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Wegrzyn K, Konieczny I. Toward an understanding of the DNA replication initiation in bacteria. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1328842. [PMID: 38249469 PMCID: PMC10797057 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1328842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the mechanism of DNA replication initiation has been investigated for over 50 years, many important discoveries have been made related to this process in recent years. In this mini-review, we discuss the current state of knowledge concerning the structure of the origin region in bacterial chromosomes and plasmids, recently discovered motifs recognized by replication initiator proteins, and proposed in the literature models describing initial origin opening. We review structures of nucleoprotein complexes formed by replication initiators at chromosomal and plasmid replication origins and discuss their functional implications. We also discuss future research challenges in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Wegrzyn
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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Wegrzyn K, Oliwa M, Nowacka M, Zabrocka E, Bury K, Purzycki P, Czaplewska P, Pipka J, Giraldo R, Konieczny I. Rep protein accommodates together dsDNA and ssDNA which enables a loop-back mechanism to plasmid DNA replication initiation. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10551-10567. [PMID: 37713613 PMCID: PMC10602881 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
For DNA replication initiation in Bacteria, replication initiation proteins bind to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and interact with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) at the replication origin. The structural-functional relationship of the nucleoprotein complex involving initiator proteins is still elusive and different models are proposed. In this work, based on crosslinking combined with mass spectrometry (MS), the analysis of mutant proteins and crystal structures, we defined amino acid residues essential for the interaction between plasmid Rep proteins, TrfA and RepE, and ssDNA. This interaction and Rep binding to dsDNA could not be provided in trans, and both are important for dsDNA melting at DNA unwinding element (DUE). We solved two crystal structures of RepE: one in a complex with ssDNA DUE, and another with both ssDNA DUE and dsDNA containing RepE-specific binding sites (iterons). The amino acid residues involved in interaction with ssDNA are located in the WH1 domain in stand β1, helices α1 and α2 and in the WH2 domain in loops preceding strands β1' and β2' and in these strands. It is on the opposite side compared to RepE dsDNA-recognition interface. Our data provide evidence for a loop-back mechanism through which the plasmid replication initiator molecule accommodates together dsDNA and ssDNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Wegrzyn
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Oliwa
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Marzena Nowacka
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Księcia Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Zabrocka
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bury
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Piotr Purzycki
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Paulina Czaplewska
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Justyna Pipka
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Rafael Giraldo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas – CSIC, E28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Igor Konieczny
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland
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Huan YW, Brown R, Wang B. An adenine/thymidine-rich region is integral to RepL-mediated DNA replication. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1095671. [PMID: 36846746 PMCID: PMC9948254 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1095671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The lytic replication of bacteriophage P1 requires RepL expression and the lytic stage origin, oriL, which is postulated to be located within repL gene sequence. The exact sequence of P1 oriL and the mechanism(s) of RepL-mediated DNA replication, however, are not fully understood. By using repL gene expression to induce DNA replication of a gfp and a rfp reporter plasmids, we demonstrated that synonymous base substitution in an adenine/thymidine-rich region of repL gene sequence, termed AT2, significantly inhibited the RepL-mediated signal amplification. Contrastingly, mutations in an IHF and two DnaA binding sites did not affect the RepL-mediated signal amplification significantly. A truncated repL sequence with the AT2 region allowed RepL-mediated signal amplification in trans therefore verifying a significant role of the AT2 region in RepL-mediated DNA replication. A combination of repL gene expression and a non-protein-coding copy of repL gene sequence (termed nc-repL) was able to amplify the output of an arsenic biosensor. Furthermore, mutation(s) at single or multiple positions within the AT2 region produced varying levels of RepL-mediated signal amplification. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the identity and location of P1 oriL as well as demonstrating the potential of using repL constructs to amplify and modulate the output of genetic biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wei Huan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Russell Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Baojun Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Research Center for Biological Computation, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, China
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Chatterjee S, Jha JK, Ciaccia P, Venkova T, Chattoraj DK. Interactions of replication initiator RctB with single- and double-stranded DNA in origin opening of Vibrio cholerae chromosome 2. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:11016-11029. [PMID: 33035310 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of bacterial chromosomes and plasmids indicate that their replication initiator proteins bind to origins of replication at many double-stranded sites and also at AT-rich regions where single-stranded DNA is exposed during origin opening. Single-strand binding apparently promotes origin opening by stabilizing an open structure, but how the initiator participates in this process and the contributions of the several binding sites remain unclear. Here, we show that the initiator protein of Vibrio cholerae specific to chromosome 2 (Chr2) also has single-strand binding activity in the AT-rich region of its origin. Binding is strand specific, depends on repeats of the sequence 5'ATCA and is greatly stabilized in vitro by specific double-stranded sites of the origin. The stability derives from the formation of ternary complexes of the initiator with the single- and double-stranded sites. An IHF site lies between these two kinds of sites in the Chr2 origin and an IHF-induced looping out of the intervening DNA mediates their interaction. Simultaneous binding to two kinds of sites in the origin appears to be a common mechanism by which bacterial replication initiators stabilize an open origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soniya Chatterjee
- Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4260, USA
| | - Jyoti K Jha
- Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4260, USA
| | - Peter Ciaccia
- Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4260, USA
| | - Tatiana Venkova
- Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4260, USA
| | - Dhruba K Chattoraj
- Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4260, USA
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Bury K, Wegrzyn K, Konieczny I. Handcuffing reversal is facilitated by proteases and replication initiator monomers. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:3953-3966. [PMID: 28335002 PMCID: PMC5397158 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Specific nucleoprotein complexes are formed strictly to prevent over-initiation of DNA replication. An example of those is the so-called handcuff complex, in which two plasmid molecules are coupled together with plasmid-encoded replication initiation protein (Rep). In this work, we elucidate the mechanism of the handcuff complex disruption. In vitro tests, including dissociation progress analysis, demonstrate that the dimeric variants of plasmid RK2 replication initiation protein TrfA are involved in assembling the plasmid handcuff complex which, as we found, reveals high stability. Particular proteases, namely Lon and ClpAP, disrupt the handcuff by degrading TrfA, thus affecting plasmid stability. Moreover, our data demonstrate that TrfA monomers are able to dissociate handcuffed plasmid molecules. Those monomers displace TrfA molecules, which are involved in handcuff formation, and through interaction with the uncoupled plasmid replication origins they re-initiate DNA synthesis. We discuss the relevance of both Rep monomers and host proteases for plasmid maintenance under vegetative and stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bury
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Wegrzyn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Igor Konieczny
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Abrahama 58, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
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Jha JK, Ramachandran R, Chattoraj DK. Opening the Strands of Replication Origins-Still an Open Question. Front Mol Biosci 2016; 3:62. [PMID: 27747216 PMCID: PMC5043065 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2016.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The local separation of duplex DNA strands (strand opening) is necessary for initiating basic transactions on DNA such as transcription, replication, and homologous recombination. Strand opening is commonly a stage at which these processes are regulated. Many different mechanisms are used to open the DNA duplex, the details of which are of great current interest. In this review, we focus on a few well-studied cases of DNA replication origin opening in bacteria. In particular, we discuss the opening of origins that support the theta (θ) mode of replication, which is used by all chromosomal origins and many extra-chromosomal elements such as plasmids and phages. Although the details of opening can vary among different origins, a common theme is binding of the initiator to multiple sites at the origin, causing stress that opens an adjacent and intrinsically unstable A+T rich region. The initiator stabilizes the opening by capturing one of the open strands. How the initiator binding energy is harnessed for strand opening remains to be understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti K Jha
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Revathy Ramachandran
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dhruba K Chattoraj
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
