Analysis of the role of homology arms in gene-targeting vectors in human cells

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 24;9(9):e108236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108236. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Random integration of targeting vectors into the genome is the primary obstacle in human somatic cell gene targeting. Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), a major pathway for repairing DNA double-strand breaks, is thought to be responsible for most random integration events; however, absence of DNA ligase IV (LIG4), the critical NHEJ ligase, does not significantly reduce random integration frequency of targeting vector in human cells, indicating robust integration events occurring via a LIG4-independent mechanism. To gain insights into the mechanism and robustness of LIG4-independent random integration, we employed various types of targeting vectors to examine their integration frequencies in LIG4-proficient and deficient human cell lines. We find that the integration frequency of targeting vector correlates well with the length of homology arms and with the amount of repetitive DNA sequences, especially SINEs, present in the arms. This correlation was prominent in LIG4-deficient cells, but was also seen in LIG4-proficient cells, thus providing evidence that LIG4-independent random integration occurs frequently even when NHEJ is functionally normal. Our results collectively suggest that random integration frequency of conventional targeting vectors is substantially influenced by homology arms, which typically harbor repetitive DNA sequences that serve to facilitate LIG4-independent random integration in human cells, regardless of the presence or absence of functional NHEJ.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • DNA End-Joining Repair
  • DNA Ligase ATP
  • DNA Ligases / genetics
  • DNA Ligases / metabolism*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Targeting* / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Humans

Substances

  • LIG4 protein, human
  • DNA Ligases
  • DNA Ligase ATP

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from Yokohama City University (Strategic Research Promotion G2201/G2301/G2401/S2501) and by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) of Japan. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.