Activation of recA protein: the pitch of the helical complex with single-stranded DNA

The complex of recA protein with single-stranded DNA in the presence of ATP is the active species in the three enzymatic activities of recA: the initiation of strand exchange, the hydrolysis of ATP and the cleavage of repressors. Here we find by cryo-electron microscopy of unstained and unfixed samples that the helical structure of the protein coat in this complex differs slightly but significantly from the structure in the complex with double-stranded DNA. We discuss how the larger pitch of the complex with single strands (100 +/- 2 A compared with 95 +/- 2 A with double strands) could contribute to its higher enzymatic activity.