Ku-86 Activators

Common Ku-86 Activators include, but are not limited to Cisplatin CAS 15663-27-1, Retinoic Acid, all trans CAS 302-79-4, Lipopolysaccharide, E. coli O55:B5 CAS 93572-42-0, Hydrogen Peroxide CAS 7722-84-1 and Fluorouracil CAS 51-21-8.

Ku86, also known as XRCC5, is a subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex. Along with Ku70, it plays a crucial role in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), a primary pathway for repairing double-strand DNA breaks in mammalian cells. Ku-86 Activators are a category of compounds or factors that influence the activity of the Ku protein, specifically the Ku-86 subunit. Ku is a critical component of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex, which plays a fundamental role in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). DSBs are one of the most detrimental forms of DNA damage, that fucntion to cause mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, and cell death. To counteract these damaging effects, cells have evolved intricate mechanisms for repairing DSBs, and the Ku-86 Activators are central to this process.

Ku-86 Activators impact the function of the Ku-86 protein, a DNA-binding subunit of the Ku heterodimer (which also includes Ku-70). Together, Ku-86 and Ku-70 form a ring-shaped complex that encircles the broken DNA ends, serving as an anchor point for other DNA repair proteins, including DNA-PKcs (catalytic subunit of DNA-PK). This assembly ultimately initiates the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair pathway, which rejoins the broken DNA strands. The activation or modulation of Ku-86's function can significantly influence the efficiency and fidelity of NHEJ, and thus, the overall genomic stability of the cell. Understanding Ku-86 Activators is pivotal in the context of cancer research, aging, and radiation biology, as they offer insights into the cellular mechanisms that safeguard the genome against harmful DNA lesions. Additionally, the study of Ku-86 Activators contributes to the broader field of DNA repair and genomic stability, with implications for various biological processes beyond DNA damage response and repair.