How to drive your helicase in a straight line.
Helicases are molecular motors that move along and remodel DNA, RNA, and associated protein complexes. Helicases are often directional. By analyzing crystal structures in complexes with RNA and ATP analogs, Thomsen and Berger (2009) now elucidate the molecular basis for unidirectional motion by the hexameric RNA helicase Rho.
Pyle
Anna Marie
AM
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. anna.pyle@yale.edu
D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry
D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D004265:DNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases