Uracil-DNA glycosylase activities in hyperthermophilic micro-organisms |
| |
Authors: | Athanasios Koulis Don A Cowan Laurence H Pearl Renos Savva |
| |
Institution: | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK |
| |
Abstract: | Abstract Hyperthermophiles exist in conditions which present an increased threat to the informational integrity of their DNA, particularly by hydrolytic damage. As in mesophilic organisms, specific activities must exist to restore and protect this template function of DNA. In this study we have demonstrated the presence of thermally stable uracil-DNA glycosylase activities in seven hyperthermophiles; one bacterial: Thermotoga maritima , and six archaeal: Sulfolobus solfataricus, Sulfolobus shibatae, Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, Thermococcus litoralis, Pyrococcus furiosus and Pyrobaculum islandicum . Uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor protein of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage PBS1 shows activity against all of these, suggesting a highly conserved tertiary structure between hyperthermophilic and mesophilic uracil-DNA glycosylases. |
| |
Keywords: | Hyperthermophile DNA repair Uracil-DNA glycosylase Bacteriophage PBS1 Uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor |
|
|