Escherichia coli K-12 has two distinguishable PriA-PriB replication restart pathways

The intrinsically disordered linker in the single-stranded DNA-binding protein influences DNA replication restart and recombination pathways in Escherichia coli K-12

Tetrameric single-stranded (ss) DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) stabilize ssDNA intermediates formed during genome maintenance reactions in Bacteria. SSBs also recruit proteins important for these processes through direct SSB-protein interactions, including proteins involved in DNA replication restart and recombination processes. SSBs are composed of an N-terminal oligomerization and ssDNA-binding domain, a C-terminal acidic tip that mediates SSB-protein interactions, and an internal intrinsically disordered linker (IDL). Deletions and insertions into the IDL are well tolerated with few phenotypes, although the largest deletions and insertions exhibit some sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. To define specific DNA metabolism processes dependent on IDL length, ssb mutants that lack 16, 26, 37, or 47 residues of the 57-residue IDL were tested for synthetic phenotypes with mutations in DNA replication restart or recombination genes. We also tested the impact of integrating a fluorescent domain within the SSB IDL using an ssb::mTur2 insertion mutation. Only the largest deletion tested or the insertion mutation causes sensitivity in any of the pathways. Mutations in two replication restart pathways (PriA-B1 and PriA-C) showed synthetic lethalities or small colony phenotypes with the largest deletion or insertion mutations. Recombination gene mutations del(recBCD) and del(ruvABC) show synthetic phenotypes only when combined with the largest ssb deletion. These results suggest that a minimum IDL length is important in some genome maintenance reactions in Escherichia coli. These include pathways involving PriA-PriB1, PriA-PriC, RecFOR, and RecG. The mTur2 insertion in the IDL may also affect SSB interactions in some processes, particularly the PriA-PriB1 and PriA-PriC replication restart pathways.IMPORTANCEssb is essential in Escherichia coli due to its roles in protecting ssDNA and coordinating genome maintenance events. While the DNA-binding core and acidic tip have well-characterized functions, the purpose of the intrinsically disordered linker (IDL) is poorly understood. In vitro studies have revealed that the IDL is important for cooperative ssDNA binding and phase separation. However, single-stranded (ss) DNA-binding protein (SSB) variants with large deletions and insertions in the IDL support normal cell growth. We find that the PriA-PriB1 and PriA-C replication restart, as well as the RecFOR- and RecG-dependent recombination, pathways are sensitive to IDL length. This suggests that cooperativity, phase separation, or a longer spacer between the core and acidic tip of SSB may be important for specific cellular functions.

Replication fork binding triggers structural changes in the PriA helicase that govern DNA replication restart in E. coli

Bacterial replisomes often dissociate from replication forks before chromosomal replication is complete. To avoid the lethal consequences of such situations, bacteria have evolved replication restart pathways that reload replisomes onto prematurely terminated replication forks. To understand how the primary replication restart pathway in E. coli (PriA-PriB) selectively acts on replication forks, we determined the cryogenic-electron microscopy structure of a PriA/PriB/replication fork complex. Replication fork specificity arises from extensive PriA interactions with each arm of the branched DNA. These interactions reshape the PriA protein to create a pore encircling single-stranded lagging-strand DNA while also exposing a surface of PriA onto which PriB docks. Together with supporting biochemical and genetic studies, the structure reveals a switch-like mechanism for replication restart initiation in which restructuring of PriA directly couples replication fork recognition to PriA/PriB complex formation to ensure robust and high-fidelity replication re-initiation.

Identification of genetic interactions with priB links the PriA/PriB DNA replication restart pathway to double-strand DNA break repair in Escherichia coli

Collisions between DNA replication complexes (replisomes) and impediments such as damaged DNA or proteins tightly bound to the chromosome lead to premature dissociation of replisomes at least once per cell cycle in Escherichia coli. Left unrepaired, these events produce incompletely replicated chromosomes that cannot be properly partitioned into daughter cells. DNA replication restart, the process that reloads replisomes at prematurely terminated sites, is therefore essential in E. coli and other bacteria. Three replication restart pathways have been identified in E. coli: PriA/PriB, PriA/PriC, and PriC/Rep. A limited number of genetic interactions between replication restart and other genome maintenance pathways have been defined, but a systematic study placing replication restart reactions in a broader cellular context has not been performed. We have utilized transposon-insertion sequencing to identify new genetic interactions between DNA replication restart pathways and other cellular systems. Known genetic interactors with the priB replication restart gene (uniquely involved in the PriA/PriB pathway) were confirmed and several novel priB interactions were discovered. Targeted genetic and imaging-based experiments with priB and its genetic partners revealed significant double-strand DNA break accumulation in strains with mutations in dam, rep, rdgC, lexA, or polA. Modulating the activity of the RecA recombinase partially suppressed the detrimental effects of rdgC or lexA mutations in ΔpriB cells. Taken together, our results highlight roles for several genes in double-strand DNA break homeostasis and define a genetic network that facilitates DNA repair/processing upstream of PriA/PriB-mediated DNA replication restart in E. coli.

Modulation of RecFORQ- and RecA-Mediated Homologous Recombination in Escherichia coli by Isoforms of Translation Initiation Factor IF2

Homologous recombination (HR) is critically important for chromosomal replication, as well as DNA damage repair in all life forms. In Escherichia coli, the process of HR comprises (i) two parallel presynaptic pathways that are mediated, respectively, by proteins RecB/C/D and RecF/O/R/Q; (ii) a synaptic step mediated by RecA that leads to generation of Holliday junctions (HJs); and (iii) postsynaptic steps mediated sequentially by HJ-acting proteins RuvA/B/C followed by proteins PriA/B/C of replication restart. Combined loss of RuvA/B/C and a DNA helicase UvrD is synthetically lethal, which is attributed to toxicity caused by accumulated HJs since viability in these double mutant strains is restored by removal of the presynaptic or synaptic proteins RecF/O/R/Q or RecA, respectively. Here we show that, as in ΔuvrD strains, ruv mutations confer synthetic lethality in cells deficient for transcription termination factor Rho, and that loss of RecFORQ presynaptic pathway proteins or of RecA suppresses this lethality. Furthermore, loss of IF2-1 (which is one of three isoforms [IF2-1, IF2-2, and IF2-3] of the essential translation initiation factor IF2 that are synthesized from three in-frame initiation codons in infB) also suppressed uvrD-ruv and rho-ruv lethalities, whereas deficiency of IF2-2 and IF2-3 exacerbated the synthetic defects. Our results suggest that Rho deficiency is associated with an increased frequency of HR that is mediated by the RecFORQ pathway along with RecA. They also lend support to earlier reports that IF2 isoforms participate in DNA transactions, and we propose that they do so by modulation of HR functions. IMPORTANCE The process of homologous recombination (HR) is important for maintenance of genome integrity in all cells. In Escherichia coli, the RecA protein is a critical participant in HR, which acts at a step common to and downstream of two HR pathways mediated by the RecBCD and RecFOR proteins, respectively. In this study, an isoform (IF2-1) of the translation initiation factor IF2 has been identified as a novel facilitator of RecA's function in vivo during HR.

Essential Role for an Isoform of Escherichia coli Translation Initiation Factor IF2 in Repair of Two-Ended DNA Double-Strand Breaks

In Escherichia coli, three isoforms of the essential translation initiation factor IF2 (IF2-1, IF2-2, and IF2-3) are generated from separate in-frame initiation codons in infB. The isoforms have earlier been suggested to additionally participate in DNA damage repair and replication restart. It is also known that the proteins RecA and RecBCD are needed for repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in E. coli. Here, we show that strains lacking IF2-1 are profoundly sensitive to two-ended DSBs in DNA generated by radiomimetic agents phleomycin or bleomycin, or by endonuclease I-SceI. However, these strains remained tolerant to other DSB-generating genotoxic agents or perturbations to which recA and recBC mutants remained sensitive, such as to mitomycin C, type-2 DNA topoisomerase inhibitors, or DSB caused by palindrome cleavage behind a replication fork. Data from genome-wide copy number analyses following I-SceI cleavage at a single chromosomal locus suggested that, in a strain lacking IF2-1, the magnitude of recombination-dependent replication through replication restart mechanisms is largely preserved but the extent of DNA resection around the DSB site is reduced. We propose that in the absence of IF2-1 it is the synapsis of a RecA nucleoprotein filament to its homologous target that is weakened, which in turn leads to a specific failure in assembly of Ter-to-oriC directed replisomes needed for consummation of two-ended DSB repair. IMPORTANCE Double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA are major threats to genome integrity. In Escherichia coli, DSBs are repaired by RecA- and RecBCD-mediated homologous recombination (HR). This study demonstrates a critical role for an isoform (IF2-1) of the translation initiation factor IF2 in the repair of two-ended DSBs in E. coli (that can be generated by ionizing radiation, certain DNA-damaging chemicals, or endonuclease action). It is proposed that IF2-1 acts to facilitate the function of RecA in the synapsis between a pair of DNA molecules during HR.

The Bacillus subtilis PriA winged helix domain is critical for surviving DNA damage

DNA replication forks regularly encounter lesions or other impediments that result in a blockage to fork progression. PriA is one of the key proteins used by virtually all eubacteria to survive conditions that result in a blockage to replication fork movement. PriA directly binds stalled replication forks and initiates fork restart allowing for chromosomes to be fully duplicated under stressful conditions. We used a CRISPR-Cas gene editing approach to map PriA residues critical for surviving DNA damage induced by several antibiotics in B. subtilis. We find that the winged helix (WH) domain in B. subtilis PriA is critical for surviving DNA damage and participates in DNA binding. The critical in vivo function of the WH domain mapped to distinct surfaces that were also conserved among several Gram-positive human pathogens. In addition, we identified an amino acid linker neighboring the WH domain that is greatly extended in B. subtilis due to an insertion. Shortening this linker induced a hypersensitive phenotype to DNA damage, suggesting that its extended length is critical for efficient replication fork restart in vivo. Because the WH domain is dispensable in E. coli PriA, our findings demonstrate an important difference in the contribution of the WH domain during fork restart in B. subtilis. Further, with our results we suggest that this highly variable region in PriA could provide different functions across diverse bacterial organisms. IMPORTANCE PriA is an important protein found in virtually all bacteria that recognizes stalled replication forks orchestrating fork restart. PriA homologs contain a winged helix (WH) domain which is dispensable in E. coli and functions in a fork restart pathway that is not conserved outside of E. coli and closely related proteobacteria. We analyzed the importance of the WH domain and an associated linker in B. subtilis and found that both are critical for surviving DNA damage. This function mapped to a small motif at the C-terminal end of the WH domain, which is also conserved in pathogenic bacteria. The motif was not required for DNA binding and therefore may perform a novel function in the replication fork restart pathway.