Multimerization domains are associated with apparent strand exchange activity in BLM and WRN DNA helicases

- The yeast RecQ DNA helicase Sgs1 contains a coiled-coil in its N-terminal domain.
- Multimerization is required for Sgs1 function in the absence of SLX4.
- The coiled coil is required for ATP-independent DNA strand-exchange in vitro.
- The N-terminal domains of BLM, WRN and RECQ4 display identical in vitro activities.