The SMF family, of DNA processing chain A, dprA, are a group of bacterial proteins. In H. pylori, dprA is required for natural chromosomal and plasmid transformation [1]. It has now been shown that DprA is found to bind cooperatively to single-strand ...
The SMF family, of DNA processing chain A, dprA, are a group of bacterial proteins. In H. pylori, dprA is required for natural chromosomal and plasmid transformation [1]. It has now been shown that DprA is found to bind cooperatively to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and to interact with RecA. In the process, DprA-RecA-ssDNA filaments are produced and these filaments catalyse the homology-dependent formation of joint molecules. While the E.coli SSB protein limits access of RecA to ssDNA, DprA alleviates this barrier. It is proposed that DprA is a new member of the recombination-mediator protein family, dedicated to natural bacterial transformation [2].
