Journal
EMBO JOURNAL
Volume 24, Issue 23, Pages 4188-4197Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600881
Keywords
DNA translocation; molecular motor; restriction enzymes; SF2 helicase; single molecules
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Funding
- Wellcome Trust Funding Source: Medline
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Type I restriction enzymes use two motors to translocate DNA before carrying out DNA cleavage. The motor function is accomplished by amino-acid motifs typical for superfamily 2 helicases, although DNA unwinding is not observed. Using a combination of extensive single-molecule magnetic tweezers and stopped-flow bulk measurements, we fully characterized the (re)initiation of DNA translocation by EcoR124I. We found that the methyltransferase core unit of the enzyme loads the motor subunits onto adjacent DNA by allowing them to bind and initiate translocation. Termination of translocation occurs owing to dissociation of the motors from the core unit. Reinitiation of translocation requires binding of new motors from solution. The identification and quantification of further initiation steps-ATP binding and extrusion of an initial DNA loop-allowed us to deduce a complete kinetic reinitiation scheme. The dissociation/reassociation of motors during translocation allows dynamic control of the restriction process by the availability of motors. Direct evidence that this control mechanism is relevant in vivo is provided.
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