Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Publication Date
7-2012
Publisher
Elsevier
Source Publication
Journal of Molecular Biology
Source ISSN
0022-2836
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.04.021
Abstract
Single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) proteins play central roles in genome maintenance in all organisms. Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, encodes an SSB protein that localizes to the apicoplast and likely functions in the replication and maintenance of its genome. P. falciparum SSB (Pf-SSB) shares a high degree of sequence homology with bacterial SSB proteins but differs in the composition of its C-terminus, which interacts with more than a dozen other proteins in Escherichia coli SSB (Ec-SSB). Using sedimentation methods, we show that Pf-SSB forms a stable homo-tetramer alone and when bound to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). We also present a crystal structure at 2.1 Å resolution of the Pf-SSB tetramer bound to two (dT)35 molecules. The Pf-SSB tetramer is structurally similar to the Ec-SSB tetramer, and ssDNA wraps completely around the tetramer with a “baseball seam” topology that is similar to Ec-SSB in its “65 binding mode”. However, the polarity of the ssDNA wrapping around Pf-SSB is opposite to that observed for Ec-SSB. The interactions between the bases in the DNA and the amino acid side chains also differ from those observed in the Ec-SSB–DNA structure, suggesting that other differences may exist in the DNA binding properties of these structurally similar proteins.
Recommended Citation
Antony, Edwin; Weiland, Elizabeth A.; Korolev, Sergey; and Lohman, Timothy M., "Plasmodium falciparum SSB Tetramer Wraps Single-Stranded DNA with Similar Topology but Opposite Polarity to E. coli SSB" (2012). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 418.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/418
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol. 420, No. 4-5 (July 2012): 269-283. DOI.
Edwin Antony was affiliated with Washington University at time of publication.
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Molecular Biology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Molecular Biology, VOL 420, ISSUE 4-5, July 2012, DOI.