Non-homologous end joining factors XLF, PAXX and DNA-PKcs support neural stem and progenitor cells development

Abstract

Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a major DNA repair pathway in mammalian cells that recognizes, processes and fixes DNA damages throughout the cell cycle, and is specifically important for homeostasis of post-mitotic neurons and developing lymphocytes. Neuronal apoptosis increases in the mice lacking core NHEJ factors Ku70 and Ku80. Inactivation of other core NHEJ genes, either Xrcc4 or Lig4, leads to massive neuronal apoptosis in the central nervous system (CNS) that correlates with embryonic lethality in mice. Inactivation of one accessory NHEJ gene,e.g. Paxx, Mri and Dna-pkcs, results in normal CNS development due to compensatory effects of Xlf. Combined inactivation of Xlf/Paxx, Xlf/Mri and Xlf/Dna-pkcs, however, results in late embryonic lethality and high levels of apoptosis in CNS. To determine the impact of accessory NHEJ on early stages of neurodevelopment, we isolated neural stem and progenitors cells from mouse embryos and investigated proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation capacity of these cells lacking either Xlf,Paxx, Dna-pkcs, Xlf/Paxx or Xlf/Dna-pkcs. We found that accessory NHEJ factors are important for maintaining the neural stem and progenitor cell populations and neurodevelopment in mammals, which is particularly evident in the double knockout models.