1
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Cory MB, Li A, Hurley CM, Hostetler ZM, Venkatesh Y, Jones CM, Petersson EJ, Kohli RM. Engineered RecA Constructs Reveal the Minimal SOS Activation Complex. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2884-2896. [PMID: 36473084 PMCID: PMC9982712 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The SOS response is a bacterial DNA damage response pathway that has been heavily implicated in bacteria's ability to evolve resistance to antibiotics. Activation of the SOS response is dependent on the interaction between two bacterial proteins, RecA and LexA. RecA acts as a DNA damage sensor by forming lengthy oligomeric filaments (RecA*) along single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in an ATP-dependent manner. RecA* can then bind to LexA, the repressor of SOS response genes, triggering LexA degradation and leading to induction of the SOS response. Formation of the RecA*-LexA complex therefore serves as the key "SOS activation signal." Given the challenges associated with studying a complex involving multiple macromolecular interactions, the essential constituents of RecA* that allow LexA cleavage are not well defined. Here, we leverage head-to-tail linked and end-capped RecA constructs as tools to define the minimal RecA* filament that can engage LexA. In contrast to previously postulated models, we found that as few as three linked RecA units are capable of ssDNA binding, LexA binding, and LexA cleavage. We further demonstrate that RecA oligomerization alone is insufficient for LexA cleavage, with an obligate requirement for ATP and ssDNA binding to form a competent SOS activation signal with the linked constructs. Our minimal system for RecA* highlights the limitations of prior models for the SOS activation signal and offers a novel tool that can inform efforts to slow acquired antibiotic resistance by targeting the SOS response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Cory
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Allen Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Christina M. Hurley
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Zachary M. Hostetler
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Yarra Venkatesh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Chloe M. Jones
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - E. James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Rahul M. Kohli
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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2
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Fan HF, Su S. The regulation mechanism of the C-terminus of RecA proteins during DNA strand-exchange process. Biophys J 2021; 120:3166-3179. [PMID: 34197804 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The C-terminus of Escherichia coli RecA protein can affect the DNA binding affinity, interact with accessory proteins, and regulate the RecA activity. A substantial upward shift in the pH-reaction profile of RecA-mediated DNA strand-exchange reactions was observed for C-terminal-truncated E. coli ΔC17 RecA, Deinococcus radiodurans RecA, and Deinococcus ficus RecA. Here, the process of RecA-mediated strand exchange from the beginning to the end was investigated with florescence resonance energy transfer and tethered particle motion experiments to determine the detailed regulation mechanism. RecA proteins with a shorter C-terminus possess more stable nuclei, higher DNA binding affinities, and lower protonation requirements for the formation of nucleoprotein filaments. Moreover, more stable synaptic complexes in the homologous sequence searching process were also observed for RecA proteins with a shorter C-terminus. Our results suggest that the C-terminus of RecA proteins regulates not only the formation of RecA nucleoprotein filaments but also the entrance of secondary DNA into RecA nucleoprotein filaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Fang Fan
- Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Shu Su
- Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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3
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Fan HF, Su S, Kuo YA, Chen CJ. Influence of the C-Terminal Tail of RecA Proteins from Alkaline pH-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus Ficus. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:19868-19876. [PMID: 32803083 PMCID: PMC7424711 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c02865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Deinococcus ficus CC-FR2-10T, resistant to ultraviolet, ionizing radiation, and chemicals which may cause DNA damage, was identified in Taiwan. The expression level of D. ficus RecA, which has 92% sequence identity with Deinococcus radiodurans (Dr.) RecA, will be upregulated upon UV radiation. Multiple sequence alignment of RecA proteins from bacteria belonging to Escherichia coli and the Deinococcus genus reveals that the C-terminal tail of D. ficus RecA is shorter and contains less acidic residues than E. coli RecA. D. ficus RecA exhibits a higher ATPase activity toward single-stranded (ss) DNA and efficiently promotes DNA strand exchange that a filament is first formed on ssDNA, followed by uptake of the double-stranded (ds) substrate. Moreover, D. ficus RecA exhibits a pH-reaction profile for DNA strand exchange similar to E. coli ΔC17 RecA. Later, a chimera D. ficus C17 E. coli RecA with more acidic residues in the C-terminal tail was constructed and purified. Increased negativity in the C-terminal tail makes the pH reaction profile for Chimera D. ficus C17 E. coli RecA DNA strand exchange exhibit a reaction optimum similar to E. coli RecA. To sum up, D. ficus RecA exhibits reaction properties in substrate-dependent ATPase activity and DNA strand exchange similar to E. coli RecA. Our data indicate that the negativity in the C-terminal tail plays an important role in the regulation of pH-dependent DNA strand exchange activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Fang Fan
- Institute
of Medical Science and Technology, National
Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
- Department
of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
- Aerosol
Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen
University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | - Shu Su
- Department
of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Ying-An Kuo
- Department
of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Cyuan-Ji Chen
- Department
of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
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4
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Lin YH, Chu CC, Fan HF, Wang PY, Cox MM, Li HW. A 5'-to-3' strand exchange polarity is intrinsic to RecA nucleoprotein filaments in the absence of ATP hydrolysis. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:5126-5140. [PMID: 30916331 PMCID: PMC6547424 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
RecA is essential to recombinational DNA repair in which RecA filaments mediate the homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange. Both RecA filament assembly and the subsequent DNA strand exchange are directional. Here, we demonstrate that the polarity of DNA strand exchange is embedded within RecA filaments even in the absence of ATP hydrolysis, at least over short DNA segments. Using single-molecule tethered particle motion, we show that successful strand exchange in the presence of ATP proceeds with a 5′-to-3′ polarity, as demonstrated previously. RecA filaments prepared with ATPγS also exhibit a 5′-to-3′ progress of strand exchange, suggesting that the polarity is not determined by RecA disassembly and/or ATP hydrolysis. RecAΔC17 mutants, lacking a C-terminal autoregulatory flap, also promote strand exchange in a 5′-to-3′ polarity in ATPγS, a polarity that is largely lost with this RecA variant when ATP is hydrolyzed. We propose that there is an inherent strand exchange polarity mediated by the structure of the RecA filament groove, associated by conformation changes propagated in a polar manner as DNA is progressively exchanged. ATP hydrolysis is coupled to polar strand exchange over longer distances, and its contribution to the polarity requires an intact RecA C-terminus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chieh Chu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Fang Fan
- Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, 11221 Taiwan
| | - Pang-Yen Wang
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Michael M Cox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 53706, USA
| | - Hung-Wen Li
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taiwan
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5
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Hsu HF, Ngo KV, Chitteni-Pattu S, Cox MM, Li HW. Investigating Deinococcus radiodurans RecA protein filament formation on double-stranded DNA by a real-time single-molecule approach. Biochemistry 2011; 50:8270-80. [PMID: 21853996 DOI: 10.1021/bi200423t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With the aid of an efficient, precise, and almost error-free DNA repair system, Deinococcus radiodurans can survive hundreds of double-strand breaks inflicted by high doses of irradiation or desiccation. RecA of D. radiodurans (DrRecA) plays a central role both in the early phase of repair by an extended synthesis-dependent strand annealing process and in the later more general homologous recombination phase. Both roles likely require DrRecA filament formation on duplex DNA. We have developed single-molecule tethered particle motion experiments to study the assembly dynamics of RecA proteins on individual duplex DNA molecules by observing changes in DNA tether length resulting from RecA binding. We demonstrate that DrRecA nucleation on double-stranded DNA is much faster than that of Escherichia coli RecA protein (EcRecA), but the extension is slower. This combination of attributes would tend to increase the number and decrease the length of DrRecA filaments relative to those of EcRecA, a feature that may reflect the requirement to repair hundreds of genomic double-strand breaks concurrently in irradiated Deinococcus cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Fang Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
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6
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Bakhlanova IV, Dudkina AV, Baitin DM, Knight KL, Cox MM, Lanzov VA. Modulating cellular recombination potential through alterations in RecA structure and regulation. Mol Microbiol 2010; 78:1523-38. [PMID: 21143322 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07424.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The wild-type Escherichia coli RecA protein is a recombinase platform with unrealized recombination potential. We have explored the factors affecting recombination during conjugation with a quantitative assay. Regulatory proteins that affect RecA function have the capacity to increase or decrease recombination frequencies by factors up to sixfold. Autoinhibition by the RecA C-terminus can affect recombination frequency by factors up to fourfold. The greatest changes in recombination frequency measured here are brought about by point mutations in the recA gene. RecA variants can increase recombination frequencies by more than 50-fold. The RecA protein thus possesses an inherently broad functional range. The RecA protein of E. coli (EcRecA) is not optimized for recombination function. Instead, much of the recombination potential of EcRecA is structurally suppressed, probably reflecting cellular requirements. One point mutation in EcRecA with a particularly dramatic effect on recombination frequency, D112R, exhibits an enhanced capacity to load onto SSB-coated ssDNA, overcome the effects of regulatory proteins such as PsiB and RecX, and to pair homologous DNAs. Comparisons of key RecA protein mutants reveal two components to RecA recombination function - filament formation and the inherent DNA pairing activity of the formed filaments.
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7
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Britt RL, Haruta N, Lusetti SL, Chitteni-Pattu S, Inman RB, Cox MM. Disassembly of Escherichia coli RecA E38K/DeltaC17 nucleoprotein filaments is required to complete DNA strand exchange. J Biol Chem 2009; 285:3211-26. [PMID: 19910465 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.028951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Disassembly of RecA protein subunits from a RecA filament has long been known to occur during DNA strand exchange, although its importance to this process has been controversial. An Escherichia coli RecA E38K/DeltaC17 double mutant protein displays a unique and pH-dependent mutational separation of DNA pairing and extended DNA strand exchange. Single strand DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis is catalyzed by this mutant protein nearly normally from pH 6 to 8.5. It will also form filaments on DNA and promote DNA pairing. However, below pH 7.3, ATP hydrolysis is completely uncoupled from extended DNA strand exchange. The products of extended DNA strand exchange do not form. At the lower pH values, disassembly of RecA E38K/DeltaC17 filaments is strongly suppressed, even when homologous DNAs are paired and available for extended DNA strand exchange. Disassembly of RecA E38K/DeltaC17 filaments improves at pH 8.5, whereas complete DNA strand exchange is also restored. Under these sets of conditions, a tight correlation between filament disassembly and completion of DNA strand exchange is observed. This correlation provides evidence that RecA filament disassembly plays a major role in, and may be required for, DNA strand exchange. A requirement for RecA filament disassembly in DNA strand exchange has a variety of ramifications for the current models linking ATP hydrolysis to DNA strand exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Britt
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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8
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The RecB nuclease domain binds to RecA-DNA filaments: implications for filament loading. J Mol Biol 2009; 391:269-74. [PMID: 19540850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2009] [Revised: 05/29/2009] [Accepted: 06/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The E. coli RecBCD enzyme facilitates the loading of RecA onto single-stranded DNA produced by the combined helicase/nuclease activity of RecBCD. The nuclease domain of RecB protein, RecB(nuc), has been previously shown to bind RecA. Surprisingly, RecB(nuc) also binds to phage and eukaryotic homologs of RecA, leading to the suggestion that RecB(nuc) interacts with the polymerization motif that is present in all three proteins. This mode of interaction could only be with monomeric RecA, as this motif would be buried in filaments. We show that RecB(nuc) binds extensively to the outside of RecA-DNA filaments. Three-dimensional reconstructions suggest that RecB(nuc) binds to the ATP-binding core of RecA, with a displacement of the C-terminal domain of RecA. Solution experiments confirm that the interaction of RecB(nuc) is only with the RecA core. Since the RecA C-terminal domain has been shown to be regulatory, the interaction observed may be part of the loading mechanism where RecB displaces the RecA C-terminal domain and activates a RecA monomer for polymerization.
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9
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Abstract
The bacterial RecA protein participates in a remarkably diverse set of functions, all of which are involved in the maintenance of genomic integrity. RecA is a central component in both the catalysis of recombinational DNA repair and the regulation of the cellular SOS response. Despite the mechanistic differences of its functions, all require formation of an active RecA/ATP/DNA complex. RecA is a classic allosterically regulated enzyme, and ATP binding results in a dramatic increase in DNA binding affinity and a cooperative assembly of RecA subunits to form an ordered, helical nucleoprotein filament. The molecular events that underlie this ATP-induced structural transition are becoming increasingly clear. This review focuses on descriptions of our current understanding of the molecular design and allosteric regulation of RecA. We present a comprehensive list of all published recA mutants and use the results of various genetic and biochemical studies, together with available structural information, to develop ideas regarding the design of RecA functional domains and their catalytic organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dharia A McGrew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Aaron Lazare Research Building, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605-2324, USA
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10
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Chen Z, Yang H, Pavletich NP. Mechanism of homologous recombination from the RecA-ssDNA/dsDNA structures. Nature 2008; 453:489-4. [PMID: 18497818 DOI: 10.1038/nature06971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 512] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2007] [Accepted: 04/04/2008] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The RecA family of ATPases mediates homologous recombination, a reaction essential for maintaining genomic integrity and for generating genetic diversity. RecA, ATP and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) form a helical filament that binds to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), searches for homology, and then catalyses the exchange of the complementary strand, producing a new heteroduplex. Here we have solved the crystal structures of the Escherichia coli RecA-ssDNA and RecA-heteroduplex filaments. They show that ssDNA and ATP bind to RecA-RecA interfaces cooperatively, explaining the ATP dependency of DNA binding. The ATP gamma-phosphate is sensed across the RecA-RecA interface by two lysine residues that also stimulate ATP hydrolysis, providing a mechanism for DNA release. The DNA is underwound and stretched globally, but locally it adopts a B-DNA-like conformation that restricts the homology search to Watson-Crick-type base pairing. The complementary strand interacts primarily through base pairing, making heteroduplex formation strictly dependent on complementarity. The underwound, stretched filament conformation probably evolved to destabilize the donor duplex, freeing the complementary strand for homology sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhucheng Chen
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA
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11
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Baitin DM, Gruenig MC, Cox MM. SSB antagonizes RecX-RecA interaction. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:14198-204. [PMID: 18385131 PMCID: PMC2386935 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m801511200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2008] [Revised: 04/01/2008] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The RecX protein of Escherichia coli inhibits the extension of RecA protein filaments on DNA, presumably by binding to and blocking the growing filament end. The direct binding of RecX protein to single-stranded DNA is weak, and previous reports suggested that direct binding to DNA did not explain the effects of RecX. We now demonstrate that elevated concentrations of SSB greatly moderate the effects of RecX protein. High concentrations of the yeast RPA protein have the same effect, suggesting that the effect is not species-specific or even specific to bacterial SSB proteins. A direct SSB-RecX interaction is thus unlikely. We suggest that SSB is blocking access to single-stranded DNA. The evident competition between RecX and SSB implies that the mechanism of RecX action may involve RecX binding to both RecA protein and to DNA. We speculate that the interaction of RecX protein and RecA may enable an enhanced DNA binding by RecX protein. The effects of SSB are increased if the SSB C terminus is removed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry M Baitin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1544, USA
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12
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Abstract
The RecA protein is a recombinase functioning in recombinational DNA repair in bacteria. RecA is regulated at many levels. The expression of the recA gene is regulated within the SOS response. The activity of the RecA protein itself is autoregulated by its own C-terminus. RecA is also regulated by the action of other proteins. To date, these include the RecF, RecO, RecR, DinI, RecX, RdgC, PsiB, and UvrD proteins. The SSB protein also indirectly affects RecA function by competing for ssDNA binding sites. The RecO and RecR, and possibly the RecF proteins, all facilitate RecA loading onto SSB-coated ssDNA. The RecX protein blocks RecA filament extension, and may have other effects on RecA activity. The DinI protein stabilizes RecA filaments. The RdgC protein binds to dsDNA and blocks RecA access to dsDNA. The PsiB protein, encoded by F plasmids, is uncharacterized, but may inhibit RecA in some manner. The UvrD helicase removes RecA filaments from RecA. All of these proteins function in a network that determines where and how RecA functions. Additional regulatory proteins may remain to be discovered. The elaborate regulatory pattern is likely to be reprised for RecA homologues in archaeans and eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Cox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1544, USA.
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13
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Abstract
The recombinases of the RecA family are often viewed only as DNA-pairing proteins - they bind to one DNA segment, align it with homologous sequences in another DNA segment, promote an exchange of DNA strands and then dissociate. To a first approximation, this description seems to fit the eukaryotic (Rad51 and Dmc1) and archaeal (RadA) RecA homologues. However, the bacterial RecA protein does much more, coupling ATP hydrolysis with DNA-strand exchange in a manner that greatly expands its repertoire of activities. This article explores the protein activities and experimental results that have identified RecA as a motor protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Cox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1544, USA.
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14
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The bacterial RecA protein: structure, function, and regulation. MOLECULAR GENETICS OF RECOMBINATION 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-71021-9_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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15
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Abstract
RecA protein catalyses an ATP-dependent DNA strand-exchange reaction that is the central step in the repair of dsDNA breaks by homologous recombination. Although much is known about the structure of RecA protein itself, we do not at present have a detailed picture of how RecA binds to ssDNA and dsDNA substrates, and how these interactions are controlled by the binding and hydrolysis of the ATP cofactor. Recent studies from electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography have revealed important ATP-mediated conformational changes that occur within the protein, providing new insights into how RecA catalyses DNA strand-exchange. A unifying theme is emerging for RecA and related ATPase enzymes in which the binding of ATP at a subunit interface results in large conformational changes that are coupled to interactions with the substrates in such a way as to promote the desired reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Bell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, 371 Hamilton Hall, 1645 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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16
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Rajan R, Bell CE. Crystal structure of RecA from Deinococcus radiodurans: insights into the structural basis of extreme radioresistance. J Mol Biol 2005; 344:951-63. [PMID: 15544805 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.09.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2004] [Revised: 09/27/2004] [Accepted: 09/28/2004] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans (Dr) to extreme doses of ionizing radiation depends on its highly efficient capacity to repair dsDNA breaks. Dr RecA, the key protein in the repair of dsDNA breaks by homologous recombination, promotes DNA strand-exchange by an unprecedented inverse pathway, in which the presynaptic filament is formed on dsDNA instead of ssDNA. In order to gain insight into the remarkable repair capacity of Dr and the novel mechanistic features of its RecA protein, we have determined its X-ray crystal structure in complex with ATPgammaS at 2.5A resolution. Like RecA from Escherichia coli, Dr RecA crystallizes as a helical filament that is closely related to its biologically relevant form, but with a more compressed pitch of 67 A. Although the overall fold of Dr RecA is similar to E.coli RecA, there is a large reorientation of the C-terminal domain, which in E.coli RecA has a site for binding dsDNA. Compared to E.coli RecA, the inner surface along the central axis of the Dr RecA filament has an increased positive electrostatic potential. Unique amino acid residues in Dr RecA cluster around a flexible beta-hairpin that has also been implicated in DNA binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakhi Rajan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, 371 Hamilton Hall, 1645 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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17
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Xing X, Bell CE. Crystal structures of Escherichia coli RecA in a compressed helical filament. J Mol Biol 2004; 342:1471-85. [PMID: 15364575 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.07.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2004] [Revised: 07/26/2004] [Accepted: 07/27/2004] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The X-ray crystal structure of uncomplexed Escherichia coli RecA protein has been determined in three new crystal forms at resolutions of 1.9 A, 2.0 A, and 2.6 A. The RecA protein used for this study contains the extra residues Gly-Ser-His-Met at the N terminus, but retains normal ssDNA-dependent ATPase and coprotease activities. In all three crystals, RecA is packed in a right-handed helical filament with a pitch of approximately 74 A. These RecA filaments are compressed relative to the original crystal structure of RecA, which has a helical pitch of 82.7 A. In the structures of the compressed RecA filament, the monomer-monomer interface and the core domain are essentially the same as in the RecA structure with the 83 A pitch. The change in helical pitch is accommodated by a small movement of the N-terminal domain, which is reoriented to preserve the contacts it makes at the monomer-monomer interface. The new crystal structures show significant variation in the orientation and conformation of the C-terminal domain, as well as in the inter-filament packing interactions. In crystal form 2, a calcium ion is bound closely to a beta-hairpin of the C-terminal domain and to Asp38 of a neighboring filament, and residues 329-331 of the C-terminal tail become ordered to contact a neighboring filament. In crystal forms 3 and 4, a sulfate ion or a phosphate anion is bound to the same site on RecA as the beta-phosphate group of ADP, causing an opening of the P-loop. Altogether, the structures show the conformational variability of RecA protein in the crystalline state, providing insight into many aspects of RecA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Xing
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, 371 Hamilton Hall, 1645 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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18
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Drees JC, Lusetti SL, Chitteni-Pattu S, Inman RB, Cox MM. A RecA Filament Capping Mechanism for RecX Protein. Mol Cell 2004; 15:789-98. [PMID: 15350222 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2004.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2004] [Revised: 08/18/2004] [Accepted: 08/24/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The RecX protein is a potent inhibitor of RecA protein activities. RecX functions by specifically blocking the extension of RecA filaments. In vitro, this leads to a net disassembly of RecA protein from circular single-stranded DNA. Based on multiple observations, we propose that RecX has a RecA filament capping activity. This activity has predictable effects on the formation and disassembly of RecA filaments. In vivo, the RecX protein may limit the length of RecA filaments formed during recombinational DNA repair and other activities. RecX protein interacts directly with RecA protein, but appears to interact in a functionally significant manner only with RecA filaments bound to DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia C Drees
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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19
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Haruta N, Yu X, Yang S, Egelman EH, Cox MM. A DNA Pairing-enhanced Conformation of Bacterial RecA Proteins. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:52710-23. [PMID: 14530291 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m308563200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The RecA proteins of Escherichia coli (Ec) and Deinococcus radiodurans (Dr) both promote a DNA strand exchange reaction involving two duplex DNAs. The four-strand exchange reaction promoted by the DrRecA protein is similar to that promoted by EcRecA, except that key parts of the reaction are inhibited by Ec single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB). In the absence of SSB, the initiation of strand exchange is greatly enhanced by dsDNA-ssDNA junctions at the ends of DNA gaps. This same trend is seen with the EcRecA protein. The results lead to an expansion of published hypotheses for the pathway for RecA-mediated DNA pairing, in which the slow first order step (observed in several studies) involves a structural transition to a state we designate P. The P state is identical to the state found when RecA is bound to double-stranded (ds) DNA. The structural state present when the RecA protein is bound to single-stranded (ss) DNA is designated A. The DNA pairing model in turn facilitates an articulation of three additional conclusions arising from the present work. 1) When a segment of a RecA filament bound to ssDNA is forced into the P state (as RecA bound to the ssDNA immediately adjacent to dsDNA-ssDNA junction), the segment becomes "pairing enhanced." 2) The unusual DNA pairing properties of the D. radiodurans RecA protein can be explained by postulating this protein has a more stringent requirement to initiate DNA strand exchange from the P state. 3) RecA filaments bound to dsDNA (P state) have directly observable structural changes relative to RecA filaments bound to ssDNA (A state), involving the C-terminal domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nami Haruta
