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Cory MB, Li A, Hurley CM, Hostetler ZM, Venkatesh Y, Jones CM, Petersson EJ, Kohli RM. Engineered RecA Constructs Reveal the Minimal SOS Activation Complex. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2884-2896. [PMID: 36473084 PMCID: PMC9982712 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The SOS response is a bacterial DNA damage response pathway that has been heavily implicated in bacteria's ability to evolve resistance to antibiotics. Activation of the SOS response is dependent on the interaction between two bacterial proteins, RecA and LexA. RecA acts as a DNA damage sensor by forming lengthy oligomeric filaments (RecA*) along single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in an ATP-dependent manner. RecA* can then bind to LexA, the repressor of SOS response genes, triggering LexA degradation and leading to induction of the SOS response. Formation of the RecA*-LexA complex therefore serves as the key "SOS activation signal." Given the challenges associated with studying a complex involving multiple macromolecular interactions, the essential constituents of RecA* that allow LexA cleavage are not well defined. Here, we leverage head-to-tail linked and end-capped RecA constructs as tools to define the minimal RecA* filament that can engage LexA. In contrast to previously postulated models, we found that as few as three linked RecA units are capable of ssDNA binding, LexA binding, and LexA cleavage. We further demonstrate that RecA oligomerization alone is insufficient for LexA cleavage, with an obligate requirement for ATP and ssDNA binding to form a competent SOS activation signal with the linked constructs. Our minimal system for RecA* highlights the limitations of prior models for the SOS activation signal and offers a novel tool that can inform efforts to slow acquired antibiotic resistance by targeting the SOS response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Cory
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Allen Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Christina M. Hurley
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Zachary M. Hostetler
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Yarra Venkatesh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Chloe M. Jones
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - E. James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Rahul M. Kohli
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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Shibata T, Iwasaki W, Hirota K. The intrinsic ability of double-stranded DNA to carry out D-loop and R-loop formation. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:3350-3360. [PMID: 33294131 PMCID: PMC7677664 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Double-stranded (ds)DNA, not dsRNA, has an ability to form a homologous complex with single-stranded (ss)DNA or ssRNA of homologous sequence. D-loops and homologous triplexes are homologous complexes formed with ssDNA by RecA/Rad51-family homologous-pairing proteins, and are a key intermediate of homologous (genetic/DNA) recombination. R-loop formation independent of transcription (R-loop formation in trans) was recently found to play roles in gene regulation and development of mammals and plants. In addition, the crRNA-Cas effector complex in CRISPR-Cas systems also relies on R-loop formation to recognize specific target. In homologous complex formation, ssDNA/ssRNA finds a homologous sequence in dsDNA by Watson-Crick base-pairing. crRNA-Cas effector complexes appear to actively melt dsDNA to make its bases available for annealing to crRNA. On the other hand, in D-loop formation and homologous-triplex formation, it is likely that dsDNA recognizes the homologous sequence before the melting of its double helix by using its intrinsic molecular function depending on CH2 at the 2'-position of the deoxyribose, and that the major role of RecA is the extension of ssDNA and the holding dsDNA at a position suitable for homology search. This intrinsic dsDNA function would also play a role in R-loop formation. The dependency of homologous-complex formation on 2'-CH2 of the deoxyribose would explain the absence of homologous complex formation by dsRNA, and dsDNA as sole genome molecule in all cellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehiko Shibata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wakana Iwasaki
- Laboratory for Translation Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kouji Hirota
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
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