Indispensible Replication Restart Helicase PriA Aids Bacterial Survival: A SMART Team Story

Abstract

Approximately one disruption in DNA replication occur every cell cycle in bacteria leading to partially duplicated chromosomes. Since unfinished replication can result in genome instability and cell death, bacteria need a mechanism to reload the replication machinery onto the genome. Known as the replication restart primosome (RRP), several proteins function to reload the replicative helicase onto abandoned replication forks, restarting DNA replication. PriA is the most conserved member of the RRP, initiating the dominant replication restart pathway. A helicase, PriA remodels collapsed forks and serves as a platform for binding of other primosomal proteins. The Madison West High School Students Modeling a Research Topic (SMART) Team modeled PriA using 3D printing technology. PriA is a multi‐domain protein and residues important for DNA binding, ATP hydrolysis, and helicase activity are modeled. Since DNA replication restart pathways are essential in preserving genomic integrity and cell viability in bacteria, studies of PriA offer an approach to developing novel antibacterial compounds. Supported by a grant from NIH‐CTSA.