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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20
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Abstract
DNA repair and protection processes impose arduous demands upon cellular systems. The high-fidelity recombinational repair pathway entails a rapid genome-wide search for sequence homology. The efficiency of this transaction is intriguing in light of the uniquely adverse diffusion traits of the involved species. DNA protection in cells exposed to continuous stress or prolonged starvation is equally enigmatic, because the ability of such cells to deploy energy-dependent enzymatic repair processes is hampered as a result of progressive perturbation of the intracellular energy balance. DNA repair in radio-resistant bacteria, which involves accurate chromosome reconstruction from multiple fragments, is similarly associated with apparently insurmountable logistical obstacles. The studies reviewed here imply that the mechanisms deployed to overcome these intrinsic hurdles have a basic common denominator. In all these cases, condensed and ordered chromatin assemblies are formed, within which molecular diffusion is restricted and confined. Restricted diffusion thus appears as a general strategy that is exploited by nature to facilitate homologous search, to promote energy-independent DNA protection through physical DNA sequestration and attenuated accessibility to damaging agents, and to enable error-free repair of multiple double-strand DNA breaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Minsky
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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21
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Abstract
Many proteins function as helical polymers within the cell. Two intensively studied examples are eukaryotic actin and bacterial RecA, which belong to two different protein superfamilies. However, most other members of these superfamilies do not polymerize into helical filaments. General features of polymorphism, cooperativity and allostery that emerge from studies of eukaryotic actin and bacterial RecA raise more general issues about how conserved these filamentous structures have been during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward H Egelman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0733, USA.
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22
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Yamazaki J, Horii T, Sekiguchi M, Takahashi M. Regulation of RecA protein binding to DNA by opposing effects of ATP and ADP on inter-domain contacts: analysis by urea-induced unfolding of wild-type and C-terminal truncated RecA. J Mol Biol 2003; 329:363-70. [PMID: 12758082 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2836(03)00449-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RecA protein requires ATP and its hydrolysis to ADP to complete the DNA strand-exchange reaction. We investigated how the nucleotides activate RecA by examining their effect on urea-induced unfolding, which could reflect domain-domain contact of protein. RecA is folded into three continuous domains: the N-terminal, central and C-terminal domains. The fluorescence of tyrosine residues, which lie mainly in the central domain, was modified in 1-3 M urea, while the red shift of fluorescence peak of the tryptophan residues located in the C-terminal domain occurred only in 3-6 M urea. Thus, the C-terminal domain of RecA is unfolded after the central part unfolds. The change in intensity of tryptophan fluorescence without a large shift in the peak at low concentrations of urea suggests that there are weak interactions between the central and C-terminal domains. This is supported by our observation that RecA protein lacking the C-terminal tail unfolded at lower concentrations of urea than the entire RecA, and with clear transitions, unlike the entire RecA. ATP and its unhydrolyzable analog (ATPgammaS), which enhance the binding of RecA to DNA, facilitated the urea-induced change in RecA tryptophan fluorescence, while ADP, an antagonist of ATP, prevented the change. ATP probably weakens the domain-domain contact and facilitates the DNA binding, while ADP stabilizes the contact and inhibits it. Supporting this conclusion, the binding of RecA lacking the C-terminal tail to DNA was not inhibited by ADP, while that of the intact RecA was.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yamazaki
- Frontier Research Centre and Fukuoka Dental College, Japan
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23
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Lusetti SL, Wood EA, Fleming CD, Modica MJ, Korth J, Abbott L, Dwyer DW, Roca AI, Inman RB, Cox MM. C-terminal deletions of the Escherichia coli RecA protein. Characterization of in vivo and in vitro effects. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:16372-80. [PMID: 12598539 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m212917200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A set of C-terminal deletion mutants of the RecA protein of Escherichia coli, progressively removing 6, 13, 17, and 25 amino acid residues, has been generated, expressed, and purified. In vivo, the deletion of 13 to 17 C-terminal residues results in increased sensitivity to mitomycin C. In vitro, the deletions enhance binding to duplex DNA as previously observed. We demonstrate that much of this enhancement involves the deletion of residues between positions 339 and 346. In addition, the C-terminal deletions cause a substantial upward shift in the pH-reaction profile of DNA strand exchange reactions. The C-terminal deletions of more than 13 amino acid residues result in strong inhibition of DNA strand exchange below pH 7, where the wild-type protein promotes a proficient reaction. However, at the same time, the deletion of 13-17 C-terminal residues eliminates the reduction in DNA strand exchange seen with the wild-type protein at pH values between 7.5 and 9. The results suggest the existence of extensive interactions, possibly involving multiple salt bridges, between the C terminus and other parts of the protein. These interactions affect the pK(a) of key groups involved in DNA strand exchange as well as the direct binding of RecA protein to duplex DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Lusetti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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24
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Lusetti SL, Shaw JJ, Cox MM. Magnesium ion-dependent activation of the RecA protein involves the C terminus. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:16381-8. [PMID: 12595538 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m212916200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Optimal conditions for RecA protein-mediated DNA strand exchange include 6-8 mm Mg(2+) in excess of that required to form complexes with ATP. We provide evidence that the free magnesium ion is required to mediate a conformational change in the RecA protein C terminus that activates RecA-mediated DNA strand exchange. In particular, a "closed" (low Mg(2+)) conformation of a RecA nucleoprotein filament restricts DNA pairing by incoming duplex DNA, although single-stranded overhangs at the ends of a duplex allow limited DNA pairing to occur. The addition of excess Mg(2+) results in an "open" conformation, which can promote efficient DNA pairing and strand exchange regardless of DNA end structure. The removal of 17 amino acid residues at the Escherichia coli RecA C terminus eliminates a measurable requirement for excess Mg(2+) and permits efficient DNA pairing and exchange similar to that seen with the wild-type protein at high Mg(2+) levels. Thus, the RecA C terminus imposes the need for the high magnesium ion concentrations requisite in RecA reactions in vitro. We propose that the C terminus acts as a regulatory switch, modulating the access of double-stranded DNA to the presynaptic filament and thereby inhibiting homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange at low magnesium ion concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Lusetti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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25
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Eggler AL, Lusetti SL, Cox MM. The C terminus of the Escherichia coli RecA protein modulates the DNA binding competition with single-stranded DNA-binding protein. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:16389-96. [PMID: 12598538 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m212920200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleation step of Escherichia coli RecA filament formation on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is strongly inhibited by prebound E. coli ssDNA-binding protein (SSB). The capacity of RecA protein to displace SSB is dramatically enhanced in RecA proteins with C-terminal deletions. The displacement of SSB by RecA protein is progressively improved when 6, 13, and 17 C-terminal amino acids are removed from the RecA protein relative to the full-length protein. The C-terminal deletion mutants also more readily displace yeast replication protein A than does the full-length protein. Thus, the RecA protein has an inherent and robust capacity to displace SSB from ssDNA. However, the displacement function is suppressed by the RecA C terminus, providing another example of a RecA activity with C-terminal modulation. RecADeltaC17 also has an enhanced capacity relative to wild-type RecA protein to bind ssDNA containing secondary structure. Added Mg(2+) enhances the ability of wild-type RecA and the RecA C-terminal deletion mutants to compete with SSB and replication protein A. The overall binding of RecADeltaC17 mutant protein to linear ssDNA is increased further by the mutation E38K, previously shown to enhance SSB displacement from ssDNA. The double mutant RecADeltaC17/E38K displaces SSB somewhat better than either individual mutant protein under some conditions and exhibits a higher steady-state level of binding to linear ssDNA under all conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee L Eggler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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26
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Abstract
The primary function of bacterial recombination systems is the nonmutagenic repair of stalled or collapsed replication forks. The RecA protein plays a central role in these repair pathways, and its biochemistry must be considered in this context. RecA protein promotes DNA strand exchange, a reaction that contributes to fork regression and DNA end invasion steps. RecA protein activities, especially formation and disassembly of its filaments, affect many additional steps. So far, Escherichia coli RecA appears to be unique among its nearly ubiquitous family of homologous proteins in that it possesses a motorlike activity that can couple the branch movement in DNA strand exchange to ATP hydrolysis. RecA is also a multifunctional protein, serving in different biochemical roles for recombinational processes, SOS induction, and mutagenic lesion bypass. New biochemical and structural information highlights both the similarities and distinctions between RecA and its homologs. Increasingly, those differences can be rationalized in terms of biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Lusetti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1544, USA. ;
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27
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Tombline G, Heinen CD, Shim KS, Fishel R. Biochemical characterization of the human RAD51 protein. III. Modulation of DNA binding by adenosine nucleotides. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:14434-42. [PMID: 11839741 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109917200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine nucleotides affect the ability of RecA small middle dotsingle-stranded DNA (ssDNA) nucleoprotein filaments to cooperatively assume and maintain an extended structure that facilitates DNA pairing during recombination. Here we have determined that ADP and ATP/ATPgammaS affect the DNA binding and aggregation properties of the human RecA homolog human RAD51 protein (hRAD51). These studies have revealed significant differences between hRAD51 and RecA. In the presence of ATPgammaS, RecA forms a stable complex with ssDNA, while the hRAD51 ssDNA complex is destabilized. Conversely, in the presence of ADP and ATP, the RecA ssDNA complex is unstable, while the hRAD51 ssDNA complex is stabilized. We identified two hRAD51 small middle dotssDNA binding forms by gel shift analysis, which were distinct from a well defined RecA small middle dotssDNA binding form. The available evidence suggests that a low molecular weight hRAD51 small middle dotssDNA binding form (hRAD51 small middle dotssDNA(low)) correlates with active ADP and ATP processing. A high molecular weight hRAD51 small middle dotssDNA aggregate (hRAD51 small middle dotssDNA(high)) appears to correlate with a form that fails to process ADP and ATP. Our data are consistent with the notion that hRAD51 is unable to appropriately coordinate ssDNA binding with adenosine nucleotide processing. These observations suggest that other factors may assist hRAD51 in order to mirror RecA recombinational function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Tombline
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
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28
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Tombline G, Fishel R. Biochemical characterization of the human RAD51 protein. I. ATP hydrolysis. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:14417-25. [PMID: 11839739 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109915200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The prototypical bacterial RecA protein promotes recombination/repair by catalyzing strand exchange between homologous DNAs. While the mechanism of strand exchange remains enigmatic, ATP-induced cooperativity between RecA protomers is critical for its function. A human RecA homolog, human RAD51 protein (hRAD51), facilitates eukaryotic recombination/repair, although its ability to hydrolyze ATP and/or promote strand exchange appears distinct from the bacterial RecA. We have quantitatively examined the hRAD51 ATPase. The catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) of the hRAD51 ATPase was approximately 50-fold lower than the RecA ATPase. Altering the ratio of DNA/hRAD51 and including salts that stimulate DNA strand exchange (ammonium sulfate and spermidine) were found to affect the catalytic efficiency of hRAD51. The average site size of hRAD51 was determined to be approximately 3 nt (bp) for both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. Importantly, hRAD51 lacks the magnitude of ATP-induced cooperativity that is a hallmark of RecA. Together, these results suggest that hRAD51 may be unable to coordinate ATP hydrolysis between neighboring protomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Tombline
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
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29
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Berger MD, Lee AM, Simonette RA, Jackson BE, Roca AI, Singleton SF. Design and evaluation of a tryptophanless RecA protein with wild type activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 286:1195-203. [PMID: 11527427 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The C-terminal domain of the Escherichia coli RecA protein contains two tryptophan residues whose native fluorescence emission provides an interfering background signal when other fluorophores such as 1,N(6)-ethenoadenine, 2-aminopurine and other tryptophan residues are used to probe the protein's activities. Replacement of the wild type tryptophans with nonfluorescent residues is not trivial because one tryptophan is highly conserved and the C-terminal domain functions in both DNA binding as well as interfilament protein-protein contact. We undertook the task of creating a tryptophanless RecA protein with WT RecA activity by selecting suitable amino acid replacements for Trp290 and Trp308. Mutant proteins were screened in vivo using assays of SOS induction and cell survival following UV irradiation. Based on its activity in these assays, the W290H-W308F W-less RecA was purified for in vitro characterization and functioned like WT RecA in DNA-dependent ATPase and DNA strand exchange assays. Spectrofluorometry indicates that the W290H-W308F RecA protein generates no significant emission when excited with 295-nm light. Based on its ability to function as wild type protein in vivo and in vitro, this dark RecA protein will be useful for future fluorescence experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Berger
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
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30
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Yu X, Jacobs SA, West SC, Ogawa T, Egelman EH. Domain structure and dynamics in the helical filaments formed by RecA and Rad51 on DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98:8419-24. [PMID: 11459984 PMCID: PMC37452 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.111005398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the bacterial RecA protein and the eukaryotic Rad51 protein form helical nucleoprotein filaments on DNA that catalyze strand transfer between two homologous DNA molecules. However, only the ATP-binding cores of these proteins have been conserved, and this same core is also found within helicases and the F1-ATPase. The C-terminal domain of the RecA protein forms lobes within the helical RecA filament. However, the Rad51 proteins do not have the C-terminal domain found in RecA, but have an N-terminal extension that is absent in the RecA protein. Both the RecA C-terminal domain and the Rad51 N-terminal domain bind DNA. We have used electron microscopy to show that the lobes of the yeast and human Rad51 filaments appear to be formed by N-terminal domains. These lobes are conformationally flexible in both RecA and Rad51. Within RecA filaments, the change between the "active" and "inactive" states appears to mainly involve a large movement of the C-terminal lobe. The N-terminal domain of Rad51 and the C-terminal domain of RecA may have arisen from convergent evolution to play similar roles in the filaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Box 800733, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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31
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Levin-Zaidman S, Frenkiel-Krispin D, Shimoni E, Sabanay I, Wolf SG, Minsky A. Ordered intracellular RecA-DNA assemblies: a potential site of in vivo RecA-mediated activities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:6791-6. [PMID: 10829063 PMCID: PMC18741 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.090532397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The inducible SOS response increases the ability of bacteria to cope with DNA damage through various DNA repair processes in which the RecA protein plays a central role. Here we present the first study of the morphological aspects that accompany the SOS response in Escherichia coli. We find that induction of the SOS system in wild-type bacteria results in a fast and massive intracellular coaggregation of RecA and DNA into a lateral macroscopic assembly. The coaggregates comprise substantial portions of both the cellular RecA and the DNA complement. The structural features of the coaggregates and their relation to in vitro RecA-DNA networks, as well as morphological studies of strains carrying RecA mutants, are all consistent with the possibility that the intracellular assemblies represent a functional entity in which RecA-mediated DNA repair and protection activities occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Levin-Zaidman
- Department of Organic Chemistry, and Electron Microscopy Center, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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32
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Yu X, Shibata T, Egelman EH. Identification of a defined epitope on the surface of the active RecA-DNA filament using a monoclonal antibody and three-dimensional reconstruction. J Mol Biol 1998; 283:985-92. [PMID: 9799638 DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.1998.2141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Studies of the Escherichia coli RecA protein are expected to illuminate mechanisms of DNA recombination and repair in bacteria, and in all higher organisms as well, due to the functional and structural homology with the eukaryotic Rad51 protein. The active form of the RecA protein is a helical filament formed on DNA in the presence of ATP or ATP analogs, and this has been studied at low-resolution by electron microscopy. An atomic model of the protein comes from an X-ray crystallographic study of a filament formed in the absence of DNA and ATP. This filament is believed to be an inactive, storage form of the protein. A key step in generating an atomic model of the active filament, and a detailed model for function, is to understand the large conformational changes that occur between these two states. Towards this end, we have decorated active RecA-DNA filaments with monoclonal antibodies (ARM191) against a known epitope (residues 285 to 320) to determine the position of this epitope in the low-resolution structure. Electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction of the RecA-antibody complex reveal that the lobe containing the epitope is very disordered on the surface of the filament, but in a position similar to that in the inactive crystal filament. The antibody binding also induces a significant conformational change in the RecA filament. This study shows that the basic orientation of the subunit is likely to be similar within the inactive and active filaments, and that the large movement of mass that occurs between these two states must involve other residues than the 285-320 region.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Yu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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33
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Zaitsev EN, Kowalczykowski SC. Binding of double-stranded DNA by Escherichia coli RecA protein monitored by a fluorescent dye displacement assay. Nucleic Acids Res 1998; 26:650-4. [PMID: 9421529 PMCID: PMC147265 DOI: 10.1093/nar/26.2.650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a new assay to characterize the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) binding properties of RecA protein. This assay is based on measurement of changes in the fluorescence of a 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-dsDNA complex upon RecA protein binding. The binding of RecA protein to a complex of DAPI and dsDNA results in displacement of the bound DAPI, producing a decrease in the observed fluorescence. DAPI displacement is dependent on both RecA protein and ATP; dATP and, to a lesser extent, UTP and dCTP also support the DAPI displacement reaction, but dGTP, GTP, dITP and TTP do not. Binding stoichiometry for the RecA protein-dsDNA complex measured by DAPI displacement is 3 bp per RecA protein monomer in the presence of ATP. These results, taken together with data for mutant RecA proteins, suggest that this DAPI displacement assay monitors formation of the high affinity DNA binding state of RecA protein. Since this state of RecA protein defines the form of the nucleoprotein filament that is active in DNA strand exchange, these findings raise the possibility that the RecA protein-dsDNA filament may possess a homologous pairing capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E N Zaitsev
- Division of Biological Sciences, Sections of Microbiology and Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8665, USA
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34
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Roca AI, Cox MM. RecA protein: structure, function, and role in recombinational DNA repair. PROGRESS IN NUCLEIC ACID RESEARCH AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 1997; 56:129-223. [PMID: 9187054 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6603(08)61005-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 324] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A I Roca
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA
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35
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Karlin S, Brocchieri L. Evolutionary conservation of RecA genes in relation to protein structure and function. J Bacteriol 1996; 178:1881-94. [PMID: 8606161 PMCID: PMC177882 DOI: 10.1128/jb.178.7.1881-1894.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional and structural regions inferred from the Escherichia coli R ecA protein crystal structure and mutation studies are evaluated in terms of evolutionary conservation across 63 RecA eubacterial sequences. Two paramount segments invariant in specific amino acids correspond to the ATP-binding A site and the functionally unassigned segment from residues 145 to 149 immediately carboxyl to the ATP hydrolysis B site. Not only are residues 145 to 149 conserved individually, but also all three-dimensional structural neighbors of these residues are invariant, strongly attesting to the functional or structural importance of this segment. The conservation of charged residues at the monomer-monomer interface, emphasizing basic residues on one surface and acidic residues on the other, suggests that RecA monomer polymerization is substantially mediated by electrostatic interactions. Different patterns of conservation also allow determination of regions proposed to interact with DNA, of LexA binding sites, and of filament-filament contact regions. Amino acid conservation is also compared with activities and properties of certain RecA protein mutants. Arginine 243 and its strongly cationic structural environment are proposed as the major site of competition for DNA and LexA binding to RecA. The conserved acidic and glycine residues of the disordered loop L1 and its proximity to the RecA acidic monomer interface suggest its involvement in monomer-monomer interactions rather than DNA binding. The conservation of various RecA positions and regions suggests a model for RecA-double-stranded DNA interaction and other functional and structural assignments.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Karlin
- Department of Mathematics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2125, USA
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36
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Gardner RV, Voloshin ON, Camerini-Otero RD. The identification of the single-stranded DNA-binding domain of the Escherichia coli RecA protein. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1995; 233:419-25. [PMID: 7588783 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.419_2.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
To identify the ssDNA-binding domain of Escherichia coli RecA protein, we examined the ssDNA-binding capabilities of synthetic peptides, the sequences of which were derived from the C- and N-termini and from sequences within loops L1 and L2 of the RecA molecule identified from the crystal structure. Synthetic peptides derived from amino acid residues 185-219 of several bacterial RecA proteins, which include loop L2 of RecA, bound to ssDNA in filter-binding assays, whereas three separate synthetic peptides corresponding to single point mutants of E. coli RecA in this region did not. The binding of RecA to ssDNA examined using a gel-shift assay was inhibited by a synthetic peptide derived from this ssDNA-binding region, but not by synthetic peptides derived from amino acid residues 301-329 of the C-terminus or from N-terminal residues 6-39. A peptide corresponding to amino acid positions 152-169 of the RecA molecule and spanning loop L1 and its flanking regions did not bind ssDNA at peptide concentrations up to 250 microM. We have also defined a synthetic 20-amino-acid peptide that comprises amino acid residues 193-212 and includes loop L2 of RecA as the minimum unit that can bind to ssDNA from this region of RecA. Finally, two maltose-binding protein-RecA fusion proteins were made, one containing amino acid residues 185-224 of RecA and the other the last 51 C-terminal residues of RecA (amino acid residues 303-353). In contrast to the C-terminus-derived fusion protein, the fusion protein containing the putative DNA-binding site demonstrated significant binding to single-stranded oligonucleotides in both filter-binding and gel-shift assays. These findings suggest that a portion of the region extending from amino acid residues 193-212 is either part of or the whole ssDNA-binding domain of the RecA protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- R V Gardner
- Genetics and Biochemistry Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1810, USA
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37
