Ku complex interacts with and stimulates the Werner protein

Marcus P. Cooper, Amrita Machwe, David K. Orren, Robert M. Brosh, Dale Ramsden, Vilhelm A. Bohr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

286 Scopus citations

Abstract

Werner syndrome (WS) is the hallmark premature aging disorder in which affected humans appear older than their chronological age. The protein WRNp, defective in WS, has helicase function, DNA-dependent ATPase, and exonuclease activity. Although WRNp functions in nucleic acid metabolism, there is little or no information about the pathways or protein interactions in which it participates. Here we identify Ku70 and Ku86 as proteins that interact with WRNp. Although Ku proteins had no effect on ATPase or helicase activity, they strongly stimulated specific exonuclease activity. These results suggest that WRNp and the Ku complex participate in a common DNA metabolic pathway.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)907-912
Number of pages6
JournalGenes and Development
Volume14
Issue number8
StatePublished - Apr 15 2000

Keywords

  • Exonuclease activity
  • Ku proteins
  • WRNp
  • Werner syndrome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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