The role of Escherichia coli UvrB in nucleotide excision repair

The role of UvrB in determining the nucleotide dependence of Escherichia coli excision repair has been investigated. The mutation of lysine 45 in the ATPase motif of UvrB to alanine leads to an acute defect in ATP hydrolysis and failure to support incision of UV-damaged DNA. This ATP hydrolysis activity is not required for interaction of UvrB with UvrA in solution, or for formation of a damage-independent nucleoprotein complex in the presence of UvrA and nucleotide. This UvrB mutant fails, however, to support damage-specific nucleoprotein complex formation, and does not participate in a UvrA-UvrB-dependent helicase-like activity. We conclude from these results that mutation at lysine 45 in the ATPase motif of UvrB specifically inhibits a key step in nucleotide excision repair involving the UvrB ATPase-dependent translocation of nucleoprotein complexes from undamaged to damaged DNA sites.