Fig. 8. Model for RPA-facilitated DNA unwinding by CMG.
a While unwinding dsDNA, CMG often pauses owing to engagement with the parental duplex at the fork junction. DNA rezipping-induced CMG backtracking can rescue a stalled helicase. Owing to frequent pausing, CMG unwinds duplex DNA very slowly. b Binding of RPA to the lagging-strand template prevents CMG from engaging with duplex DNA at the fork junction. Thus, in the presence of RPA, CMG unwinds dsDNA at rates similar to its ssDNA translocation rate.