Abstract

Assembly and disassembly of DNA repair protein complexes at sites of DNA damage is essential to maintain genomic integrity. We investigated factors coordinating assembly of the base excision repair (BER) proteins, DNA polymerase {beta} (Pol{beta}) and XRCC1, to DNA lesion sites, identifying a new role for Pol{beta} in regulating XRCC1 disassembly from DNA repair complexes and conversely, demonstrating Pol{beta}s dependence on XRCC1 for complex assembly. RealPAR, a genetically-encoded probe for live cell imaging of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), reveals that Pol{beta} and XRCC1 require PAR for repair complex assembly and PAR degradation for disassembly. We find that BER complex assembly is further modulated by attenuation / augmentation of NAD+ biosynthesis. Finally, SIRT6 does not regulate PARP1 activation but impairs XRCC1 recruitment, leading to diminished Pol{beta} abundance at sites of DNA damage. These findings highlight coordinated yet independent roles for both PARP1 and SIRT6 and their regulation by NAD+ bioavailability to facilitate BER.