Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Real-time Observation of the DNA Strand Exchange Reaction Mediated by Rad51
Published on: February 13, 2019
Homologous DNA pairing by human recombination factors Rad51 and Rad54
Stefan Sigurdsson1, Stephen Van Komen, Galina Petukhova
1Department of Molecular Medicine and Institute of Biotechnology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78254-3207, USA.
Abstract:
Human Rad51 (hRad51) and Rad54 proteins are key members of the RAD52 group required for homologous recombination. We show an ability of hRad54 to promote transient separation of the strands in duplex DNA via its ATP hydrolysis-driven DNA supercoiling function. The ATPase, DNA supercoiling, and DNA strand opening activities of hRad54 are greatly stimulated through an interaction with hRad51. Importantly, we demonstrate that hRad51 and hRad54 functionally cooperate in the homologous DNA pairing reaction that forms recombination DNA intermediates. Our results should provide a biochemical model for dissecting the role of hRad51 and hRad54 in recombination reactions in human cells.
Related Concept Videos
Homologous Recombination
Homologous Recombination
Restarting Stalled Replication Forks
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
