Project description:Quinolones trap the covalent gyrase-DNA complex in Escherichia coli, leading to cell death. Processing activities for trapped covalent complex have not been characterized. A mutant strain lacking SbcCD nuclease activity was examined for both accumulation of gyrase-DNA complex and viability after quinolone treatment. Higher complex levels were found in ΔsbcCD cells than in wild-type cells after incubation with nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin. However, SbcCD activity protected cells against the bactericidal action of nalidixic acid but not ciprofloxacin.
Project description:Bacterial DNA gyrase introduces negative supercoils into chromosomal DNA and relaxes positive supercoils introduced by replication and transiently by transcription. Removal of these positive supercoils is essential for replication fork progression and for the overall unlinking of the two duplex DNA strands, as well as for ongoing transcription. To address how gyrase copes with these topological challenges, we used high-speed single-molecule fluorescence imaging in live Escherichia coli cells. We demonstrate that at least 300 gyrase molecules are stably bound to the chromosome at any time, with ∼12 enzymes enriched near each replication fork. Trapping of reaction intermediates with ciprofloxacin revealed complexes undergoing catalysis. Dwell times of ∼2 s were observed for the dispersed gyrase molecules, which we propose maintain steady-state levels of negative supercoiling of the chromosome. In contrast, the dwell time of replisome-proximal molecules was ∼8 s, consistent with these catalyzing processive positive supercoil relaxation in front of the progressing replisome.
Project description:We assign a function for a small protein, YacG encoded by Escherichia coli genome. The NMR structure of YacG shows the presence of an unusual zinc-finger motif. YacG was predicted to be a part of DNA gyrase interactome based on protein-protein interaction network. We demonstrate that YacG inhibits all the catalytic activities of DNA gyrase by preventing its DNA binding. Topoisomerase I and IV activities remain unaltered in the presence of YacG and its action appears to be restricted only to DNA gyrase. The inhibition of the enzyme activity is due to the binding of YacG to carboxyl terminal domain of GyrB. Overexpression of YacG results in growth inhibition and alteration in DNA topology due to uncontrolled inhibition of gyrase.
Project description:DNA gyrase is a molecular motor that harnesses the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to introduce negative supercoils into DNA. A critical step in this reaction is the formation of a chiral DNA wrap. Here we observe gyrase structural dynamics using a single-molecule assay in which gyrase drives the processive, stepwise rotation of a nanosphere attached to the side of a stretched DNA molecule. Analysis of rotational pauses and measurements of DNA contraction reveal multiple ATP-modulated structural transitions. DNA wrapping is coordinated with the ATPase cycle and proceeds by way of an unanticipated structural intermediate that dominates the kinetics of supercoiling. Our findings reveal a conformational landscape of loosely coupled transitions funneling the motor toward productive energy transduction, a feature that may be common to the reaction cycles of other DNA and protein remodeling machines.