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Williams AJ, Kaguni LS. Stimulation of Drosophila mitochondrial DNA polymerase by single-stranded DNA-binding protein. J Biol Chem 1995; 270:860-5. [PMID: 7822323 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.270.2.860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA polymerase from Drosophila embryos has been characterized with regard to its mechanism of DNA synthesis in the presence of single-stranded DNA-binding protein from Escherichia coli. The rate of DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase gamma was increased nearly 40-fold upon addition of single-stranded DNA-binding protein. Processivity of mitochondrial DNA polymerase was increased approximately 2-fold, while its intrinsic rate of nucleotide polymerization was unaffected. Primer extension analysis showed that the rate of initiation of DNA strand synthesis by DNA polymerase gamma was increased 25-fold in the presence of single-stranded DNA-binding protein. Our results indicate that the stimulation of Drosophila DNA polymerase gamma by single-stranded DNA-binding protein results primarily from an increased rate of primer recognition and binding. Concurrent achievement of maximal activity and processivity by mitochondrial DNA polymerase in the presence of binding protein suggests that DNA polymerase gamma, like other replicative DNA polymerases, associates with accessory factors in vivo to catalyze efficient and processive DNA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824
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38
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Kowalczykowski SC, Dixon DA, Eggleston AK, Lauder SD, Rehrauer WM. Biochemistry of homologous recombination in Escherichia coli. Microbiol Rev 1994; 58:401-65. [PMID: 7968921 PMCID: PMC372975 DOI: 10.1128/mr.58.3.401-465.1994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 778] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Homologous recombination is a fundamental biological process. Biochemical understanding of this process is most advanced for Escherichia coli. At least 25 gene products are involved in promoting genetic exchange. At present, this includes the RecA, RecBCD (exonuclease V), RecE (exonuclease VIII), RecF, RecG, RecJ, RecN, RecOR, RecQ, RecT, RuvAB, RuvC, SbcCD, and SSB proteins, as well as DNA polymerase I, DNA gyrase, DNA topoisomerase I, DNA ligase, and DNA helicases. The activities displayed by these enzymes include homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange, helicase, branch migration, Holliday junction binding and cleavage, nuclease, ATPase, topoisomerase, DNA binding, ATP binding, polymerase, and ligase, and, collectively, they define biochemical events that are essential for efficient recombination. In addition to these needed proteins, a cis-acting recombination hot spot known as Chi (chi: 5'-GCTGGTGG-3') plays a crucial regulatory function. The biochemical steps that comprise homologous recombination can be formally divided into four parts: (i) processing of DNA molecules into suitable recombination substrates, (ii) homologous pairing of the DNA partners and the exchange of DNA strands, (iii) extension of the nascent DNA heteroduplex; and (iv) resolution of the resulting crossover structure. This review focuses on the biochemical mechanisms underlying these steps, with particular emphases on the activities of the proteins involved and on the integration of these activities into likely biochemical pathways for recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Kowalczykowski
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis 95616-8665
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Liu SK, Eisen JA, Hanawalt PC, Tessman I. recA mutations that reduce the constitutive coprotease activity of the RecA1202(Prtc) protein: possible involvement of interfilament association in proteolytic and recombination activities. J Bacteriol 1993; 175:6518-29. [PMID: 8407828 PMCID: PMC206762 DOI: 10.1128/jb.175.20.6518-6529.1993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Twenty-eight recA mutants, isolated after spontaneous mutagenesis generated by the combined action of RecA1202(Prtc) and UmuDC proteins, were characterized and sequenced. The mutations are intragenic suppressors of the recA1202 allele and were detected by the reduced coprotease activity of the gene product. Twenty distinct mutation sites were found, among which two mutations, recA1620 (V-275-->D) and recA1631 (I-284-->N), were mapped in the C-terminal portion of the interfilament contact region (IFCR) in the RecA crystal. An interaction of this region with the part of the IFCR in which the recA1202 mutation (Q-184-->K) is mapped could occur only intermolecularly. Thus, altered IFCR and the likely resulting change in interfilament association appear to be important aspects of the formation of a constitutively active RecA coprotease. This observation is consistent with the filament-bundle theory (R. M. Story, I. T. Weber, and T. A. Steitz, Nature (London) 335:318-325, 1992). Furthermore, we found that among the 20 suppressor mutations, 3 missense mutations that lead to recombination-defective (Rec-) phenotypes also mapped in the IFCR, suggesting that the IFCR, with its putative function in interfilament association, is required for the recombinase activity of RecA. We propose that RecA-DNA complexes may form bundles analogous to the RecA bundles (lacking DNA) described by Story et al. and that these RecA-DNA bundles play a role in homologous recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
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Shinohara A, Ogawa H, Matsuda Y, Ushio N, Ikeo K, Ogawa T. Cloning of human, mouse and fission yeast recombination genes homologous to RAD51 and recA. Nat Genet 1993; 4:239-43. [PMID: 8358431 DOI: 10.1038/ng0793-239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 389] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Rad51, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a homologue of recA of Escherichia coli and plays crucial roles in both mitotic and meiotic recombination and in repair of double-strand breaks of DNA. We have cloned genes from human, mouse and fission yeast that are homologous to rad51. The 339 amino acid proteins predicted for the two mammalian genes are almost identical and are highly homologous (83%) with the yeast proteins. The mouse gene is transcribed at a high level in thymus, spleen, testis and ovary and at a lower level in brain and other tissues. The rad51 homologues fail to complement the DNA repair defect of rad51 mutants of S. cerevisiae. The mouse gene is located in the F1 region of chromosome 2 and the human gene maps to chromosome 15.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Shinohara
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Osaka University, Japan
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41
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Ogawa T, Yu X, Shinohara A, Egelman EH. Similarity of the yeast RAD51 filament to the bacterial RecA filament. Science 1993; 259:1896-9. [PMID: 8456314 DOI: 10.1126/science.8456314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The RAD51 protein functions in the processes of DNA repair and in mitotic and meiotic genetic recombination in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The protein has adenosine triphosphate-dependent DNA binding activities similar to those of the Escherichia coli RecA protein, and the two proteins have 30 percent sequence homology. RAD51 polymerized on double-stranded DNA to form a helical filament nearly identical in low-resolution, three-dimensional structure to that formed by RecA. Like RecA, RAD51 also appears to force DNA into a conformation of approximately a 5.1-angstrom rise per base pair and 18.6 base pairs per turn. As in other protein families, its structural conservation appears to be stronger than its sequence conservation. Both the structure of the protein polymer formed by RecA and the DNA conformation induced by RecA appear to be general properties of a class of recombination proteins found in prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ogawa
- Department of Biology, Osaka University, Japan
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Story RM, Bishop DK, Kleckner N, Steitz TA. Structural relationship of bacterial RecA proteins to recombination proteins from bacteriophage T4 and yeast. Science 1993; 259:1892-6. [PMID: 8456313 DOI: 10.1126/science.8456313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
RecA protein is essential in eubacteria for homologous recombination and promotes the homologous pairing and strand exchange of DNA molecules in vitro. Recombination proteins with weak sequence similarity to bacterial RecA proteins have been identified in bacteriophage T4, yeast, and other higher organisms. Analysis of the primary sequence relationships of DMC1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and UvsX of T4 relative to the three-dimensional structure of RecA from Escherichia coli suggests that both proteins are structural homologs of bacterial RecA proteins. This analysis argues that proteins in this group are members of a single family that diverged from a common ancestor that existed prior to the divergence of prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Story
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
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Wardhan H, McPherson MJ, Harris CA, Sharma E, Sastry GR. Molecular analysis of the recA gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58. Gene 1992; 121:133-6. [PMID: 1427086 DOI: 10.1016/0378-1119(92)90171-k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The complete nucleotide sequence of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens recA gene was determined. A comparison of the translated open reading frame of the gene with other known recA sequences revealed significant sequence conservation. However, unlike its Escherichia coli equivalent, A. tumefaciens recA lacks the upstream 'SOS box', suggesting a different mechanism of regulation for this gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Wardhan
