HeLa cell nuclear extracts, we found NAP-2 migrates in a blue-native polyacrylamide gel with an apparent molecular weight of 300 kDa. HeLa cell NAP-2, labeled in vivo with radioactive orthophosphate, co-precipitated with at least two phosphoproteins, with an apparent mass of 100 and 175 kDa, respectively, as determined by SDS-PAGE. NAP-2 from total HeLa cell extract co-purified with other proteins through two sequential chromatographic steps: first, a positively charged resin, Q-Sepharose, was used, which purified NAP-2 more easily with other proteins that eluted as a single peak at 0.5 M NaCl. This fraction possessed both relaxing and supercoiling activities, and it was able to assemble regularly spaced nucleosomes onto naked DNA in an ATP-dependent manner. Second, a negatively charged resin (heparin) was used, which retained small amounts of NAP-2 (a very acidic polypeptide) and topoisomerase I. This fraction, although able to supercoil relaxed DNA, did so to a lesser extent than the Q-Sepharose fraction. The data suggest that NAP-2 is in complex(es) with other proteins, which are distinct from histones.

Novel localization of the DNA-PK complex in lipid rafts: a putative role in the signal transduction pathway of the ionizing radiation response

Increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR) has been shown to be due to defects in DNA double-strand break repair machinery. The major pathway in mammalian cells dedicated to the repair of DNA double-strand breaks is by the nonhomologous end-joining machinery. Six components function in this pathway, of which three (Ku70, Ku86, and DNA-PKcs) constitute a protein complex known as DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). However, it is now recognized that the cellular radiation response is complex, and radiosensitivity may be also regulated at different levels in the radiation signal transduction pathway. In addition to DNA damage, exposure to IR triggers intracellular signaling cascades that overlap with pathways initiated by ligand engagement to a receptor. In this study, we provide evidence for the novel localization of the DNA-PK complex in lipid rafts. We also show this property is not a generalized characteristic of all DNA repair proteins. Furthermore, we have detected Ku86 in yeast lipid rafts. Our results suggest that the components of this complex might be recruited separately to the plasma membrane by tethering with raft-resident proteins. In addition, we found an irradiation-induced differential protein phosphorylation pattern dependent upon DNA-PKcs in lipid rafts. Thus, we speculate that another role for the DNA-PKcs subunit and perhaps for the holoenzyme is in the signal transduction of IR response.