Human MMS21/NSE2 is a SUMO ligase required for DNA repair

DNA repair is required for the genomic stability and well-being of an organism. In yeasts, a multisubunit complex consisting of SMC5, SMC6, MMS21/NSE2, and other non-SMC proteins is required for DNA repair through homologous recombination. The yeast MMS21 protein is a SUMO ligase. Here we show that the human homolog of MMS21 is also a SUMO ligase. hMMS21 stimulates sumoylation of hSMC6 and the DNA repair protein TRAX. Depletion of hMMS21 by RNA interference (RNAi) sensitizes HeLa cells toward DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Ectopic expression of wild-type hMMS21, but not its ligase-inactive mutant, rescues this hypersensitivity of hMMS21-RNAi cells. ATM/ATR are hyperactivated in hMMS21-RNAi cells upon DNA damage. Consistently, hMMS21-RNAi cells show an increased number of phospho-CHK2 foci. Finally, we show that hMMS21-RNAi cells show a decreased capacity to repair DNA lesions as measured by the comet assay. Our findings suggest that the human SMC5/6 complex and the SUMO ligase activity of hMMS21 are required for the prevention of DNA damage-induced apoptosis by facilitating DNA repair in human cells.