[Progress on XerCD/dif site-specific recombination]

Yi Chuan. 2012 Aug;34(8):1003-8. doi: 10.3724/sp.j.1005.2012.01003.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

In Escherichia coli, 10% to 15% of growing bacteria produce chromosome dimers during DNA replication. These dimers are resolved by XerC and XerD, two chromosome recombinases that target the dif sequence in the replication terminus of chromosome. Phage CTXΦ integrates into vibrio cholerae chromosome in a site-specific manner. However, CTXΦ genome does not encode any recombinase, while recombinase XerC and XerD, which is coded by vibrio cholerae chromosome are required for the integration of CTXΦ into the vibrio cholerae chromosome. The CTXΦ integration site overlaps with the dif site. The wide distribution of XerCD recombinase and dif site among bacteria genome suggests that it may be universal in resolve of chromosome dimers and phage integration. In this article, we reviewed the research progresses on chromosome dimer resolve and phage integration through XerCD/dif site-specific recombination.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophages / genetics
  • Bacteriophages / metabolism
  • DNA Replication*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Integrases / genetics*
  • Integrases / metabolism*
  • Recombinases / genetics
  • Recombinases / metabolism
  • Recombination, Genetic*

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Recombinases
  • XerC protein, E coli
  • Integrases
  • XerD protein, E coli