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Single strands induce recA protein to unwind duplex DNA for homologous pairing

Nature volume 281, pages 191–195 (1979)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 22 November 1979

Abstract

Single-stranded DNA, whether homologous or not, stimulates purified Escherichia coli recA protein to unwind duplex DNA. This helps to explain how recA promotes a search for homology in genetic recombination. As oligodeoxynucleotides also stimulate unwinding, a common mechanism may relate the function of recA protein in recombination to other functions (SOS) induced by oligonucleotides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Departments of Internal Medicine, and Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510

    Richard P. Cunningham, Takehiko Shibata, Chanchal DasGupta & Charles M. Radding

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  1. Richard P. Cunningham
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  2. Takehiko Shibata
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  3. Chanchal DasGupta
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  4. Charles M. Radding
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Cunningham, R., Shibata, T., DasGupta, C. et al. Single strands induce recA protein to unwind duplex DNA for homologous pairing. Nature 281, 191–195 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/281191a0

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