Ku P70/P80, also known as the Ku heterodimer, is a crucial protein complex involved in DNA repair mechanisms. This complex consists of two subunits: Ku70 (P70) and Ku80 (P80). The recombinant form of this protein, produced in various expression systems, is widely used in research to study its functions and applications.
The Ku70/80 heterodimer was first identified from the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue . The Ku proteins were later found to play a significant role in DNA repair, particularly in the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, which is essential for repairing double-strand breaks in DNA .
The Ku heterodimer is composed of two polypeptides: a 70 kDa subunit (Ku70) and an 80 kDa subunit (Ku80). The recombinant form of Ku P70/P80 is often produced in insect cells (Sf9) and is glycosylated, with molecular masses of approximately 70,638 Daltons for Ku70 and 83,528 Daltons for Ku80 . The recombinant protein is typically tagged with a His-tag for purification purposes .
Ku P70/P80 plays a pivotal role in several cellular processes:
Mutations or deficiencies in Ku70 or Ku80 can lead to severe consequences, including increased sensitivity to radiation, defective DNA repair, and a higher risk of cancer . Studies have shown that downregulation or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes can contribute to various types of cancer, including breast, lung, and gastric cancers .
Recombinant Ku P70/P80 is used in various research applications, including: