Papers In Press, published online ahead of print November 2, 2007
J. Biol. Chem, 10.1074/jbc.M706647200
Submitted on August 10, 2007
Revised on October 29, 2007
Accepted on November 2, 2007
Isolation of XAB2 complex involved in pre-mRNA splicing, transcription and transcription-coupled repair
Isao Kuraoka, Shinsuke Ito, Tadashi Wada, Mika Hayashida, Lily Lee, Masafumi Saijo, Yoshimichi Nakatsu, Megumi Matsumoto, Tsukasa Matsunaga, Hiroshi Handa, Jun Qin, Yoshihiro Nakatani, and Kiyoji Tanaka
Cancer Biochemistry, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka 811-1395
Corresponding Author: ikuraoka{at}nk-cc.go.jp
Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a versatile repair pathway that counteracts the deleterious effects of various DNA lesions. In NER, there is a transcription-coupled repair (TCR) pathway that focuses on DNA damage which blocks RNA polymerase IIo in transcription elongation. XAB2 (XPA-binding protein 2), containing tetratricopeptide repeats, has been isolated by virtue of its ability to interact with xeroderma pigmentosum group A protein (XPA). Moreover, XAB2 has been shown to interact with Cockayne syndrome group A and B proteins (CSA and CSB) and RNA polymerase II as well as XPA, and is involved in TCR and transcription. Here, we purified XAB2 as a multimeric protein complex consisting of hAquarius, XAB2, hPRP19, CCDC16, hISY1, and PPIE, which are involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Knockdown of XAB2 with siRNA in HeLa cells resulted in a hypersensitivity to killing by UV and a decreased recovery of RNA synthesis after UV-irradiation and regular RNA synthesis. Enhanced interaction of XAB2 with RNA polymerase IIo or XPA was observed in cells treated with DNA-damaging agents, indicating DNA damage-responsive activity of the XAB2 complex. These results indicated that the XAB2 complex is a multifunctional factor involved in pre-mRNA splicing, transcription, and TCR.