Slip sliding on DNA

摘要

The cell's genetic information is maintained as a double helix of interwoven DNA strands in which the information content (the nucleotide sequence) is tucked away between sheltering sugar-phosphate backbones. Although this stable structure benefits long-term information storage, the two strands of DNA must be unwound to allow DNA replication, genetic recombination and repair. Unfortunately, DNA unwinding comes with inherent risks: single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is susceptible to environmental insults, and is prone to forming aberrant structures that impede subsequent DNA-processing reactions.