Biomaterial Database

The replication terminator protein of the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis functions as a polar contrahelicase in gram-negative Escherichia coli. 1994

S Kaul, and B K Mohanty, and T Sahoo, and I Patel, and S A Khan, and D Bastia

Department of Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.

The replication terminator protein (RTP) of Bacillus subtilis is a dimer with a monomeric molecular mass of 14.5 kDa. The protein terminates DNA replication at a specific binding site. Although the protein has been crystallized and its crystal structure has been solved, the lack of an in vitro replication system in B. subtilis has been a serious impediment to the analysis of the mechanism of action of this protein. We have discovered that the protein is functional in the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli in vivo and in vitro. RTP blocked replication forks initiated from a ColE1 replication origin at the cognate DNA-binding site (BS3) in a polar mode. The protein did not block rolling circle replication initiated from the pT181 origin in cell extracts of Staphylococcus aureus. RTP antagonized the helicase activity of DnaB but not that of helicase II of E. coli. Thus, RTP functioned as a polar contrahelicase blocking a helicase that participates in symmetric DNA replication but it did not impede rolling circle replication nor the action of a helicase involved in DNA repair.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003086	Bacteriocin Plasmids	Plasmids encoding bacterial exotoxins (BACTERIOCINS).	Bacteriocin Factors,Col Factors,Colicin Factors,Colicin Plasmids,Bacteriocin Factor,Bacteriocin Plasmid,Col Factor,Colicin Factor,Colicin Plasmid,Factor, Bacteriocin,Factor, Col,Factor, Colicin,Factors, Bacteriocin,Factors, Col,Factors, Colicin,Plasmid, Bacteriocin,Plasmid, Colicin,Plasmids, Bacteriocin,Plasmids, Colicin
D004261	DNA Replication	The process by which a DNA molecule is duplicated.	Autonomous Replication,Replication, Autonomous,Autonomous Replications,DNA Replications,Replication, DNA,Replications, Autonomous,Replications, DNA
D004265	DNA Helicases	Proteins that catalyze the unwinding of duplex DNA during replication by binding cooperatively to single-stranded regions of DNA or to short regions of duplex DNA that are undergoing transient opening. In addition, DNA helicases are DNA-dependent ATPases that harness the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to translocate DNA strands.	ATP-Dependent DNA Helicase,DNA Helicase,DNA Unwinding Protein,DNA Unwinding Proteins,ATP-Dependent DNA Helicases,DNA Helicase A,DNA Helicase E,DNA Helicase II,DNA Helicase III,ATP Dependent DNA Helicase,ATP Dependent DNA Helicases,DNA Helicase, ATP-Dependent,DNA Helicases, ATP-Dependent,Helicase, ATP-Dependent DNA,Helicase, DNA,Helicases, ATP-Dependent DNA,Helicases, DNA,Protein, DNA Unwinding,Unwinding Protein, DNA,Unwinding Proteins, DNA
D004268	DNA-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases.	DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D000251	Adenosine Triphosphatases	A group of enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP. The hydrolysis reaction is usually coupled with another function such as transporting Ca(2+) across a membrane. These enzymes may be dependent on Ca(2+), Mg(2+), anions, H+, or DNA.	ATPases,Adenosinetriphosphatase,ATPase,ATPase, DNA-Dependent,Adenosine Triphosphatase,DNA-Dependent ATPase,DNA-Dependent Adenosinetriphosphatases,ATPase, DNA Dependent,Adenosinetriphosphatases, DNA-Dependent,DNA Dependent ATPase,DNA Dependent Adenosinetriphosphatases,Triphosphatase, Adenosine
D001412	Bacillus subtilis	A species of gram-positive bacteria that is a common soil and water saprophyte.	Natto Bacteria,Bacillus subtilis (natto),Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto,Bacillus subtilis var. natto
D001426	Bacterial Proteins	Proteins found in any species of bacterium.	Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D013211	Staphylococcus aureus	Potentially pathogenic bacteria found in nasal membranes, skin, hair follicles, and perineum of warm-blooded animals. They may cause a wide range of infections and intoxications.