DNA replication articles from across Nature Portfolio

The authors perform a computational analysis of mutagenesis at non-B DNA structures formed by repetitive sequences. Having removed confounding factors, they present a landscape of mutagenesis different than previously thought, in which mechanisms such as the formation of abnormal secondary structures, polymerase slippage and occasional takeover by error-prone polymerases play an important role within, but not surrounding, the motifs.

Here, the authors show that replication protein A (RPA) tends to self-assemble into dynamic condensates, in a manner that is stimulated by ssDNA and regulated by RPA2 phosphorylation. RPA condensates are functionally important for telomere clustering and RAD52-dependent telomere maintenance.

RECQ4 mutations contribute to multiple developmental diseases and tumorigenesis. Here the authors describe how a highly oncogenic RECQ4 mutation alters the control of DNA synthesis, leading to abnormal DNA content and cell growth.

RNase H2 removes mutagenic rNMPs from genomic DNA. The authors demonstrate how nicked rNMPs are repaired when they are encountered in S phase. This study unveils genetic interactions that could potentially be exploited in RNase H2-deficient pathologies.

The authors develop an EM-based method to directly visualize R-loops. Applying this method to transcription-replication conflicts in human and bacterial cells, they show that DNA:RNA hybrids accumulate primarily behind replication forks, and are linked to fork slowing and fork reversal.