The intrinsic ATPase activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DnaA promotes rapid oligomerization of DnaA on oriC.
Oligomerization of the initiator protein, DnaA, on the origin of replication (oriC) is crucial for initiation of DNA replication. Studies in Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) have revealed that binding of DnaA to ATP, but not hydrolysis of ATP, is sufficient to promote DnaA binding, oligomerization and DNA strand separation. To begin understanding the initial events involved in the initiation of DNA replication in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Gram-positive), we investigated interactions of M. tuberculosis DnaA (DnaA(TB)) with oriC using surface plasmon resonance in the presence of ATP and ADP. We provide evidence that, in contrast to what is observed in E. coli, ATPase activity of DnaA(TB) promoted rapid oligomerization on oriC. In support, we found that a recombinant mutant DnaA(TB) proficient in binding to ATP, but deficient in ATPase activity, did not oligomerize as rapidly. The corresponding mutation in the dnaA gene of M. tuberculosis resulted in non-viability, presumably due to a defect in oriC-DnaA interactions. Dimethy sulphate (DMS) footprinting experiments revealed that DnaA(TB) bound to DnaA boxes similarly with ATP or ADP. DnaA(TB) binding to individual DnaA boxes revealed that rapid oligomerization on oriC is triggered only after the initial interaction of DnaA with individual DnaA boxes. We propose that ATPase activity enables the DnaA protomers on oriC to rapidly form oligomeric complexes competent for replication initiation.
Biomedical Research, The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, 75708-3154, USA. murty.madiraju@uthct.edu
Murty V V S
MV
Madiraju
Meredith
M
Moomey
Pierre F
PF
Neuenschwander
Syed
S
Muniruzzaman
Kohji
K
Yamamoto
Julia E
JE
Grimwade
Malini
M
Rajagopalan
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018741:Replication Origin / Q000235:genetics*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C066312:DnaA protein, Bacteria; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases