RecQ helicases maintain chromosome stability by resolving a number of highly specific DNA
structures that would otherwise impede the correct transmission of genetic information.
Previous studies have shown that two human RecQ helicases, BLM and WRN, have very
similar substrate specificities and preferentially unwind noncanonical DNA structures, such
as synthetic Holliday junctions and G-quadruplex DNA. Here, we extend this analysis of
BLM to include new substrates and have compared the substrate specificity of BLM with that …