FEN1 Protein with DNA Strand (IMAGE)

DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

FEN1 Protein with DNA Strand

Caption

Shown is the crystal structure of the FEN1 protein bound to its target DNA. Researchers found that single-stranded flaps are threaded through a tunnel in FEN1. The unexpected inversion of the threaded flap, guided by phosphate steering, keeps the phosphodiester bonds facing away from the metals that could inadvertently shred them.

Credit

Susan Tsutakawa/Berkeley Lab

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