[Bacterial RecA protein: a biochemical, genetic and physicochemical analysis]

Abstract

A review of the role of evolutionary significant bacterial RecA protein in the cell is presented. The topics discussed are: elementary properties of the protein; its main functions in the cell (recombination and SOS-response); the formation, dissociation and regulation of the activated RecA protein complex and its cofactors, including the single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB); functional domains in the recA gene structure; formation of RecA protein complex with single- and double-stranded DNA; RecA-like proteins in different microorganisms.