DNA-PKcs kinase activity orchestrates both end-processing and end-ligation

Recent structural studies have revealed the atomic details of how the DNA-PKcs kinase protects DNA ends, recruits and activates Artemis endonuclease for end-processing, and phosphorylates itself for end-ligation, revealing the molecular details from end-processing to end-ligation, two critical phases of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) DNA-double strand break repair pathway.

Automated summary

Recent structural studies have revealed the molecular details of the DNA-PKcs kinase's crucial role in the non-homologous end-joining DNA-double strand break repair pathway. These studies have highlighted how the kinase protects DNA ends, recruits and activates endonucleases for end-processing, and phosphorylates itself for end-ligation.