Is Non-Homologous End-Joining Really an Inherently Error-Prone Process?

Is Non-Homologous End-Joining Really an Inherently Error-Prone Process?

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are harmful lesions leading to genomic instability or diversity. Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a prominent DSB repair pathway, which has long been considered to be error-prone. However, recent data have pointed to the intrinsic precision of NHEJ. Three reasons can account for the apparent fallibility of NHEJ: 1) the existence of a highly error-prone altern...

The Role of Error-Prone Alternative Non-Homologous End-Joining in Genomic Instability in Cancer

Is homologous recombination really an error-free process?

Homologous recombination (HR) is an evolutionarily conserved process that plays a pivotal role in the equilibrium between genetic stability and diversity. HR is commonly considered to be error-free, but several studies have shown that HR can be error-prone. Here, we discuss the actual accuracy of HR. First, we present the product of genetic exchanges (gene conversion, GC, and crossing over, CO)...

Modeling non-homologous end joining.

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is an important DNA repair pathway for DNA double-strand breaks. Several proteins, including Ku, DNA-PKcs, Artemis, XRCC4/Ligase IV and XLF, are involved in the NHEJ for the DNA damage detection, DNA free end processing and ligation. The classical model of NHEJ is a sequential model in which DNA-PKcs is first recruited by the Ku bound DNA prior to any other rep...

[Non-homologous DNA end joining].

DNA double strand breaks (DSB) are the most serious form of DNA damage. Repair of DSBs is important to prevent chromosomal fragmentation, translocations and deletions. Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is one of three major pathways for the repair of DSBs in human cells. In this process two DNA ends are joined directly, usually with no sequence homology, although in the case of same polarity of...