Taxonomic distribution of proteins containing ERCC4 domains

The tree below includes only several representative species and genera. The complete taxonomic breakdown of all proteins containing ERCC4 domains can be accessed here. Click the counts or percentage values to display the corresponding proteins.

The endogenous Mus81-Eme1 complex resolves Holliday junctions by a nickand counternick mechanism.

Gaillard PH, Noguchi E, Shanahan P, Russell P
Mol Cell. 2003; 12: 747-59

Functional studies strongly suggest that the Mus81-Eme1 complex resolvesHolliday junctions (HJs) in fission yeast, but in vitro it preferentiallycleaves flexible three-way branched structures that model replicationforks or 3' flaps. Here we report that a nicked HJ is the preferredsubstrate of endogenous and recombinant Mus81-Eme1. Cleavage occursspecifically on the strand that opposes the nick, resulting in resolutionof the structure into linear duplex products. Resolving cuts made by theendogenous Mus81-Eme1 complex on an intact HJ are quasi-simultaneous,indicating that Mus81-Eme1 resolves HJs by a nick and counternickmechanism, with a large rate enhancement of the second cut arising fromthe flexible nature of the nicked HJ intermediate. Recombinant Mus81-Eme1is ineffective at making the first cut. We also report that HJs accumulatein a DNA polymerase alpha mutant that lacks Mus81, providing furtherevidence that the Mus81-Eme1 complex targets HJs in vivo.

X-ray and biochemical anatomy of an archaeal XPF/Rad1/Mus81 familynuclease: similarity between its endonuclease domain and restrictionenzymes.

Nishino T, Komori K, Ishino Y, Morikawa K
Structure. 2003; 11: 445-57

The XPF/Rad1/Mus81-dependent nuclease family specifically cleaves branchedstructures generated during DNA repair, replication, and recombination,and is essential for maintaining genome stability. Here, we report thedomain organization of an archaeal homolog (Hef) of this family and theX-ray crystal structure of the middle domain, with the nuclease activity.The nuclease domain architecture exhibits remarkable similarity to thoseof restriction endonucleases, including the correspondence of theGDX(n)ERKX(3)D signature motif in Hef to the PDX(n)(E/D)XK motif inrestriction enzymes. This structural study also suggests that theXPF/Rad1/Mus81/ERCC1 proteins form a dimer through each interface of thenuclease domain and the helix-hairpin-helix domain. Simultaneousdisruptions of both interfaces result in their dissociation into separatemonomers, with strikingly reduced endonuclease activities.

Mus81-Eme1 are essential components of a Holliday junction resolvase.

Boddy MN, Gaillard PH, McDonald WH, Shanahan P, Yates JR 3rd, Russell P
Cell. 2001; 107: 537-48

Mus81, a fission yeast protein related to the XPF subunit of ERCC1-XPFnucleotide excision repair endonuclease, is essential for meiosis andimportant for coping with stalled replication forks. These processesrequire resolution of X-shaped DNA structures known as Holliday junctions.We report that Mus81 and an associated protein Eme1 are components of anendonuclease that resolves Holliday junctions into linear duplex products.Mus81 and Eme1 are required during meiosis at a late step of meioticrecombination. The mus81 meiotic defect is rescued by expression of abacterial Holliday junction resolvase. These findings constitute strongevidence that Mus81 and Eme1 are subunits of a nuclear Holliday junctionresolvase.