The nucleoporin 153, a novel factor in double-strand break repair and DNA damage response

DNA repair is essential in maintaining genome integrity and defects in different steps of the process have been linked to cancer and aging. It is a long lasting question how DNA repair is spatially and temporarily organized in the highly compartmentalized nucleus and whether the diverse nuclear compartments regulate differently the efficiency of repair. Increasing evidence suggest the involvement of nuclear pore complexes in repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in yeast. Here, we show that the human nucleoporin 153 (NUP153) has a role in repair of DSBs and in the activation of DNA damage checkpoints. We explore the mechanism of action of NUP153 and we propose its potential as a novel therapeutic target in cancers.