Reports outline enzyme research from University of North Carolina, Department of Biology
2007 OCT 29 -- Scientists discuss in 'Multiple functions of Drosophila BLM helicase in maintenance of genome stability' new findings in enzyme research. According to recent research from the United States, "'Bloom Syndrome, a rare human disorder characterized by genomic instability and predisposition to cancer, is caused by mutation of BLM, which encodes a RecQ-family DNA helicase. The Drosophila melanogaster ortholog of BLM, DmBlm, is encoded by mus309." "Mutations in mus309 cause hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, female sterility, and defects in repairing double-strand breaks (DSBs). To better understand these phenotypes, we isolated novel mus309 alleles. Mutations that delete the N terminus of DmBlm, but not the helicase domain, have DSB repair defects as severe as those caused by null mutations. We found that female sterility is due to a requirement for DmBlm in early embryonic cell cycles; embryos lacking maternally derived DmBlm have anaphase bridges and other mitotic defects. These defects were less severe for the N-terminal deletion alleles, so we used one of these mutations to assay meiotic recombination. Crossovers were decreased to about half the normal rate, and the remaining crossovers were evenly distributed along the chromosome. We also found that spontaneous mitotic crossovers are increased by several orders of magnitude in mus309 mutants," wrote M. McVey and colleagues, University of North Carolina, Department of Biology. The researchers concluded: "These results demonstrate that DmBlm functions in multiple cellular contexts to promote genome stability." McVey and colleagues published their study in Genetics (Multiple functions of Drosophila BLM helicase in maintenance of genome stability. Genetics, 2007;176(4):1979-92). For additional information, contact M. McVey, University of North Carolina, Dept. of Biology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA.. Publisher contact information for the journal Genetics is: Genetics, 428 East Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202, USA. Keywords: United States, Chapel Hill, DNA, Enzyme Research, Genetics, Helicase. This article was prepared by Proteomics Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Proteomics Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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