A genome-wide and cotranscriptional suppressor of R loops [Outlook]

R loops arise from hybridization of RNA transcripts with template DNA during transcription. Unrepaired R loops lead to transcription–replication collisions, causing DNA damage and genomic instability. In this issue of Genes & Development, Pérez-Calero and colleagues (pp. 898–912) identify UAP56 as a cotranscriptional RNA–DNA helicase that unwinds R loops. They found that UAP56 helicase activity is required to remove R loops formed from different sources and prevent R-loop accumulation genome-wide at actively transcribed genes.
Source: Genes and Development - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: DNA Recombination and Repair Outlook Source Type: research