Structural biology: Structure of a synaptic γδ resolvase tetramer covalently linked to two cleaved DNAs

Weikai Li, Satwik Kamtekar, Yong Xiong, Gary J. Sarkis, Nigel D.F. Grindley, Thomas A. Steitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

The structure of a synaptic intermediate of the site-specific recombinase γδ resolvase covalently linked through Ser10 to two cleaved duplex DNAs has been determined at 3,4 angstrom resolution. This resolvase, activated for recombination by mutations, forms a tetramer whose structure is substantially changed from that of a presynaptic complex between dimeric resolvase and the cleavage site DNA. Because the two cleaved DNA duplexes that are to be recombined lie on opposite sides of the core tetramer, large movements of both protein and DNA are required to achieve strand exchange. The two dimers linked to the DNAs that are to be recombined are held together by a flat interface. This may allow a 180° rotation of one dimer relative to the other in order to reposition the DNA duplexes for strand exchange.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1210-1215
Number of pages6
JournalScience
Volume309
Issue number5738
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 19 2005

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