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Journal of Bacteriology, August 2006, p. 5812-5820, Vol. 188, No. 16
0021-9193/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00358-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Hyperrecombinogenic RecA Protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Acting in Escherichia coli

Dmitry M. Baitin,1 Irina V. Bakhlanova,1 Yury V. Kil,1,2 Michael M. Cox,3 and Vladislav A. Lanzov1,2*

Division of Molecular and Radiation Biophysics, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gatchina, St. Petersburg 188300, Russia,1 Research-Education Center Biophysics, St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 194021, Russia,2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-15443

Received 13 March 2006/ Accepted 9 June 2006

In Escherichia coli, a relatively low frequency of recombination exchanges (FRE) is predetermined by the activity of RecA protein, as modulated by a complex regulatory program involving both autoregulation and other factors. The RecA protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (RecAPa) exhibits a more robust recombinase activity than its E. coli counterpart (RecAEc). Low-level expression of RecAPa in E. coli cells results in hyperrecombination (an increase of FRE) even in the presence of RecAEc. This genetic effect is supported by the biochemical finding that the RecAPa protein is more efficient in filament formation than RecA K72R, a mutant protein with RecAEc-like DNA-binding ability. Expression of RecAPa also partially suppresses the effects of recF, recO, and recR mutations. In concordance with the latter, RecAPa filaments initiate recombination equally from both the 5' and 3' ends. Besides, these filaments exhibit more resistance to disassembly from the 5' ends that makes the ends potentially appropriate for initiation of strand exchange. These comparative genetic and biochemical characteristics reveal that multiple levels are used by bacteria for a programmed regulation of their recombination activities.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of Molecular and Radiation Biophysics, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gatchina/St. Petersburg 188300, Russia. Phone: 7-812-2973141. Fax: 7-812-2973141. E-mail: val{at}bpc.spbstu.ru.

Journal of Bacteriology, August 2006, p. 5812-5820, Vol. 188, No. 16
0021-9193/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00358-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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