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Kendall Knight, Ph.D.Academic Role: Professor
Faculty Appointment(s) In:
Other Affiliation(s):
Genetic recombination and homologous recombinational DNA repair in human cells: Rad51-mediated DNA double-strand break repair.
Human Rad51 and related proteins The majority of our current work is dedicated to studies of the coordinated action of the human Rad51 and the Rad51 paralog proteins (Xrcc3 and Rad51C). In our initial work we took advantage of several improvements we made in immunofluorescence methods to show that Rad51, Rad51C, and Xrcc3 have a significant cytoplasmic presence in human cells, and that as a function of DNA damage Rad51 and Rad51C are re-distributed toward the nuclear periphery and into the nucleus (Figs. 1 & 2, and see Forget, Bennett & Knight, 2004; Bennett & Knight, 2005). Ongoing work addresses the mechanism of this cytoplasmic-to-nuclear transport.
An important early outcome of this work was the demonstration that Rad51C regulates the ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of Rad51 in a DNA damage-dependent manner (see Bennett & Knight, 2005). It is likely that ubiquitin -mediated proteolysis plays an important role in either removing Rad51 from repaired segments of DNA, or as a general mechanism to regulate levels of Rad51. Ongoing studies address mechanistic and cellular aspects of this finding.
4Pi microscopy We have recently published the first successful use of high-resolution 4Pi microscopy to visualize endogenous nuclear proteins (see Bewersdorf et al., 2006). 4Pi microscope technology was created in the laboratory of Stefan W. Hell, and offers a significant improvement in z-axis resolution (the optical axis). The illuminating light from two perfectly aligned opposing objective lenses interferes constructively within the sample, thereby improving resolution (Fig. 4). A similar constructive interference of the collected fluorescent light adds to the increase in resolution, providing an approximate 6-fold improvement in z-axis resolution over standard confocal microscopes. http://www.mpibpc.gwdg.de/groups/hell/4Pi.htm
Until our recent work, technical limitations prevented imaging of endogenous proteins in a cell’s nucleus using 4Pi microscopy, but we have now overcome this problem. Our first efforts were directed at imaging histones H2AX and g -H2AX, a phosphorylated version of g-H2AX that appears immediately following DNA damage and serves as a mark for the site of a DNA break. This work supports a model in which chromatin structures carrying clusters of H2AX serve as platforms for the immediate response to DNA damage, and also serve to limit the spread of H2AX phosphorylation (Figs. 5 & 6; movies 1 & 2; see Bewersdorf et al., 2006).
Movie One Movie Two In continuing work using 4Pi microscopy we are looking at changes in chromatin structures and modification relevant to DNA damage and repair, and how insults to genome stability effects the location and potential interactions among Rad51 and other proteins involved in DNA damage signaling and repair. Some of this work is being in collaboration with Lake Placid Biologicals (LP Bio), where efforts are underway to develop improved reagents and methodologies useful for 4Pi and other high resolution imaging technologies. Bacterial RecA Our current studies of genome stability in human cells and Rad51-mediated DNA repair derive from work on the related bacterial RecA protein. Both RecA and human Rad51 bind to single-stranded regions at DNA breaks and form a helical nucleoprotein filament, which then initiates strand exchange and transfer of information between homologous DNA molecules, most frequently a sister chromatid following DNA replication (McGrew & Knight, 2003). RecA and human Rad51 have similar structural and functional properties, but also show distinct differences in their structure-function relationships (see De Zutter & Knight, 1999). We showed that Phe217 is a critical subunit interface residue in RecA that regulates the flow of ATP-mediated allosteric information throughout the protein filament (see De Zutter et al., 2001). However, the human Rad51 protein does not have an aromatic residue conserved at this position, and any ATP-mediated allosteric effect on its overall function appears to be significantly more subtle than that observed for RecA (Fig 3 above; see Forget et al., 2007). In what is likely our final project with bacterial RecA, we addressed a long-standing question in the recombination field – what is the protein unit that initiates filament assembly on ssDNA? Because purified RecA protein exists as a heterogeneous mix of various oligomeric states, e.g. monomer, dimer, trimer, hexamer, short filaments, etc., it has been impossible to confirm the original idea that a monomer of RecA is the nucleating unit for filament assembly. However, we have recently published a study in which we created a fused RecA dimer and showed that this protein is perfectly capable of forming filaments on ssDNA and catalyzing recombinational DNA repair (see Forget et al., 2006). Therefore, in the cell, where it is important for RecA to respond immediately to DNA damage, it is very likely that a mixture of monomers, as well as pre-formed dimers and perhaps trimers of RecA nucleate filament formation. In addition to providing a detailed molecular understanding of homologous genetic recombination, and the mechanisms by which multifunctional, oligomeric enzymes and protein complexes coordinate a variety of activities to carry out the ordered enzymatic process, our work will offer insights into processes critical for maintenance of genome stability. PublicationsForget, A.L.*, Loftus, M.*, McGrew, D.A., Bennett, B.T. & Knight, K.L. (2007) The Human Rad51 ATP Site Mutant K133A is Functional for DNA Double-strand Repair in Human Cells. Biochemistry 46, 3566-3575. Bewersdorf, J.*, Bennett, B.T.* & Knight, K.L. (2006) H2AX Chromatin Structures Revealed by 4Pi Microscopy and Their Response to DNA Damage. