Helicase HELQ: Molecular Characters Fit for DSB Repair Function.

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• DNA helicase HELQ exhibits highly conserved protein sequence and spatial structure from archaea to humans.
• Human HELQ possesses both DNA helicase and DNA-strand-annealing activities, similar to archaeal homologs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the functional studies of HELQ's biochemical roles in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways.
• To elucidate the significance of HELQ's activities in various stages of DSB repair.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing functional studies on DNA helicase HELQ.
• Analysis of HELQ's biochemical functions in DNA binding, translocation, and strand annealing.
• Examination of HELQ's role in end-resection-dependent DSB repair pathways.

Main Results:

• HELQ's dual activities are vital for regulating multiple double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways.
• HELQ facilitates repair in pathways like homologous recombination (HR), single-strand annealing (SSA), and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ).
• Key roles in end resection, strand invasion, DNA synthesis, and gene conversion are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• HELQ's conserved biochemical functions are essential for diverse DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair processes.
• Understanding HELQ's multifaceted roles provides insight into genome stability maintenance.