Escherichia coli protein X is the recA gene product.

Escherichia coli protein X is known to be made in large amounts following DNA damage or inhibition of DNA replication. We have shown that it is identical to the recA gene product by partial proteolytic digestion of the radiochemically pure proteins and analysis by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate gels.     

The dnaC protein of Escherichia coli. Purification, physical properties and interaction with dnaB protein.

E.coli dnaC protein was purified to near-homogeneity in using a dnaC complementation assay [S.Wickner, I.Berkower, M.Wright, and J.Hurwitz (1973) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 70, 2369-2373]. Purification was achieved by taking advantage of the hydrophobic interaction of dnaC protein with aliphatic and aromatic matrixes and with Brij58 as stabilizing agent. A sedimentation coefficient for the dnaC protein of 2.6 S corresponding to a molecular weight of approximately 26,000 was estimated from glycerol gradient centrifugation. A polypeptide molecular weight of 28,000 was determined by densitometry on a denaturing gel. In the presence of ATP the dnaC protein forms a complex with dnaB protein [S.Wickner and J.Hurwitz (1975) Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. USA 72, 921-925]. For the dnaB . dnaC complex a sedimentation coefficient of 14.5 S was measured by glycerol gradient centrifugation, indicating a molecular weight of about 400,000. The ratio of the dnaC and dnaB polypeptides in the complex is approximately 1, as determined on a denaturing gel. It is suggested that the complex consists of the dnaB protein hexamer and six dnaC polypeptides amounting to a calculated molecular weight of about 450,000.     

Purification and properties of the recA protein of Proteus mirabilis. Comparison with Escherichia coli recA protein; specificity of interaction with single strand binding protein

The product of the cloned recA+ gene of Proteus mirabilis substitutes for a defective recA protein in Escherichia coli recA- mutants and restores recombination, repair, and prophage induction functions to near normal levels (Eitner, G., Adler, B., Lanzov, V. A., and Hofemeister, J. (1982) Mol. Gen. Genet. 185, 481-486). In this paper, we report the purification to near homogeneity of the P. mirabilis recA protein (recApm). The polypeptide has a molecular weight similar to that of E. coli recA protein (recAec) and shows partial identity with recAec when reacted against antibodies specific for the E. coli recA protein. recApm catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP in the presence of single-stranded but not double-stranded DNA. We have compared the recombination-like activities of recApm with those of recAec and found them to be similar. In the presence of ATP and Mg2+, stoichiometric amounts of recApm promote the complete reciprocal exchange of strands between gapped circular and linear duplex DNA molecules. The enzyme also efficiently promotes the formation of D-loops from circular duplex DNA and homologous single-stranded fragments. However, although recApm and recAec share the above physical and functional similarities, they differ in their ability to interact with the E. coli single strand binding protein to catalyze the transfer of one DNA strand from a linear duplex to a single-stranded circle.     

Mu-1 directed inhibition of DNA breakdown in Escherichia coli, recA cells.

Summary The spontaneous DNA breakdown exhibited by recA strains, is reduced after heat induction of a thermoinducible Mu-1 prophage. This inhibition is dependent upon RNA synthesis, suggesting that Mu-1 directs synthesis of a recBC nuclease inhibitor, analogous to the product of the gam gene. The genetic evidence presented here shows that Mu-1 enables a red gam phage to grow on a recA host. The in vitro assay for ATP-dependent exonuclease activity reveals a complete inhibition of this activity 30 min after induction of the Mu-1 prophage.     

Left-handed Z-DNA binding by the recA protein of Escherichia coli

recA binding to left-handed Z-DNA was measured using nitrocellulose filter binding assays with four DNA polymers with defined nucleotide sequences and four recombinant plasmids. Two to 7-fold preferential binding of recA to Z-DNA polymers was observed. Left-handed Z-DNA polymer binding by recA required ATP or its nonhydrolyzable analog, ATP(gamma S), while ADP inhibited binding. Complex formation with both B- and Z-forms was influenced by polymer length; recA bound longer DNAs better. recA binding to recombinant plasmids containing supercoil-stabilized Z-DNA was essentially similar to that found for the control vector; thus, no preferential binding of recA to the Z-form was observed. Comparative experiments with the rec1 protein of Ustilago maydis and the Escherichia coli recA protein were performed. In our hands, recA and rec1 have a similar capacity for binding left-handed Z-DNA polymers and for binding recombinant plasmids containing B- and/or Z-regions. recA contains a left-handed Z-DNA-stimulated ATPase activity. This activity differs from the right-handed B-DNA-stimulated activity since it is less sensitive to increasing pH. The kinetics of ATP hydrolysis in B-DNA/Z-DNA mixing experiments showed that the turnover of the Z-DNA recA complex was slower than for B-DNA suggesting that left-handed Z-DNA is more stably bound by recA. Our results are consistent with the postulate that left-handed Z-DNA is involved in genetic recombination.     

The grpE protein of Escherichia coli. Purification and properties

The grpE gene of Escherichia coli was first identified because a mutation in it, grpE280, prevented bacteriophage lambda DNA replication in vivo. Subsequent work resulted in the identification of the grpE protein in two-dimensional gels and its classification as a heat shock protein. Here we report the purification of the grpE protein. We show that overproduction of grpE occurs in dnaK 103 bacteria which do not produce a functional Mr 72,000 dnaK protein. The grpE protein was purified from this strain primarily by its specific retention on a dnaK affinity column. The interaction between these two proteins, which is stable in the presence of 2 M KCl, allowed other proteins to be washed from this column. grpE was then eluted by ATP, which disrupts the interaction. During purification, grpE activity was monitored by its ability to complement an in vitro lambda dv DNA replication system dependent on the lambda O and lambda P proteins. The effect of ATP on the dnaK-grpE complex was also observed during sedimentation of the two proteins in glycerol gradients. Purified grpE protein has a Mr of approximately 23,000 under both denaturing and native conditions, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sedimentation, respectively. However, in the presence of dnaK under native conditions, grpE cosediments with dnaK. When ATP is added to the gradient, the complex is disrupted, and the two proteins sediment independently as monomers.     

Homologous pairing in genetic recombination. Purification and characterization of Escherichia coli recA protein

RecA protein, which is essential for genetic recombination in Escherichia coli, was extensively purified from a strain of E. coli which contained the recA gene cloned in a plasmid (Sancar, A., and Rupp, W. D. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 76, 3144-3148). Using the DNA-dependent ATPase activity of recA protein as an assay, we obtained about 60 mg of purified recA protein from 100 g of cells. Ten micrograms or 1 microgram of the purified protein exhibited only one detectable band with Mr approximately = 40,000 upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis. More than 99% of the ATPase activity of purified recA protein was dependent on single-stranded DNA. Purified recA protein had no detectable DNase, topoisomerase, or ligase activities. The enzyme was stable for a least a year when stored at 0-4 degrees C. The half-life of the ATPase activity of 25 microM recA protein was 37 min at 51 degrees C. Purified recA protein binds to single-stranded and double-stranded DNA, unwinds duplex DNA by a mechanism that is stimulated by single-stranded DNA or oligonucleotides, and pairs homologous single strands with duplex DNA.     

Interaction of the recA protein of Escherichia coli with single-stranded DNA

The interaction of recA protein with single-stranded (ss) phi X174 DNA has been examined by means of a nuclease protection assay. The stoichiometry of protection was found to be 1 recA monomer/approximately 4 nucleotides of ssDNA both in the absence of a nucleotide cofactor and in the presence of ATP. In contrast, in the presence of adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) the stoichiometry was 1 recA monomer/approximately 8 nucleotides. No protection was seen with ADP. In the absence of a nucleotide cofactor, the binding of recA protein to ssDNA was quite stable as judged by equilibration with a challenge DNA (t1/2 approximately 30 min). Addition of ATP stimulated this transfer (t1/2 approximately 3 min) as did ADP (t1/2 approximately 0.2 min). ATP gamma S greatly reduced the rate of equilibration (t1/2 greater than 12 h). Direct visualization of recA X ssDNA complexes at subsaturating recA protein concentrations using electron microscopy revealed individual ssDNA molecules partially covered with recA protein which were converted to highly condensed networks upon addition of ATP gamma S. These results have led to a general model for the interaction of recA protein with ssDNA.     

Overproduction of the Escherichia coli recA protein without stimulation of its proteolytic activity.

