The cryo-EM structure of full-length RAD52 protein contains an undecameric ring.
Kinoshita, C., Takizawa, Y., Saotome, M., Ogino, S., Kurumizaka, H., Kagawa, W.(2023) FEBS Open Bio 13: 408-418
- PubMed: 36707939 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13565
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
8H1P - PubMed Abstract: 
The human RAD52 protein, which forms an oligomeric ring structure, is involved in DNA double-strand break repair. The N-terminal half of RAD52 is primarily responsible for self-oligomerisation and DNA binding. Crystallographic studies have revealed the detailed structure of the N-terminal half. However, only low-resolution structures have been reported for the full-length protein, and thus the structural role of the C-terminal half in self-oligomerisation has remained elusive. In this study, we determined the solution structure of the human RAD52 protein by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), at an average resolution of 3.5 Å. The structure revealed an undecameric ring that is nearly identical to the crystal structures of the N-terminal half. The cryo-EM map for the C-terminal half was poorly defined, indicating that the region is intrinsically disordered. The present cryo-EM structure provides important insights into the mechanistic roles played by the N-terminal and C-terminal halves of RAD52 during DNA double-strand break repair.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Meisei University, Tokyo, Japan.