Work

MobA, the DNA Strand Transferase of Plasmid R1162

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: MobA is a DNA strand transferase encoded by the plasmid R1162 and required for plasmid DNA processing during conjugal transfer. The smallest active fragment was identified using phage display and partial enzymatic digestion of the purified protein. This fragment, consisting of approximately the first 184 amino acids, is able to bind and cleave its normal DNA substrate, the origin of transfer (oriT). Smaller fragments having one of these activities were not obtained. An active intermediate consisting of MobA linked to DNA was isolated and used to show that a single molecule of MobA is sufficient to carry out all of the DNA processing steps during transfer. These results, along with those obtained earlier, point to a single large, active site in MobA that makes several different contacts along the oriT DNA strand.

Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry

DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110759200

Authors: Eric C. Becker, Richard J. Meyer

Institution: The University of Texas at Austin

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,430

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences