Srs2 helicase prevents the formation of toxic DNA damage during late prophase I of yeast meiosis.

Proper repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) is key to ensure proper chromosome segregation. In this study, we found that the deletion of the SRS2 gene, which encodes a DNA helicase necessary for the control of homologous recombination, induces aberrant chromosome segregation during budding yeast meiosis. This abnormal chromosome segregation in srs2 cells accompanies the formation of a novel DNA damage induced during late meiotic prophase I.

AbpA and AbpB provide anti-phage activity in Escherichia coli.

Bacteria have a variety of resistance mechanisms for surviving bacteriophage infections. Here, we describe a novel anti-phage mechanism in Escherichia coli. Cells harboring a plasmid with the genes abpA and abpB, formerly yfjL and yfjK, blocked the propagation of bacteriophages belonging to three families: T4, T2, T7 and λ phages.

Remodeling of the Rad51 DNA strand-exchange protein by the Srs2 helicase.

Homologous recombination is associated with the dynamic assembly and disassembly of DNA-protein complexes. Assembly of a nucleoprotein filament comprising ssDNA and the RecA homolog, Rad51, is a key step required for homology search during recombination. The budding yeast Srs2 DNA translocase is known to dismantle Rad51 filament in vitro.