Summary information and primary citation

PDB-id
6n7v; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB
Class
hydrolase,transferase-DNA
Method
cryo-EM (3.8 Å)
Summary
Structure of bacteriophage t7 gp4 (helicase-primase, e343q mutant) in complex with ssDNA, dttp, ac dinucleotide, and ctp (from multiple lead complexes)
Reference
Gao Y, Cui Y, Fox T, Lin S, Wang H, de Val N, Zhou ZH, Yang W (2019): "Structures and operating principles of the replisome." Science, 363. doi: 10.1126/science.aav7003.
Abstract
Visualization in atomic detail of the replisome that performs concerted leading- and lagging-DNA strand synthesis at a replication fork has not been reported. Using bacteriophage T7 as a model system, we determined cryo-electron microscopy structures up to 3.2-angstroms resolution of helicase translocating along DNA and of helicase-polymerase-primase complexes engaging in synthesis of both DNA strands. Each domain of the spiral-shaped hexameric helicase translocates sequentially hand-over-hand along a single-stranded DNA coil, akin to the way AAA+ ATPases (adenosine triphosphatases) unfold peptides. Two lagging-strand polymerases are attached to the primase, ready for Okazaki fragment synthesis in tandem. A β hairpin from the leading-strand polymerase separates two parental DNA strands into a T-shaped fork, thus enabling the closely coupled helicase to advance perpendicular to the downstream DNA duplex. These structures reveal the molecular organization and operating principles of a replisome.

Cartoon-block schematics in six views (download the tarball)

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