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A. 103, 18137-18142.. Forget, A.L. *, Kudron, M.M. *, McGrew, D.A., Calmann, M., Schiffer, C. and Knight, K.L. (2006) RecA Dimers Serve as a Functional Unit for Assembly of Active Nucleoprotein Filaments. Biochemistry 45, 13537-13542 Bennett, B.T. and Knight, K.L. (2005) Cellular Localization of Human Rad51C and Regulation of Ubiquitin-mediated Proteolysis of Rad51. J. Cell. Biochem. 96, 1095-1109 McGrew, D.A. and Knight, K.L. (2005) RecA Superfamily Proteins (review) Encyclopedia Molec Cell Biol. Molec. Med. Volume 11, 2nd edition (Ed. - R.A. Myers), pp. 525-549. Lloyd, J.A., McGrew, D.A. and Knight, K.L. (2005) Identification of Residues Important for DNA Binding in the Full Length Human Rad52 Protein. J. Mol. Biol. 345, 239-249 Forget, A.L., Bennett, B.T. and Knight, K.L. (2004) Xrcc3 is Recruited to DNA Double Strand Breaks Early and Independent of Rad51. J. Cell. Biochem. 93, 429-436 McGrew, D.A. and Knight, K.L. (2003) Molecular Design and Functional Organization of the RecA Protein. Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 38, 385-432. Lloyd, J.A., Forget, A.L. and Knight, K.L. (2002) Correlation of Biochemical Properties with the Oligomeric State of Human Rad52. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 46172-46178. Logan, K.M., Forget, A.L., Verderese, J.P. and Knight, K.L. (2001) ATP-Mediated Changes in Cross-Subunit Interactions in the RecA Protein. Biochemistry 40, 11382-11389. De Zutter, J.A.K., Forget, A.L., Logan, K.M. and Knight, K.L. (2001) Phe217 Regulates the Transfer of Allosteric Information Across the Subunit Interface of the RecA Protein Filament. Structure 9, 47-55. Eldin, S., Forget, A.L., Lindenmuth, D.M., Logan, K.L. and Knight, K.L. (2000) Determinants of Oligomer Stability in the N-terminal Region of RecA Protein. J. Mol. Biol. 299, 91-101. De Zutter, J.A.K. and Knight, K.L. (1999) The hRad51 and RecA Proteins Show Significant Differences in Cooperative Binding to Single-Stranded DNA. J. Mol. Biol. 293, 769-780. Konola, J.T., Guzzo, A., Gow, J.-B., Walker, G.C. and Knight, K.L. (1998) Differential Cleavage of LexA and UmuD Mediated by recA Pro67 Mutants: Implications for Common LexA and UmuD Binding Sites on RecA. J. Mol. Biol. 276, 405-415. Kelley, J.A. and Knight, K.L. (1997) Allosteric Regulation of RecA Protein Function is Mediated by Gln194. J. Biol. Chem. 272, 25778-25782. Logan, K.M., Skiba, M.C., Eldin, S. and Knight, K.L. (1997) Mutant RecA Proteins Which Form Small Oligomers Approximating the Size of Hexamers. J. Mol. Biol. 266, 306-316.
Rotation ProjectsMany aspects of our work are suitable for rotation projects. Depending on specific interests, students will develop rotation projects in consultation with the P.I. and lab members. For more specific information please visit the other sections of my faculty web site. Rotations may be planned for half or full semesters. Students will attend weekly group meetings and present the results of their studies.
Laboratory PersonnelPost-doctoral Research Associates Post-doctoral fellows Graduate Students
Academic BackgroundDr. Knight received his Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry at U.C. Riverside in 1981. He worked as an American Cancer Society post-doctoral fellow with Kevin McEntee at the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine from 1981-1985, and was awarded a Charles A. King Trust research fellowship for post-doctoral work with Bob Sauer in the Department of Biology at M.I.T. from 1985-1989.
Office: S1-824D
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Work in our laboratory is focused on understanding the catalysis and regulation of Rad51-mediated DNA repair in human cells. Research involves biochemical and cell biological studies of Rad51, as well as the contribution of various Rad51-interacting proteins to the overall mechanism of Rad51 function, e.g. Rad51C, Xrcc3, Brca2, etc. We are also engaged in biochemical and biophysical studies of the molecular design of proteins that participate in the catalysis of homologous genetic recombination and recombinational DNA repair. Our research takes advantage of a number of experimental approaches in genetics,RNAi, cell biology, microscopy, molecular biology, protein chemistry/enzymology and biophysics aimed at providing a molecular and cellular description of the catalytic organization of the Rad51 protein and Rad51 protein complexes. 
For our mutagenesis studies of human Rad51 we are creating single and multiple mutations in targeted domains, e.g. the ATP and DNA binding sites, the oligomeric interface, protein-protein interaction domains, etc. to identify important determinants of different aspects of protein structure and function. Specific mutant proteins are chosen to analyze using cell-based recombination and DNA repair assays, and for purification and detailed in vitro analyses of their biochemical and structural properties. Our recent study of mutations in the Rad51 ATP binding site revealed an unexpected result that, in fact, supports a long-standing model for how recombinase enzymes such as Rad51 and bacterial RecA use the energy derived from ATP binding and turnover/release to promote recombination. We found that a mutant Rad51 carrying a Lys-to-Ala substitution in the Walker A motif of the ATP binding site was partially functional in a cell-based DNA repair assay (see Forget et al., 2007). In this work we showed that the purified protein binds ATP but with an affinity approximately100-fold lower than wild type Rad51 (Fig. 3). This was important because it is commonly assumed that this mutation prohibits ATP binding in any ATP-binding protein into which it is introduced. Therefore, our data supports a model in which ATP binding promotes nucleoprotein filament assembly and function in the recombination process, while ATP hydrolysis and release of ADP (or simple release of non-hydrolyzed ATP in the case of the Lys-to-Ala mutant protein) promotes filament disassembly.
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