Papers In Press, published online ahead of print March 9, 2006
J. Biol. Chem, 10.1074/jbc.M600097200
Submitted on January 4, 2006
Revised on March 3, 2006
Accepted on March 9, 2006
Three HRDC domains differentially modulate deinococcus radiodurans RecQ DNA helicase biochemical activity
Michael P. Killoran and James L. Keck
Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706
Corresponding Author: jlkeck{at}wisc.edu
RecQ helicases are key genome maintenance enzymes that function in DNA replication, recombination, and repair. In contrast to nearly every other identified RecQ family member, the RecQ helicase from the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans encodes three Helicase and RNase D C-terminal (HRDC) domains at its C-terminus. HRDC domains have been implicated in structure-specific nucleic acid binding with roles in targeting RecQ proteins to particular DNA structures; however, only RecQ proteins with single HRDC domains have been examined to date. We demonstrate that the HRDC domains can be proteolytically removed from the D. radiodurans RecQ (DrRecQ) C-terminus, consistent with each forming a structural domain. Using this observation as a guide, we produced a panel of recombinant DrRecQ variants lacking combinations of its HRDC domains to investigate their biochemical functions. The N-terminal-most HRDC domain is shown to be critical for high-affinity DNA binding and for efficient unwinding of DNA in some contexts. In contrast, the more C-terminal HRDC domains attenuate the enzymes DNA binding affinity and DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis rate, and play more complex roles in structure-specific DNA unwinding. Our results indicate that the multiple DrRecQ HRDC domains have evolved to encode DNA binding and regulatory functions in the enzyme.