title: Essential functions of the 32 kDa subunit of yeast replication protein A.
abstract: Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric (70, 32 and 14 kDa subunits), single-stranded DNA-binding protein required for cellular DNA metabolism. All subunits of RPA are essential for life, but the specific functions of the 32 and 14 kDa subunits remains unknown. The 32 kDa subunit (RPA2) has multiple domains, but only the central DNA-binding domain (called DBD D) is essential for life in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To define the essential function(s) of RPA2 in S. cerevisiae, a series of site-directed mutant forms of DBD D were generated. These mutant constructs were then characterized in vitro and in vivo. The mutations had minimal effects on the overall structure and activity of the RPA complex. However, several mutants were shown to disrupt crosslinking of RPA2 to DNA and to dramatically lower the DNA-binding affinity of a RPA2-containing subcomplex. When introduced into S. cerevisiae, all DBD D mutants were viable and supported normal growth rates and DNA replication. These findings indicate that RPA2-DNA interactions are not essential for viability and growth in S. cerevisiae. We conclude that DNA-binding activity of RPA2 is dispensable in yeast and that the essential function of DBD D is intra- and/or inter-protein interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242-2600, USA.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Krasikova
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pestryakov
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lavrik
authors.forename: Marc S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wold
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004261:DNA Replication; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051716:Replication Protein A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; C541026:RPA2 protein, S cerevisiae; D051716:Replication Protein A; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins