Biomaterial Database

Role of DNA intercalators in the binding of RecA to double-stranded DNA. 1993

S K Kim, and B Nordén, and M Takahashi

Department of Physical Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.

RecA protein can bind to double-stranded DNA even without the cofactor ATP if a DNA intercalator such as ethidium bromide is present (Thresher R. J., and Griffith, J. D. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 5056-5060). We have studied the structure and association kinetics of the ethidium-promoted DNA-RecA complex in order to understand the role of this intercalator in the DNA-RecA association process, information that could provide insight about the binding mechanism of RecA to DNA. Both linear dichroism and fluorescence measurements show that ethidium remains intercalated between the DNA bases in the RecA-DNA complex in the absence of ATP. Even in the presence of the ATP analog, adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S), ethidium bromide shows some stimulating effect on the binding of RecA to DNA. The results indicate that the destacking of DNA bases is an important limiting step in the association of RecA to DNA (DNA is stretched in the ATP gamma S-RecA-DNA complex). In the presence of ATP gamma S, however, ethidium was extruded from DNA upon the binding of RecA. This result suggests that the binding mechanism of RecA to DNA may involve intercalation of one or more amino acid residues of RecA between the DNA bases. Such an intercalation would also be consistent with the stretching of DNA and the observation that the DNA bases remain in a (virtually stacked) perpendicular geometry (Takahashi, M., Kubista, M., and Nordén, B. (1991) Biochemie (Paris) 73, 219-226; Nordén, B., Elvingson, C., Kubista, M., Sjöberg, B., Ryberg, H., Ryberg, M., Mortensen, K., and Takahashi, M. (1992b) J. Mol. Biol. 226, 1175-1191).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007364	Intercalating Agents	Agents that are capable of inserting themselves between the successive bases in DNA, thus kinking, uncoiling or otherwise deforming it and therefore preventing its proper functioning. They are used in the study of DNA.	Intercalating Agent,Intercalating Ligand,Intercalative Compound,Intercalator,Intercalators,Intercalating Ligands,Intercalative Compounds,Agent, Intercalating,Agents, Intercalating,Compound, Intercalative,Compounds, Intercalative,Ligand, Intercalating,Ligands, Intercalating
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D011938	Rec A Recombinases	A family of recombinases initially identified in BACTERIA. They catalyze the ATP-driven exchange of DNA strands in GENETIC RECOMBINATION. The product of the reaction consists of a duplex and a displaced single-stranded loop, which has the shape of the letter D and is therefore called a D-loop structure.	Rec A Protein,RecA Protein,Recombinases, Rec A
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds 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
D004996	Ethidium	A trypanocidal agent and possible antiviral agent that is widely used in experimental cell biology and biochemistry. Ethidium has several experimentally useful properties including binding to nucleic acids, noncompetitive inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and fluorescence among others. It is most commonly used as the bromide.	Ethidium Bromide,Homidium Bromide,Novidium,Bromide, Ethidium,Bromide, Homidium
D000255	Adenosine Triphosphate	An adenine nucleotide containing three phosphate groups esterified to the sugar moiety. In addition to its crucial roles in metabolism adenosine triphosphate is a neurotransmitter.	ATP,Adenosine Triphosphate, Calcium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Chromium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Magnesium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Manganese Salt,Adenylpyrophosphate,CaATP,CrATP,Manganese Adenosine Triphosphate,MgATP,MnATP,ATP-MgCl2,Adenosine Triphosphate, Chromium Ammonium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Magnesium Chloride,Atriphos,Chromium Adenosine Triphosphate,Cr(H2O)4 ATP,Magnesium Adenosine Triphosphate,Striadyne,ATP MgCl2
D013050	Spectrometry, Fluorescence	Measurement of the intensity and quality of fluorescence.	Fluorescence Spectrophotometry,Fluorescence Spectroscopy,Spectrofluorometry,Fluorescence Spectrometry,Spectrophotometry, Fluorescence,Spectroscopy, Fluorescence