多年來,，從事DNA修復(fù)研究的研究人員面臨一個(gè)難題：同源重組（一個(gè)修復(fù)雙鏈DNA斷裂的過程）需要尾端為3\'的單鏈DNA的生成。然而,，使得一個(gè)核酸外切酶在這一過程中發(fā)揮功能的明顯候選物是Mre11復(fù)合物，而它所產(chǎn)生的是尾端為5\'的分子。
現(xiàn)在,，Eleni Mimitou 和Lorraine Symington對(duì)這個(gè)問題做了一定的澄清。細(xì)胞的做法是,，采用一個(gè)由兩步組成的過程：在這個(gè)過程中,，一個(gè)短寡核苷酸首先被Mre11復(fù)合物從一個(gè)鏈上除掉，然后核酸外切酶ExoI和解旋酶Sgs1加載到這一基質(zhì)上,，生成尾端為3\'的分子,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Nature 455, 770-774 (9 October 2008) | doi:10.1038/nature07312
Sae2, Exo1 and Sgs1 collaborate in DNA double-strand break processing
Eleni P. Mimitou1 & Lorraine S. Symington1
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA
DNA ends exposed after introduction of double-strand breaks (DSBs) undergo 5'–3' nucleolytic degradation to generate single-stranded DNA, the substrate for binding by the Rad51 protein to initiate homologous recombination. This process is poorly understood in eukaryotes, but several factors have been implicated, including the Mre11 complex (Mre11–Rad50–Xrs2/NBS1), Sae2/CtIP/Ctp1 and Exo1. Here we demonstrate that yeast Exo1 nuclease and Sgs1 helicase function in alternative pathways for DSB processing. Novel, partially resected intermediates accumulate in a double mutant lacking Exo1 and Sgs1, which are poor substrates for homologous recombination. The early processing step that generates partly resected intermediates is dependent on Sae2. When Sae2 is absent, in addition to Exo1 and Sgs1, unprocessed DSBs accumulate and homology-dependent repair fails. These results suggest a two-step mechanism for DSB processing during homologous recombination. First, the Mre11 complex and Sae2 remove a small oligonucleotide(s) from the DNA ends to form an early intermediate. Second, Exo1 and/or Sgs1 rapidly process this intermediate to generate extensive tracts of single-stranded DNA that serve as substrate for Rad51.
