RecA as a motor protein. Testing models for the role of ATP hydrolysis in DNA strand exchange

Generation and Repair of Postreplication Gaps in Escherichia coli

When replication forks encounter template lesions, one result is lesion skipping, where the stalled DNA polymerase transiently stalls, disengages, and then reinitiates downstream to leave the lesion behind in a postreplication gap. Despite considerable attention in the 6 decades since postreplication gaps were discovered, the mechanisms by which postreplication gaps are generated and repaired remain highly enigmatic. This review focuses on postreplication gap generation and repair in the bacterium Escherichia coli. New information to address the frequency and mechanism of gap generation and new mechanisms for their resolution are described. There are a few instances where the formation of postreplication gaps appears to be programmed into particular genomic locations, where they are triggered by novel genomic elements.

DNA with Different Local Torsional States Affects RecA-Mediated Recombination Progression

DNA topology is thought to affect DNA enzyme activity. The helical structure of duplex DNA dictates the change of topological states during strand separation when DNA is constrained. During the repair of DNA double-stranded breaks, the RecA nucleoprotein filament invades DNA and carries out consecutive strand exchange reactions coupled with duplex DNA strand separation. It has been suggested that torsional strain could be generated and its accumulation could inhibit strand exchange. We used hairpin and nicked DNA substrates to test how torsional strain alters the RecA-mediated strand exchange efficiency. Single-molecule tethered particle motion (TPM) experiments showed that torsionally constrained hairpin DNA substrates returned nearly no successful strand exchange events catalyzed by RecA. Surprisingly, the strand exchange efficiencies increase in the presence of DNA nicks or loop disruption. The dwell time of transient RecA events in hairpin is shorter compared to those found in nicked or fork DNA substrates, which suggests a limited strand exchange progression in hairpin substrates. Our observation shows that RecA generates local torsional strain during strand exchange, and the inability to dissipate this torsional strain inhibits homologous recombination progression. DNA topological states are thus important regulation measures of DNA recombination.

Molecular Mechanism Underlying ATP-Induced Conformational Changes in the Nucleoprotein Filament of Mycobacterium smegmatis RecA

RecA plays a central role in bacterial DNA repair, homologous recombination, and restoration of stalled replication forks by virtue of its active extended nucleoprotein filament. Binding of ATP and its subsequent recognition by the carboxamide group of a highly conserved glutamine (Gln196 in MsRecA) have been implicated in the formation of active RecA nucleoprotein filaments. Although the mechanism of ATP-dependent structural transitions in RecA has been proposed on the basis of low-resolution electron microscopic reconstructions, the precise sequence of events that constitute these transitions is poorly understood. On the basis of biochemical and crystallographic analyses of MsRecA variants carrying mutations in highly conserved Gln196 and Arg198 residues, we propose that the disposition of the interprotomer interface is the structural basis of allosteric activation of RecA. Furthermore, this study accounts for the contributions of several conserved amino acids to ATP hydrolysis and to the transition from collapsed to extended filament forms in Mycobacterium smegmatis RecA (MsRecA). In addition to their role in the inactive compressed state, the study reveals a role for Gln196 and Arg198 along with Phe219 in ATP hydrolysis in the active extended nucleoprotein filament. Finally, our data suggest that the primary, but not secondary, nucleotide binding site in MsRecA isomerizes into the ATP binding site present in the extended nucleoprotein filament.

Regulation of DNA strand exchange in homologous recombination

Homologous recombination, the exchange of DNA strands between homologous DNA molecules, is involved in repair of many structural diverse DNA lesions. This versatility stems from multiple ways in which homologous DNA strands can be rearranged. At the core of homologous recombination are recombinase proteins such as RecA and RAD51 that mediate homology recognition and DNA strand exchange through formation of a dynamic nucleoprotein filament. Four stages in the life cycle of nucleoprotein filaments are filament nucleation, filament growth, homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange, and filament dissociation. Progression through this cycle requires a sequence of recombinase-DNA and recombinase protein-protein interactions coupled to ATP binding and hydrolysis. The function of recombinases is controlled by accessory proteins that allow coordination of strand exchange with other steps of homologous recombination and that tailor to the needs of specific aberrant DNA structures undergoing recombination. Accessory proteins are also able to reverse filament formation thereby guarding against inappropriate DNA rearrangements. The dynamic instability of the recombinase-DNA interactions allows both positive and negative action of accessory proteins thereby ensuring that genome maintenance by homologous recombination is not only flexible and versatile, but also accurate.

Plant DNA recombinases: a long way to go

DNA homologous recombination is fundamental process by which two homologous DNA molecules exchange the genetic information for the generation of genetic diversity and maintain the genomic integrity. DNA recombinases, a special group of proteins bind to single stranded DNA (ssDNA) nonspecifically and search the double stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecule for a stretch of DNA that is homologous with the bound ssDNA. Recombinase A (RecA) has been well characterized at genetic, biochemical, as well as structural level from prokaryotes. Two homologues of RecA called Rad51 and Dmc1 have been detected in yeast and higher eukaryotes and are known to mediate the homologous recombination in eukaryotes. The biochemistry and mechanism of action of recombinase is important in understanding the process of homologous recombination. Even though considerable progress has been made in yeast and human recombinases, understanding of the plant recombination and recombinases is at nascent stage. Since crop plants are subjected to different breeding techniques, it is important to know the homologous recombination process. This paper focuses on the properties of eukaryotes recombinases and recent developments in the field of plant recombinases Dmc1 and Rad51.

