Mitotic BLM functions are required to maintain genomic stability - PubMed
2 days ago
- #BLM helicase
- #genomic stability
- #mitosis
- BLM helicase is essential for genome maintenance, involved in DNA replication, repair, transcription, and chromosome segregation.
- During mitosis, BLM collaborates with PICH helicase and topoisomerases to resolve ultrafine DNA bridges (UFBs) between sister chromatids.
- Fluorescent tagging and auxin-inducible degron technology enabled tracking of UFB dynamics with or without BLM.
- BLM localizes to PML bodies and DNA repair foci in interphase, then re-associates with chromatin during anaphase to UFBs and CENP-B-positive mitotic foci.
- Acute BLM depletion during mitosis leads to unresolved UFBs, micronuclei with acentric fragments, binucleation, and subtle genomic abnormalities.
- The study highlights a mitosis-specific role for BLM in UFB resolution and maintaining genomic stability.