RNF168 E3 ligase participates in ubiquitin signaling and recruitment of SLX4 during DNA crosslink repair. Katsuki et al
Description
SLX4/FANCP is a key Fanconi anemia (FA) protein and a DNA repair scaffold for incision around a DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) by its partner XPF nuclease. The tandem UBZ4 ubiquitin-binding domains of SLX4 are critical for the recruitment of SLX4 to damage sites, likely via binding to K63-linked polyubiquitin chains. However, the identity of the ubiquitin E3 ligase that mediates SLX4 recruitment remains unknown. Using siRNA screening with a GFP-tagged N-terminal half of SLX4 (termed SLX4-N), we identified RNF168 E3 ligase as a critical factor for mitomycin C (MMC)-induced SLX4 foci formation. RNF168 and GFP-SLX4-N colocalized in MMC-induced ubiquitin foci. Accumulation of SLX4-N at psoralen-laser ICL tracks or of endogenous SLX4 at Digoxigenin-psoralen/UVA ICL was dependent on RNF168. Finally, we found that RNF168 was epistatic with SLX4 in promoting MMC tolerance. We conclude that RNF168 is a critical component of the signal transduction that recruits SLX4 to ICL damage.