| Modification Notes |
The replication of lagging strand DNA requires several enzymatic steps that eventually lead to the generation of Okazaki fragments; small DNA strands that are attached by DNA Ligase. DNA2L (DNA2-like helicase), also known as DNA2, is a 1,060 amino acid human homolog of yeast DNA2, a helicase/nuclease that is essential for genome stability and DNA metabolism. In yeast, DNA2 acts as a DNA-dependent ATPase that unwinds duplex DNA, thereby producing single-standed DNA that serves as a template for DNA replication. In humans, DNA2L functions as a helicase that is involved in DNA replication, DNA repair and chromatin dynamics. Specifically, DNA2L is thought to play a role in the maturation and elongation of Okazaki fragments, thereby facilitating replication of the lagging strand. Mutations in the gene encoding DNA2L are lethal, suggesting that proper DNA2L function is crucial for cell viability. Three isoforms of DNA2L exist due to alternative splicing events. |