Secondary structure forming sequences drive SD-MMEJ repair of DNA double-strand breaks

Alternative end-joining (alt-EJ) repair of DNA double-strand breaks is associated with deletions, chromosome translocations, and genome instability. Alt-EJ frequently uses annealing of microhomologous sequences to tether broken ends. When accessible pre-existing microhomologies do not exist, we have postulated that new microhomologies can be created via limited DNA synthesis at secondary-structure forming sequences. This model, called...