Genetically engineered synthetic miniaturized versions of Plasmodium falciparum UvrD helicase are catalytically active.

ABSTRACT: Helicases catalyze unwinding of double stranded nucleic acids in an energy-dependent manner. We have reported characterization of UvrD helicase from Plasmodium falciparum. We reported that the N-terminal and C-terminal fragments of PfUvrD contain characteristic ATPase and DNA helicase activities. Here we report the generation and characterization of a genetically engineered version of PfUvrD and its derivatives. This synthetic UvrD (sUD) contains all the conserved domains of PfUvrD but only the intervening linker sequences are shortened. sUD (∼ 45 kDa) and one of its smallest derivative sUDN1N2 (∼ 22 kDa) contain ATPase and DNA helicase activities. sUD and sUDN1N2 can utilize hydrolysis of all the NTPs and dNTPs, can also unwind blunt end duplex DNA substrate and unwind DNA duplex in 3 to

SUBMITTER: Ansari A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3946578 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature