Download MendeleyStructural mechanism of RECQ1 helicase in unfolding G-quadruplexes compared with duplex DNA.
Song, Z.Y., Zhang, X., Ai, X., Huang, L.Y., Hou, X.M., Fosse, P., Liu, N.N., Mauffret, O., Rety, S., Xi, X.G.(2025) Nucleic Acids Res 53
- PubMed: 40966504
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaf877
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
9I0S, 9I16, 9I1P, 9I22, 9I23 - PubMed Abstract:
RECQ1, the most abundant RecQ helicase in human cells, is involved in telomere maintenance in ALT cells and plays a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity and stability. Here, we present five high-resolution crystal structures that systematically reveal a novel mechanism by which the RECQ1 helicase recognizes and regulates G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures. Our results demonstrate that DNA binding induces intra-subunit rearrangement in RECQ1, transitioning it from a closed to an open conformation. This rearrangement alters the stability of the dimer interface. G4 recognition and unwinding are driven by coordinated interactions between the D1/D2 domains and the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding channel. This dual engagement aligns the G4 tetrad in a geometry favorable for unwinding. ATP hydrolysis facilitates ssDNA translocation, positioning the β-hairpin to disrupt hydrogen bonds-unraveling G4 structures in a manner analogous to the unwinding of dsDNA. This study proposes a mechanistic model for RECQ1-mediated G4 unwinding and elucidates how RECQ1 recognizes and unwinds distinct DNA structures.
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
Organizational Affiliation:
