Structure and biochemical activities of Escherichia coli MgsA

J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 8;286(14):12075-85. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.210187. Epub 2011 Feb 5.

Abstract

Bacterial "maintenance of genome stability protein A" (MgsA) and related eukaryotic enzymes play important roles in cellular responses to stalled DNA replication processes. Sequence information identifies MgsA enzymes as members of the clamp loader clade of AAA+ proteins, but structural information defining the family has been limited. Here, the x-ray crystal structure of Escherichia coli MgsA is described, revealing a homotetrameric arrangement for the protein that distinguishes it from other clamp loader clade AAA+ proteins. Each MgsA protomer is composed of three elements as follows: ATP-binding and helical lid domains (conserved among AAA+ proteins) and a tetramerization domain. Although the tetramerization domains bury the greatest amount of surface area in the MgsA oligomer, each of the domains participates in oligomerization to form a highly intertwined quaternary structure. Phosphate is bound at each AAA+ ATP-binding site, but the active sites do not appear to be in a catalytically competent conformation due to displacement of Arg finger residues. E. coli MgsA is also shown to form a complex with the single-stranded DNA-binding protein through co-purification and biochemical studies. MgsA DNA-dependent ATPase activity is inhibited by single-stranded DNA-binding protein. Together, these structural and biochemical observations provide insights into the mechanisms of MgsA family AAA+ proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Multimerization / genetics
  • Protein Multimerization / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Ultracentrifugation

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases

Associated data

  • PDB/3PVS