APLF is a forkhead associated-containing protein with poly(ADP-ribose)-binding zinc finger (PBZ) domains, which undergoes ionizing radiation (IR)-induced and Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM)-dependent phosphorylation at serine-116 (Ser116). Here, we demonstrate that the phosphorylation of APLF at Ser116 in human U2OS cells by ATM is dependent on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 3 (PARP3) levels and the APLF PBZ domains. The interaction of APLF at sites of DNA damage was diminished by the single substitution of APLF Ser116 to alanine, and the cellular depletion or chemical inhibition of ATM or PARP3 also altered the level of accumulation of APLF at sites of laser-induced DNA damage and impaired the accumulation of Ser116-phosphorylated APLF at IR-induced γH2AX foci in human cells. The data further suggest that ATM and PARP3 participate in a common signalling pathway to facilitate APLF-Ser116 phosphorylation, which, in turn, appears to be required for efficient DNA double-strand break repair kinetics and cell survival following IR. Collectively, these findings provide a more detailed understanding of the molecular pathway that leads to the phosphorylation of APLF following DNA damage and suggest that Ser116-APLF phosphorylation facilitates APLF-dependent double-strand break repair.

Background: APLF interacts with Ku and facilitates nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ).Results: APLF possesses a Ku-binding motif, and disruption of the APLF-Ku interaction impairs both NHEJ and the nuclear retention of APLF. Conclusion: The APLF-Ku interaction is functionally important in DNA repair and may be important for APLF stability. Significance: The APLF Ku-binding motif appears to represent a general Ku-binding motif.

This work deals with the role of myosin phosphorylation in anaphase chromosome movement. Y27632 and ML7 block two different pathways for phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC). Both stopped or slowed chromosome movement when added to anaphase crane-fly spermatocytes. To confirm that the effects of the pharmacological agents were on the presumed targets, we studied cells stained with antibodies against mono- or bi-phosphorylated myosin. For all chromosomes whose movements were affected by a drug, the corresponding spindle fibres of the affected chromosomes had reduced levels of 1P- and 2P-myosin. Thus the drugs acted on the presumed target and myosin phosphorylation is involved in anaphase force production. Calyculin A, an inhibitor of MRLC dephosphorylation, reversed and accelerated the altered movements caused by Y27632 and ML-7, suggesting that another phosphorylation pathway is involved in phosphorylation of spindle myosin. Staurosporine, a more general phosphorylation inhibitor, also reduced the levels of MRLC phosphorylation and caused anaphase chromosomes to stop or slow. The effects of staurosporine on chromosome movements were not reversed by Calyculin A, confirming that another phosphorylation pathway is involved in phosphorylation of spindle myosin.