DNA binding contributes to dominant-negative effects of a catalytically inactive RecQ4-family helicase
Robert H Simmons, Faith E McDevitt, Alexandra Hurlock, Michael E Kumcu, Matthew L Bochman · 2026
Read DNA binding contributes to dominant-negative effects of a catalytically inactive RecQ4-family helicase by Robert H Simmons, Faith E McDevitt, Alexandra Hurlock, Michael E Kumcu, Matthew L Bochman (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-13586618.txt.
Description
Robert Simmons and co-authors present a 2026 study of a yeast helicase that helps fix a harsh form of DNA damage. Crosslinks between DNA strands block cell growth and must be cut out with care. A dead form of this helicase, which can bind DNA but not unwind it, harms cells more than no helicase at all.
The team hunted for second changes that free cells from that harm. Nearly all such changes sat in the same gene, and many were set to weaken the protein or its grip on DNA. A built DNA binding mutant also freed cells, even when the protein stayed stable. The authors say grip by the dead enzyme is what blocks repair. They link the lesson to a human kin gene tied to genome care.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Robert H Simmons, Faith E McDevitt, Alexandra Hurlock, Michael E Kumcu, Matthew L Bochman |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 73 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |