MutS Proteins

DNA repair proteins that include the bacterial MutS DNA mismatch-binding protein and its eukaryotic homologs that function in DNA MISMATCH REPAIR and recombination of DNA during MEIOSIS. MutS has a conserved mismatch recognition domain characterized by GxFxE, or similar AMINO ACID MOTIFS that also occur in eukaryotic homologs such as MSH1, MSH6, and MSH8. All MutS proteins also contain a highly-conserved ATP-binding domain and most have weak ATPase activity.