Induction of recombination between homologous and diverged DNAs by double-strand gaps and breaks and role of mismatch repair.

Sequence homology is expected to influence recombination. To further understand mechanisms of recombination and the impact of reduced homology, we examined recombination during transformation between plasmid-borne DNA flanking a double-strand break (DSB) or gap and its chromosomal homolog. Previous reports have concentrated on spontaneous recombination or initiation by undefined lesions. Sequence divergence of approximately 16% reduced transformation frequencies by at least 10-fold. Gene conversion patterns associated with double-strand gap repair of episomal plasmids or with plasmid integration were analyzed by restriction endonuclease mapping and DNA sequencing. For episomal plasmids carrying homeologous DNA, at least one input end was always preserved beyond 10 bp, whereas for plasmids carrying homologous DNA, both input ends were converted beyond 80 bp in 60% of the transformants. The system allowed the recovery of transformants carrying mixtures of recombinant molecules that might arise if heteroduplex DNA--a presumed recombination intermediate--escapes mismatch repair. Gene conversion involving homologous DNAs frequently involved DNA mismatch repair, directed to a broken strand. A mutation in the PMS1 mismatch repair gene significantly increased the fraction of transformants carrying a mixture of plasmids for homologous DNAs, indicating that PMS1 can participate in DSB-initiated recombination. Since nearly all transformants involving homeologous DNAs carried a single recombinant plasmid in both Pms+ and Pms- strains, stable heteroduplex DNA appears less likely than for homologous DNAs. Regardless of homology, gene conversion does not appear to occur by nucleolytic expansion of a DSB to a gap prior to recombination. The results with homeologous DNAs are consistent with a recombinational repair model that we propose does not require the formation of stable heteroduplex DNA but instead involves other homology-dependent interactions that allow recombination-dependent DNA synthesis.     

In vivo intermolecular recombination in Escherichia coli: application to plasmid constructions

Repair of a double-strand break (DSB) was investigated by intermolecular recombination in Escherichia coli (Ec) recBC sbcBC cells with restriction enzyme-cleaved model plasmids. Circular plasmids were generated when a linearized plasmid (vector) containing an origin of replication was co-transformed with a DNA fragment (template) containing a homologous sequence. The influence of the position of the DSB in the vector was analyzed using templates which contain various genetic markers, non-homologous sequences and/or deletions relative to the vector. In all cases, when a DSB occurs within a marker, this marker is lost in the resulting plasmid, whereas markers flanked by homologous regions located in the vicinity of a DSB are transmitted. Insertions (deletions), substitutions and shuffling of genetic markers are possible by in vivo recombination using Ec and can be applied to plasmid constructions. It is shown that recombination can occur from both template ends or from one vector and one template end. A D-loop nuclease is suggested to participate in the resolution of the recombination intermediates     

Use of a small palindrome genetic marker to investigate mechanisms of double-strand-break repair in mammalian cells

We examined mechanisms of mammalian homologous recombination using a gene targeting assay in which the vector-borne region of homology to the chromosome bore small palindrome insertions that frequently escape mismatch repair when encompassed within heteroduplex DNA (hDNA). Our assay permitted the product(s) of each independent recombination event to be recovered for molecular analysis. The results revealed the following: (i) vector-borne double-strand break (DSB) processing usually did not yield a large double-strand gap (DSG); (ii) in 43% of the recombinants, the results were consistent with crossover at or near the DSB; and (iii) in the remaining recombinants, hDNA was an intermediate. The sectored (mixed) genotypes observed in 38% of the recombinants provided direct evidence for involvement of hDNA, while indirect evidence was obtained from the patterns of mismatch repair (MMR). Individual hDNA tracts were either long or short and asymmetric or symmetric on the one side of the DSB examined. Clonal analysis of the sectored recombinants revealed how vector-borne and chromosomal markers were linked in each strand of individual hDNA intermediates. As expected, vector-borne and chromosomal markers usually resided on opposite strands. However, in one recombinant, they were linked on the same strand. The results are discussed with particular reference to the double-strand-break repair (DSBR) model of recombination.     

Directional recombination is initiated at a double strand break in human nuclear extracts.

