The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA

The essential Bacillus subtilis DnaD and DnaB proteins have been implicated in the initiation of DNA replication. Recently, DNA remodeling activities associated with both proteins were discovered that could provide a link between global or local nucleoid remodeling and initiation of replication. Dna...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhang, Wenke, Allen, Stephanie, Roberts, Clive J., Soultanas, Panos
Format: Article
Published: 2006
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/1109/
_version_ 1848790539994923008
author Zhang, Wenke
Allen, Stephanie
Roberts, Clive J.
Soultanas, Panos
author_facet Zhang, Wenke
Allen, Stephanie
Roberts, Clive J.
Soultanas, Panos
author_sort Zhang, Wenke
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The essential Bacillus subtilis DnaD and DnaB proteins have been implicated in the initiation of DNA replication. Recently, DNA remodeling activities associated with both proteins were discovered that could provide a link between global or local nucleoid remodeling and initiation of replication. DnaD forms scaffolds and opens up supercoiled plasmids without nicking to form open circular complexes, while DnaB acts as a lateral compaction protein. Here we show that DnaD-mediated opening of supercoiled plasmids is accompanied by significant untwisting of DNA. The net result is the conversion of writhe (Wr) into negative twist (Tw), thus maintaining the linking number (Lk) constant. These changes in supercoiling will reduce the considerable energy required to open up closed circular plectonemic DNA and may be significant in the priming of DNA replication. By comparison, DnaB does not affect significantly the supercoiling of plasmids. Binding of the DnaD C-terminal domain (Cd) to DNA is not sufficient to convert Wr into negative Tw, implying that the formation of scaffolds is essential for duplex untwisting. Overall, our data suggest that the topological effects of the two proteins on supercoiled DNA are different; DnaD opens up, untwists and converts plectonemic DNA to a more paranemic form, whereas DnaB does not affect supercoiling significantly and condenses DNA only via its lateral compaction activity. The significance of these findings in the initiation of DNA replication is discussed.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T18:14:14Z
format Article
id nottingham-1109
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T18:14:14Z
publishDate 2006
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-11092020-05-04T20:29:26Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/1109/ The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA Zhang, Wenke Allen, Stephanie Roberts, Clive J. Soultanas, Panos The essential Bacillus subtilis DnaD and DnaB proteins have been implicated in the initiation of DNA replication. Recently, DNA remodeling activities associated with both proteins were discovered that could provide a link between global or local nucleoid remodeling and initiation of replication. DnaD forms scaffolds and opens up supercoiled plasmids without nicking to form open circular complexes, while DnaB acts as a lateral compaction protein. Here we show that DnaD-mediated opening of supercoiled plasmids is accompanied by significant untwisting of DNA. The net result is the conversion of writhe (Wr) into negative twist (Tw), thus maintaining the linking number (Lk) constant. These changes in supercoiling will reduce the considerable energy required to open up closed circular plectonemic DNA and may be significant in the priming of DNA replication. By comparison, DnaB does not affect significantly the supercoiling of plasmids. Binding of the DnaD C-terminal domain (Cd) to DNA is not sufficient to convert Wr into negative Tw, implying that the formation of scaffolds is essential for duplex untwisting. Overall, our data suggest that the topological effects of the two proteins on supercoiled DNA are different; DnaD opens up, untwists and converts plectonemic DNA to a more paranemic form, whereas DnaB does not affect supercoiling significantly and condenses DNA only via its lateral compaction activity. The significance of these findings in the initiation of DNA replication is discussed. 2006-08 Article PeerReviewed Zhang, Wenke, Allen, Stephanie, Roberts, Clive J. and Soultanas, Panos (2006) The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA. Journal of Bacteriology, 188 (15). pp. 5487-5493. ISSN 0021-9193 http://jb.asm.org/cgi/content/full/188/15/5487 doi:10.1128/JB.00339-06 doi:10.1128/JB.00339-06
spellingShingle Zhang, Wenke
Allen, Stephanie
Roberts, Clive J.
Soultanas, Panos
The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA
title The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA
title_full The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA
title_fullStr The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA
title_full_unstemmed The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA
title_short The Bacillus subtilis primosomal protein DnaD untwists supercoiled DNA
title_sort bacillus subtilis primosomal protein dnad untwists supercoiled dna
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/1109/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/1109/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/1109/