Helicase: mystery of progression.
Helicases mode of unwinding the nucleic acids and translocation along single stranded nucleic acids is still a subject of great curiosity. Based on the energy transduction and electrophilic interactions, we present a model to explain the mode of action of active helicases. This model considers that both strand separation as well as translocation is active processes fueled by NTP hydrolysis. The model proposes that the translocation appears to involve creeping of helicase over the ssNA lattice rather than inchworm movement.
Gaur
Rajneesh Kumar
RK
Bioinformatics Center, University of Pune, Pune, India. rajneesh@bioinfo.ernet.in
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation
D004247:DNA; D004265:DNA Helicases