Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...

Crossing Over

Crossing Over

Crossing over is the exchange of genetic information between homologous chromosomes during prophase I of meiosis I. Genetic recombination gives rise to allelic diversity in the newly formed daughter cells. In humans, crossing over produces genetically distinct haploid egg and sperm cells that undergo fertilization to produce unique offspring. Before cell division starts, the germ cell’s chromosome(s) undergo duplication in the S phase of the cell cycle. As the cells enter prophase I, duplicated...

Homologous Recombination

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...

Homologous Recombination

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...

Gene Conversion

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators

Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Direct visualisation of post-replication gap formation at the bacterial RRS.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Spatiotemporal characterization of single-stranded DNA intermediates after UV irradiation: II. Rapid growth and effects of recA and recJ.

PLoS genetics·2026

Same author

Spatiotemporal characterization of single-stranded DNA Intermediates after UV Irradiation: I: Post-replication gaps formed during slow growth.

PLoS genetics·2026

Same author

Molecular insights into the prototypical single-stranded DNA-binding protein from <i>E. coli</i>.

Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology·2024

Same author

Features of the DNA Escherichia coli RecN interaction revealed by fluorescence microscopy and single-molecule methods.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications·2024

Same author

Controlling genome topology with sequences that trigger post-replication gap formation during replisome passage: the E. coli RRS elements.

Nucleic acids research·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Preparation of the Mgm101 Recombination Protein by MBP-based Tagging Strategy

Preparation of the Mgm101 Recombination Protein by MBP-based Tagging Strategy

Published on: June 25, 2013

Modulating cellular recombination potential through alterations in RecA structure and regulation.

Irina V Bakhlanova¹, Alexandra V Dudkina, Dima M Baitin

¹Russian Academy of Sciences, Gatchina/St. Petersburg, Russia.

Molecular Microbiology

|December 15, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The Escherichia coli RecA protein has significant, untapped recombination potential. Specific mutations dramatically enhance its recombination activity, revealing a broad functional range beyond cellular optimization.

More Related Videos

Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA1

Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA1

Published on: February 17, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Preparation of the Mgm101 Recombination Protein by MBP-based Tagging Strategy

Preparation of the Mgm101 Recombination Protein by MBP-based Tagging Strategy

Published on: June 25, 2013

Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA1

Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA1

Published on: February 17, 2011

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Biochemistry

Background:

The wild-type Escherichia coli RecA protein functions as a recombinase but possesses unrealized recombination potential.
Cellular requirements likely suppress much of the RecA protein's recombination capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantitatively explore factors influencing recombination frequency during bacterial conjugation.
To investigate the impact of regulatory proteins and RecA protein mutations on recombination.
To understand the inherent recombination capabilities of the RecA protein.

Main Methods:

Development and application of a quantitative assay to measure recombination frequencies during conjugation.
Analysis of the effects of regulatory proteins (e.g., PsiB, RecX) on RecA function.
Characterization of point mutations within the recA gene, including the D112R variant.

Main Results:

Regulatory proteins can modulate RecA-mediated recombination frequencies by up to sixfold.
RecA C-terminus autoinhibition affects recombination frequency by up to fourfold.
Specific recA gene point mutations, such as D112R, can increase recombination frequencies over 50-fold.
The D112R mutation enhances RecA loading onto SSB-coated ssDNA and DNA pairing activity.

Conclusions:

The Escherichia coli RecA protein exhibits a broad, structurally suppressed functional range for recombination.
RecA recombination function comprises two key components: filament formation and inherent DNA pairing activity.
RecA variants demonstrate significant potential for enhanced recombination beyond native cellular optimization.