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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

In vitro Assembly of Semi-artificial Molecular Machine and its Use for Detection of DNA Damage
08:56

In vitro Assembly of Semi-artificial Molecular Machine and its Use for Detection of DNA Damage

Published on: January 11, 2012

VirE2: a unique ssDNA-compacting molecular machine.

Wilfried Grange1, Myriam Duckely, Sudhir Husale

  • 1Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Plos Biology
|February 29, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

VirE2 protein acts as a molecular machine, actively pulling single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) into host cells without external energy. This binding protein facilitates efficient ssDNA translocation, a mechanism potentially common in bacterial conjugation and DNA uptake.

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Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

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Published on: November 30, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) translocation is crucial for bacterial conjugation and Agrobacterium pathogenesis.
  • Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) mediate this process, exporting proteins like relaxases and VirE2.
  • VirE2 significantly enhances ssDNA transfer efficiency in Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanism of ssDNA translocation mediated by VirE2.
  • To understand the role of VirE2 in facilitating ssDNA import into host cells.
  • To explore the potential for VirE2-mediated ssDNA transfer as a general import mechanism.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized single-molecule techniques to observe VirE2-ssDNA interactions.
  • Combined biochemical and cell biology data.
  • Analyzed the force-generating capabilities of VirE2.

Main Results:

  • VirE2 binds cooperatively to ssDNA, forming a compact helical structure.
  • VirE2 functions as a molecular machine, actively pulling ssDNA against significant loads (50 pN).
  • No external energy source is required for VirE2-mediated ssDNA pulling.

Conclusions:

  • VirE2 binding to ssDNA enables efficient import and active pulling into the host cell.
  • ssDNA translocation relies on ssDNA binding proteins in the recipient cell for compaction.
  • This mechanism may represent a general ssDNA import process in bacteria and other DNA uptake systems.