Exploring the Function of Hob1 in the Non-Homologous End Joining Repair Pathway in Schizosaccharomyces Pombe

Abstract

Mutations in DNA induce many diseases, including cancer. The human protein, Bin1, has anticancer properties and interacts with proteins involved in maintaining DNA stability and integrity. Work completed at the AU Cancer Center has shown that the Bin1 protein is specifically involved in the inhibition of the non-homologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ), a pathway that repairs DNA breaks. However, NHEJ is mutagenic because the DNA break is restored but some nucleotides are removed. To complement this work, we are investigating the role of Hob1, the homolog of Bin1, in fission yeast, in NHEJ. If Hob1 functions in a similar manner to Bin1, then removal of Hob1 from yeast should increase the cells’ ability to repair breaks in the DNA. We are testing this hypothesis using a genetic yeast transformation protocol that measures how efficient the yeast are at converting a linear piece of DNA into a repaired circular piece of DNA. Our data from two independent experiments show that removal of Hob1 has increased the rate of NHEJ. This result supports the hypothesis that Hob1 and Bin1 have a similar role in the repair process of DNA breaks.