FtsK translocation on DNA stops at XerCD-dif.
Escherichia coli FtsK is a powerful, fast, double-stranded DNA translocase, which can strip proteins from DNA. FtsK acts in the late stages of chromosome segregation by facilitating sister chromosome unlinking at the division septum. KOPS-guided DNA translocation directs FtsK towards dif, located within the replication terminus region, ter, where FtsK activates XerCD site-specific recombination. Here we show that FtsK translocation stops specifically at XerCD-dif, thereby preventing removal of XerCD from dif and allowing activation of chromosome unlinking by recombination. Stoppage of translocation at XerCD-dif is accompanied by a reduction in FtsK ATPase and is not associated with FtsK dissociation from DNA. Specific stoppage at recombinase-DNA complexes does not require the FtsKgamma regulatory subdomain, which interacts with XerD, and is not dependent on either recombinase-mediated DNA cleavage activity, or the formation of synaptic complexes.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
James E
JE
Graham
Viknesh
V
Sivanathan
David J
DJ
Sherratt
Lidia K
LK
Arciszewska
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D053837:DNA Cleavage; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C096452:FtsK protein, E coli; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C473360:XerC protein, E coli; D004247:DNA; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; C473361:XerD protein, E coli; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases