Conversion of Ku80 K568 crotonylation to SUMOylation facilitates DNA non-homologous end joining and cancer radioresistance

Abstract Chemo-/radioresistance of malignant tumors hampers cancer control and increases patient mortality. Efficient repair of damaged DNA is critical for the maintenance of genomic integrity and fidelity of genetic information. In reverse, increased DNA repair capability in cancer cells contributes to chemo-/radioresistance of malignant tumors. DNA double-strand break (DSB) is the most serious DNA damage and is also the principal molecular basis of radiotherapy. Upon DNA damage, the Ku80 is recruited and forms a critical DNA-PK complex at the DSB sites with Ku70 and the catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) to initiate DNA repair. How DNA-PK is assembled and activated is not fully understood. Based on the identification of radiation-reduced Ku80 K568 crotonylation through quantitative global lysine crotonylome analysis, we reveal that Ku80 K568 is crotonylated by p300-CBP-associated factor (PCAF). Upon DNA damage, the K568cr is decrotonylated by HDAC8 (Histone deacetylase 8). Decrotonylation of K568cr empties this site for the subsequent SUMOylation of Ku80 by CBX4. The conversion of Ku80 from K568 crotonylation to SUMOylation facilitates the assembly of DNA-PK complex and autophosphorylation of DNA-PKcs S2056, consequently activating the DSB repair. Moreover, mutation disrupting the post-translational modification (PTM) of Ku80 K568 site sensitizes cancer cells to radiotherapy in tumor-bearing nude mice models. This study elucidates the conversion model between two different forms of PTMs in the regulation of DNA-PK complex assembly and DSB repair, highlighting this model’s potential in controlling chemo-/radioresistance of malignant tumors, as well as expands the atlas of therapeutic targets.