Genetics

Breakthrough in understanding Warsaw breakage syndrome

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University and the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) in Italy have uncovered a previously unknown function of the DDX11 helicase enzyme. Mutations in the gene, which codes for ...

Medical research

The RHAU helicase: A key player in blood formation

Scientists at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research have discovered that the helicase RHAU, a protein that can resolve complex structures in both DNA and RNA molecules, is essential for early embryonic ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Amid the rush for COVID-19 drugs, a case for the helicase

Upon entry into our cells, SARS-CoV-2 immediately gets to work replicating itself. The process is nothing short of impressive: A suite of enzymes and proteins work to copy the virus's genetic material into thousands more ...