Abstract
Escherichia coli RecA protein, in the presence of ATP or its analog adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, polymerizes on single-stranded DNA to form nucleoprotein filaments that can then bind to homologous sequences on duplex DNA. The three-stranded joint molecule formed as a result of this binding event is a key intermediate in general recombination. We have used affinity cleavage to examine this three-stranded joint by incorporating a single thymidine-EDTA.Fe (T*) into the oligonucleotide part of the filament. Our analysis of the cleavage patterns from the joint molecule reveals that the nucleoprotein filament binds in the minor groove of an extended Watson-Crick duplex.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adenosine Triphosphate / analogs & derivatives
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Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
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Base Sequence
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DNA / chemistry*
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DNA / metabolism
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Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
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Escherichia coli / metabolism
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Models, Genetic
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Models, Structural
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nucleic Acid Conformation*
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Plasmids / chemistry*
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Plasmids / metabolism*
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Rec A Recombinases / chemistry*
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Rec A Recombinases / metabolism
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Restriction Mapping
Substances
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)
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Adenosine Triphosphate
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DNA
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Rec A Recombinases