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PMID: 18926708 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural Review

Rising from the RecQ-age: the role of human RecQ helicases in genome maintenance.

Trends in biochemical sciences ·Vol. 33 ·No. 12 ·2008-12-00 ·Pages 609-20

Bohr VA

Abstract

The RecQ helicases are guardians of the genome. Members of this conserved family of proteins have a key role in protecting and stabilizing the genome against deleterious changes. Deficiencies in RecQ helicases can lead to high levels of genomic instability and, in humans, to premature aging and increased susceptibility to cancer. Their diverse roles in DNA metabolism, which include a role in telomere maintenance, reflect interactions with multiple cellular proteins, some of which are multifunctional and also have very diverse functions. The results of in vitro cellular and biochemical studies have been complimented by recent in vivo studies using genetically modified mouse strains. Together, these approaches are helping to unravel the mechanism(s) of action and biological functions of the RecQ helicases.

MeSH Terms
Aging, Premature/genetics Animals Bloom Syndrome/genetics DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded DNA Repair/physiology DNA Replication/physiology Disease Models, Animal Exodeoxyribonucleases/physiology Genome, Human Humans Mice Protein Processing, Post-Translational RecQ Helicases/physiology Recombination, Genetic Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome/genetics Telomere/physiology Transcription, Genetic/physiology Werner Syndrome/genetics Werner Syndrome Helicase
Chemicals
RECQL5 protein, human Exodeoxyribonucleases Bloom syndrome protein RECQL4 protein, human RecQ Helicases WRN protein, human Werner Syndrome Helicase
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Bohr Vilhelm A
Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. [email protected]
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Article Info
Journal
Trends in biochemical sciences
Abbr.
Trends Biochem Sci
ISSN
0968-0004
DOI
10.1016/j.tibs.2008.09.003
Email
[email protected]
Published
2008-12-00
Epub
2008-00-14
Pages
609-20
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
7610674
PMCID
PMC2606042
Subset
IM
Grants
Intramural NIH HHS · Z01 AG000726-15 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2008.09.003 PMC Full Text View journal details
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