S. Korolev, N. Yao, T.M Lohman, P.C. Weber, and G. Waksman.
Comparisons between the structures of HCV and Rep helicases reveal structural similarities between SF1 and SF2 superfamilies of helicases.

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Three helicase structures have been determined recently, that of the DNA helicase PcrA, that of the Hepatitis C virus RNA helicase, and that of the E. coli DNA helicase Rep. PcrA and Rep belong to the same superfamily of helicases (SF1) and are structurally very similar. In contrast, the HCV helicase belongs to a different superfamily of helicases, SF2, and shows little sequence homology with the PcrA/Rep helicases. Yet, the HCV helicase is structurally similar to Rep/PcrA, suggesting preservation of structural scaffolds and relationships between helicase motifs across these two superfamilies. The comparison study presented here also reveals the existence of a new helicase motif in the SF1 family of helicases.

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