Putting two heads together to unwind DNA.
The loading of replicative helicases onto DNA is tightly regulated in all organisms, yet the molecular mechanisms for this event remain poorly defined. Remus et al. (2009) provide important insights into helicase loading in eukaryotes, showing that the Mcm2-7 replicative helicase encircles double-stranded DNA as head-to-head double hexamers.
Takara
Thomas J
TJ
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Bell
Stephen P
SP
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D004247:DNA; D004265:DNA Helicases