Abstract
The mismatch repair process corrects errors in newly synthesized DNA. In this issue, Modrich and colleagues (Kadyrov et al., 2006) show that a component of the human mismatch repair machinery, MutLalpha, has endonuclease activity. MutLalpha introduces single-strand breaks near the mismatch and thus generates new entry points for the exonuclease EXOI to degrade the strand containing the mismatch.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Substitution
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Base Pair Mismatch*
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Binding Sites
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DNA Repair*
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Exodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism
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Humans
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MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein / chemistry
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MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein / genetics
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MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein / metabolism*
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Protein Binding
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Substrate Specificity
Substances
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Exodeoxyribonucleases
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exodeoxyribonuclease I
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MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein