title: Site-specific proteolysis of mini-F plasmid replication protein RepE destroys initiator function and generates an incompatibility substance.
abstract: Plasmid F replication is controlled by a plasmid-specified Rep protein with both autorepressor and initiator functions. The mechanism by which these two functions of a Rep protein are balanced to achieve stable replication is unknown; however, we speculated in prior work that Rep protein modification could be involved. We report here that naturally proteolyzed F RepE protein has been detected and characterized. The processed molecule lost the first 17 N-terminal aminoacyl residues and initiator function but acquired increased specific DNA-binding affinity in the presence of Escherichia coli chromosomal DNA. When supplied in trans, the altered protein acts as an incompatibility substance and eliminates maintenance of F'lac. These findings indicate that protein processing has the potential to contribute to the overall control of DNA replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic/Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Eckloff
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Aleff
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004261:DNA Replication; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009875:Operator Regions, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C074164:RepE protein, E coli; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases