As with other MutS homologs, hMSH6 has an intrinsic ATPase activity. MutS, there is significant diversity of function among the MutS family members. It forms a complex with MutS and MutH, increasing the MutS footprint on the DNA. The MutSLH system (comprising MutS, MutL, and MutH) corrects point mutations and small turns. MutS and MutL are involved in preventing recombination between partially homologous DNA sequences. The only genes it has for DNA repair are the "mutL" and mutS genes. This puzzling MutS version appears to be a trademark of the family Megaviridae. This protein forms heterooligomers with another member of this family, mutS homolog 4. When bound, the MutS dimer bends the DNA helix and shields approximately 20 base pairs. MutS recognizes and binds to mismatches, where it recruits MutL and MutH. MutS is a mismatch DNA repair protein, originally described in "Escherichia coli".