RAD51 bypasses the CMG helicase to promote replication fork reversal

Wenpeng Liu, Yuichiro Saito, Jessica Jackson, Rahul Bhowmick, Masato T. Kanemaki, Alessandro Vindigni, David Cortez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Replication fork reversal safeguards genome integrity as a replication stress response. DNA translocases and the RAD51 recombinase catalyze reversal. However, it remains unknown why RAD51 is required and what happens to the replication machinery during reversal. We find that RAD51 uses its strand exchange activity to circumvent the replicative helicase, which remains bound to the stalled fork. RAD51 is not required for fork reversal if the helicase is unloaded. Thus, we propose that RAD51 creates a parental DNA duplex behind the helicase that is used as a substrate by the DNA translocases for branch migration to create a reversed fork structure. Our data explain how fork reversal happens while maintaining the helicase in a position poised to restart DNA synthesis and complete genome duplication.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)382-387
Number of pages6
JournalScience
Volume380
Issue number6643
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 28 2023

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