Role of SSB protein in RecA promoted branch migration reactions

The RecA protein of Escherichia coli is essential for genetic recombination and postreplicational repair of DNA. In vitro, RecA protein promotes strand transfer reactions between full length linear duplex and single stranded circular DNA of phi X174 to form heteroduplex replicative form II-like structures (Cox and Lehman 1981 a0. In a similar way, it transfers one strand of a short duplex restriction fragment to a single stranded circle. Both reactions require RecA and single strand binding protein (SSB) in amounts sufficient to saturate the ssDNA. The rate and extent of strand transfer is enhanced considerably when SSB is added after preincubation of the DNA with RecA protein. In contrast, SSB protein is not required for RecA protein catalysed reciprocal strand exchanges between regions of duplex DNA. These results indicate that while SSB is necessary for efficient transfer between linear duplex and ssDNA to form a single heteroduplex, it is not required for branch migration reactions between duplex molecules that form two heteroduplexes.