Biochemical Characterization of a Mycobacteriophage Derived DnaB Ortholog Reveals New Insight into the Evolutionary Origin of DnaB Helicases.

ABSTRACT: The bacterial replicative helicases known as DnaB are considered to be members of the RecA superfamily. All members of this superfamily, including DnaB, have a conserved C- terminal domain, known as the RecA core. We unearthed a series of mycobacteriophage encoded proteins in which the RecA core domain alone was present. These proteins were phylogenetically related to each other and formed a distinct clade within the RecA superfamily. A mycobacteriophage encoded protein, Wildcat Gp80 that roots deep in the DnaB family, was found to possess a core domain having significant sequence homology (Expect value < 10-5) with members of this novel cluster. This indicated that Wildcat Gp80, and by extrapolation, other members of the DnaB helicase family, may have evolved from a single domain RecA cor

SUBMITTER: Bhowmik P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4523182 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature