Post-translational modification of factors involved in homologous recombination

DNA is the molecule that stores chemical instructions necessary for life and its stability therefore of utmost importance. Despite this, damaged by both exogenous endogenous factors at an alarming frequency. The most severe type damage a double-strand break (DSB), in which scission occurs strands double helix, effectively dividing single normal chromosome into two pathological chromosomes. Homologous recombination (HR) universal DSB repair mechanism solves this problem identifying another region genome shares high sequence similarity with site using it as template repair. Rad51 possess enzymatic activity essential but several auxiliary are required to fulfil function. It becoming increasingly clear many HR subjected post-translational modification. Here, we review what known about how these modifications affect HR. We first focus on cases where there experimental evidence support function modification, then discuss speculative can be inferred. Finally, contemplate why such might necessary.