Biopolymers and cell. 1996; 12 (1): 89 - 94

Possible role of individual protein-DNA contacts of Flp site-specific recombinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae with nucleic bases of Ftp-binding element of DNA

y. A. Voziyanov

Site-specific recombinase Flp encoded by 2 micron plasmidfrom S. cerevisiae has multiple contacts with nucleic bases of Ftp-binding element of DNA. We present an analysis of relative contribution of these contacts to strength of Ftp-protein binding to DNA, and of the peculiarities of their distribution at major and minor grooves of DNA. The contacts of Flp-protein with Ftp-binding element of DNA have been divided into three groups depending on their contribution in strength of Flp-protein binding to DNA. It has been suggested that Flp-protein uses the third group of contacts (they make the least contribution to strength of Flp-protein binding to DNA) along with minor groove contacts for initial discrimination between different DNA sequences. It has been shown that Flp-protein has contacts with nucleic bases in minor groove at opposite sides of DNA, so Flp-protein probably wraps DNA.