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E. coli recA protein-directed cleavage of phage λ repressor requires polynucleotide

Nature volume 283, pages 26–30 (1980)Cite this article

Abstract

The recA protein mediates both genetic recombination and several cellular responses to DNA damage, including the induction of temperate bacteriophage. Induction of phage λ results from proteolytic cleavage of λ repressor directed by recA protein. We show here that this cleavage reaction requires both polynucleotide and ATP. We suggest that a stoichiometric complex of recA protein and DNA is active both to destroy repressors by proteolytic cleavage and to initiate pairing of this DNA to its homologous sequence in a DNA duplex (‘strand invasion’).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Wing Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853

    Nancy L. Craig & Jeffrey W. Roberts

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  1. Nancy L. Craig
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  2. Jeffrey W. Roberts
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Craig, N., Roberts, J. E. coli recA protein-directed cleavage of phage λ repressor requires polynucleotide. Nature 283, 26–30 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/283026a0

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