Structure-function analysis of the SaPIbov1 replication origin in Staphylococcus aureus.

ABSTRACT: The SaPIs and their relatives are phage satellites and are unique among the known bacterial pathogenicity islands in their ability to replicate autonomously. They possess a phage-like replicon, which is organized as two sets of iterons arrayed symmetrically to flank an AT-rich region that is driven to melt by the binding of a SaPI-specific initiator (Rep) to the flanking iterons. Extensive deletion analysis has revealed that Rep can bind to a single iteron, generating a simple shift in a gel mobility assay; when bound on both sides, a second retarded band is seen, suggesting independent binding. Binding to both sites of the ori is necessary but not sufficient to melt the AT-rich region and initiate replication. For these processes, virtually the entire origin must be present. Since SaPI re

SUBMITTER: Ubeda C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3804134 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature