Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) retrotransposition poses a threat to genome integrity, and cells have evolved mechanisms to restrict retrotransposition. However, how cellular proteins facilitate L1 retrotransposition requires elucidation. Here, we demonstrate that single-strand DNA breaks induced by the L1 endonuclease trigger the recruitment of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 2 (PARP2) to L1 integration sites and that PARP2 activation leads to the subsequent recruitment of the replication protein A (RPA) complex to facilitate retrotransposition. We further demonstrate that RPA directly binds activated PARP2 through poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and can protect single-strand L1 integration intermediates from APOBEC3-mediated cytidine deamination in vitro. Paradoxically, we provide evidence that RPA can guide APOBEC3A, and perhaps other APOBEC3 proteins, to sites of L1 integration. Thus, the interplay of L1-encoded and evolutionarily conserved cellular proteins is required for efficient retrotransposition; however, these interactions also may be exploited to restrict L1 retrotransposition in the human genome.(A) The L1.3 ORF2p-3FLAG expression vector (pTMO2F3). The CMV promoter (black arrow) and 5 0 UTR augment L1 expression. Also indicated are the FLAG epitope tag, SV40 polyadenylation signal, and the EN, Z, RT, and cysteine-rich (C) domains. (B) The ORF2p-3FLAG complex. HEK293T cells were transfected with pAD500 (ORF2p-TAP) or pTMO2F3 (ORF2p-3FLAG). Left: the ORF2p-3FLAG complex was purified using anti-FLAG antibody-conjugated beads, separated on a denaturing polyacrylamide gel, and visualized by silver staining. Right: ORF2p-3FLAG was detected by western blot. Input, the whole-cell lysate used in the IP. Arrows, ORF2p-3FLAG. (C) Validation of proteins in the ORF2p-3FLAG complex. ORF2p-3FLAG complexes were purified (see B) from HEK293T cells transfected with a full-length (pTMF3, lane 2) or monocistronic (pTMO2F3, lane 4) L1 expression constructs. The ORF1p-1FLAG complex was purified from cells transfected with pJM101/L1.3FLAG (lane 5). The pJM101/L1.3 and pAD001 samples (lanes 1 and 3, respectively) served as negative controls. Input, western blot lanes of whole-cell lysate used in the IP. Red triangles, FLAG tags; SSB, single-strand break; NHEJ, non-homologous end-joining; NER, nucleotide excision repair. See also Figure S1 and Table S1.