Ionizing radiation-induced Rad51 nuclear focus formation is cell cycle-regulated and defective in both ATM−/− and c-Abl−/− cells

In eukaryotes, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can be repaired by either non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR) pathways. Rad50 protein is a component of the Rad50/NBS1/Mre11 nuclease complex that functions in both the NHEJ and recombinational repair of DNA DSBs. On the other hand, Rad51 protein, a homolog of bacterial RecA and a member of the Rad52 epistasis group, plays a crucial role exclusively in the recombinational repair pathway. We analyzed the effects of cell cycle progression and genetic background on the ionizing radiation (IR)-induced Rad51 and Rad50 repair focus formation. Herein, we demonstrated that IR-induced Rad51, but not Rad50, nuclear focus formation was cell cycle-dependent. Furthermore, IR-induced Rad51 focus formation was defective in AT and c-Abl−/− cells, but not wild type or NBS cells. A decreased and delayed formation of Rad51 foci-containing nuclei was observed in AT cells upon IR, whereas in c-Abl−/− cells a decreased but not delayed formation of Rad51 foci-containing nuclei was observed. In conclusion, effective and prompt IR-induced Rad51 focus formation is cell cycle-regulated and requires both ATM and c-Abl.