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DNA repair

Big engine finds small breaks

Nature volume 432, pages 157–158 (2004)Cite this article

When a break occurs in the DNA double helix, it must be dealt with rapidly. The structure of one of the cellular machines responsible is now revealed, offering insights into its impressive speed and flexibility.

A double-strand break in DNA is the cellular equivalent of a three-alarm fire. As any taxpaying citizen knows, most communities maintain an impressive collection of hardware for dealing with major emergencies. Cells are no different, and for bacteria, the RecBCD complex of proteins is the heavy machinery that rushes to the scene of the conflagration1. On page 187 of this issue, Wigley and colleagues2 unveil the crystal structure of Escherichia coli RecBCD interacting with a DNA break. This remarkable structure helps us to visualize how the complex careers along the DNA, applies the brakes at a designated site, and chops up unwound DNA in its wake.

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Figure 1: Heavy machinery for dealing with DNA breaks.

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  1. Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, 266 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, 06520, Connecticut, USA

    Anna Marie Pyle

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  1. Anna Marie Pyle
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Pyle, A. Big engine finds small breaks. Nature 432, 157–158 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/432157a

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