The function of Xenopus Bloom's syndrome protein homolog (xBLM) in DNA replication.
The Bloom's syndrome gene (BLM) plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of genomic stability in somatic cells. It encodes a DNA helicase (BLM) of the RecQ family, but the exact function of BLM remains elusive. To study this question, we have cloned the BLM homolog of the frog Xenopus laevis (xBLM) and have raised antibodies to it. Immunodepletion of xBLM from a Xenopus egg extract severely inhibits the replication of DNA in reconstituted nuclei. Moreover, the inhibition can be rescued by the addition of the recombinant xBLM protein. These results provide the first direct evidence that BLM plays an important role in DNA replication, suggesting that Bloom's syndrome may be the consequence of defective DNA replication.
Liao
S
S
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, USA.
Graham
J
J
Yan
H
H
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry; D053484:RecQ Helicases; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014981:Xenopus / Q000235:genetics*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C097151:Bloom syndrome protein; D004265:DNA Helicases; D053484:RecQ Helicases