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The Gam protein of phage Mu is an orthologue of eukaryotic Ku.

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 07:58 authored by Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna, Geoffrey R Weller, Aidan DohertyAidan Doherty, Stephen P Jackson
Mu bacteriophage inserts its DNA into the genome of host bacteria and is used as a model for DNA transposition events in other systems. The eukaryotic Ku protein has key roles in DNA repair and in certain transposition events. Here we show that the Gam protein of phage Mu is conserved in bacteria, has sequence homology with both subunits of Ku, and has the potential to adopt a similar architecture to the core DNA-binding region of Ku. Through biochemical studies, we demonstrate that Gam and the related protein of Haemophilus influenzae display DNA binding characteristics remarkably similar to those of human Ku. In addition, we show that Gam can interfere with Ty1 retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These data reveal structural and functional parallels between bacteriophage Gam and eukaryotic Ku and suggest that their functions have been evolutionarily conserved.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

EMBO Reports

ISSN

1469-221X

Issue

1

Volume

4

Page range

47-52

Pages

6.0

Department affiliated with

  • Sussex Centre for Genome Damage Stability Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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