RAD54 Like Protein (RAD54L)

RAD54L belongs to the DEAD-like helicase superfamily, and shares similarity with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad54, a protein known to be involved in the homologous recombination and repair of DNA. RAD54 protein dissociates RAD51 from nucleoprotein filaments formed on double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Addition of RAD54 protein overcame inhibition of DNA strand exchange by RAD51 protein bound to substrate dsDNA. Species preference in the RAD51 dissociation and DNA strand exchange assays underlined the importance of specific RAD54-RAD51 protein interactions. RAD51 protein was unable to release dsDNA upon ATP hydrolysis, leaving it stuck on the heteroduplex DNA product after DNA strand exchange. The authors suggested that RAD54 protein is involved in the turnover of RAD51-dsDNA filaments.