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Review

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 3, 364–376 (1 May 2002) | doi:10.1038/nrm804

The 3|[prime]||[ndash]|5|[prime]| exonucleases

Igor V. Shevelev & Ulrich H|[uuml]|bscher

Over the past few years, several new 3|[prime]|–5|[prime]| exonucleases have been identified. In vitro studies of these enzymes have uncovered much about their potential functions in vivo, and certain organisms with a defect in 3|[prime]|–5|[prime]| exonucleases have an increased susceptibility to cancer, especially under conditions of stress. Here, we look at not only the newly discovered enzymes, but also at the roles of other 3|[prime]|–5|[prime]| exonucleases in the quality control of DNA synthesis, where they act as proofreading exonucleases for DNA polymerases during DNA replication, repair and recombination.