J. Marszalek et Jm. Kaguni, DNAA PROTEIN DIRECTS THE BINDING OF DNAB PROTEIN IN INITIATION OF DNA-REPLICATION IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI, The Journal of biological chemistry, 269(7), 1994, pp. 4883-4890
DnaA protein of Escherichia coli acts in the initiation of chromosomal
replication to bind to sequences in the chromosomal origin. On bindin
g, it promotes the assembly of other replication proteins that serve t
o prime DNA replication and assemble the replication apparatus for bid
irectional replication fork movement. A collection of monoclonal antib
odies to DnaA protein have been produced, one of which is described he
re, that interferes with the action of DnaA protein in promoting forma
tion of a prepriming complex. On the analysis of this process, the ant
ibody appears to interfere with the physical interaction between DnaA
and DnaB protein in the DnaB.DnaC complex. Cross-linking studies confi
rm that DnaA and DnaB proteins interact directly These results provide
the first direct evidence that one of the roles of DnaA protein is to
act as a site for binding of DnaB protein to the DNA and perhaps orie
nts DnaB helicase to account for the directionality of replication for
k movement.