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Homologous Recombination

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...

Homologous Recombination

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...

The DNA Replication Fork

The DNA Replication Fork

An organism’s genome needs to be duplicated in an efficient and error-free manner for its growth and survival. The replication fork is a Y-shaped active region where two strands of DNA are separated and replicated continuously. The coupling of DNA unzipping and complementary strand synthesis is a characteristic feature of a replication fork. Organisms with small circular DNA, such as E. coli, often have a single origin of replication; therefore, they have only two replication forks, one in...

The DNA Replication Fork

The DNA Replication Fork

An organism’s genome needs to be duplicated in an efficient and error-free manner for its growth and survival. The replication fork is a Y-shaped active region where two strands of DNA are separated and replicated continuously. The coupling of DNA unzipping and complementary strand synthesis is a characteristic feature of a replication fork. Organisms with small circular DNA, such as E. coli, often have a single origin of replication; therefore, they have only two replication forks, one in...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase

Published on: April 29, 2010

Break-induced replication: what is it and what is it for?

Bertrand Llorente¹, Catherine E Smith, Lorraine S Symington

¹CNRS, Genome Instability and Carcinogenesis, Convetionne par l'Université Aix-Marseille 2, Marseille, France.

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)

|April 17, 2008

Summary

Homologous recombination (HR) typically repairs DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) without errors. However, break-induced replication (BIR) can be mutagenic, potentially causing genome evolution and disease.

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Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase

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Published on: April 29, 2010

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Inducing a Site Specific Replication Blockage in E. coli Using a Fluorescent Repressor Operator System

Published on: August 21, 2016

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Genomics

Background:

Homologous recombination (HR) is a primary DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway.
Non-crossover HR minimizes loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and chromosomal rearrangements.
DSBs from replication fork collapse or telomere erosion often have one free end, favoring break-induced replication (BIR).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanisms and consequences of break-induced replication (BIR).
To understand how BIR differs from canonical homologous recombination (HR) in repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs).
To explore the mutagenic potential of BIR, particularly template switching, in genomic contexts.

Main Methods:

Review of recent studies on DNA repair mechanisms.
Analysis of break-induced replication (BIR) pathways.
Investigation of template switching during BIR.

Main Results:

Break-induced replication (BIR) can occur via multiple rounds of strand invasion, synthesis, and dissociation.
Dissociation and re-invasion within dispersed repeats during BIR can lead to significant chromosome rearrangements.
Template switching during BIR is a highly mutagenic process.

Conclusions:

While homologous recombination (HR) is generally error-free, break-induced replication (BIR) presents a mutagenic alternative for DSB repair.
BIR's mutagenic potential, especially through template switching, may play a role in genome evolution.
Understanding BIR is crucial for comprehending disease development linked to genomic instability.