Structural basis of Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein stimulation of exonuclease I.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding proteins (SSBs) play essential protective roles in genome biology by shielding ssDNA from damage and preventing spurious DNA annealing. Far from being inert, ssDNA/SSB complexes are dynamic DNA processing centers where many different enzymes gain access to genomic substrates by exploiting direct interactions with SSB. In all cases examined to date, the C terminus of SSB (SSB-Ct) forms the docking site for heterologous proteins. We describe the 2.7-A-resolution crystal structure of a complex formed between a peptide comprising the SSB-Ct element and exonuclease I (ExoI) from Escherichia coli. Two SSB-Ct peptides bind to adjacent sites on ExoI. Mutagenesis studies indicate that one of these sites is important for association with the SSB-Ct pepti

SUBMITTER: Lu D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2453719 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature