@article {2922,
	title = {LEM-3 - A LEM domain containing nuclease involved in the DNA damage response in C. elegans.},
	journal = {PLoS One},
	volume = {7},
	number = {2},
	year = {2012},
	month = {2012},
	pages = {e24555},
	abstract = {The small nematode Caenorhabditis elegans displays a spectrum of DNA damage responses similar to humans. In order to identify new DNA damage response genes, we isolated in a forward genetic screen 14 new mutations conferring hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation. We present here our characterization of lem-3, one of the genes identified in this screen. LEM-3 contains a LEM domain and a GIY nuclease domain. We confirm that LEM-3 has DNase activity in vitro. lem-3(lf) mutants are hypersensitive to various types of DNA damage, including ionizing radiation, UV-C light and crosslinking agents. Embryos from irradiated lem-3 hermaphrodites displayed severe defects during cell division, including chromosome mis-segregation and anaphase bridges. The mitotic defects observed in irradiated lem-3 mutant embryos are similar to those found in baf-1 (barrier-to-autointegration factor) mutants. The baf-1 gene codes for an essential and highly conserved protein known to interact with the other two C. elegans LEM domain proteins, LEM-2 and EMR-1. We show that baf-1, lem-2, and emr-1 mutants are also hypersensitive to DNA damage and that loss of lem-3 sensitizes baf-1 mutants even in the absence of DNA damage. Our data suggest that BAF-1, together with the LEM domain proteins, plays an important role following DNA damage - possibly by promoting the reorganization of damaged chromatin.},
	keywords = {Alleles, Animals, Apoptosis, Bacterial Proteins, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Cell Cycle, Chromatin, Cisplatin, Cross-Linking Reagents, DNA Damage, Endodeoxyribonucleases, Ethyl Methanesulfonate, Genetic Complementation Test, Luminescent Proteins, Membrane Proteins, Models, Genetic, Mutation, Nuclear Proteins, Phenotype, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Radiation, Ionizing, Subcellular Fractions, Transgenes, Ultraviolet Rays},
	issn = {1932-6203},
	doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0024555},
	author = {Dittrich, Christina M and Kratz, Katja and Sendoel, Ataman and Gruenbaum, Yosef and Jiricny, Josef and Hengartner, Michael O}
}
