Helix-destabilizing properties of the adenovirus DNA-binding protein

The adenovirus DNA-binding protein (DBP) is a multifunctional protein that is essential for viral DNA replication. DBP binds both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA as well as RNA in a sequence-independent manner. Previous studies showed that DBP does not promote melting of duplex poly(dA-dT) in contrast to prokaryotic single-strand-binding proteins. However, here we show that DBP can displace oligonucleotides annealed to single-stranded M13 DNA. Depending upon the DBP concentration, strands of at least 200 nucleotides can be unwound. Although unwinding of short (17-bp), fully duplex DNA is facilitated by DBP, unwinding of larger (28-bp) duplexes is only possible if single-stranded protruding ends are present. These protruding ends must be at least 4 nucleotides long for optimal unwinding, and both 5' and 3' single-stranded overhangs suffice. DBP-promoted strand displacement is sensitive to MgCl2 and NaCl and not dependent upon ATP. Our results suggest that DBP, through formation of a protein chain on the displaced strand, may destabilize duplex DNA ahead of the replication fork, thereby assisting in strand displacement during replication.