The DOI matches its Crossref record; 28 of the 28 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The identification of the replicative helicase loader gene dciA within the Helicobacter pylori genome challenges current replication initiation models for this bacterium
Open accessPublished version of a preprint
Abstract
At the onset of bacterial chromosome replication initiation, replicative helicases are loaded onto DNA, a process requiring helicase loaders. While organisms documented as lacking a helicase loader are rare, the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori is a notable exception. Here, relying mainly on genomic synteny and AlphaFold, I demonstrate that the well-documented helicase loader gene dciA is present in the H. pylori genome and co-localizes with the uvrC gene (excinuclease ABC subunit C), which highlights the limitations of the usual methodology used to identify dciA . I then provide evidence showing that this finding seriously challenges the two main current chromosome replication initiation models in this bacterium. Given that virulent strains of H. pylori pose a significant threat to human health, contributing to various gastric and non-gastric disorders, including certain cancers, I conclude that a deeper understanding of replication initiation in H. pylori could facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.
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Cites
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Metadata
- Authors
- Brézellec, P.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Brézellec, Pierre
- ORCID
- Brézellec, Pierre
- Venue
- Peer Community Journal
- Publisher
- Peer Community In
- Published
- 2026-02-25
- Volume
- 6
- Pages
- e16
- ISSN
- 2804-3871 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W7131346285
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 28
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Peer Community Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Helicobacter pylori-related gastroenterology studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Keywords
- Helicobacter pylori, chromosome replication initiation, UvrC, genomic synteny, bacterial genome annotation
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