Endo-exonucleases: enzymes involved in DNA repair and cell death?
Endo-exonucleases from E. coli to man, although very different proteins, are multifunctional enzymes with similar enzymatic activities. They probably have two common but opposing biological roles. On the one hand, they promote survival of the organism by acting in recombination and recombinational DNA repair to diversify and help preserve the genome intact. On the other hand, they degrade the genomic DNA when it is damaged beyond repair. This ensures elimination of heavily mutagenized cells from the population.
Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, Australia.
M J
MJ
Fraser
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D004260:DNA Repair; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D043211:Exodeoxyribonuclease V; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D005092:Exonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D016296:Mutagenesis
D004720:Endonucleases; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D005092:Exonucleases; D043211:Exodeoxyribonuclease V; C020104:endoexonuclease