title: DNA sliding clamps: just the right twist to load onto DNA.
abstract: Two recent papers illuminate a key step in DNA sliding clamp loading: one reveals the structure of the PCNA clamp wrapped around DNA--still open from being loaded--while the other finds that the clamp may assist this process by forming a right-handed helix upon opening.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, L-448, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barsky
authors.forename: Ceslovas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venclovas
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051818:Replication Protein C / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D004247:DNA; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D051818:Replication Protein C