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Kapoor I, Shaw A, Naha A, Emam EAF, Varshney U. Role of the nucleotide excision repair pathway proteins (UvrB and UvrD2) in recycling UdgB, a base excision repair enzyme in Mycobacterium smegmatis. DNA Repair (Amst) 2022; 113:103316. [PMID: 35306347 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2022.103316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cross-talks between DNA repair pathways are emerging as a crucial strategy in the maintenance of the genomic integrity. A double-stranded (ds) DNA specific DNA glycosylase, UdgB is known to excise uracil, hypoxanthine and ethenocytosine. We earlier showed that Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm) UdgB stays back on the AP-sites it generates in the DNA upon excision of the damaged bases. Here, we show that in an Msm strain deleted for a nucleotide excision repair (NER) protein, UvrB (uvrB-), UdgB expression is toxic, and its deletion from the genome (udgB-) rescues the strain from the genotoxic stress. However, UdgB bound AP-site is not a direct substrate for NER in vitro. We show that UvrD2 and UvrB, known helicases with single-stranded (ss) DNA translocase activity, facilitate recycling of UdgB from AP-DNA. Our studies reveal that the helicases play an important role in exposing the AP-sites in DNA and make them available for further repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Kapoor
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Abhirup Shaw
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Arindam Naha
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Elhassan Ali Fathi Emam
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Umesh Varshney
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore 560064, India.
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2
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Urrutia-Irazabal I, Ault JR, Sobott F, Savery NJ, Dillingham MS. Analysis of the PcrA-RNA polymerase complex reveals a helicase interaction motif and a role for PcrA/UvrD helicase in the suppression of R-loops. eLife 2021; 10:68829. [PMID: 34279225 PMCID: PMC8318588 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The PcrA/UvrD helicase binds directly to RNA polymerase (RNAP) but the structural basis for this interaction and its functional significance have remained unclear. In this work, we used biochemical assays and hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled to mass spectrometry to study the PcrA-RNAP complex. We find that PcrA binds tightly to a transcription elongation complex in a manner dependent on protein:protein interaction with the conserved PcrA C-terminal Tudor domain. The helicase binds predominantly to two positions on the surface of RNAP. The PcrA C-terminal domain engages a conserved region in a lineage-specific insert within the β subunit which we identify as a helicase interaction motif present in many other PcrA partner proteins, including the nucleotide excision repair factor UvrB. The catalytic core of the helicase binds near the RNA and DNA exit channels and blocking PcrA activity in vivo leads to the accumulation of R-loops. We propose a role for PcrA as an R-loop suppression factor that helps to minimize conflicts between transcription and other processes on DNA including replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inigo Urrutia-Irazabal
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol. Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - James R Ault
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Sobott
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel J Savery
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol. Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Mark S Dillingham
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol. Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, United Kingdom
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3
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Carrasco C, Pastrana CL, Aicart-Ramos C, Leuba SH, Khan S, Moreno-Herrero F. Dynamics of DNA nicking and unwinding by the RepC-PcrA complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:2013-2025. [PMID: 31930301 PMCID: PMC7038956 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The rolling-circle replication is the most common mechanism for the replication of small plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance genes in Gram-positive bacteria. It is initiated by the binding and nicking of double-stranded origin of replication by a replication initiator protein (Rep). Duplex unwinding is then performed by the PcrA helicase, whose processivity is critically promoted by its interaction with Rep. How Rep and PcrA proteins interact to nick and unwind the duplex is not fully understood. Here, we have used magnetic tweezers to monitor PcrA helicase unwinding and its relationship with the nicking activity of Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pT181 initiator RepC. Our results indicate that PcrA is a highly processive helicase prone to stochastic pausing, resulting in average translocation rates of 30 bp s-1, while a typical velocity of 50 bp s-1 is found in the absence of pausing. Single-strand DNA binding protein did not affect PcrA translocation velocity but slightly increased its processivity. Analysis of the degree of DNA supercoiling required for RepC nicking, and the time between RepC nicking and DNA unwinding, suggests that RepC and PcrA form a protein complex on the DNA binding site before nicking. A comprehensive model that rationalizes these findings is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Carrasco
- Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesar L Pastrana
- Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Aicart-Ramos
- Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sanford H Leuba
- Departments of Cell Biology and Bioengineering, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Saleem A Khan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Fernando Moreno-Herrero
- Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
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4
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Sanders K, Lin CL, Smith AJ, Cronin N, Fisher G, Eftychidis V, McGlynn P, Savery NJ, Wigley DB, Dillingham MS. The structure and function of an RNA polymerase interaction domain in the PcrA/UvrD helicase. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:3875-3887. [PMID: 28160601 PMCID: PMC5397179 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The PcrA/UvrD helicase functions in multiple pathways that promote bacterial genome stability including the suppression of conflicts between replication and transcription and facilitating the repair of transcribed DNA. The reported ability of PcrA/UvrD to bind and backtrack RNA polymerase (1,2) might be relevant to these functions, but the structural basis for this activity is poorly understood. In this work, we define a minimal RNA polymerase interaction domain in PcrA, and report its crystal structure at 1.5 Å resolution. The domain adopts a Tudor-like fold that is similar to other RNA polymerase interaction domains, including that of the prototype transcription-repair coupling factor Mfd. Removal or mutation of the interaction domain reduces the ability of PcrA/UvrD to interact with and to remodel RNA polymerase complexes in vitro. The implications of this work for our understanding of the role of PcrA/UvrD at the interface of DNA replication, transcription and repair are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Sanders
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Chia-Liang Lin
- Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK and Section of Structural Biology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Abigail J Smith
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Nora Cronin
- Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK and Section of Structural Biology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Gemma Fisher
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | - Peter McGlynn
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Nigel J Savery
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Dale B Wigley
- Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK and Section of Structural Biology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Mark S Dillingham
- DNA:Protein Interactions Unit, School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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Abstract
Plasmids are DNA entities that undergo controlled replication independent of the chromosomal DNA, a crucial step that guarantees the prevalence of the plasmid in its host. DNA replication has to cope with the incapacity of the DNA polymerases to start de novo DNA synthesis, and different replication mechanisms offer diverse solutions to this problem. Rolling-circle replication (RCR) is a mechanism adopted by certain plasmids, among other genetic elements, that represents one of the simplest initiation strategies, that is, the nicking by a replication initiator protein on one parental strand to generate the primer for leading-strand initiation and a single priming site for lagging-strand synthesis. All RCR plasmid genomes consist of a number of basic elements: leading strand initiation and control, lagging strand origin, phenotypic determinants, and mobilization, generally in that order of frequency. RCR has been mainly characterized in Gram-positive bacterial plasmids, although it has also been described in Gram-negative bacterial or archaeal plasmids. Here we aim to provide an overview of the RCR plasmids' lifestyle, with emphasis on their characteristic traits, promiscuity, stability, utility as vectors, etc. While RCR is one of the best-characterized plasmid replication mechanisms, there are still many questions left unanswered, which will be pointed out along the way in this review.
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6
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Arslan S, Khafizov R, Thomas CD, Chemla YR, Ha T. Protein structure. Engineering of a superhelicase through conformational control. Science 2015; 348:344-7. [PMID: 25883358 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa0445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Conformational control of biomolecular activities can reveal functional insights and enable the engineering of novel activities. Here we show that conformational control through intramolecular cross-linking of a helicase monomer with undetectable unwinding activity converts it into a superhelicase that can unwind thousands of base pairs processively, even against a large opposing force. A natural partner that enhances the helicase activity is shown to achieve its stimulating role also by selectively stabilizing the active conformation. Our work provides insight into the regulation of nucleic acid unwinding activity and introduces a monomeric superhelicase without nuclease activities, which may be useful for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Arslan
- Physics Department and Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Rustem Khafizov
- Physics Department and Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Christopher D Thomas
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Yann R Chemla
- Physics Department and Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Physics Department and Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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7
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Lorenzo-Díaz F, Fernández-López C, Garcillán-Barcia MP, Espinosa M. Bringing them together: plasmid pMV158 rolling circle replication and conjugation under an evolutionary perspective. Plasmid 2014; 74:15-31. [PMID: 24942190 PMCID: PMC7103276 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rolling circle-replicating plasmids constitute a vast family that is particularly abundant in, but not exclusive of, Gram-positive bacteria. These plasmids are constructed as cassettes that harbor genes involved in replication and its control, mobilization, resistance determinants and one or two origins of lagging strand synthesis. Any given plasmid may contain all, some, or just only the replication cassette. We discuss here the family of the promiscuous streptococcal plasmid pMV158, with emphasis on its mobilization functions: the product of the mobM gene, prototype of the MOBV relaxase family, and its cognate origin of transfer, oriT. Amongst the subfamily of MOBV1 plasmids, three groups of oriT sequences, represented by plasmids pMV158, pT181, and p1414 were identified. In the same subfamily, we found four types of single-strand origins, namely ssoA, ssoU, ssoW, and ssoT. We found that plasmids of the rolling-circle Rep_2 family (to which pMV158 belongs) are more frequently found in Lactobacillales than in any other bacterial order, whereas Rep_1 initiators seemed to prefer hosts included in the Bacillales order. In parallel, MOBV1 relaxases associated with Rep_2 initiators tended to cluster separately from those linked to Rep_1 plasmids. The updated inventory of MOBV1 plasmids still contains exclusively mobilizable elements, since no genes associated with conjugative transfer (other than the relaxase) were detected. These plasmids proved to have a great plasticity at using a wide variety of conjugative apparatuses. The promiscuous recognition of non-cognate oriT sequences and the role of replication origins for lagging-strand origin in the host range of these plasmids are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabián Lorenzo-Díaz
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria and Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
| | - Cris Fernández-López
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - M Pilar Garcillán-Barcia
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC), Universidad de Cantabria - CSIC-SODERCAN, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Manuel Espinosa
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
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8
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The SF1 helicase encoded by the archaeal plasmid pTN2 of Thermococcus nautili. Extremophiles 2014; 18:779-87. [PMID: 24889120 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-014-0658-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We expressed, purified, and characterized the helicase encoded by ORF1 of the Thermococcus nautili pTN2 plasmid (Soler et al. Nucl Acids Res 38, 5088-5104, 2010). The enzyme, which belongs to the SF1 family of helicases, possesses NTPase activity, with a strong preference for ATP and GTP as compared to CTP and TTP; dATP was also a substrate. Triphosphatase activity was strongly stimulated by single-stranded DNA and, to a lesser extent, by double-stranded DNA. Unwinding of duplexes comprising a fluorescent oligonucleotide was monitored by fluorescence polarization spectroscopy and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. As observed for enzymes of the same family, pTN2 helicase displays a strong preference for duplexes comprising a 3' single-stranded extension and proceeds from the 3' to the 5' end of the loading strand. Under the conditions of the in vitro assay, pTN2 helicase did not appear to be recycled, but stayed bound to single-stranded DNA, which explains why high concentrations of enzyme are required to unwind long stretches of duplex DNA. The helicase enhances the synthesis of double-stranded DNA by pTN2 primase and by T. nautili PolB polymerase primed by pTN2 primase but it did not enhance synthesis by Taq DNA polymerase.
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9
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Chlebowicz MA, Bosch T, Sabat AJ, Arends JP, Grundmann H, van Dijl JM, Buist G. Distinction of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec type V elements from Staphylococcus aureus ST398. Int J Med Microbiol 2013; 303:422-32. [PMID: 23786828 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2013.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2013] [Revised: 05/05/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a major threat for human health and well-being. In recent years, it has become clear that livestock is a potential reservoir for MRSA, most livestock-associated isolates belonging to the ST398 lineage. Importantly, ST398 strains were also reported as causative agents of severe invasive infections in humans with no evidence for livestock associations. Here we document the sequence of the J1 region of the type V (5C2&5) SCCmec element and its right chromosomal junction in the clinical PVL-positive ST398 MRSA isolate UMCG-M4. Sequence comparisons show that this SCCmec element and related type V elements from other S. aureus isolates share a common core structure, but differ substantially in the so-called J1 region. Additional PCR analyses and typing studies indicate that the J1 region of strain UMCG-M4 is specific for SCCmec elements of PVL-positive ST398 isolates. Lastly, we show that the sequenced right chromosomal junction is invariant in strains of the ST398 lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika A Chlebowicz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands
