Need for speed: mechanical regulation of a replicative helicase

Cell. 2007 Jun 29;129(7):1249-50. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.06.007.

Abstract

There is much debate about how helicases unwind DNA during DNA replication and how their activity is regulated. In this issue, Johnson et al. (2007) shed light on this conundrum using a single molecule approach to dissect the behavior of the T7 DNA helicase.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteriophage T7 / genetics
  • DNA / genetics*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • DNA Replication / genetics*
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / metabolism
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • DNA
  • DNA Helicases