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Related Concept Videos

DNA Helicases00:55

DNA Helicases

DNA unwinding helicase enzymes are a type of motor protein. Motor proteins can translocate along filaments or polymers using energy generated from ATP hydrolysis. Helicases are involved in all the important cellular processes where DNA unwinding is required, such as DNA replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. They are present in all living organisms, but vary in their structure, function, and mechanism of action. For example, in prokaryotes, DnaB helicase binds and translocates...
DNA Topoisomerases02:02

DNA Topoisomerases

Topoisomerases are enzymes that relax overwound DNA molecules during various cell processes, including DNA replication and transcription. These enzymes regulate positive and negative DNA supercoiling without changing the nucleotide sequence. DNA overwinding in a clockwise direction results in positively supercoiled DNA, whereas underwinding in a counterclockwise direction produces negatively supercoiled DNA.
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types.  Type I...
Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins01:03

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...
Condensins02:15

Condensins

Condensins are large protein complexes that use ATP to fuel the assembly of chromosomes during mitosis. They transform the tangled, shapeless mass of post-interphase DNA into individualized chromosomes by compacting, organizing, and segregating chromosomal DNA.
The plant and animal cells contain two types of condensin complexes—condensin I and condensin II. Both complexes have five subunits: two SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) subunits, a kleisin subunit, and two HEAT-repeat...
Condensins02:15

Condensins

Condensins are large protein complexes that use ATP to fuel the assembly of chromosomes during mitosis. They transform the tangled, shapeless mass of post-interphase DNA into individualized chromosomes by compacting, organizing, and segregating chromosomal DNA.
The plant and animal cells contain two types of condensin complexes—condensin I and condensin II. Both complexes have five subunits: two SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) subunits, a kleisin subunit, and two HEAT-repeat...
Restarting Stalled Replication Forks02:37

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...

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Superfamily 2 helicases.

Alicia K Byrd1, Kevin D Raney

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA.

Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
|June 2, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Superfamily 2 helicases are crucial for RNA and DNA metabolism. This review details the diverse mechanisms, structures, and functions of the ten helicase families within this superfamily.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Superfamily 2 helicases are essential enzymes involved in numerous DNA and RNA metabolic processes.
  • These enzymes play critical roles in processes such as replication, repair, transcription, and translation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanistic, structural, and biological properties of the ten distinct families within Superfamily 2 helicases.
  • To highlight the diverse roles and functions these helicases perform in nucleic acid metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes existing literature on Superfamily 2 helicases.
  • Focuses on comparative analysis of mechanistic, structural, and biological data across different families.

Main Results:

  • Superfamily 2 comprises ten distinct helicase families with specialized functions.
  • Mechanisms of action vary, including translocation with unwinding, unwinding without translocation, and translocation without unwinding.
  • Enzymes exhibit diverse effects on nucleic acid substrates.

Conclusions:

  • Superfamily 2 helicases represent a functionally diverse group of enzymes critical for nucleic acid metabolism.
  • Understanding their varied mechanisms and structures is key to elucidating their roles in cellular processes.