Srs2 and Pif1 as Model Systems for Understanding Sf1a and Sf1b Helicase Structure and Function

Helicases are enzymes that convert the chemical energy stored in ATP into mechanical work, allowing them to move along and manipulate nucleic acids. The helicase superfamily 1 (Sf1) is one of the largest subgroups of helicases and they are required for a range of cellular activities across all domains of life. Sf1 helicases can be further subdivided into two classes called the Sf1a and Sf1b helicases, which move in opposite directions on nucleic acids. The results of this movement can range from the separation of strands within duplex nucleic acids to the physical remodeling or removal of nucleoprotein complexes. Here, we describe the characteristics of the Sf1a helicase Srs2 and the Sf1b helicase Pif1, both from the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, focusing on the roles that they play in homologous recombination, a DNA repair pathway that is necessary for maintaining genome integrity.