Open AccessAlignment of Two DNA Helices: A Model for Recognition of DNA Base Sequences by the Termini-Generating Enzymes of Phage λ, 186, and P2
Author(s) -
James C. Wang,
Donald P. Brezinski
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.70.9.2667
Subject(s) - concatemer , dna , genome , base pair , biology , dna sequencing , recognition sequence , in vitro recombination , sequence (biology) , computational biology , genetics , peptide sequence , restriction enzyme , gene , molecular cloning
Based on the 3′- and 5′-terminal sequences of DNA of phage λ, P2, and 186, a model is proposed for recognition of DNA sequences by enzymes responsible for generation of cohesive ends. Two copies of the cohered ends, either on separate molecules or on a concatemer, are aligned with their helical axes parallel but running in opposite directions. The nicking system is dimeric, with each of the two monomers carrying identical sequence-recognition sites. Two pairs of nicks are introduced into the two aligned DNA molecules by the nicking system. The applicability of this model to other biological processes, such as integration of a viral genome into a host genome and the cutting of concatemeric T7 DNA, is discussed.