| First Author | Shen JC | Year | 2000 |
| Journal | Trends Genet | Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 213-20 |
| PubMed ID | 10782115 | Mgi Jnum | J:61954 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1855815 | Doi | 10.1016/s0168-9525(99)01970-8 |
| Citation | Shen JC, et al. (2000) The Werner syndrome gene: the molecular basis of RecQ helicase-deficiency diseases. Trends Genet 16(5):213-20 |
| abstractText | Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that is manifested by genetic instability and premature onset of age-related diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer. The gene that is mutated in WS cells (WRN) has been identified recently. Characterizations of the WRN gene product indicate that WRN encodes both a 3'-->5' DNA helicase, belonging to the Escherichiacoli RecQ helicase family, and a 3'-->5' DNA exonuclease. Studies to define the molecular mechanism of WRN-DNA transactions are currently underway in many laboratories. Preliminary results indicate that WRN functions as a key factor in resolving aberrant DNA structures that arise from DNA metabolic processes such as replication, recombination and/or repair, to preserve the genetic integrity in cells. |