Disassembly of Escherichia coli RecA E38K/DeltaC17 nucleoprotein filaments is required to complete DNA strand exchange

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.

Defective dissociation of a "slow" RecA mutant protein imparts an Escherichia coli growth defect

The RecA and some related proteins possess a simple motif, called (KR)X(KR), that (in RecA) consists of two lysine residues at positions 248 and 250 at the subunit-subunit interface. This study and previous work implicate this RecA motif in the following: (a) catalyzing ATP hydrolysis in trans,(b) coordinating the ATP hydrolytic cycles of adjacent subunits, (c) governing the rate of ATP hydrolysis, and (d) coupling the ATP hydrolysis to work (in this case DNA strand exchange). The conservative K250R mutation leaves RecA nucleoprotein filament formation largely intact. However, ATP hydrolysis is slowed to less than 15% of the wild-type rate. DNA strand exchange is also slowed commensurate with the rate of ATP hydrolysis. The results reinforce the idea of a tight coupling between ATP hydrolysis and DNA strand exchange. When a plasmid-borne RecA K250R protein is expressed in a cell otherwise lacking RecA protein, the growth of the cells is severely curtailed. The slow growth defect is alleviated in cells lacking RecFOR function, suggesting that the defect reflects loading of RecA at stalled replication forks. Suppressors occur as recA gene alterations, and their properties indicate that limited dissociation by RecA K250R confers the slow growth phenotype. Overall, the results suggest that recombinational DNA repair is a common occurrence in cells. RecA protein plays a sufficiently intimate role in the bacterial cell cycle that its properties can limit the growth rate of a bacterial culture.

Requirements for ATP binding and hydrolysis in RecA function in Escherichia coli

RecA is essential for recombination, DNA repair and SOS induction in Escherichia coli. ATP hydrolysis is known to be important for RecA's roles in recombination and DNA repair. In vitro reactions modelling SOS induction minimally require ssDNA and non-hydrolyzable ATP analogues. This predicts that ATP hydrolysis will not be required for SOS induction in vivo. The requirement of ATP binding and hydrolysis for SOS induction in vivo is tested here through the study of recA4159 (K72A) and recA2201 (K72R). RecA4159 is thought to have reduced affinity for ATP. RecA2201 binds, but does not hydrolyse ATP. Neither mutant was able to induce SOS expression after UV irradiation. RecA2201, unlike RecA4159, could form filaments on DNA and storage structures as measured with RecA-GFP. RecA2201 was able to form hybrid filaments and storage structures and was either recessive or dominant to RecA(+), depending on the ratio of the two proteins. RecA4159 was unable to enter RecA(+) filaments on DNA or storage structures and was recessive to RecA(+). It is concluded that ATP hydrolysis is essential for SOS induction. It is proposed that ATP binding is essential for storage structure formation and ability to interact with other RecA proteins in a filament.

Real-time measurements of the nucleation, growth and dissociation of single Rad51-DNA nucleoprotein filaments

Human Rad51 (hRad51), the protein central to DNA pairing and strand exchange during homologous recombination, polymerizes on DNA to form nucleoprotein filaments. By making use of magnetic tweezers to manipulate individual DNA molecules, we measured the nucleation and growth of hRad51 nucleoprotein filaments, and their subsequent disassembly in real time. The dependence of the initial polymerization rate upon the concentration of hRad51 suggests that the rate-limiting step is the formation of a nucleus involving 5.5 +/- 1.5 hRad51 monomers, corresponding to one helical turn of the hRad51 nucleoprotein filament. Polymerization is highly cooperative (i.e. a nucleation-limited reaction) at low concentrations and less cooperative (a growth-limited reaction) at high concentrations of the protein. We show that the observed preference of hRad51 to form nucleoprotein filaments on double-stranded DNA rather than on single-stranded DNA is due to the fact that it depolymerizes much faster from ssDNA than from dsDNA: indeed, hRad51 polymerizes faster on ssDNA than on dsDNA. Hydrolysis of ATP by hRad51 does not correlate with its dissociation from dsDNA. This suggests that hRad51 does not depolymerize rapidly from dsDNA after strand exchange but stays bound to the heteroduplex, highlighting the importance of partner proteins to facilitate hRad51 depolymerization from dsDNA.

Elastic behavior of RecA-DNA helical filaments

Escherichia coli RecA protein forms a right-handed helical filament with DNA molecules and has an ATP-dependent activity that exchanges homologous strands between single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and duplex DNA. We show that the RecA-ssDNA filamentous complex is an elastic helical molecule whose length is controlled by the binding and release of nucleotide cofactors. RecA-ssDNA filaments were fluorescently labelled and attached to a glass surface inside a flow chamber. When the chamber solution was replaced by a buffer solution without nucleotide cofactors, the RecA-ssDNA filament rapidly contracted approximately 0.68-fold with partial filament dissociation. The contracted filament elongated up to 1.25-fold when a buffer solution containing ATPgammaS was injected, and elongated up to 1.17-fold when a buffer solution containing ATP or dATP was injected. This contraction-elongation behavior was able to be repeated by the successive injection of dATP and non-nucleotide buffers. We propose that this elastic motion couples to the elastic motion and/or the twisting rotation of DNA strands within the filament by adjusting their helical phases.

