Hdf1 is the yeast homologue of the mammalian 70 kDa subunit of Ku-protein, which has DNA end-binding activity and is involved in DNA double-strand break repair and V(D)J recombination. To examine whether Hdf1 is involved in illegitimate recombination, we have measured the rate of deletion mutation caused by illegitimate recombination on a plasmid in an hdf1 disruptant. The hdf1 mutation reduced...

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are created by ionizing radiation, an important environmental genotoxic agent. DSB are repaired by two mechanisms associated with recombination. In eukaryotic cells homologous recombination depends on genes belonging to the RAD52 epistatic group. Alternative pathway, DNA end-joining in non-homologous recombination involves DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK).

Accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes at the first meiotic division requires the tight coordination of DNA replication, homologous recombination and chromosome organization. Recent studies suggest that the initiation of meiotic recombination is mechanistically coupled to premeiotic DNA replication.