The bacterial helicase-primase interaction: a common structural/functional module

Structure. 2005 Jun;13(6):839-44. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2005.04.006.

Abstract

The lack of a high-resolution structure for the bacterial helicase-primase complex and the fragmented structural information for the individual proteins have been hindering our detailed understanding of this crucial binary protein interaction. Two new structures for the helicase-interacting domain of the bacterial primases from Escherichia coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus have recently been solved and both revealed a unique and surprising structural similarity to the amino-terminal domain of the helicase itself. In this minireview, the current data are discussed and important new structural and functional aspects of the helicase-primase interaction are highlighted. An attractive structural model with direct biological significance for the function of this complex and also for the development of new antibacterial compounds is examined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Conserved Sequence
  • DNA Helicases / chemistry
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • DNA Primase / chemistry
  • DNA Primase / genetics
  • DNA Primase / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Geobacillus stearothermophilus / enzymology
  • Geobacillus stearothermophilus / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • DNA Primase
  • DNA Helicases