The involvement of a double strand break in the initiation of homologous recombination was examined in human nuclear extracts. M13 duplex derivatives, containing inserts in the LacZ' region (producing white plaques), were cleaved by restriction enzymes and coincubated in the extracts with a circular plasmid containing the LacZ' region without insert, and unable to produce plaques. Repair was estimated by the ability to produce plaques after transfection into JM109 (recA1) bacteria. Recombination with the plasmid enhances the number of plaques and also the frequency of M13 producing blue plaques. Heterologous insertions in the region surrounding the break were analyzed for their effects on initiation of recombination. The extent of repair by recombination (number of plaques) was compared with the number of blue plaques among the repaired population. Initiation of recombination is inhibited when heterologous insertions are located at 7bp from the break, on the right side as well as on the left side. A low level of recombination is measurable for 27 bp of homology but the maximum efficiency of recombination occurred with homologies of 165 or 320 bp from the break to the heterologous insertion. At 320 bp, the extent of recombinational repair remained at a plateau level but the frequency of blue plaques progressively decreases. We have also analyzed the effect of different sizes of inserts. With longer inserts, a longer length of homology adjacent to the break is required for optimum recombination. However, the size of the insert does not affect the low level of recombination that occurred with a short homology (27 bp). The results indicate that the process is initiated at or near the break, requires homology on both sides of the break and is followed by an elongation from the double strand break to the distal regions of the DNA. Our data provide some support to the double-strand-break repair model established for meiotic recombination in yeast.     

The RecE recombination pathway mediates recombination between partially homologous DNA sequences: structural analysis of recombination products

Escherichia coli generalized recombination, utilizing the RecA RecB recombination pathway, requires large stretches (70-200 bp) of complete DNA sequence homology. In contrast, we have found that the RecE pathway can promote recombination between DNA with only short stretches of homology. A plasmid containing 10 partially homologous direct repeats was linearized by digestion with specific restriction enzymes. After transformation, a RecE+ (sbcA) host was able to circularize the plasmid by recombination between partially homologous direct repeat sequences. Recombination occurred in regions of as little as 6 bp of perfect homology. Recombination was enhanced in the regions adjacent to restriction sites used to linearize the plasmid, consistent with a role of double-strand breaks in promoting recombination. A mechanism is proposed in which the 5' exonuclease, ExoVIII, produces 3' single-stranded ends from the linearized plasmid. These pair with other sequences of partial homology. Partial homologies in the sequences flanking the actual join serve to stabilize this recombination intermediate. Recombination is completed by a process of "copy and join." This recombination mechanism requires less homology to stabilize intermediates than the degree of homology needed for mechanisms involving strand invasion. Its role in nature may be to increase genomic diversity, for example, by enhancing recombination between bacteriophages and regions of the bacterial chromosome.     

Coupled homologous and nonhomologous repair of a double-strand break preserves genomic integrity in mammalian cells

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) may be caused by normal metabolic processes or exogenous DNA damaging agents and can promote chromosomal rearrangements, including translocations, deletions, or chromosome loss. In mammalian cells, both homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) are important DSB repair pathways for the maintenance of genomic stability. Using a mouse embryonic stem cell system, we previously demonstrated that a DSB in one chromosome can be repaired by recombination with a homologous sequence on a heterologous chromosome, without any evidence of genome rearrangements (C. Richardson, M. E. Moynahan, and M. Jasin, Genes Dev., 12:3831-3842, 1998). To determine if genomic integrity would be compromised if homology were constrained, we have now examined interchromosomal recombination between truncated but overlapping gene sequences. Despite these constraints, recombinants were readily recovered when a DSB was introduced into one of the sequences. The overwhelming majority of recombinants showed no evidence of chromosomal rearrangements. Instead, events were initiated by homologous invasion of one chromosome end and completed by NHEJ to the other chromosome end, which remained highly preserved throughout the process. Thus, genomic integrity was maintained by a coupling of homologous and nonhomologous repair pathways. Interestingly, the recombination frequency, although not the structure of the recombinant repair products, was sensitive to the relative orientation of the gene sequences on the interacting chromosomes.     

