T7 endonuclease I resolves Holliday junctions formed in vitro by RecA protein

Berndt Marino Muller, C Jones, S C West

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

T7 endonuclease I is known to bind and cleave four-way junctions in DNA. Since these junctions serve as analogues of Holliday junctions that arise during genetic recombination, we have investigated the action of T7 endonuclease I on recombination intermediates containing Holliday junctions. We find that addition of T7 endonuclease I to strand exchange reactions catalysed by RecA protein of Escherichia coli leads to the formation of duplex products that correspond to 'patch' and 'splice' type recombinants. Resolution of the recombination intermediates occurs by the introduction of nicks at the site of the Holliday junction. The recombinant molecules contain 5'-phosphate and 3'-hydroxyl termini which may be ligated to restore the integrity of the DNA.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5633-5636
Number of pages4
JournalNucleic Acids Research
Volume18
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Oct 1990

Keywords

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Deoxyribonuclease I
  • Escherichia coli
  • Rec A Recombinases
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • T-Phages

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