Sequence and Nuclease Requirements for Breakage and Healing of a Structure-Forming (AT)n Sequence within Fragile Site FRA16D (Cell Reports)

Kaushal et al. found that a subregion of fragile site FRA16D forms an abnormal DNA structure that stalls DNA polymerase, resulting in DNA breakage and difficulty healing. They identify nucleases that cleave this structure to cause the DNA breaks and postulate that difficulty healing makes these sites prone to rearrangements.