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PMID: 16518468 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Making ends meet: repairing breaks in bacterial DNA by non-homologous end-joining.

PLoS genetics ·Vol. 2 ·No. 2 ·2006-02-00 ·Pages e8

Bowater R, Doherty AJ

Abstract

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are one of the most dangerous forms of DNA lesion that can result in genomic instability and cell death. Therefore cells have developed elaborate DSB-repair pathways to maintain the integrity of genomic DNA. There are two major pathways for the repair of DSBs in eukaryotes: homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). Until very recently, the NHEJ pathway had been thought to be restricted to the eukarya. However, an evolutionarily related NHEJ apparatus has now been identified and characterized in the prokarya. Here we review the recent discoveries concerning bacterial NHEJ and discuss the possible origins of this repair system. We also examine the insights gained from the recent cellular and biochemical studies of this DSB-repair process and discuss the possible cellular roles of an NHEJ pathway in the life-cycle of prokaryotes and phages.

MeSH Terms
Bacteriophages/genetics,metabolism DNA Damage DNA Helicases/metabolism DNA Ligases/metabolism DNA Repair DNA, Bacterial/genetics,metabolism Humans Models, Biological Phylogeny Protein Structure, Tertiary Recombination, Genetic
Chemicals
DNA, Bacterial DNA Helicases DNA Ligases
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Bowater Richard
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.
Doherty Aidan J
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Article Info
Journal
PLoS genetics
Abbr.
PLoS Genet
ISSN
1553-7404
DOI
10.1371/journal.pgen.0020008
Published
2006-02-00
Pages
e8
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101239074
PMCID
PMC1378119
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0020008 PMC Full Text View journal details
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