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10
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Thomas J, Lee CA, Grossman AD. A conserved helicase processivity factor is needed for conjugation and replication of an integrative and conjugative element. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003198. [PMID: 23326247 PMCID: PMC3542172 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 11/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are agents of horizontal gene transfer and have major roles in evolution and acquisition of new traits, including antibiotic resistances. ICEs are found integrated in a host chromosome and can excise and transfer to recipient bacteria via conjugation. Conjugation involves nicking of the ICE origin of transfer (oriT) by the ICE–encoded relaxase and transfer of the nicked single strand of ICE DNA. For ICEBs1 of Bacillus subtilis, nicking of oriT by the ICEBs1 relaxase NicK also initiates rolling circle replication. This autonomous replication of ICEBs1 is critical for stability of the excised element in growing cells. We found a conserved and previously uncharacterized ICE gene that is required for conjugation and replication of ICEBs1. Our results indicate that this gene, helP (formerly ydcP), encodes a helicase processivity factor that enables the host-encoded helicase PcrA to unwind the double-stranded ICEBs1 DNA. HelP was required for both conjugation and replication of ICEBs1, and HelP and NicK were the only ICEBs1 proteins needed for replication from ICEBs1 oriT. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we measured association of HelP, NicK, PcrA, and the host-encoded single-strand DNA binding protein Ssb with ICEBs1. We found that NicK was required for association of HelP and PcrA with ICEBs1 DNA. HelP was required for association of PcrA and Ssb with ICEBs1 regions distal, but not proximal, to oriT, indicating that PcrA needs HelP to progress beyond nicked oriT and unwind ICEBs1. In vitro, HelP directly stimulated the helicase activity of the PcrA homologue UvrD. Our findings demonstrate that HelP is a helicase processivity factor needed for efficient unwinding of ICEBs1 for conjugation and replication. Homologues of HelP and PcrA-type helicases are encoded on many known and putative ICEs. We propose that these factors are essential for ICE conjugation, replication, and genetic stability. Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are mobile DNA elements that transfer genetic material between bacteria, driving bacterial evolution and the acquisition of new traits, including the spread of antibiotic resistances. ICEs typically reside integrated in a bacterial chromosome and are passively propagated along with the host genome. Under some conditions, an ICE can excise from the chromosome to form a circle and, if appropriate recipient bacteria are present, can transfer from donor to recipient. It has recently been recognized that some, and perhaps many, ICEs undergo autonomous replication after excision from the host chromosome and that replication is important for stability and propagation of these ICEs in growing cells. Using ICEBs1, an ICE from Bacillus subtilis, we found a conserved and previously uncharacterized ICE gene that is required for conjugation and replication. We found that this gene, helP, encodes a helicase processivity factor that associates with ICEBs1 DNA and enables the host-encoded helicase PcrA to unwind the double-stranded ICEBs1 DNA, making a template for both conjugation and DNA replication. Homologues of helP are found in many ICEs, indicating that this mechanism of unwinding is likely conserved among these elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Thomas
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Catherine A. Lee
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alan D. Grossman
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Arbore C, Lewis LM, Webb MR. Kinetic mechanism of initiation by RepD as a part of asymmetric, rolling circle plasmid unwinding. Biochemistry 2012; 51:3684-93. [PMID: 22463759 PMCID: PMC3340939 DOI: 10.1021/bi300172p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Some bacterial plasmids carry antibiotic resistance genes and replicate by an asymmetric, rolling circle mechanism, in which replication of the two strands is not concurrent. Initiation of this replication occurs via an initiator protein that nicks one DNA strand at the double-stranded origin of replication. In this work, RepD protein from the staphylococcal plasmid pC221 carries this function and allows PcrA helicase to bind and begin unwinding the plasmid DNA. This work uses whole plasmid constructs as well as oligonucleotide-based mimics of parts of the origin to examine the initiation reaction. It investigates the phenomenon that nicking, although required to open a single-stranded region at the origin and so allow PcrA to bind, is not required for another function of RepD, namely to increase the processivity of PcrA, allowing it to unwind plasmid lengths of DNA. A kinetic mechanism of RepD initiation is presented, showing rapid binding of the origin DNA. The rate of nicking varies with the structure of the DNA but can occur with a rate constant of >25 s(-1) at 30 °C. The equilibrium constant of the nicking reaction, which involves a transesterification to form a phosphotyrosine bond within the RepD active site, is close to unity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Arbore
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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