High impact information on rad50

• Here, we show that null mutations in the Drosophila mre11 and rad50 genes cause both telomeric fusion and chromosome breakage [1].
• A 45-fold increase in the frequency of anaphase bridges was detected in the brains of Rad50 deficient larvae, consistent with a role for Rad50 in telomere maintenance and/or replication of DNA [2].
• Disruption of Drosophila Rad50 causes pupal lethality, the accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks and the induction of apoptosis in third instar larvae [2].
• To elucidate the role of the Rad50 protein complex in DSB repair in a multicellular eukaryote, we generated a Rad50 deficient Drosophila strain by P-element mediated mutagenesis [2].

Biological context of rad50

• It has been previously shown that mutations in the Drosophila mre11 and rad50 genes cause both telomere fusion and chromosome breakage [3].

Physical interactions of rad50

• The Drosophila Mre11/Rad50 complex is required to prevent both telomeric fusion and chromosome breakage [1].

Other interactions of rad50

• Larval brain cells of nbs mutants display telomeric associations (TAs) but the frequency of these TAs is lower than in either mre11 or rad50 mutants [3].

References