During DNA replication, lesion bypass is an important cellular response to
unrepaired damage in the genome. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rad
6 and Rad18 are required for both the error-free and error-prone lesion byp
ass mechanisms, Furthermore, Rad6-Rad18 interaction is thought to be critic
al at an early step during lesion bypass in yeast. Two closely related huma
n homologs of yeast Rad6 have been identified as HHR6A and HHR6B, Here, we
report a full-length cDNA coding for the human homolog of yeast Rad18, The
human RAD18 gene codes for a protein of 484 amino acid residues with a calc
ulated molecular weight of 54 804 Da, and the gene is localized to chromoso
me 3 between reference intervals D3S3591 and D3S1283, Human RAD18 protein (
hRAD18) was found to interact with HHR6A and HHR6B. When co-expressed in ye
ast cells, stable hRAD18-HHR6A and hRAD18-HHR6B protein complexes were iden
tified and purified to near homogeneity, Thus, through interaction and comp
lex formation with HHR6A and HHR6B, RAD18 protein may play an important rol
e in lesion bypass mechanisms in humans. Consistent with its role as a fund
amental lesion bypass protein, the RAD18 gene is ubiquitously expressed in
various human tissues.