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Decatenation of DNA circles by FtsK-dependent Xer site-specific recombination
Stephen C Y Ip1, Migena Bregu, François-Xavier Barre
1University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
Abstract:
DNA replication results in interlinked (catenated) sister duplex molecules as a consequence of the intertwined helices that comprise duplex DNA. DNA topoisomerases play key roles in decatenation. We demonstrate a novel, efficient and directional decatenation process in vitro, which uses the combination of the Escherichia coli XerCD site-specific recombination system and a protein, FtsK, which facilitates simple synapsis of dif recombination sites during its translocation along DNA. We propose that the FtsK-XerCD recombination machinery, which converts chromosomal dimers to monomers, may also function in vivo in removing the final catenation links remaining upon completion of DNA replication.
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