title: The recA gene from the thermophile Thermus aquaticus YT-1: cloning, expression, and characterization.
abstract: We have cloned, expressed, and purified the RecA analog from the thermophilic eubacterium Thermus aquaticus YT-1. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence indicates that the T. aquaticus RecA is structurally similar to the Escherichia coli RecA and suggests that RecA-like function has been conserved in thermophilic organisms. Preliminary biochemical analysis indicates that the protein has an ATP-dependent single-stranded DNA binding activity and can pair and carry out strand exchange to form a heteroduplex DNA under reaction conditions previously described for E. coli RecA, but at 55 to 65 degrees C. Further characterization of a thermophilically derived RecA protein should yield important information concerning DNA-protein interactions at high temperatures. In addition, a thermostable RecA protein may have some general applicability in stabilizing DNA-protein interactions in reactions which occur at high temperatures by increasing the specificity (stringency) of annealing reactions.
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Biochemistry Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Angov
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Camerini-Otero
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013824:Thermus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D017931:DNA Primers; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011938:Rec A Recombinases