Work

Formation of base triplets by non-Watson-Crick bonds mediates homologous recognition in RecA recombination filaments.

Year: 1994

Type: article

Abstract: Whereas complementary strands of DNA recognize one another by forming Watson-Crick base pairs, the way in which RecA protein enables a single strand to recognize homology in duplex DNA has remained unknown. Recent experiments, however, have shown that a single plus strand in the RecA filament can recognize an identical plus strand via bonds that, by definition, are non-Watson-Crick. In experiments reported here, base substitutions had the same qualitative and quantitative effects on the pairing of two identical strands in the RecA filament as on the recognition of duplex DNA by a third strand, indicating that similar non-Watson-Crick interactions govern both reactions.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.91.13.6161

Authors: B J Rao, C M Radding

Institution: Yale University

Language: English

Topic: DNA Repair Mechanisms

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: G1260188229, RECOMBINATION IN VITRO: ENZYMOLOGY AND INTERMEDIATES