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Published on: February 13, 2019
RecA protein filaments disassemble in the 5' to 3' direction on single-stranded DNA
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1544, USA.
Abstract:
RecA protein forms filaments on both single- and double-stranded DNA. Several studies confirm that filament extension occurs in the 5' to 3' direction on single-stranded DNA. These filaments also disassemble in an end-dependent fashion, and several indirect observations suggest that the disassembly occurs on the end opposite to that at which assembly occurs. By labeling the 5' end of single-stranded DNA with a segment of duplex DNA, we demonstrate unambiguously that RecA filaments disassemble uniquely in the 5' to 3' direction.
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