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Related Concept Videos

Homologous Recombination02:31

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 Recombination02:31

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 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...
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...
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...
The DNA Replication Fork01:02

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: May 19, 2026

Detection of Homologous Recombination Intermediates via Proximity Ligation and Quantitative PCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
07:55

Detection of Homologous Recombination Intermediates via Proximity Ligation and Quantitative PCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 11, 2022

Unwinding to recombine.

Guillaume Guilbaud1, Julian E Sale

  • 1MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.

Molecular Cell
|August 28, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The MCM8 and MCM9 proteins, previously less studied, are now shown to be essential for homologous recombination. This finding expands our understanding of MCM protein functions beyond DNA replication.

More Related Videos

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase
07:37

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase

Published on: September 27, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Detection of Homologous Recombination Intermediates via Proximity Ligation and Quantitative PCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
07:55

Detection of Homologous Recombination Intermediates via Proximity Ligation and Quantitative PCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 11, 2022

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase
07:37

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase

Published on: September 27, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The Minichromosome Maintenance (MCM) complex (MCM2-7) is a well-established core component of the replicative helicase, essential for DNA replication initiation and elongation.
  • While the MCM2-7 complex is central to DNA replication, the specific roles of other MCM proteins, such as MCM8 and MCM9, remain less characterized.

Discussion:

  • Two recent studies by Nishimura et al. (2012) and Lutzmann et al. (2012) reveal a novel function for MCM8 and MCM9.
  • These proteins are demonstrated to play a critical role in facilitating homologous recombination, a key DNA repair pathway.

Key Insights:

  • MCM8 and MCM9 are crucial for efficient homologous recombination.
  • This highlights a significant function of these MCM proteins beyond their known association with DNA replication machinery.
  • The findings suggest a broader role for MCM proteins in maintaining genome stability.

Outlook:

  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which MCM8 and MCM9 regulate homologous recombination.
  • Investigating potential interactions between MCM8/MCM9 and other recombination factors could yield new insights.
  • Understanding this role may open new avenues for therapeutic strategies targeting DNA repair pathways.