Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: DNA Repair (Amst). 2015 Jun 16;33:43–59. doi: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2015.06.003

Figure 2. A pinball machine and RECQ1 helicase sequestration by a phosphotriester backbone DNA modification.

Figure 2

RECQ1-catalyzed DNA unwinding is inhibited by an alkyltriester linkage in the translocating strand of the DNA substrate and the helicase becomes trapped by the backbone lesion. Like a pinball that becomes captured when it falls into a depressed pocket, the helicase is unable to escape when it becomes snared by the backbone damage (Panel A). In contrast, depending on the type of lesion, certain helicases readily dissociate from the lesion, much like a pinball that bounces off a bumper (Panel B). See text for details.