title: Caenorhabditis elegans DNA-2 helicase/endonuclease plays a vital role in maintaining genome stability, morphogenesis, and life span.
abstract: In eukaryotes, highly conserved Dna2 helicase/endonuclease proteins are involved in DNA replication, DNA double-strand break repair, telomere regulation, and mitochondrial function. The Dna2 protein assists Fen1 (Flap structure-specific endonuclease 1) protein in the maturation of Okazaki fragments. In yeast, Dna2 is absolutely essential for viability, whereas Fen1 is not. In Caenorhabditis elegans, however, CRN-1 (a Fen1 homolog) is essential, but Dna2 is not. Here we explored the biological function of C. elegans Dna2 (Cedna-2) in multiple developmental processes. We find that Cedna-2 contributes to embryonic viability, the morphogenesis of both late-stage embryos and male sensory rays, and normal life span. Our results support a model whereby CeDNA-2 minimizes genetic defects and maintains genome integrity during cell division and DNA replication. These finding may provide insight into the role of Dna2 in other multi-cellular organisms, including humans, and could have important implications for development and treatment of human conditions linked to the accumulation of genetic defects, such as cancer or aging.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA. leemy@ecu.edu
authors.forename: Myon-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: Bum Ho
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nykamp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004261:DNA Replication; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D042822:Genomic Instability; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D013623:Tail / Q000002:abnormalities
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D004265:DNA Helicases; C497831:dna-2 protein, C elegans