The role of RecQ helicases in non-homologous end-joining
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › Research › peer-review
Abstract DNA double-strand breaks are highly toxic DNA lesions that cause genomic instability, if not efficiently repaired. RecQ helicases are a family of highly conserved proteins that maintain genomic stability through their important roles in several DNA repair pathways, including DNA double-strand break repair. Double-strand breaks can be repaired by homologous recombination (HR) using sister chromatids as templates to facilitate precise DNA repair, or by an HR-independent mechanism known as non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) (error-prone). NHEJ is a non-templated DNA repair process, in which DNA termini are directly ligated. Canonical NHEJ requires DNA-PKcs and Ku70/80, while alternative NHEJ pathways are DNA-PKcs and Ku70/80 independent. This review discusses the role of RecQ helicases in NHEJ, alternative (or back-up) NHEJ (B-NHEJ) and microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ) in V(D)J recombination, class switch recombination and telomere maintenance.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 6 |
Pages (from-to) | 463-472 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISSN | 1040-9238 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2014 |
ID: 119407677