Formation and repair of heteroduplex DNA on both sides of the double-strand break during mammalian gene targeting

In this study, we examined homologous recombination in mammalian cells using a gene targeting assay in which the introduction of a double-strand-break (DSB) in the vector-borne region of homology to the chromosome resulted in targeted vector integration. The vector-borne DSB was flanked with small palindromic insertions that, when encompassed within heteroduplex DNA (hDNA) formed during targeted vector integration, were capable of avoiding the activity of the mismatch repair (MMR) system. When used in conjunction with an isolation procedure in which the product(s) of each targeted vector integration event were retained for molecular analysis, information about recombination mechanisms was obtained. The examination of marker segregation patterns in independent recombinants revealed the following, (i) hDNA tracts could form simultaneously on each side of the DSB and in both participating homologous regions. Clonal analysis of sectored recombinants revealed that, in the homologous repeats generated by the recombination event, vector-borne palindrome and chromosomal markers were linked in the expected way in each strand of the hDNA intermediate, (ii) hDNA tracts were subject to MMR processing that occurred on opposite sides of the DSB, and (iii) in the majority of recombinants, the vector-borne marker was replaced with the corresponding marker from the chromosome. Bidirectional hDNA formation and MMR processing of both sides of the DSB are consistent with the double-strand-break repair (DSBR) model of recombination.     

Tests of the Double-Strand-Break Repair Model for Red-Mediated Recombination of Phage λ and Plasmid λdv

The double-strand-break repair (DSBR) model was formulated to account for various aspects of yeast mitotic and meiotic recombination. In this study three features of the DSBR model are tested for Red-mediated recombination between phage lambda and lambda dv, a plasmid that is perfectly homologous to about 10% of lambda. The results support the applicability of the DSBR model to lambda's Red system: (1) Creating a double-strand-break (DSB) within the region of homology shared by phage and plasmid increases their genetic interaction by about 20-fold. A DSB outside the region of shared homology has no such effect. (2) Both patches, i.e., simple marker rescue, and splices, i.e., co-integration of the phage and plasmid, are stimulated by a DSB in the region of shared homology. (3) Co-integrants harbor a duplication of the region of shared homology. Among co-integrants that were formed by the creation of a DSB, there is a preferential loss of whichever allele was in cis to a utilized cut site. The DSBR model as originally formulated involves the isomerization and cleavage of Holliday junctions to resolve the canonical intermediate. We propose as an alternative mechanism that a topoisomerase can resolve the canonical DSBR intermediate.     

Re-establishment of nucleosome occupancy during double-strand break repair in budding yeast

Homologous recombination (HR) is an evolutionarily conserved pathway in eukaryotes that repairs a double-strand break (DSB) by copying homologous sequences from a sister chromatid, a homologous chromosome or an ectopic location. Recombination is challenged by the packaging of DNA into nucleosomes, which may impair the process at many steps, from resection of the DSB ends to the re-establishement of nucleosomes after repair. However, nucleosome dynamics during DSB repair have not been well described, primarily because of a lack of well-ordered nucleosomes around a DSB. We designed a system in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to monitor nucleosome dynamics during repair of an HO endonuclease-induced DSB. Nucleosome occupancy around the break is lost following DSB formation, by 5′–3′ resection of the DSB end. Soon after repair is complete, nucleosome occupancy is partially restored in a repair-dependent but cell cycle-independent manner. Full re-establishment of nucleosome protection back to the level prior to DSB induction is achieved when the cell cycle resumes following repair. These findings may have implications to the mechanisms by which cells sense the completion of repair.     

The Red Queen theory of recombination hotspots

Recombination hotspots are small chromosomal regions, where meiotic crossover events happen with high frequency. Recombination is initiated by a double‐strand break (DSB) that requires the intervention of the molecular repair mechanism. The DSB repair mechanism may result in the exchange of homologous chromosomes (crossover) and the conversion of the allelic sequence that breaks into the one that does not break (biased gene conversion). Biased gene conversion results in a transmission advantage for the allele that does not break, thus preventing recombination and rendering recombination hotspots transient. How is it possible that recombination hotspots persist over evolutionary time (maintaining the average chromosomal crossover rate) when they are self‐destructive? This fundamental question is known as the recombination hotspot paradox and has attracted much attention in recent years. Yet, that attention has not translated into a fully satisfactory answer. No existing model adequately explains all aspects of the recombination hotspot paradox. Here, we formulate an intragenomic conflict model resulting in Red Queen dynamics that fully accounts for all empirical observations regarding the molecular mechanisms of recombination hotspots, the nonrandom targeting of the recombination machinery to hotspots and the evolutionary dynamics of hotspot turnover.     

