RAD18 Homolog (RAD18)

RAD18 is highly similar to S. cerevisiae DNA damage repair protein Rad18. Yeast Rad18 functions through its interaction with Rad6, which is an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme required for post-replication repair of damaged DNA. Similar to its yeast counterpart, this protein is able to interact with the human homolog of yeast Rad6 protein through a conserved ring-finger motif. Mutation of this motif results in defective replication of UV-damaged DNA and hypersensitivity to multiple mutagens. Human RAD18 encodes a deduced 495-amino acid protein that shares 20% sequence identity and 42% similarity with yeast Rad18. Human RAD18 localizes in the nucleus. In vivo the human RAD18 protein binds to the human homologs of the yeast Rad6 protein through a conserved ring finger motif.