RAP80 protein is important for genomic stability and is required for stabilizing BRCA1-A complex at DNA damage sites in vivo

RAP80 (receptor-associated protein 80) is a ubiquitin-binding protein that can specifically recognize and bind to Lys-63-linked polyubiquitin chains, thus targeting the BRCA1-A complex to DNA damage sites. To study the role of RAP80 in vivo, we generated RAP80-deficient mice. The deficient mice are prone to B-cell lymphomagenesis. B-cell lymphomas in RAP80-deficient mice are nearly diploid but harbor clonal chromosome translocations. Moreover, the deficient mice are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation. Repair of ionizing radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks is impaired in RAP80-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Mechanistically, loss of RAP80 suppresses recruitment of the BRCA1-A complex to DNA damage sites and abrogates the DNA damage repair process at DNA damage sites. Taken together, these results reveal that RAP80 plays a crucial role in the DNA damage response and in maintaining genomic integrity.