ISSN:
1617-4623
Keywords:
Key words GATC
;
dam methylation
;
DNA curvature
;
IHF
;
Escherichia coli
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract As part of our analysis of the role of a uniquely clustered set of dam methylation sites (the motif GATC) within the origin of DNA replication in Escherichia coli, we have studied the effect of GATCs in various methylation states on the intrinsic curvature of DNA. We have designed a set of DNA linkers and used commercially available linkers containing GATC motifs. The linkers were ligated and the electrophoretic mobility of the resulting multimers in different states of methylation was tested relative to reference fragments. We report that properly phased GATCs in certain sequence environments modulate DNA curvature and that these effects may be enhanced by N6-adenine methylation of the GATCs. These structural alterations may in turn affect DNA-protein interactions, especially those involving proteins that rely on both primary sequence and structure for recognition. We present an example, where introduction of a GATC within an integration host factor (IHF) binding site, which does not alter the consensus sequence, reduces the binding affinity of the protein for the modified site.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004380050759
Permalink
