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Characterization of a Ku-binding motif in the C-terminal region of RAG2.

We applied an unsupervised interactome analysis with the RAG2 C-terminal region (R2CT) in v-abl pro-B cells undergoing V(D)J recombination. Mass-spectrometry analyses showed that Ku70 and Ku80 were among the top 10 hits. To further strengthen these observations, we performed Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) and characterize the existence of a GFP-R2CT-Ku complex formation in cellulo. The interaction of several partners with Ku70/80 (Ku) through Ku-binding motifs (KBMs) in their sequences governs their enrolment in NHEJ repair complexes. Through sequence analysis, we identified a KBM within R2CT (R-KBM, amino acids 589-527). We confirmed by calorimetry a specific micromolar interaction between this RAG2 region and Ku70/80/DNA complex. The RAG2 motif KBM can be subdivided in two conserved parts that have no interaction individually. AlphaFold2 prediction coupled with molecular dynamic simulations indicate that the C-terminal part of the RAG2 motif interacts with Ku80 on the same site than the NHEJ factor XLF. These in silico analyses indicated that the N-terminal part of the RAG2 motif interacts with DNA adjacent to Ku with a major role of the K503 residue in agreement with disruption of the interaction observed with the K503E mutant. This study further extends the large ensemble of proteins recruited at DSBs by KBM motifs and substantiates the model of a tight coupling between DNA breakage and repair during V(D)J recombination, mediated by the Ku-RAG2 C-terminus interaction.

Ku Autoantigen

Signalling thresholds and negative B-cell selection in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

B cells are selected for an intermediate level of B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signalling strength: attenuation below minimum (for example, non-functional BCR) or hyperactivation above maximum (for example, self-reactive BCR) thresholds of signalling strength causes negative selection. In ∼25% of cases, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells carry the oncogenic BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase (Philadelphia chromosome positive), which mimics constitutively active pre-BCR signalling. Current therapeutic approaches are largely focused on the development of more potent tyrosine kinase inhibitors to suppress oncogenic signalling below a minimum threshold for survival. We tested the hypothesis that targeted hyperactivation--above a maximum threshold--will engage a deletional checkpoint for removal of self-reactive B cells and selectively kill ALL cells. Here we find, by testing various components of proximal pre-BCR signalling in mouse BCR-ABL1 cells, that an incremental increase of Syk tyrosine kinase activity was required and sufficient to induce cell death. Hyperactive Syk was functionally equivalent to acute activation of a self-reactive BCR on ALL cells. Despite oncogenic transformation, this basic mechanism of negative selection was still functional in ALL cells. Unlike normal pre-B cells, patient-derived ALL cells express the inhibitory receptors PECAM1, CD300A and LAIR1 at high levels. Genetic studies revealed that Pecam1, Cd300a and Lair1 are critical to calibrate oncogenic signalling strength through recruitment of the inhibitory phosphatases Ptpn6 (ref. 7) and Inpp5d (ref. 8). Using a novel small-molecule inhibitor of INPP5D (also known as SHIP1), we demonstrated that pharmacological hyperactivation of SYK and engagement of negative B-cell selection represents a promising new strategy to overcome drug resistance in human ALL.

Amino Acid Motifs