title: Mediators of homologous DNA pairing.
abstract: Homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange are at the core of homologous recombination. These reactions are promoted by a DNA-strand-exchange protein assembled into a nucleoprotein filament comprising the DNA-pairing protein, ATP, and single-stranded DNA. The catalytic activity of this molecular machine depends on control of its dynamic instability by accessory factors. Here we discuss proteins known as recombination mediators that facilitate formation and functional activation of the DNA-strand-exchange protein filament. Although the basics of homologous pairing and DNA-strand exchange are highly conserved in evolution, differences in mediator function are required to cope with differences in how single-stranded DNA is packaged by the single-stranded DNA-binding protein in different species, and the biochemical details of how the different DNA-strand-exchange proteins nucleate and extend into a nucleoprotein filament. The set of (potential) mediator proteins has apparently expanded greatly in evolution, raising interesting questions about the need for additional control and coordination of homologous recombination in more complex organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zelensky
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kanaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wyman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D059765:Homologous Recombination / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D056892:Mediator Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D056892:Mediator Complex; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D004247:DNA