- Department of Genetics, University of Leeds, UK
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Kim Y, Tabor S, Bortner C, Griffith J, Richardson C. Purification and characterization of the bacteriophage T7 gene 2.5 protein. A single-stranded DNA-binding protein. J Biol Chem 1992. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(18)42141-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Bishop DK, Park D, Xu L, Kleckner N. DMC1: a meiosis-specific yeast homolog of E. coli recA required for recombination, synaptonemal complex formation, and cell cycle progression. Cell 1992; 69:439-56. [PMID: 1581960 DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(92)90446-j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 866] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
DMC1 is a new meiosis-specific yeast gene. Dmc1 protein is structurally similar to bacterial RecA proteins. dmc1 mutants are defective in reciprocal recombination, accumulate double-strand break (DSB) recombination intermediates, fail to form normal synaptonemal complex (SC), and arrest late in meiotic prophase. dmc1 phenotypes are consistent with a functional relationship between Dmc1 and RecA, and thus eukaryotic and prokaryotic mechanisms for homology recognition and strand exchange may be related. dmc1 phenotypes provide further evidence that recombination and SC formation are interrelated processes and are consistent with a requirement for DNA-DNA interactions during SC formation. dmc1 mutations confer prophase arrest. Additional evidence suggests that arrest occurs at a meiosis-specific cell cycle "checkpoint" in response to a primary defect in prophase chromosome metabolism. DMC1 is homologous to yeast's RAD51 gene, supporting the view that mitotic DSB repair has been recruited for use in meiotic chromosome metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- D K Bishop
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
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Abstract
The crystal structure of the recA protein from Escherichia coli at 2.3-A resolution reveals a major domain that binds ADP and probably single- and double-stranded DNA. Two smaller subdomains at the N and C termini protrude from the protein and respectively stabilize a 6(1) helical polymer of protein subunits and interpolymer bundles. This polymer structure closely resembles that of recA/DNA filaments determined by electron microscopy. Mutations in recA protein that enhance coprotease, DNA-binding and/or strand-exchange activity can be explained if the interpolymer interactions in the crystal reflect a regulatory mechanism in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Story
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
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Tateishi S, Horii T, Ogawa T, Ogawa H. C-terminal truncated Escherichia coli RecA protein RecA5327 has enhanced binding affinities to single- and double-stranded DNAs. J Mol Biol 1992; 223:115-29. [PMID: 1731064 DOI: 10.1016/0022-2836(92)90720-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
RecA5327 is a truncated RecA protein that is lacking 25 amino acid residues from the C-terminal end. The expression of RecA5327 protein in the cell resulted in the constitutive induction of SOS functions without damage to the DNA. Purified RecA5327 protein effectively promoted the LexA repressor cleavage reaction and ATP hydrolysis at a lower concentration of single-stranded DNA than that required for wild-type RecA protein. A DNA binding study showed that RecA5327 has about ten times higher affinity for single-stranded DNA than does the wild-type RecA protein. Moreover RecA5327 protein binds stably to double-stranded (ds) DNA in conditions where the wild-type RecA protein could not bind. The binding of RecA5327 protein to dsDNA was associated with the unwinding of dsDNA, suggesting that RecA5327 binds to dsDNA in the same manner as does the wild-type protein. The fact that RecA5327 does not bind stoichiometrically but forms short filaments on dsDNA suggests that it nucleates to dsDNA much more frequently than does the wild-type protein. The role of the 25 C-terminal residues, in the regulation of RecA binding to DNA, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tateishi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Osaka University, Japan
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Selbitschka W, Arnold W, Priefer UB, Rottschäfer T, Schmidt M, Simon R, Pühler A. Characterization of recA genes and recA mutants of Rhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae. MOLECULAR & GENERAL GENETICS : MGG 1991; 229:86-95. [PMID: 1896024 DOI: 10.1007/bf00264217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
DNA fragments carrying the recA genes of Rhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae were isolated by complementing a UV-sensitive recA- Escherichia coli strain. Sequence analysis revealed that the coding region of the R. meliloti recA gene consists of 1044 bp coding for 348 amino acids whereas the coding region of the R. leguminosarum bv. viciae recA gene has 1053 bp specifying 351 amino acids. The R. meliloti and R. leguminosarum bv. viciae recA genes show 84.8% homology at the DNA sequence level and of 90.1% at the amino acid sequence level. recA- mutant strains of both Rhizobium species were constructed by inserting a gentamicin resistance cassette into the respective recA gene. The resulting recA mutants exhibited an increased sensitivity to UV irradiation, were impaired in their ability to perform homologous recombination and showed a slightly reduced growth rate when compared with the respective wild-type strains. The Rhizobium recA strains did not have altered symbiotic nitrogen fixation capacity. Therefore, they represent ideal candidates for release experiments with impaired strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Selbitschka
- Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Universität Bielefeld, Federal Republic of Germany
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Kowalczykowski SC. Biochemical and biological function of Escherichia coli RecA protein: behavior of mutant RecA proteins. Biochimie 1991; 73:289-304. [PMID: 1883888 DOI: 10.1016/0300-9084(91)90216-n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The recA protein of E coli participates in several diverse biological processes and promotes a variety of complex in vitro reactions. A careful comparison of the phenotypic behavior of E coli recA mutations to the biochemical properties of the corresponding mutant proteins reveals a close parallel both between recombination phenotype and DNA strand exchange and renaturation activities, and between inducible phenomena and repressor cleavage activity. The biochemical alterations manifest by the mutant recA proteins are reflected in the strength of their interaction with ssDNA. The defective mutant recA proteins fail to properly assume the high-affinity DNA-binding state that is characteristic of the wild-type protein and, consequently, form less stable complexes with DNA. The mutant proteins displaying an 'enhanced' activity bind ssDNA with approximately the same affinity as the wild-type protein but, due to altered protein-protein interactions, they associate more rapidly with ssDNA. These changes proportionately affect the ability of recA protein to compete with SSB protein, to interact with dsDNA, and, perhaps, to bind repressor proteins. In turn, the DNA strand exchange, DNA renaturation, and repressor cleavage activities mirror these modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Kowalczykowski
- Department of Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611
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Abstract
The single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) of Escherichia coli is involved in all aspects of DNA metabolism: replication, repair, and recombination. In solution, the protein exists as a homotetramer of 18,843-kilodalton subunits. As it binds tightly and cooperatively to single-stranded DNA, it has become a prototypic model protein for studying protein-nucleic acid interactions. The sequences of the gene and protein are known, and the functional domains of subunit interaction, DNA binding, and protein-protein interactions have been probed by structure-function analyses of various mutations. The ssb gene has three promoters, one of which is inducible because it lies only two nucleotides from the LexA-binding site of the adjacent uvrA gene. Induction of the SOS response, however, does not lead to significant increases in SSB levels. The binding protein has several functions in DNA replication, including enhancement of helix destabilization by DNA helicases, prevention of reannealing of the single strands and protection from nuclease digestion, organization and stabilization of replication origins, primosome assembly, priming specificity, enhancement of replication fidelity, enhancement of polymerase processivity, and promotion of polymerase binding to the template. E. coli SSB is required for methyl-directed mismatch repair, induction of the SOS response, and recombinational repair. During recombination, SSB interacts with the RecBCD enzyme to find Chi sites, promotes binding of RecA protein, and promotes strand uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- R R Meyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
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