Motoring along with the bacterial RecA protein

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.

Mechanism of RecA-mediated homologous recombination revisited by single molecule nanomanipulation

The mechanisms of RecA-mediated three-strand homologous recombination are investigated at the single-molecule level, using magnetic tweezers. Probing the mechanical response of DNA molecules and nucleoprotein filaments in tension and in torsion allows a monitoring of the progression of the exchange in real time, both from the point of view of the RecA-bound single-stranded DNA and from that of the naked double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). We show that strand exchange is able to generate torsion even along a molecule with freely rotating ends. RecA readily depolymerizes during the reaction, a process presenting numerous advantages for the cell's 'protein economy' and for the management of topological constraints. Invasion of an untwisted dsDNA by a nucleoprotein filament leads to an exchanged duplex that remains topologically linked to the exchanged single strand, suggesting multiple initiations of strand exchange on the same molecule. Overall, our results seem to support several important assumptions of the monomer redistribution model.

Intersubunit electrostatic complementarity in the RecA nucleoprotein filament regulates nucleotide substrate specificity and conformational activation

The Escherichia coli RecA protein is the prototypical member of a family of molecular motors that transduces ATP binding and hydrolysis for mechanical function. While many general mechanistic features of RecA action are known, specific structural and functional insights into the molecular basis of RecA activation remain elusive. Toward a more complete understanding of the interdependence between ATP and DNA binding by RecA, we report the characterization of a mutant RecA protein wherein the aspartate residue at position 100 within the ATP binding site is replaced by arginine. Physiologically, D100R RecA was characterized by an inducible, albeit reduced, activation of the SOS response and a diminished ability to promote cellular survival after UV irradiation. Biochemically, the D100R substitution caused a surprisingly modest perturbation of RecA-ATP interactions and an unexpected and significant decrease in the affinity of RecA for ssDNA. Moreover, in vitro assays of RecA activities requiring the coordinated processing of ATP and DNA revealed (1) a 2-5-fold decrease in steady-state turnover of ATP; (2) no formation of mixed nucleoprotein filaments when wild-type and D100R RecA compete for limiting ssDNA; and (3) no formation of strand exchange reaction products. Taken together, these results suggest that the D100R mutational effects on isolated RecA activities combine synergistically to perturb its higher-order functions. We conclude that the replacement of Asp100 resulted in a change in the electrostatic complementarity between RecA monomers during active filament assembly that prevents the protein from fully accessing the active multimeric state.

Organized unidirectional waves of ATP hydrolysis within a RecA filament

The RecA protein forms nucleoprotein filaments on DNA, and individual monomers within the filaments hydrolyze ATP. Assembly and disassembly of filaments are both unidirectional, occurring on opposite filament ends, with disassembly requiring ATP hydrolysis. When filaments form on duplex DNA, RecA protein exhibits a functional state comparable to the state observed during active DNA strand exchange. RecA filament state was monitored with a coupled spectrophotometric assay for ATP hydrolysis, with changes fit to a mathematical model for filament disassembly. At 37 degrees C, monomers within the RecA-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) filaments hydrolyze ATP with an observed k(cat) of 20.8 +/- 1.5 min(-1). Under the same conditions, the rate of end-dependent filament disassembly (k(off)) is 123 +/- 16 monomers per minute per filament end. This rate of disassembly requires a tight coupling of the ATP hydrolytic cycles of adjacent RecA monomers. The relationship of k(cat) to k(off) infers a filament state in which waves of ATP hydrolysis move unidirectionally through RecA filaments on dsDNA, with successive waves occurring at intervals of approximately six monomers. The waves move nearly synchronously, each one transiting from one monomer to the next every 0.5 s. The results reflect an organization of the ATPase activity that is unique in filamentous systems, and could be linked to a RecA motor function.

Inhibition of the Escherichia coli RecA protein: zinc(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) trap RecA as inactive aggregates

In bacteria, the RecA protein plays important roles in a number of DNA recombination and repair processes, including homologous recombination, SOS induction and recombinational DNA repair. We have explored the idea that the Escherichia coli RecA protein's functions could be controlled by small molecules. We investigated the 2:1 complex of zinc(II) with 1,4-dithio-l-threitol (l-DTT) that inhibits the E. coli rho transcription terminator, which is a hexameric ATP motor protein and is structurally homologous to RecA. We found that both the complex and ZnCl(2) inhibit the single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity of RecA at sub-millimolar concentrations. Investigation of a variety of metal dications (0.4 mM final concentration) determined that zinc(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) all induce the precipitation of RecA, while the dichloride salts of calcium, manganese, barium, cobalt, and nickel do not. The inhibition of RecA activity by Zn(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) results from the metal-dependent initiation of RecA aggregation. These observations may have implications for the design of biophysical experiments requiring solid-phase RecA protein, for a more complete understanding of metal toxicities, and for the design of metal-chelate inhibitors of prokaryotic DNA repair.

Direct evaluation of a mechanism for activation of the RecA nucleoprotein filament

The RecA protein of Escherichia coli controls the SOS response for DNA damage tolerance and plays a crucial role in recombinational DNA repair. The formation of a RecA.ATP.ssDNA complex initiates all RecA activities, and yet this process is not understood at the molecular level. An analysis of RecA.DNA interactions was performed using both a mutant RecA protein containing a tryptophan (Trp) reporter and oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) containing a fluorescent guanine analogue, 6-methylisoxanthopterin (6MI). Experiments using fluorescent ODNs allowed structurally distinct nucleoprotein filaments, formed in the absence and presence of ATPgammaS (a slowly hydrolyzed analogue of ATP), to be differentiated directly. Stopped-flow spectrofluorometry, combined with presteady-state kinetic analyses, revealed unexpected differences in the rates of RecA.ODN and RecA.ATPgammaS.ODN complex assembly. This is the first demonstration that such intrinsically fluorescent synthetic DNAs can be used to characterize definitively the real-time assembly and activation of RecA.ssDNA complexes. Surprisingly, the ssDNA binding event is almost 50-fold slower in the presence of the activating ATPgammaS cofactor. Furthermore, a combination of time-dependent emission changes from 6MI and Trp allowed the first direct chemical test of whether an inactive filament can isomerize to the active state. The results revealed that, unlike the hexameric motor proteins, the inactive RecA filament cannot directly convert to the active state upon ATPgammaS binding. These results have implications for understanding how a coincidence of functions--an ATP-communicated signal-like activity and an ATP-driven motorlike activity--are resolved within a single protein molecule.

DNA dynamics in RecA-DNA filaments: ATP hydrolysis-related flexibility in DNA

RecA-catalyzed DNA recombination is initiated by a mandatory, high-energy form of DNA in RecA-nucleoprotein filaments, where bases are highly unstacked and the backbone is highly unwound. Interestingly, only the energetics consequent to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding, rather than its hydrolysis, seems sufficient to mediate such a high-energy structural hallmark of a recombination filament. The structural consequence of ATP hydrolysis on the DNA part of the filament thus remains largely unknown. We report time-resolved fluorescence dynamics of bases in RecA-DNA complexes and demonstrate that DNA bases in the same exhibit novel, motional dynamics with a rotational correlation time of 7-10 ns, specifically in the presence of ATP hydrolysis. When the ongoing ATP hydrolysis of RecA-DNA filament is "poisoned" by a nonhydrolyzable form of ATP (ATPgammaS), the motional dynamics cease and reveal a global motion with a rotational correlation time of >20 ns. Such ATP hydrolysis-induced flexibility ensues in single-stranded as well as double-stranded bases of RecA-DNA filaments. These results suggest that the role of ATP hydrolysis is to induce a high level of backbone flexibility in RecA-DNA filament, a dynamic property that is likely to be important for efficient strand exchanges in ATP hydrolysis specific RecA reactions. It is the absence of these motions that may cause high rigidity in RecA-DNA filaments in ATPgammaS. Dynamic light scattering measurement comparisons of RecA-ss-DNA filaments formed in ATPgammaS vs that of ATP confirmed such an interpretation, where the former showed a complex of larger (30 nm) hydrodynamic radius than that of latter (12-15 nm). Taken together, these results reveal a more dynamic state of DNA in RecA-DNA filament that is hydrolyzing ATP, which encourage us to model the role of ATP hydrolysis in RecA-mediated DNA transactions.

The Bacterial RecA Protein as a Motor Protein

The bacterial RecA protein plays a central role in the repair of stalled replication forks, double-strand break repair, general recombination, induction of the SOS response, and SOS mutagenesis. The major activity of RecA in DNA metabolism is the promotion of DNA strand exchange reactions. RecA is the prototype for a ubiquitous family of proteins but exhibits a few activities that some of its eukaryotic, archaeal, and viral homologs appear to lack. In particular, the bacterial RecA protein possesses an apparent motor function that is not evident in the reactions promoted by the eukaryotic Rad51 protein. This motor may be needed only in a subset of the DNA metabolism contexts in which RecA protein functions. Models for the coupling of DNA strand exchange to ATP hydrolysis are examined.

C-terminal deletions of the Escherichia coli RecA protein. Characterization of in vivo and in vitro effects

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.

The bacterial RecA protein and the recombinational DNA repair of stalled replication forks

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.

Elucidating a key intermediate in homologous DNA strand exchange: structural characterization of the RecA-triple-stranded DNA complex using fluorescence resonance energy transfer

The RecA protein of Escherichia coli plays essential roles in homologous recombination and restarting stalled DNA replication forks. In vitro, the protein mediates DNA strand exchange between single-stranded (ssDNA) and homologous double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecules that serves as a model system for the in vivo processes. To date, no high-resolution structure of the key intermediate, comprised of three DNA strands simultaneously bound to a RecA filament (RecA-tsDNA complex), has been reported. We present a systematic characterization of the helical geometries of the three DNA strands of the RecA-tsDNA complex using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) under physiologically relevant solution conditions. FRET donor and acceptor dyes were used to label different DNA strands, and the interfluorophore distances were inferred from energy transfer efficiencies measured as a function of the base-pair separation between the two dyes. The energy transfer efficiencies were first measured on a control RecA-dsDNA complex, and the calculated helical parameters (h approximately 5 A, Omega(h) approximately 20 degrees ) were consistent with structural conclusions derived from electron microscopy (EM) and other classic biochemical methods. Measurements of the helical parameters for the RecA-tsDNA complex revealed that all three DNA strands adopt extended and unwound conformations similar to those of RecA-bound dsDNA. The structural data are consistent with the hypothesis that this complex is a late, post-strand-exchange intermediate with the outgoing strand shifted by about three base-pairs with respect to its registry with the incoming and complementary strands. Furthermore, the bases of the incoming and complementary strands are displaced away from the helix axis toward the minor groove of the heteroduplex, and the bases of the outgoing strand lie in the major groove of the heteroduplex. We present a model for the strand exchange intermediate in which homologous contacts preceding strand exchange arise in the minor groove of the substrate dsDNA.

The stretched DNA geometry of recombination and repair nucleoprotein filaments

The RecA protein of Escherichia coli plays essential roles in homologous recombination and restarting stalled DNA replication forks. In vitro, the protein mediates DNA strand exchange between single-stranded (ssDNA) and homologous double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecules that serves as a model system for the in vivo processes. To date, no high-resolution structure of the key intermediate, comprised of three DNA strands simultaneously bound to a RecA filament (RecA x tsDNA complex), has been elucidated by classical methods. Here we review the systematic characterization of the helical geometries of the three DNA strands of the RecA x tsDNA complex using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) under physiologically relevant solution conditions. Measurements of the helical parameters for the RecA x tsDNA complex are consistent with the hypothesis that this complex is a late, poststrand-exchange intermediate with the outgoing strand shifted by about three base pairs with respect to its registry with the incoming and complementary strands. All three strands in the RecA x tsDNA complex adopt extended and unwound conformations similar to those of RecA-bound ssDNA and dsDNA.

Biochemical characterization of the human RAD51 protein. I. ATP hydrolysis

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.

Biochemical characterization of the human RAD51 protein. II. Adenosine nucleotide binding and competition

RecA mediated homologous recombination requires cooperative ATP binding and hydrolysis to assume and maintain an active, extended DNA-protein (nucleoprotein) filament. Human RAD51 protein (hRAD51) lacks the magnitude of ATP-induced cooperativity and catalytic efficiency displayed by RecA. Here, we examined hRAD51 binding and ATPase inhibition pattern by ADP and ATP/adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS). hRAD51 fully saturates with ATP/ATPgammaS regardless of DNA cofactor (K(D) approximately 5 microm; 1 ATP/1 hRAD51). The binding of ADP to hRAD51 appeared bimodal. The first mode was identical to ATP/ATPgammaS binding (K(app1) approximately 3 microm; 1 ADP/1 hRAD51), while a second mode occurred at elevated ADP concentrations (K(app2) > or = 125 microm; >1 ADP/1 hRAD51). We could detect ADP --> ATP exchange in the high affinity ADP binding mode (K(app1)) but not the low affinity binding mode (K(app2)). At low ATP concentrations (<0.3 mm), ADP and ATPgammaS competitively inhibit the hRAD51 ATPase (K(m)((app)) > K(m)). However, at high ATP (>0.3 mm), the hRAD51 ATPase was stimulated by concentrations of ATPgammaS that were 20-fold above the K(D). Ammonium sulfate plus spermidine decreased the affinity of hRAD51 for ADP substantially ( approximately 10-fold) and ATP modestly ( approximately 3-fold). Our results suggest that ATP binding is not rate-limiting but that the inability to sustain an active nucleoprotein filament probably restricts the hRAD51 ATPase.

RecA Protein from the extremely radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans: expression, purification, and characterization

The RecA protein of Deinococcus radiodurans (RecA(Dr)) is essential for the extreme radiation resistance of this organism. The RecA(Dr) protein has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from this host. In some respects, the RecA(Dr) protein and the E. coli RecA (RecA(Ec)) proteins are close functional homologues. RecA(Dr) forms filaments on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that are similar to those formed by the RecA(Ec). The RecA(Dr) protein hydrolyzes ATP and dATP and promotes DNA strand exchange reactions. DNA strand exchange is greatly facilitated by the E. coli SSB protein. As is the case with the E. coli RecA protein, the use of dATP as a cofactor permits more facile displacement of bound SSB protein from ssDNA. However, there are important differences as well. The RecA(Dr) protein promotes ATP- and dATP-dependent reactions with distinctly different pH profiles. Although dATP is hydrolyzed at approximately the same rate at pHs 7.5 and 8.1, dATP supports an efficient DNA strand exchange only at pH 8.1. At both pHs, ATP supports efficient DNA strand exchange through heterologous insertions but dATP does not. Thus, dATP enhances the binding of RecA(Dr) protein to ssDNA and the displacement of ssDNA binding protein, but the hydrolysis of dATP is poorly coupled to DNA strand exchange. The RecA(Dr) protein thus may offer new insights into the role of ATP hydrolysis in the DNA strand exchange reactions promoted by the bacterial RecA proteins. In addition, the RecA(Dr) protein binds much better to duplex DNA than the RecA(Ec) protein, binding preferentially to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) even when ssDNA is present in the solutions. This may be of significance in the pathways for dsDNA break repair in Deinococcus.

Bypass of heterology during strand transfer by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad51 protein

During recombination-mediated repair of DNA double-strand breaks, strand transfer proteins must distinguish a homologous repair template from closely related genomic sequences. However, some tolerance by strand transfer proteins for sequence differences is also critical: too much stringency will prevent recombination between different alleles of the same gene, but too much tolerance will lead to illegitimate recombination. We characterized the heterology tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad51 by testing bypass of small heterologous inserts in either the single- or double-stranded substrate of an in vitro strand transfer reaction that models the early steps of homologous recombination. We found that the yeast protein is rather stringent, only tolerating heterologies up to 9 bases long. The efficiency of heterology bypass depends on whether the insert is in the single- or double-stranded substrate, as well as on the location of the insert relative to the end of the double-stranded linear substrate. Rad51 is distinct in that it can catalyze strand transfer in either the 3'-->5' or 5'-->3' direction. We found that bypass of heterology was independent of the polarity of strand transfer, suggesting that the mechanism of 5'-->3' transfer is the same as that of 3'-->5' transfer.

RecA protein filaments disassemble in the 5' to 3' direction on single-stranded DNA

RecA protein forms filaments on both single- and double-stranded DNA. Several studies confirm that filament extension occurs in the 5' to 3' direction on single-stranded DNA. These filaments also disassemble in an end-dependent fashion, and several indirect observations suggest that the disassembly occurs on the end opposite to that at which assembly occurs. By labeling the 5' end of single-stranded DNA with a segment of duplex DNA, we demonstrate unambiguously that RecA filaments disassemble uniquely in the 5' to 3' direction.

RecA protein promotes the regression of stalled replication forks in vitro

Replication forks are halted by many types of DNA damage. At the site of a leading-strand DNA lesion, forks may stall and leave the lesion in a single-strand gap. Fork regression is the first step in several proposed pathways that permit repair without generating a double-strand break. Using model DNA substrates designed to mimic one of the known structures of a fork stalled at a leading-strand lesion, we show here that RecA protein of Escherichia coli will promote a fork regression reaction in vitro. The regression process exhibits an absolute requirement for ATP hydrolysis and is enhanced when dATP replaces ATP. The reaction is not affected by the inclusion of the RecO and R proteins. We present this reaction as one of several potential RecA protein roles in the repair of stalled and/or collapsed replication forks in bacteria.

RecA-mediated strand exchange traverses substitutional heterologies more easily than deletions or insertions

RecA protein in bacteria and its eukaryotic homolog Rad51 protein are responsible for initiation of strand exchange between homologous DNA molecules. This process is crucial for homologous recombination, the repair of certain types of DNA damage and for the reinitiation of DNA replication on collapsed replication forks. We show here, using two different types of in vitro assays, that in the absence of ATP hydrolysis RecA-mediated strand exchange traverses small substitutional heterologies between the interacting DNAs, whereas small deletions or insertions block the ongoing strand exchange. We discuss evolutionary implications of RecA selectivity against insertions and deletions and propose a molecular mechanism by which RecA can exert this selectivity.

Appropriate initiation of the strand exchange reaction promoted by RecA protein requires ATP hydrolysis

The DNA-dependent ATPase activity of the Escherichia coli RecA protein has been recognized for more than two decades. Yet, the role of ATP hydrolysis in the RecA-promoted strand exchange reaction remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that ATP hydrolysis is required as part of a proofreading process during homology recognition. It enables the RecA-ssDNA complex, after determining that the strand-exchanged duplex is mismatched, to dissociate from the synaptic complex, which allows it to re-initiate the search for a "true" homologous region. Furthermore, the results suggest that when non-homologous sequences are present at the proximal end, ATP hydrolysis is required to allow ssDNA-RecA to reinitiate the strand exchange from an internal homologous region.

Escherichia coli MutS,L modulate RuvAB-dependent branch migration between diverged DNA

This study examines the interaction between Escherichia coli MutS,L and E. coli RuvAB during E. coli RecA-promoted strand exchange. RuvAB is a branch migration complex that stimulates heterologous strand exchange. Previous studies indicate that RuvAB increases the rate at which heteroduplex products are formed by RecA, that RuvA and RuvB are required for this stimulation, and that RuvAB does not stimulate homologous strand exchange. This study indicates that MutS,L inhibit the formation of full-length heteroduplex DNA between M13-fd DNA in the presence of RuvAB, such that less than 2% of the linear substrate is converted to product. Inhibition depends on the time at which MutS,L are added to the reaction and is strongest when MutS,L are added during initiation. The kinetics of the strand exchange reaction suggest that MutS,L directly inhibit RuvAB-dependent branch migration in the absence of RecA. The inhibition requires the formation of base-base mismatches and ATP utilization; no effect on RuvAB-promoted strand exchange is seen if an ATP-deficient mutant of MutS (MutS501) is included in the reaction instead of wild-type MutS. These results are consistent with a role for MutS,L in maintaining genomic stability and replication fidelity.

RecA force generation by hydrolysis waves

We present a simple theory of the dynamics of force generation by RecA during homologous strand exchange and a continuous, deterministic mathematical model of the proposed process. Calculations show that force generation is possible in this model for certain reasonable values of the parameters. We predict the shape of the force-velocity curve for the Holliday junction, which exhibits a distinctive kink at large retarding force, and suggest experiments which should distinguish between the proposed model and other models in the literature.

Rad51 uses one mechanism to drive DNA strand exchange in both directions

The Rad51 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, like its bacterial counterpart RecA, promotes strand exchange between circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and linear double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in vitro. However, the two proteins differ in the requirement for initiating joint molecules and in the polarity of branch migration. Whereas RecA initiates joint molecules from any type of ends on the dsDNA and branch migration proceeds exclusively in the 5'- to 3'-direction with respect to the single strand DNA substrate, initiation mediated by Rad51 requires a complementary 3' or 5' overhanging end of the linear dsDNA and branch migration proceeds in either direction. Here we report that the rates of Rad51-mediated branch migration in either the 5'- to 3'- or 3'- to 5'-directions are affected to the same extent by temperature and MgCl(2). Furthermore, branch migration in both directions is equally impeded by insertions of non-homologous sequences in the dsDNA, inserts of 6 base pairs or more being completely inhibitory. We have also found that the preference of strand exchange in the 5'- to 3'-direction does not change if RPA is replaced by Escherichia coli SSB or T4 gene 32 proteins, suggesting that the preference for the direction of strand exchange is intrinsic to Rad51. Based on these results, we conclude that Rad51-promoted branch migration in either direction occurs fundamentally by the same mechanism, quite probably by stabilizing successively formed heteroduplex base pair.

Two time constants for the binding of proteins to DNA from micromechanical data

Recent experimental advances allow the direct measurement of the force/extension behavior for DNA in the presence of strongly binding proteins. Such experiments reveal information about the cooperative mechanism of protein binding. We have studied the irreversible binding of such proteins to DNA using a simple simulation and present a method for estimating quantitative rate constants for the nucleation and growth of linear domains of proteins bound to DNA. Such rate constants also give information about the relative energetics of the two binding processes. We discuss our results in the context of recent data for the DNA-recA-ATPgammas system, for which the nucleation time is 4.7 x 10(4) min per recA binding site and the total growth rate of each domain is 1400 recA/min.

Recombinational repair of DNA damage in Escherichia coli and bacteriophage lambda

Although homologous recombination and DNA repair phenomena in bacteria were initially extensively studied without regard to any relationship between the two, it is now appreciated that DNA repair and homologous recombination are related through DNA replication. In Escherichia coli, two-strand DNA damage, generated mostly during replication on a template DNA containing one-strand damage, is repaired by recombination with a homologous intact duplex, usually the sister chromosome. The two major types of two-strand DNA lesions are channeled into two distinct pathways of recombinational repair: daughter-strand gaps are closed by the RecF pathway, while disintegrated replication forks are reestablished by the RecBCD pathway. The phage lambda recombination system is simpler in that its major reaction is to link two double-stranded DNA ends by using overlapping homologous sequences. The remarkable progress in understanding the mechanisms of recombinational repair in E. coli over the last decade is due to the in vitro characterization of the activities of individual recombination proteins. Putting our knowledge about recombinational repair in the broader context of DNA replication will guide future experimentation.

Subunit interactions in ABC transporters: towards a functional architecture

The ABC superfamily is a diverse group of integral membrane proteins involved in the ATP-dependent transport of solutes across biological membranes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Although ABC transporters have been studied for over 30 years, very little is known about the mechanism by which the energy of ATP hydrolysis is used to transport substrate across the membrane. The recent report of the high resolution crystal structure of HisP, the nucleotide-binding subunit of the histidine permease complex of Salmonella typhimurium, represents a significant breakthrough toward the elucidation of the mechanism of solute translocation by ABC transporters. In this review, we use data from the crystallographic structures of HisP and other nucleotide-binding proteins, combined with sequence analysis of a subset of atypical ABC transporters, to argue a new model for the dimerisation of the nucleotide-binding domains that embraces the notion that the C motif from one subunit forms part of the ATP-binding site in the opposite subunit. We incorporate this dimerisation of the ATP-binding domains into our recently reported beta-barrel model for P-glycoprotein and present a general model for the cooperative interaction of the two nucleotide-binding domains and the translocation of mechanical energy to the transmembrane domains in ABC transporters.

Recombinational DNA repair in bacteria and the RecA protein

In bacteria, the major function of homologous genetic recombination is recombinational DNA repair. This is not a process reserved only for rare double-strand breaks caused by ionizing radiation, nor is it limited to situations in which the SOS response has been induced. Recombinational DNA repair in bacteria is closely tied to the cellular replication systems, and it functions to repair damage at stalled replication forks, Studies with a variety of rec mutants, carried out under normal aerobic growth conditions, consistently suggest that at least 10-30% of all replication forks originating at the bacterial origin of replication are halted by DNA damage and must undergo recombinational DNA repair. The actual frequency may be much higher. Recombinational DNA repair is both the most complex and the least understood of bacterial DNA repair processes. When replication forks encounter a DNA lesion or strand break, repair is mediated by an adaptable set of pathways encompassing most of the enzymes involved in DNA metabolism. There are five separate enzymatic processes involved in these repair events: (1) The replication fork assembled at OriC stalls and/or collapses when encountering DNA damage. (2) Recombination enzymes provide a complementary strand for a lesion isolated in a single-strand gap, or reconstruct a branched DNA at the site of a double-strand break. (3) The phi X174-type primosome (or repair primosome) functions in the origin-independent reassembly of the replication fork. (4) The XerCD site-specific recombination system resolves the dimeric chromosomes that are the inevitable by-product of frequent recombination associated with recombinational DNA repair. (5) DNA excision repair and other repair systems eliminate lesions left behind in double-stranded DNA. The RecA protein plays a central role in the recombination phase of the process. Among its many activities, RecA protein is a motor protein, coupling the hydrolysis of ATP to the movement of DNA branches.

The essential functions of human Rad51 are independent of ATP hydrolysis

Genetic recombination and the repair of double-strand DNA breaks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae require Rad51, a homologue of the Escherichia coli RecA protein. In vitro, Rad51 binds DNA to form an extended nucleoprotein filament and catalyzes the ATP-dependent exchange of DNA between molecules with homologous sequences. Vertebrate Rad51 is essential for cell proliferation. Using site-directed mutagenesis of highly conserved residues of human Rad51 (hRad51) and gene targeting of the RAD51 locus in chicken DT40 cells, we examined the importance of Rad51's highly conserved ATP-binding domain. Mutant hRad51 incapable of ATP hydrolysis (hRad51K-133R) binds DNA less efficiently than the wild type but catalyzes strand exchange between homologous DNAs. hRad51 does not need to hydrolyze ATP to allow vertebrate cell proliferation, form nuclear foci, or repair radiation-induced DNA damage. However, cells expressing hRad51K-133R show greatly reduced targeted integration frequencies. These findings show that ATP hydrolysis is involved in DNA binding by hRad51 and suggest that the extent of DNA complexed with hRad51 in nucleoprotein influences the efficiency of recombination.

On the in vivo function of the RecA ATPase

The Escherichia coli RecA protein is the prototype of the RecA/RAD51/DMC1 family of strand transferases acting in genetic recombination. The E96D mutant was previously isolated in a screen for toxic recA mutants and was found to constitutively derepress the SOS genes and inhibit chromosome segregation in E. coli. Here, we have found that the E96D mutation lowers the RecA kcat value for ATP hydrolysis 100-fold. Use of this mutant reveals that the ATPase and branch migration activities of RecA are not necessarily required for catalyzing in vivo recombinational pairing and LexA cleavage. In addition to its effect on ATP hydrolysis, the mutation causes ATP to more strongly promote the transition to the biologically active, extended conformation of the RecA enzyme. The enhanced ATP binding is apparently the cause for a broader nucleic acid ligand specificity. The use of RNA and double-stranded DNA as cofactors for LexA cleavage could give rise to the inappropriate, constitutive derepression of the SOS genes. This underscores the need for the ATP affinity to be optimized so that RecA becomes selectively activated only during DNA repair and recombination through binding single-stranded DNA.

Three-dimensional structure of adenosylcobinamide kinase/adenosylcobinamide phosphate guanylyltransferase from Salmonella typhimurium determined to 2.3 A resolution,

The X-ray structure of adenosylcobinamide kinase/adenosylcobinamide phosphate guanylyltransferase (CobU) from Salmonella typhimurium has been determined to 2.3 A resolution. This enzyme of subunit molecular weight 19 770 plays a central role in the assembly of the nucleotide loop for adenosylcobalamin where it catalyzes both the phosphorylation of the 1-amino-2-propanol side chain of the corrin ring and the subsequent attachment of GMP to form the product adenosylcobinamide-GDP. The kinase activity is believed to be associated with a P-loop motif, whereas the transferase activity proceeds at a different site on the enzyme via a guanylyl intermediate. The enzyme was crystallized in the space group C2221 with unit cell dimensions of a = 96.4 A, b = 114.4 A, and c = 106.7 A, with three subunits per asymmetric unit. The structure reveals that the enzyme is a molecular trimer and appears somewhat like a propeller with overall molecular dimensions of approximately 64 A x 77 A x 131 A. Each subunit consists of a single domain that is dominated by a seven-stranded mixed beta-sheet flanked on either side by a total of five alpha-helices and one helical turn. Six of the seven beta-strands run parallel. The C-terminal strand lies at the edge of the sheet and runs antiparallel to the others. Interestingly, CobU displays a remarkable structural and topological similarity to the central domain of the RecA protein, although the reason for this observation is unclear. The structure contains a P-loop motif located at the base of a prominent cleft formed by the association of two subunits and is most likely the kinase active site. Each subunit of CobU contains a cis peptide bond between Glu80 and Cys81 where Glu80 faces the P-loop and might serve to coordinate the magnesium ion of the triphosphate substrate. Interestingly, His46, which is the putative site for guanylylation, lies approximately 21 A from the P-loop and is solvent-exposed. This suggests that the enzyme undergoes a conformational change when the substrates bind to bring these two active sites into closer proximity.

On the mechanism of RecA-mediated repair of double-strand breaks: no role for four-strand DNA pairing intermediates

RecA protein will bind to a gapped duplex DNA molecule and promote a DNA strand exchange with a second homologous linear duplex. A double-strand break in the second duplex is efficiently bypassed in the course of these reactions. We demonstrate that the bypass of double-strand breaks is not explained by a mechanism involving homologous interactions between two duplex DNA molecules, but instead requires the ATP-mediated generation of DNA torsional stress brought about by the action of RecA. The results suggest new pathways for the repair of double-strand breaks and underline the need for new paradigms to explain the alignment of homologous DNAs during genetic recombination.