Development of a single-stranded DNA-binding protein fluorescent fusion toolbox

  • Katarzyna Dubiel
  • , Camille Henry
  • , Lisanne M. Spenkelink
  • , Alexander G. Kozlov
  • , Elizabeth A. Wood
  • , Slobodan Jergic
  • , Nicholas E. Dixon
  • , Antoine M. van Oijen
  • , Michael M. Cox
  • , Timothy M. Lohman
  • , Steven J. Sandler
  • , James L. Keck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bacterial single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) bind single-stranded DNA and help to recruit heterologous proteins to their sites of action. SSBs perform these essential functions through a modular structural architecture: the N-terminal domain comprises a DNA binding/tetramerization element whereas the C-terminus forms an intrinsically disordered linker (IDL) capped by a protein-interacting SSB-Ct motif. Here we examine the activities of SSB-IDL fusion proteins in which fluorescent domains are inserted within the IDL of Escherichia coli SSB. The SSB-IDL fusions maintain DNA and protein binding activities in vitro, although cooperative DNA binding is impaired. In contrast, an SSB variant with a fluorescent protein attached directly to the C-terminus that is similar to fusions used in previous studies displayed dysfunctional protein interaction activity. The SSB-IDL fusions are readily visualized in single-molecule DNA replication reactions. Escherichia coli strains in which wildtype SSB is replaced by SSB-IDL fusions are viable and display normal growth rates and fitness. The SSB-IDL fusions form detectible SSB foci in cells with frequencies mirroring previously examined fluorescent DNA replication fusion proteins. Cells expressing SSB-IDL fusions are sensitized to some DNA damaging agents. The results highlight the utility of SSB-IDL fusions for biochemical and cellular studies of genome maintenance reactions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6053-6067
Number of pages15
JournalNucleic acids research
Volume48
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

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