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Helical proteins initiate replication of DNA helices

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology volume 13, pages 665–667 (2006)Cite this article

Replication initiators in both bacteria and eukaryotes are AAA+ proteins that bind and remodel origin DNA sequences, preparing them for chromosome duplication. Two new reports show that the bacterial DnaA and eukaryotic ORC initiators form protein helical filaments. Wrapping of origin DNA around these filaments may promote DNA unwinding and subsequent assembly of replication forks.

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Figure 1: The A. aeolicus DnaA initiator assembles into a right-handed helical filament.
Figure 2: The D. melanogaster ORC initiator may contain an AAA+ filament.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are supported by US National Institutes of Health grant GM38839 (M.O.D.) and US National Science Foundation grant 0423894 (D.J.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, 10021, New York, USA

    Mike O'Donnell

  2. the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, 02138, Massachusetts, USA

    David Jeruzalmi

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Correspondence to Mike O'Donnell.

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O'Donnell, M., Jeruzalmi, D. Helical proteins initiate replication of DNA helices. Nat Struct Mol Biol 13, 665–667 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb0806-665

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