DNA mismatch repair: MutS structures bound to mismatches
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Application of Stopped-flow Kinetics Methods to Investigate the Mechanism of Action of a DNA Repair Protein
Published on: March 31, 2010
1Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. sixma@nki.nl
Abstract:
When DNA mismatch repair fails, the result is a mutator phenotype, which can lead to cancer in humans. Functional repair is dependent on the recognition of mismatches by a dimeric MutS protein, a homodimer in bacteria but a heterodimer in humans. Recent crystal structures of Thermus aquaticus and Escherichia coli MutS have revealed the structural heterodimeric nature of the bacterial proteins and provide new insights into their complicated ATP-dependent repair mechanism.
Related Concept Videos
Mismatch Repair
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
Mismatch Repair
Mismatch Repair
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
Nucleotide Excision Repair

