The RecA-directed recombination pathway of natural transformation initiates at chromosomal replication forks in the pneumococcus.

ABSTRACT: Homologous recombination (HR) is a crucial mechanism of DNA strand exchange that promotes genetic repair and diversity in all kingdoms of life. Bacterial HR is driven by the universal recombinase RecA, assisted in the early steps by dedicated mediators that promote its polymerization on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). In bacteria, natural transformation is a prominent HR-driven mechanism of horizontal gene transfer specifically dependent on the conserved DprA recombination mediator. Transformation involves internalization of exogenous DNA as ssDNA, followed by its integration into the chromosome by RecA-directed HR. How DprA-mediated RecA filamentation on transforming ssDNA is spatiotemporally coordinated with other cellular processes remains unknown. Here, we tracked the localization of fluo

SUBMITTER: Johnston CHG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9974461 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature