Single-molecule imaging of DNA pairing by RecA reveals a three-dimensional homology search.

ABSTRACT: DNA breaks can be repaired with high fidelity by homologous recombination. A ubiquitous protein that is essential for this DNA template-directed repair is RecA. After resection of broken DNA to produce single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), RecA assembles on this ssDNA into a filament with the unique capacity to search and find DNA sequences in double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) that are homologous to the ssDNA. This homology search is vital to recombinational DNA repair, and results in homologous pairing and exchange of DNA strands. Homologous pairing involves DNA sequence-specific target location by the RecA-ssDNA complex. Despite decades of study, the mechanism of this enig

SUBMITTER: Forget AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3288143 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature