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Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase
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The MCM8/9 complex: A recent recruit to the roster of helicases involved in genome maintenance

Wezley C Griffin1, Michael A Trakselis1

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 76798, USA.

DNA Repair
|February 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

The MCM8/9 helicase plays a role in DNA repair and recombination, impacting fertility and cancer. Further research is needed to fully understand its genomic maintenance functions.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomic Maintenance

Background:

  • Multiple DNA helicases are involved in homologous and homoeologous recombination.
  • Mutations in these helicases are linked to genetic diseases like cancer, aging, and infertility.
  • MCM8/9 helicases are newly identified players in recombination with limited functional data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the genomic maintenance role of MCM8/9 helicases.
  • To contextualize MCM8/9 within other replication and recombination helicases.
  • To define the function of MCM8/9 by analyzing its structure, mutations, and cellular/organismal data.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and data synthesis.
  • Analysis of structure-function relationships.
  • Examination of mutational spectrum and available cellular/organismal data.

Main Results:

  • MCM8/9 mutations are primarily associated with primary ovarian insufficiency and infertility, suggesting a meiotic role.
  • MCM8/9 also functions in mitotic recombination following replication fork collapse.
  • MCM8/9 mutations are found in various somatic cancers.

Conclusions:

  • MCM8/9 helicases are involved in both meiotic and mitotic DNA recombination.
  • Their dysfunction contributes to infertility and cancer development.
  • Further investigation is crucial to fully elucidate the precise genomic maintenance functions of MCM8/9.
Keywords:
CancerDNA repairDNA replicationHelicaseHomologous recombinationInfertilityMCM8MCM9

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