Entrez Summary: The protein encoded by this gene is a key component of the mismatch repair system that functions to correct DNA mismatches and small insertions and deletions that can occur during DNA replication and homologous recombination. This protein forms heterodimers with the gene product of the mutL homolog 1 (MLH1) gene to form the MutL-alpha heterodimer. The MutL-alpha heterodimer possesses an endonucleolytic activity that is activated following recognition of mismatches and insertion/deletion loops by the MutS-alpha and MutS-beta heterodimers, and is necessary for removal of the mismatched DNA. There is a DQHA(X)2E(X)4E motif found at the C-terminus of the protein encoded by this gene that forms part of the active site of the nuclease. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC; also known as Lynch syndrome) and Turcot syndrome. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2016].
UniProt Summary: Component of the post-replicative DNA mismatch repair system (MMR). Heterodimerizes with MLH1 to form MutL alpha. DNA repair is initiated by MutS alpha (MSH2-MSH6) or MutS beta (MSH2- MSH6) binding to a dsDNA mismatch, then MutL alpha is recruited to the heteroduplex. Assembly of the MutL-MutS-heteroduplex ternary complex in presence of RFC and PCNA is sufficient to activate endonuclease activity of PMS2. It introduces single-strand breaks near the mismatch and thus generates new entry points for the exonuclease EXO1 to degrade the strand containing the mismatch. DNA methylation would prevent cleavage and therefore assure that only the newly mutated DNA strand is going to be corrected. MutL alpha (MLH1-PMS2) interacts physically with the clamp loader subunits of DNA polymerase III, suggesting that it may play a role to recruit the DNA polymerase III to the site of the MMR. Also implicated in DNA damage signaling, a process which induces cell cycle arrest and can lead to apoptosis in case of major DNA damages. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16873062, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18206974, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23709753}.
Pfam DomainsGO Terms
Pfam Domains
MutL C
HATPase c
DNA mis repair
GO Terms
single base insertion or deletion binding
MutSalpha complex binding
MutLalpha complex
mismatch repair complex
somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes
somatic diversification of immune receptors via somatic mutation
mismatch repair
somatic diversification of immunoglobulins
endonuclease activity
somatic diversification of immune receptors
cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granule
single-stranded DNA binding
microtubule cytoskeleton
immunoglobulin production
production of molecular mediator of immune response
ATPase activity
nucleic acid phosphodiester bond hydrolysis
DNA repair
immune system development
DNA metabolic process
cellular response to DNA damage stimulus
response to drug
DNA binding
ATP binding
cellular response to stress
CRISPR Data
Compound HitMost Correlated Genes in ChemogenomicsTissues where Essential in the Avana Dataset (DepMap 20Q1)