Homologous DNA recombination in vertebrate cells

The RAD52 epistasis group genes are involved in homologous DNA recombinatio n, and their primary structures are conserved from yeast to humans, Althoug h biochemical studies have suggested that the fundamental mechanism of homo logous DNA recombination is conserved from yeast to mammals, recent studies of vertebrate cells deficient in genes of the RAD52 epistasis group reveal that the role of each protein is not necessarily the same as that of the c orresponding yeast gene product. This review addresses the roles and mechan isms of homologous recombination-mediated repair with a special emphasis on differences between yeast and vertebrate cells.