Journal article
The function of the secondary DNA‐binding site of RecA protein during DNA strand exchange
The EMBO journal, v 17(4), pp 1161-1168
15 Feb 1998
PMID: 9463393
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
RecA protein features two distinct DNA‐binding sites. During DNA strand exchange, the primary site binds to single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA), forming the helical RecA nucleoprotein filament. The weaker secondary site binds double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) during the homology search process. Here we demonstrate that this site has a second important function. It binds the ssDNA strand that is displaced from homologous duplex DNA during DNA strand exchange, stabilizing the initial heteroduplex DNA product. Although the high affinity of the secondary site for ssDNA is essential for DNA strand exchange, it renders DNA strand exchange sensitive to an excess of ssDNA which competes with dsDNA for binding. We further demonstrate that single‐stranded DNA‐binding protein can sequester ssDNA, preventing its binding to the secondary site and thereby assisting at two levels: it averts the inhibition caused by an excess of ssDNA and prevents the reversal of DNA strand exchange by removing the displaced strand from the secondary site.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- The function of the secondary DNA‐binding site of RecA protein during DNA strand exchange
- Creators
- Alexander V Mazin - Division of Biological Sciences, Sections of Microbiology and of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of CaliforniaStephen C Kowalczykowski - Division of Biological Sciences, Sections of Microbiology and of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California
- Publication Details
- The EMBO journal, v 17(4), pp 1161-1168
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; Chichester, UK
- Number of pages
- 8
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000072281000031
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-0032481374
- Other Identifier
- 991014878473804721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology