RecQ helicases function in development, DNA repair, and gene targeting in Physcomitrella patens
Wiedemann G, van Gessel N, Köchl F, Hunn L, Schulze K, Maloukh L, Nogué F, Decker EL, Hartung F, Reski R.
Plant Cell. 2018;30(3):717-736
The success of the moss Physcomitrella as a model organism for signaling research relies largely on its outstanding suitability for precise genome engineering and gene editing. Proteins of the RecQ DNA helicase family appear in all kingdoms of life. In humans, RecQ malfunctions are associated with disease syndromes, e.g. BLOOM, and cancer. Likewise, in moss RecQ4 is important for DNA repair and normal development. In contrast, RecQ6, which is not present in Arabidopsis, is a strong enhancer of gene targeting in the moss.
