Sequence-directed DNA translocation by purified FtsK.
DNA translocases are molecular motors that move rapidly along DNA using adenosine triphosphate as the source of energy. We directly observed the movement of purified FtsK, an Escherichia coli translocase, on single DNA molecules. The protein moves at 5 kilobases per second and against forces up to 60 piconewtons, and locally reverses direction without dissociation. On three natural substrates, independent of its initial binding position, FtsK efficiently translocates over long distances to the terminal region of the E. coli chromosome, as it does in vivo. Our results imply that FtsK is a bidirectional motor that changes direction in response to short, asymmetric directing DNA sequences.
Pease
Paul J
PJ
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3204, USA.
Levy
Oren
O
Cost
Gregory J
GJ
Gore
Jeff
J
Ptacin
Jerod L
JL
Sherratt
David
D
Bustamante
Carlos
C
Cozzarelli
Nicholas R
NR
D000465:Algorithms; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda; D001483:Base Sequence; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004279:DNA, Viral; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C096452:FtsK protein, E coli; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins