Mechanisms of RecQ helicases in pathways of DNA metabolism and maintenance of genomic stability.
Helicases are molecular motor proteins that couple the hydrolysis of NTP to nucleic acid unwinding. The growing number of DNA helicases implicated in human disease suggests that their vital specialized roles in cellular pathways are important for the maintenance of genome stability. In particular, mutations in genes of the RecQ family of DNA helicases result in chromosomal instability diseases of premature aging and/or cancer predisposition. We will discuss the mechanisms of RecQ helicases in pathways of DNA metabolism. A review of RecQ helicases from bacteria to human reveals their importance in genomic stability by their participation with other proteins to resolve DNA replication and recombination intermediates. In the light of their known catalytic activities and protein interactions, proposed models for RecQ function will be summarized with an emphasis on how this distinct class of enzymes functions in chromosomal stability maintenance and prevention of human disease and cancer.
Sharma
Sudha
S
Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Doherty
Kevin M
KM
Brosh
Robert M
RM
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism*; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D053484:RecQ Helicases
D004247:DNA; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C506725:RECQL protein, human; D004265:DNA Helicases; D053484:RecQ Helicases