Ku70

Ku70 is a is_associated_with::protein that, in humans, is encoded by the XRCC6 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
Together, Ku70 and is_associated_with::Ku80 make up the Ku heterodimer, which binds to is_associated_with::DNA double-strand break ends and is required for the is_associated_with::non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway of is_associated_with::DNA repair. It is also required for is_associated_with::V(D)J recombination, which utilizes the NHEJ pathway to promote antigen diversity in the mammalian is_associated_with::immune system.

In addition to its role in NHEJ, Ku is also required for telomere length maintenance and subtelomeric gene silencing.

Ku was originally identified when patients with is_associated_with::systemic lupus erythematosus were found to have high levels of autoantibodies to the protein.

Aging
Mouse embryonic stem cells with homozygous Ku70 mutations, that is Ku70(-/-) cells, have markedly increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation compared to heterozygous Ku70(+/-) or wild-type Ku70(+/+) embryonic stem cells. Mutant mice deficient in Ku70 exhibit early aging. Using several specific criteria of aging, the mutant mice were found to display the same aging signs as control mice, but at a considerably earlier chronological age. These results suggest that reduced ability to repair DNA double-strand breaks causes early aging, and that the wild-type Ku70 gene plays an important role in longevity assurance. (Also see DNA damage theory of aging.)

Nomenclature
Ku70 has been referred to by several names including:
 * Lupus Ku autoantigen protein p70
 * ATP-dependent DNA helicase 2 subunit 1
 * X-ray repair complementing defective repair in Chinese hamster cells 6
 * X-ray repair cross-complementing 6 (XRCC6)

Interactions
Ku70 has been shown to interact with:


 * CBX5,
 * is_associated_with::CHEK1,
 * CREBBP,
 * is_associated_with::GCN5L2,
 * is_associated_with::HOXC4,
 * is_associated_with::Ku80,
 * is_associated_with::MRE11A,
 * is_associated_with::NCOA6,
 * NCF4,
 * is_associated_with::PCNA,
 * is_associated_with::PTTG1,
 * is_associated_with::RPA2,
 * is_associated_with::TERF2,
 * TERT
 * is_associated_with::VAV1, and
 * WRN.