title: Purification and characterization of the RecA protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a naturally transformable bacterium that is able to take up single-stranded DNA from its environment and incorporate the exogenous DNA into its genome. This process, known as transformational recombination, is dependent upon the presence of the recA gene, which encodes an ATP-dependent DNA recombinase whose sequence is 60% identical to that of the RecA protein from Escherichia coli. We have developed an overexpression system for the S. pneumoniae RecA protein and have purified the protein to greater than 99% homogeneity. The S. pneumoniae RecA protein has ssDNA-dependent NTP hydrolysis and NTP-dependent DNA strand exchange activities that are generally similar to those of the E. coli RecA protein. In addition to its role as a DNA recombinase, the E. coli RecA protein also acts as a coprotease, which facilitates the cleavage and inactivation of the E. coli LexA repressor during the SOS response to DNA damage. Interestingly, the S. pneumoniae RecA protein is also able to promote the cleavage of the E. coli LexA protein, even though a protein analogous to the LexA protein does not appear to be present in S. pneumoniae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D003838:Deoxyadenine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006868:Hydrolysis; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D000099160:LexA Repressor Protein
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D003838:Deoxyadenine Nucleotides; D011938:Rec A Recombinases; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D000099160:LexA Repressor Protein; C026600:2'-deoxyadenosine triphosphate