title: Gamma delta transposase and integration host factor bind cooperatively at both ends of gamma delta.
abstract: gamma delta, a prokaryotic transposon, encodes a transposase that is essential for its transposition. We show here, by DNase I protection experiments, that purified gamma delta transposase binds at the transposon's inverted repeats (IRs). Immediately adjacent to each transposase binding site (and within gamma delta DNA) we have identified a binding site for an additional protein factor, the Escherichia coli-encoded integration host factor (IHF). The binding of transposase and IHF to these adjacent sites is mutually cooperative. An IHF binding-site was also found in the original target DNA, just outside one of the ends of gamma delta. The affinity of IHF for this flanking site is reduced by transposase. These results demonstrate that gamma delta transposase binds at the IRs of gamma delta, and suggest that IHF may be involved in forming a transposase-DNA complex and/or influencing the target site selection during the transposition of gamma delta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven 06510.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wiater
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Grindley
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D019895:Transposases
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases; D019895:Transposases