title: Unraveling the early steps of prokaryotic replication.
abstract: In prokaryotes, many of the physical mechanisms governing the process of initiating DNA replication are now emerging. For example, certain organizational features of origins, such as the use of repetitive sequence elements for initiator-binding sites, are found throughout bacteria and many archaea. Common themes in the regulation of initiation, including origin sequestration by trans-acting factors, titration of initiator levels by cis- and trans-acting factors, and control of initiator function by ATP, also exist. Recent studies have shown that prokaryotic initiator structures are both modular and conserved, and have begun to reveal how these proteins specifically recognize target DNA sequences. These properties probably control initiator self-assembly and DNA remodeling to properly fire replication origins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, 227 Hildebrand Hall #3206, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D018741:Replication Origin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004247:DNA; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases