Title
The function of Asp70, Glu77 and Lys79 in the Escherichia coli MutH protein
Academic Program
Not applicable
UMMS Affiliation
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Publication Date
2002-01-26
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
The MutH protein, which is part of the Dam-directed mismatch repair system of Escherichia coli, introduces nicks in the unmethylated strand of a hemi-methylated DNA duplex. The latent endonuclease activity of MutH is activated by interaction with MutL, another member of the repair system. The crystal structure of MutH suggested that the active site residues include Asp70, Glu77 and Lys79, which are located at the bottom of a cleft where DNA binding probably occurs. We mutated these residues to alanines and found that the mutant proteins were unable to complement a chromosomal mutH deletion. The purified mutant proteins were able to bind to DNA with a hemi-methylated GATC sequence but had no detectable endonuclease activity with or without MutL. Although the data are consistent with the prediction of a catalytic role for Asp70, Glu77 and Lys79, it cannot be excluded that they are also involved in binding to MutL.
DOI of Published Version
10.1093/nar/30.3.818
Source
Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Feb 1;30(3):818-22.
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Nucleic acids research
Related Resources
PubMed ID
11809896
Repository Citation
Wu T, Loh T, Marinus MG. (2002). The function of Asp70, Glu77 and Lys79 in the Escherichia coli MutH protein. GSBS Student Publications. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/30.3.818. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_sp/951