Homologous DNA pairing by human recombination factors Rad51 and Rad54

J Biol Chem. 2002 Nov 8;277(45):42790-4. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M208004200. Epub 2002 Aug 29.

Abstract

Human Rad51 (hRad51) and Rad54 proteins are key members of the RAD52 group required for homologous recombination. We show an ability of hRad54 to promote transient separation of the strands in duplex DNA via its ATP hydrolysis-driven DNA supercoiling function. The ATPase, DNA supercoiling, and DNA strand opening activities of hRad54 are greatly stimulated through an interaction with hRad51. Importantly, we demonstrate that hRad51 and hRad54 functionally cooperate in the homologous DNA pairing reaction that forms recombination DNA intermediates. Our results should provide a biochemical model for dissecting the role of hRad51 and hRad54 in recombination reactions in human cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Helicases
  • DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism
  • DNA Repair*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / metabolism
  • DNA, Superhelical / genetics
  • DNA, Superhelical / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Humans
  • Insecta
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rad51 Recombinase
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • DNA, Superhelical
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • DNA Nucleotidyltransferases
  • RAD51 protein, human
  • Rad51 Recombinase
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • DNA Helicases
  • RAD54L protein, human
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I