Thermophilic archaea have a minimal double-strand DNA break repair apparatus consisting of the HerA ATPase, NurA nuclease and Mre11–Rad50 complex. Here the authors solve the structure of a hexameric HerA ring from Sulfolobus solfataricus, and provide insight into a novel mechanism of DNA repair.
- Neil J. Rzechorzek
- John K. Blackwood
- Nicholas P. Robinson