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Wegrzyn KE, Gross M, Uciechowska U, Konieczny I. Replisome Assembly at Bacterial Chromosomes and Iteron Plasmids. Front Mol Biosci 2016; 3:39. [PMID: 27563644 PMCID: PMC4980987 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2016.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The proper initiation and occurrence of DNA synthesis depends on the formation and rearrangements of nucleoprotein complexes within the origin of DNA replication. In this review article, we present the current knowledge on the molecular mechanism of replication complex assembly at the origin of bacterial chromosome and plasmid replicon containing direct repeats (iterons) within the origin sequence. We describe recent findings on chromosomal and plasmid replication initiators, DnaA and Rep proteins, respectively, and their sequence-specific interactions with double- and single-stranded DNA. Also, we discuss the current understanding of the activities of DnaA and Rep proteins required for replisome assembly that is fundamental to the duplication and stability of genetic information in bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna E Wegrzyn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
| | - Marta Gross
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
| | - Urszula Uciechowska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
| | - Igor Konieczny
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
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Abstract
Iteron-containing plasmids are model systems for studying the metabolism of extrachromosomal genetic elements in bacterial cells. Here we describe the current knowledge and understanding of the structure of iteron-containing replicons, the structure of the iteron plasmid encoded replication initiation proteins, and the molecular mechanisms for iteron plasmid DNA replication initiation. We also discuss the current understanding of control mechanisms affecting the plasmid copy number and how host chaperone proteins and proteases can affect plasmid maintenance in bacterial cells.
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Zabrocka E, Wegrzyn K, Konieczny I. Two replication initiators - one mechanism for replication origin opening? Plasmid 2014; 76:72-8. [PMID: 25454070 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2014.10.003] [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: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
DNA replication initiation has been well-characterized; however, studies in the past few years have shown that there are still important discoveries to be made. Recent publications concerning the bacterial DnaA protein have revealed how this replication initiator, via interaction with specific sequences within the origin region, causes local destabilization of double stranded DNA. Observations made in the context of this bacterial initiator have also been converging with those recently made for plasmid Rep proteins. In this mini review we discuss the relevance of new findings for the RK2 plasmid replication initiator, TrfA, with regard to new data on the structure of complexes formed by the chromosomal replication initiator DnaA. We discuss structure-function relationships of replication initiation proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta Zabrocka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Wegrzyn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Igor Konieczny
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland.
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Wegrzyn K, Fuentes-Perez ME, Bury K, Rajewska M, Moreno-Herrero F, Konieczny I. Sequence-specific interactions of Rep proteins with ssDNA in the AT-rich region of the plasmid replication origin. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:7807-18. [PMID: 24838560 PMCID: PMC4081077 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The DNA unwinding element (DUE) is a sequence rich in adenine and thymine residues present within the origin region of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic replicons. Recently, it has been shown that this is the site where bacterial DnaA proteins, the chromosomal replication initiators, form a specific nucleoprotein filament. DnaA proteins contain a DNA binding domain (DBD) and belong to the family of origin binding proteins (OBPs). To date there has been no data on whether OBPs structurally different from DnaA can form nucleoprotein complexes within the DUE. In this work we demonstrate that plasmid Rep proteins, composed of two Winged Helix domains, distinct from the DBD, specifically bind to one of the strands of ssDNA within the DUE. We observed nucleoprotein complexes formed by these Rep proteins, involving both dsDNA containing the Rep-binding sites (iterons) and the strand-specific ssDNA of the DUE. Formation of these complexes required the presence of all repeated sequence elements located within the DUE. Any changes in these repeated sequences resulted in the disturbance in Rep-ssDNA DUE complex formation and the lack of origin replication activity in vivo or in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Wegrzyn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, 24 Kladki, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Maria Eugenia Fuentes-Perez
- Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia, CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Katarzyna Bury
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, 24 Kladki, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rajewska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, 24 Kladki, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Fernando Moreno-Herrero
- Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia, CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Igor Konieczny
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, 24 Kladki, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
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Wegrzyn K, Witosinska M, Schweiger P, Bury K, Jenal U, Konieczny I. RK2 plasmid dynamics in Caulobacter crescentus cells--two modes of DNA replication initiation. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2013; 159:1010-1022. [PMID: 23538715 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.065490-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Undisturbed plasmid dynamics is required for the stable maintenance of plasmid DNA in bacterial cells. In this work, we analysed subcellular localization, DNA synthesis and nucleoprotein complex formation of plasmid RK2 during the cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus. Our microscopic observations showed asymmetrical distribution of plasmid RK2 foci between the two compartments of Caulobacter predivisional cells, resulting in asymmetrical allocation of plasmids to progeny cells. Moreover, using a quantitative PCR (qPCR) method, we estimated that multiple plasmid particles form a single fluorescent focus and that the number of plasmids per focus is approximately equal in both swarmer and predivisional Caulobacter cells. Analysis of the dynamics of TrfA-oriV complex formation during the Caulobacter cell cycle revealed that TrfA binds oriV primarily during the G1 phase, however, plasmid DNA synthesis occurs during the S and G2 phases of the Caulobacter cell cycle. Both in vitro and in vivo analysis of RK2 replication initiation in C. crescentus cells demonstrated that it is independent of the Caulobacter DnaA protein in the presence of the longer version of TrfA protein, TrfA-44. However, in vivo stability tests of plasmid RK2 derivatives suggested that a DnaA-dependent mode of plasmid replication initiation is also possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Wegrzyn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Witosinska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Pawel Schweiger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bury
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Urs Jenal
- Center for Molecular Life Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Igor Konieczny
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland
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Rajewska M, Wegrzyn K, Konieczny I. AT-rich region and repeated sequences - the essential elements of replication origins of bacterial replicons. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2011; 36:408-34. [PMID: 22092310 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00300.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeated sequences are commonly present in the sites for DNA replication initiation in bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic replicons. Those motifs are usually the binding places for replication initiation proteins or replication regulatory factors. In prokaryotic replication origins, the most abundant repeated sequences are DnaA boxes which are the binding sites for chromosomal replication initiation protein DnaA, iterons which bind plasmid or phage DNA replication initiators, defined motifs for site-specific DNA methylation, and 13-nucleotide-long motifs of a not too well-characterized function, which are present within a specific region of replication origin containing higher than average content of adenine and thymine residues. In this review, we specify methods allowing identification of a replication origin, basing on the localization of an AT-rich region and the arrangement of the origin's structural elements. We describe the regularity of the position and structure of the AT-rich regions in bacterial chromosomes and plasmids. The importance of 13-nucleotide-long repeats present at the AT-rich region, as well as other motifs overlapping them, was pointed out to be essential for DNA replication initiation including origin opening, helicase loading and replication complex assembly. We also summarize the role of AT-rich region repeated sequences for DNA replication regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Rajewska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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Kolatka K, Kubik S, Rajewska M, Konieczny I. Replication and partitioning of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2. Plasmid 2010; 64:119-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2010.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2010] [Revised: 06/08/2010] [Accepted: 06/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Specific mutations within the AT-rich region of a plasmid replication origin affect either origin opening or helicase loading. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:11134-9. [PMID: 18685104 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0805662105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic replicons possess a distinctive region containing a higher than average number of adenine and thymine residues (the AT-rich region) where, during the process of replication initiation, the initial destabilization (opening) of the double helix takes place. In many prokaryotic origins, this region consists of repeated 13-mer motifs whose function has not yet been specified. Here we identify specific mutations within the 13-mer sequences of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 that can result in defective origin opening or that do not affect opening but induce defects in helicase loading. We also show that after the initial recruitment of helicase at the DnaA-box sequences of the plasmid origin, the helicase is translocated to the AT-rich region in a reaction requiring specific sequence of the 13-mers and appropriate facing of the origin motifs. Our results demonstrate that specific sequences within the AT-rich region of a replication origin are required for either origin opening or helicase loading.
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