The eukaryotic homologues of the Escherichia coli RecQ DNA helicase play conserved roles in the maintenance of genome stability, functioning during DNA replication and possibly in an S phase replication checkpoint. At least three of the human RecQ-like helicases are implicated in heritable diseases: BLM is mutated in Bloom's syndrome, WRN in Werner's syndrome, and RECQL4 in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. (Adapted from
PMID:10893179.)
