Understanding the molecular dynamics of NHEJ-mediated synapsis

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Our cells contain DNA, the so called 'genetic blueprint of life' which encodes the information for our genes. DNA has a simple repeating structure composed of two complementary strands of DNA which form a double-helix structure. The integrity of DNA is constantly being challenged by various DNA-damaging agents. These agents include high energy UV and X-ray radiation from the sun, chemicals both man-made and environmental and even the oxygen we breathe can attack and damage DNA. In recent years it has been realised that our own cells produce a large number of proteins responsible for repairing this DNA damage which, if left unchecked, would lead to the development of conditions such as cancer. These protein 'machines' can cut out and replace aberrant DNA mutations/structures and splice together broken DNA strands. One such protein is called DNA ligase, which interacts with a partner protein, Ku. These proteins are able to detect physical breaks in the DNA helices, bring the ends back together and reseal these breaks thus restore the double-strand integrity of the DNA. The focus of this work is to understand how these proteins can bridge the break and make the DNA ends come back together prior to the sealing step.