The details of how the enzyme DNA polymerase α initiates the polymerization of nucleotides in DNA replication, a critical step in the synthesis of new chromosomal DNA, have been revealed in atomic detail.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer has been used to explore the interactions between DNA polymerases, sliding clamps and clamp loaders as DNA is replicated in human cells.

During meiosis, budding yeast use a checkpoint involving the protein Mec1 to prevent the formation of double-strand breaks in DNA that has not completed replication.

Electron microscopy uncovers the structure of the origin recognition complex (ORC) in metazoans, and reveals how mutations in the ORC6 subunit lead to Meier-Gorlin syndrome in humans.

A viral RNA has been identified as a specific MDA5 agonist in cells infected with encephalomyocarditis virus.

The crystal structure of the MCM helicase bound to single-stranded DNA reveals a binding motif that is critical for cell viability, helicase activation and DNA replication.

Lentiviral protein transduction offers a new approach for administration of custom-designed nucleases, leading to high-efficacy targeted gene editing and reduced off-target activity after virus-directed delivery of programmable nuclease proteins.

In vitro, in vivo and in silico evidence suggests that bacteria exploit intrinsic chromosomal fluctuations to achieve intracellular transport.

The Mcm2-7 motor unwinds DNA using an approach distinct from that of superfamily III helicases, and accesses multiple ring configurations and assembly states during the initiation of DNA replication.

Controlling cell cycle progression in a developing embryo directly depends on de novo histone supply and a specialized surveillance mechanism for nucleosome assembly.