4dc9

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Archaeal RadA proteins are close homologues of eukaryal Rad51 and DMC1 proteins and are remote homologues of bacterial RecA proteins. For the repair of double-stranded breaks in DNA, these recombinases promote a pivotal strand-exchange reaction between homologous single-stranded and double-stranded DNA substrates. This DNA-repair function also plays a key role in the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and in the resistance of bacterial cells to antibiotics. A hexameric form of a truncated Methanococcus voltae RadA protein devoid of its small N-terminal domain has been crystallized. The RadA hexamers further assemble into two-ringed assemblies. Similar assemblies can be observed in the crystals of Pyrococcus furiosus RadA and Homo sapiens DMC1. In all of these two-ringed assemblies the DNA-interacting L1 region of each protomer points inward towards the centre, creating a highly positively charged locus. The electrostatic characteristics of the central channels can be utilized in the design of novel recombinase inhibitors.

Structure of a hexameric form of RadA recombinase from Methanococcus voltae.,Du L, Luo Y Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2012 May 1;68(Pt 5):511-6. doi:, 10.1107/S1744309112010226. Epub 2012 Apr 20. PMID:22691778^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.