Mechanisms of double-strand-break repair during gene targeting in mammalian cells

In the present study, the mechanism of double-strand-break (DSB) repair during gene targeting at the chromosomal immunoglobulin mu-locus in a murine hybridoma was examined. The gene-targeting assay utilized specially designed insertion vectors genetically marked in the region of homology to the chromosomal mu-locus by six diagnostic restriction enzyme site markers. The restriction enzyme markers permitted the contribution of vector-borne and chromosomal mu-sequences in the recombinant product to be determined. The use of the insertion vectors in conjunction with a plating procedure in which individual integrative homologous recombination events were retained for analysis revealed several important features about the mammalian DSB repair process:The presence of the markers within the region of shared homology did not affect the efficiency of gene targeting.In the majority of recombinants, the vector-borne marker proximal to the DSB was absent, being replaced with the corresponding chromosomal restriction enzyme site. This result is consistent with either formation and repair of a vector-borne gap or an "end" bias in mismatch repair of heteroduplex DNA (hDNA) that favored the chromosomal sequence. Formation of hDNA was frequently associated with gene targeting and, in most cases, began approximately 645 bp from the DSB and could encompass a distance of at least 1469 bp.The hDNA was efficiently repaired prior to DNA replication.The repair of adjacent mismatches in hDNA occurred predominantly on the same strand, suggesting the involvement of a long-patch repair mechanism.     

Gene recombination in X-ray-sensitive hamster cells.

Recombination was measured in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells and in the X-ray-sensitive mutants xrs1 and xrs7, which show a defect in DNA double-strand break repair. To assay recombination, pairs of derivatives of the plasmid pSV2gpt were constructed with nonoverlapping deletions in the gpt gene region and cotransferred into the different cell types. Recombination efficiencies, measured as the transformation frequency with a pair of deletion plasmids relative to that with the complete pSV2gpt plasmid, were about 6% in both CHO-K1 and the xrs mutants for plasmids linearized at a site outside the gpt gene. However, these efficiencies were substantially enhanced by the introduction of a double-strand break into the homologous region of the gpt gene in one of a pair of deletion plasmids before cotransfer. This enhancement was apparently only about half as great for the xrs cells as for CHO-K1, but variation in the data was considerable. A much larger difference between CHO-K1 and the xrs mutants was found when the DNA concentration dependence of transformation was explored. While the transformation frequency of CHO-K1 increased linearly with DNA concentration, no such increase occurred with the xrs mutants irrespective of whether complete plasmids or pairs of deletion plasmids were transferred. The fraction of cells taking up DNA, assayed autoradiographically, was similar in all cell types. Therefore we suggest that while homologous recombination of plasmid molecules may not be substantially reduced in the xrs mutants,processes involved in the stable integration of plasmid DNA into genomic DNA are significantly impaired.     

Conservative repair of a chromosomal double-strand break by single-strand DNA through two steps of annealing

The repair of chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs) is essential to normal cell growth, and homologous recombination is a universal process for DSB repair. We explored DSB repair mechanisms in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae using single-strand oligonucleotides with homology to both sides of a DSB. Oligonucleotide-directed repair occurred exclusively via Rad52- and Rad59-mediated single-strand annealing (SSA). Even the SSA domain of human Rad52 provided partial complementation for a null rad52 mutation. The repair did not involve Rad51-driven strand invasion, and moreover the suppression of strand invasion increased repair with oligonucleotides. A DSB was shown to activate targeting by oligonucleotides homologous to only one side of the break at large distances (at least 20 kb) from the break in a strand-biased manner, suggesting extensive 5' to 3' resection, followed by the restoration of resected DNA to the double-strand state. We conclude that long resected chromosomal DSB ends are repaired by a single-strand DNA oligonucleotide through two rounds of annealing. The repair by single-strand DNA can be conservative and may allow for accurate restoration of chromosomal DNAs with closely spaced DSBs.     

Analysis of Gene Targeting and Intrachromosomal Homologous Recombination Stimulated by Genomic Double-Strand Breaks in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

To investigate the effects of in vivo genomic DNA double-strand breaks on the efficiency and mechanisms of gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells, we have used a series of insertion and replacement vectors carrying two, one, or no genomic sites for the rare-cutting endonuclease I-SceI. These vectors were introduced into the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene to produce substrates for gene-targeting (plasmid-to-chromosome) or intrachromosomal (direct repeat) homologous recombination. Recombination at the hprt locus is markedly increased following transfection with an I-SceI expression plasmid and a homologous donor plasmid (if needed). The frequency of gene targeting in clones with an I-SceI site attains a value of 1%, 5,000-fold higher than that in clones with no I-SceI site. The use of silent restriction site polymorphisms indicates that the frequencies with which donor plasmid sequences replace the target chromosomal sequences decrease with distance from the genomic break site. The frequency of intrachromosomal recombination reaches a value of 3.1%, 120-fold higher than background spontaneous recombination. Because palindromic insertions were used as polymorphic markers, a significant number of recombinants exhibit distinct genotypic sectoring among daughter cells from a single clone, suggesting the existence of heteroduplex DNA in the original recombination product.     

Recombinational and mutagenic repair of psoralen interstrand cross-links in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Psoralen photoreacts with DNA to form interstrand cross-links, which can be repaired by both nonmutagenic nucleotide excision repair and recombinational repair pathways and by mutagenic pathways. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, psoralen cross-links are processed by nucleotide excision repair to form double-strand breaks (DSBs). In yeast, DSBs are repaired primarily by homologous recombination, predicting that cross-link and DSB repair should induce similar recombination end points. We compared psoralen cross-link, psoralen monoadduct, and DSB repair using plasmid substrates with site-specific lesions and measured the patterns of gene conversion, crossing over, and targeted mutation. Psoralen cross-links induced both recombination and mutations, whereas DSBs induced only recombination, and monoadducts were neither recombinogenic nor mutagenic. Although the cross-link- and DSB-induced patterns of plasmid integration and gene conversion were similar in most respects, they showed opposite asymmetries in their unidirectional conversion tracts: primarily upstream from the damage site for cross-links but downstream for DSBs. Cross-links induced targeted mutations in 5% of the repaired plasmids; all were base substitutions, primarily T --> C transitions. The major pathway of psoralen cross-link repair in yeast is error-free and involves the formation of DSB intermediates followed by homologous recombination. A fraction of the cross-links enter an error-prone pathway, resulting in mutations at the damage site.     

The repair of double-strand breaks in plants: mechanisms and consequences for genome evolution

The efficient repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in genomic DNA is important for the survival of all organisms. In recent years, basic mechanisms of DSB repair in somatic plant cells have been elucidated. DSBs are mainly repaired by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). The repair can be associated with deletions, but also insertions due to copying genomic sequences from elsewhere into the break. Species-specific differences of NHEJ have been reported and an inverse correlation of deletion size to genome size has been postulated, indicating that NHEJ might contribute significantly to evolution of genome size. DSB repair by homologous recombination (HR) might also influence genome organization. Whereas homology present in an allelic or an ectopic position is hardly used for repair, the use of homologous sequences in close proximity to the break is frequent. A 'single-strand annealing' mechanism that leads to sequence deletions between direct repeats is particularly efficient. This might explain the accumulation of single long terminal repeats of retroelements in cereal genomes. The conservative 'synthesis-dependent strand annealing' mechanism, resulting in conversions without crossovers is also prominent and seems to be significant for the evolution of tandemly arranged gene families such as resistance genes. Induction of DSBs could be used as a means for the controlled manipulation of plant genomes in an analogous way for the use of marker gene excision and site-specific integration.     

SbcCD causes a double-strand break at a DNA palindrome in the Escherichia coli chromosome

Long DNA palindromes are sites of genome instability (deletions, amplification, and translocations) in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In Escherichia coli, genetic evidence has suggested that they are sites of DNA cleavage by the SbcCD complex that can be repaired by homologous recombination. Here we obtain in vivo physical evidence of an SbcCD-induced DNA double-strand break (DSB) at a palindromic sequence in the E. coli chromosome and show that both ends of the break stimulate recombination. Cleavage is dependent on DNA replication, but the observation of two ends at the break argues that cleavage does not occur at the replication fork. Genetic analysis shows repair of the break requires the RecBCD recombination pathway and PriA, suggesting a mechanism of bacterial DNA DSB repair involving the establishment of replication forks.     

Homologous recombination-mediated double-strand break repair in mouse testicular extracts and comparison with different germ cell stages

Homologous recombination (HR) is established as a significant contributor to double-strand break (DSB) repair in mammalian somatic cells; however, its role in mammalian germ cells has not been characterized, although being conservative in nature it is anticipated to be the major pathway in germ cells. The germ cell system has inherent limitations by which intact cell approaches are not feasible. The present study, therefore, investigates HR-mediated DSB repair in mouse germ cell extracts by using an in vitro plasmid recombination assay based on functional rescue of a neomycin (neo) gene. A significantly high-fold increase in neo+ (Kan(R)) colonies following incubation of two plasmid substrates (neo delta1 and neo delta2) with testicular extracts demonstrated the extracts' ability to catalyze intermolecular recombination. A significant enhancement in recombinants upon linearization of one of the plasmids suggested the existence of an HR-mediated DSB repair activity. Comparison of the activity at sequential developmental stages, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids revealed its presence at all the stages; spermatocyte being the most proficient stage. Further, restriction analysis of recombinant plasmids indicated the predominance of gene conversion in enriched spermatocytes (mostly pachytenes), in contrast to gonial and spermatid extracts that showed higher reciprocal exchange. In conclusion, this study demonstrates HR repair activity at all stages of male germ cells, suggesting an important role of HR-mediated DSB repair during mammalian spermatogenesis. Further, the observed preference of gene conversion over reciprocal exchange at spermatocyte stage correlates with the close association of gene conversion with the meiotic recombination program.     

Testing predictions of the double-strand break repair model relating to crossing over in Mammalian cells

In yeast, four-stranded, biparental "joint molecules" containing a pair of Holliday junctions are demonstrated intermediates in the repair of meiotic double-strand breaks (DSBs). Genetic and physical evidence suggests that when joint molecules are resolved by the cutting of each of the two Holliday junctions, crossover products result at least most of the time. The double-strand break repair (DSBR) model is currently accepted as a paradigm for acts of DSB repair that lead to crossing over. In this study, a well-defined mammalian gene-targeting assay was used to test predictions that the DSBR model makes about the frequency and position of hDNA in recombinants generated by crossing over. The DSBR model predicts that hDNA will frequently form on opposite sides of the DSB in the two homologous sequences undergoing recombination [half conversion (HC); 5:3, 5:3 segregation]. By examining the segregation patterns of poorly repairable small palindrome genetic markers, we show that this configuration of hDNA is rare. Instead, in a large number of recombinants, full conversion (FC) events in the direction of the unbroken chromosomal sequence (6:2 segregation) were observed on one side of the DSB. A conspicuous fraction of the unidirectional FC events was associated with normal 4:4 marker segregation on the other side of the DSB. In addition, a large number of recombinants displayed evidence of hDNA formation. In several, hDNA was symmetrical on one side of the DSB, suggesting that the two homologous regions undergoing recombination swapped single strands of the same polarity. These data are considered within the context of modified versions of the DSBR model.     

Rapid assessment of two major repair activities against DNA double-strand breaks in vertebrate cells

A linearized plasmid DNA, in which tandem repeats of 400bp flank the breakpoints, was transfected into vertebrate cells, and breakpoint junctions of plasmid DNA circularized in the cells were analyzed to assess the repair activities against DNA double-strand break (DSB) by non-homologous end joining and homology-directed repair (i.e., homologous recombinational repair and single-strand annealing). The circularization by non-homologous end joining repair of the breakpoints depended on the expression of DNA-PKcs, while that by homology-directed repair through the repeats depended on the length of the repeats, indicating that these two DSB repair activities can be rapidly assessed by this assay. Predominance in circularization by either non-homologous end joining or homology-directed repair differed among cells examined, and circularization was exclusively undertaken by homology-directed repair in DT40 cells known to show a high homologous recombination rate against gene-targeting vectors. Thus, this assay will be helpful in studies on mechanisms and inter-cellular variations of DSB repair.