Sibling rivalry: competition between Pol X family members in V(D)J recombination and general double strand break repair

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Abstract
Summary:  The nonhomologous end‐joining pathway is a major means for repairing double‐strand breaks (DSBs) in all mitotic cell types. This repair pathway is also the only efficient means for resolving DSB intermediates in V(D)J recombination, a lymphocyte‐specific genome rearrangement required for assembly of antigen receptors. A role for polymerases in end‐joining has been well established. They are a major factor in determining the character of repair junctions but, in contrast to ‘core’ end‐joining factors, typically appear to have a subtle impact on the efficiency of end‐joining. Recent work implicates several members of the Pol X family in end‐joining and suggests surprising complexity in the control of how these different polymerases are employed in this pathway.