title: Conjugative DNA metabolism in Gram-negative bacteria.
abstract: Bacterial conjugation in Gram-negative bacteria is triggered by a signal that connects the relaxosome to the coupling protein (T4CP) and transferosome, a type IV secretion system. The relaxosome, a nucleoprotein complex formed at the origin of transfer (oriT), consists of a relaxase, directed to the nic site by auxiliary DNA-binding proteins. The nic site undergoes cleavage and religation during vegetative growth, but this is converted to a cleavage and unwinding reaction when a competent mating pair has formed. Here, we review the biochemistry of relaxosomes and ponder some of the remaining questions about the nature of the signal that begins the process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de la Cruz
authors.forename: Laura S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Ellen L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Zechner
mesh_terms: D003227:Conjugation, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial