Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41963733›Full record

ArticleEMBO reports2026

Dispensable players: N-WASP and WASP are not crucial for homology-directed DNA repair.

Thu Han Le Phan, Anders Buchard, Cord Brakebusch

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in EMBO reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Thu Han Le PhanBiotech Research and Innovation Center (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0003-2012-7263
Anders BuchardSection of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cord BrakebuschBiotech Research and Innovation Center (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. cord.brakebusch@bric.ku.dk.ORCID 0000-0002-9342-1634

Funding

Danish Cancer Society R302-A17455EC | Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (H2020) 101034291
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

N-WASP and WASP can induce actin polymerization via Arp2/3 and were reported to be crucial for homology-directed repair (HDR) of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). The underlying mechanism was suggested to involve nuclear actin polymerization, but the mechanistic details were debated. Unexpectedly, we show now that neither WASP nor N-WASP is required for HDR during CRISPR-mediated genome editing. Using knock-out and overexpression of N-WASP and WASP in U2OS cells, we did not detect alterations in total gene editing, HDR, or the ratio of HDR to non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) as assessed by different methods. Furthermore, we could not observe colocalization of HA-tagged WASP or N-WASP with DSBs. Finally, while the Arp2/3 inhibitor CK-666 and ARPC4 knockdown by siRNA reduced HDR efficiency in U2OS cells, this corresponded with a decreased transfection efficiency and a reduction of the HDR-proficient cell cycle phases S and G2/M. In summary, contrary to expectations, these data do not support a crucial role for N-WASP and WASP in DSB repair.

Indexed as

DNA RepairRecombinational DNA RepairWiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ProteinWiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, NeuronalActin-Related Protein 2-3 ComplexCell Line, TumorCRISPR-Cas SystemsDNA Breaks, Double-StrandedDNA End-Joining RepairHumansIndolesRNA, Small InterferingActin-Related Protein 2-3 ComplexCK-0944666IndolesRNA, Small InterferingWiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ProteinWiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal

Identifiers

PMID41963733
PMCPMC13219447

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.