RecQ helicases: caretakers of the genome

Nat Rev Cancer. 2003 Mar;3(3):169-78. doi: 10.1038/nrc1012.

Abstract

RecQ helicases are highly conserved from bacteria to man. Germline mutations in three of the five known family members in humans give rise to debilitating disorders that are characterized by, amongst other things, a predisposition to the development of cancer. One of these disorders--Bloom's syndrome--is uniquely associated with a predisposition to cancers of all types. So how do RecQ helicases protect against cancer? They seem to maintain genomic stability by functioning at the interface between DNA replication and DNA repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / chemistry
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / deficiency
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Bloom Syndrome / enzymology
  • Bloom Syndrome / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • DNA Helicases / chemistry
  • DNA Helicases / deficiency
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • DNA Helicases / physiology*
  • DNA Repair / genetics
  • DNA Repair / physiology*
  • DNA Replication / genetics
  • DNA Replication / physiology*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / physiology
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multienzyme Complexes / physiology
  • Mutagenesis / genetics
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RecQ Helicases
  • Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome / enzymology
  • Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome / genetics
  • Species Specificity
  • Werner Syndrome / enzymology
  • Werner Syndrome / genetics
  • Werner Syndrome Helicase

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Bloom syndrome protein
  • RECQL protein, human
  • RecQ protein, E coli
  • DNA Helicases
  • RecQ Helicases
  • WRN protein, human
  • Werner Syndrome Helicase