Plasmid pBEU14, which carries the Escherichia coli recA+ gene and which can be amplified by manipulation of growth temperature, was constructed. When pBEU14 deoxyribonucleic acid was amplified, a high rate of synthesis and accumulation of recA protein resulted. Amplification of the recA gene and protein did not cause induction of prophage lambda, indicating that the proteolytic activity of the recA protein was not stimulated.     

Ribosomal abnormality in recA mutants of Escherichia coli.

Summary The tif-1 mutation has been shown to affect protein synthesis in vitro by increasing translational ambiguity (Ephrati-Elizur, Luther-Davies and Hayes, 1976). It is demonstrated here that some recA mutations confer similar abnormality. By comparing suitable combinations of ribosomes and soluble proteins from recA ⁺ and recA cells the defect is shown to be associated with ribosomes. The recA mutation, which suppresses most phenotypic characteristics of the tif-1 mutation (Castellazzi, George and Buttin, 1972(b)) does not suppress the ribosomal abnormality. Sience the closely linked tif-1 and recA mutations lead to the expression of a common property they may be in the same gene.     

The formation of plectonemic joints by the recA protein of Escherichia coli. Requirement for ATP hydrolysis

Formation of D-loops during the exchange of strands between a circular single-stranded DNA and a completely homologous linear duplex proceeds optimally when the duplex DNA is added to the complex of recA protein and single-stranded DNA formed in the presence of single-stranded DNA-binding protein and ATP. D-loops are undetectable when 200 microM adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) is substituted for ATP. D-loops can be formed in the presence of adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) if recA protein is the last component added to the reaction. However, these D-loops, which depend upon homologous sequences, are unstable upon deproteinization and are formed to a more limited extent than the structures formed with ATP. This finding indicates that D-loops formed under these conditions may be largely nonintertwined paranemic structures rather than plectonemic structures in which two of the strands are interwoven. When adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) is added to an ongoing reaction containing ATP, formation of plectonemic structures and ATP hydrolysis is inhibited to an equivalent extent. We, therefore, conclude that ATP hydrolysis is required for the formation of plectonemic structures.     

The distribution of Escherichia coli recA protein bound to duplex DNA with single-stranded ends

A short single-stranded tail on one end of an otherwise duplex DNA molecule enables recA protein, in the presence of ATP and MgCl2, to form a complex with the DNA which extends into the duplex portion of the molecule. Nuclease protection studies at a concentration of MgCl2 which permits homologous pairing showed that cleavage by restriction endonucleases at sites throughout the duplex region was inhibited, whereas digestion by DNase I was not affected. These results indicate that recA protein binds to the duplex portion of tailed DNA allowing access by DNase I to a random sample of the many sites at which it cleaves, but providing limited protection of the relatively rare restriction sites. Electron microscopy revealed that the recA nucleoprotein complex with duplex DNA is indeed a segmented or interrupted filament that, with time, extends further from the single-stranded tail into the duplex region. recA protein binding extended into the duplex region more rapidly for duplexes with 5' tails than for those with 3' tails. These observations show that recA protein translocates from a single-stranded region into duplex DNA in the form of a segmented filament by a mechanism that is not strongly polarized.     

Exonuclease VIII of Escherichia coli. I. Purification and physical properties

Exonuclease VIII is an enzyme whose synthesis is induced as a result of sbcA mutations. The enzyme has been purified to near homogeneity from an Escherichia coli strain containing an sbcA mutation and mutations in the structural genes for exonuclease III, exonuclease V, and endonuclease I. The enzyme specifically degrades linear duplex DNA in a reaction which requires magnesium ions and is susceptible to inhibition by other divalent cations and by sulfhydryl-blocking reagents. Enzyme activity occurs over a broad pH range with peak activity at pH 8.5 in Tris buffer. The protein has a subunit Mr = 140,000, a sedimentation coefficient of 8.4 +/- 0.6, and a Stokes radius of 142 +/- 6 A, which is consistent with its active form being a multimer. Exonuclease VIII has a frictional coefficient of 2.6 which indicates that it has an asymmetric structure.     

Convenient construction of recA deletion derivatives of Escherichia coli.

Two Escherichia coli K-12 Hfr strains have been constructed which transfer a recA deletion, which is highly linked to a Tn10 insertion conferring tetracycline resistance, early during conjugation. These strains transfer the recA deletion in opposite directions with different origins of transfer, allowing for preservation of desirable recipient strain markers either clockwise or counterclockwise of recA.