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1: Mol Cell. 2008 Jun 20;30(6):803-10.
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A Rad51 presynaptic filament is sufficient to capture nucleosomal homology during recombinational repair of a DNA double-strand break.

Sinha M, Peterson CL.

Program in Molecular Medicine, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.

Repair of chromosomal DNA double-strand breaks by homologous recombination is essential for cell survival and genome stability. Within eukaryotic cells, this repair pathway requires a search for a homologous donor sequence and a subsequent strand invasion event on chromatin fibers. We employ a biotin-streptavidin minichromosome capture assay to show that yRad51 or hRad51 presynaptic filaments are sufficient to locate a homologous sequence and form initial joints, even on the surface of a nucleosome. Furthermore, we present evidence that the Rad54 chromatin-remodeling enzyme functions to convert these initial metastable products of the homology search to a stable joint molecule that is competent for subsequent steps of the repair process. Thus, contrary to popular belief, nucleosomes do not pose a potent barrier for successful recognition and capture of homology by an invading presynaptic filament.

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PMID: 18570881 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]