Elsevier, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 26(291), p. 13436-13447, 2016
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The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinases (PIKKs) are key regulators controlling a wide range of cellular events. The yeast Tel1 and Mec1-Ddc2 complex (ATM and ATR-ATRIP in humans) play pivotal roles in DNA replication, DNA damage signalling and repair. Here, we present the first structural insight for dimers of Mec1-Ddc2 and Tel1 using single particle electron microscopy. Both kinases reveal a head-to-head dimer with one major dimeric interface through their N-terminal HEAT repeats. Their dimeric interface is significantly distinct from the interface of mTOR Complex 1 dimer, which oligomerises through two spatially separate interfaces. We also observe different structural organisation of kinase domains of Mec1 and Tel1. The kinase domains in the Mec1-Ddc2 dimer are located in close proximity to each other. However, in the Tel1 dimer they are fully separated providing potential access of substrates to this kinase, even in its dimeric form.