Renal function and physical fitness after 12-mo supervised training in kidney transplant recipients.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a 12-mo supervised aerobic and resistance training, on renal function and exercise capacity compared to usual care recommendations.

Methods: Ninety-nine kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) were assigned to interventional exercise (Group A; = 52) and a usual care cohort (Group B; = 47). Blood and urine chemistry, exercise capacity, muscular strength, anthropometric measures and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed at baseline, and after 6 and 12 mo.

Interaction of the Ku heterodimer with the DNA ligase IV/Xrcc4 complex and its regulation by DNA-PK.

DNA non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a major mechanism for repairing DNA double-stranded (ds) breaks in mammalian cells. Here, we characterize the interaction between two key components of the NHEJ machinery, the Ku heterodimer and the DNA ligase IV/Xrcc4 complex. Our results demonstrate that Ku interacts with DNA ligase IV via its tandem BRCT domain and that this interaction is enhanced in the presence of Xrcc4 and dsDNA.

Biochemical analysis of the DNA unwinding and strand annealing activities catalyzed by human RECQ1.

RecQ helicases play an important role in preserving genomic integrity, and their cellular roles in DNA repair, recombination, and replication have been of considerable interest. Of the five human RecQ helicases identified, three are associated with genetic disorders characterized by an elevated incidence of cancer or premature aging: Werner syndrome, Bloom syndrome, and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. Although the biochemical properties and protein interactions of the WRN and BLM helicases defective in Werner syndrome and Bloom syndrome, respectively, have been extensively investigated, less information is available concerning the functions of the other human RecQ helicases.