Nucleic Acids Research, 2000, Vol. 28, No. 22 4544-4551
© 2000 Oxford University Press
Biochemical characterization of the Hjc Holliday junction resolvase of Pyrococcus furiosus
1Department of Molecular Biology and 2Department of Structural Biology, Biomolecular Engineering Research Institute (BERI), 6-2-3 Furuedai, Suita, Osaka 565-0874, Japan and 3Department of Molecular Microbiology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
The Hjc protein of Pyrococcus furiosus is an endonuclease that resolves Holliday junctions, the intermediates in homologous recombination. The amino acid sequence of Hjc is conserved in Archaea, however, it is not similar to any of the well-characterized Holliday junction resolvases. In order to investigate the similarity and diversity of the enzymatic properties of Hjc as a Holliday junction resolvase, highly purified Hjc produced in recombinant Escherichia coli was used for detailed biochemical characterizations. Hjc has specific binding activity to the Holliday-structured DNA, with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 60 nM. The dimeric form of Hjc binds to the substrate DNA. The optimal reaction conditions were determined using a synthetic Holliday junction as substrate. Hjc required a divalent cation for cleavage activity and Mg2+ at 5–10 mM was optimal. Mn2+ could substitute for Mg2+, but it was much less efficient than Mg2+ as the cofactor. The cleavage reaction was stimulated by alkaline pH and KCl at 
200 mM. In addition to the high specific activity, Hjc was found to be extremely heat stable. In contrast to the case of Sulfolobus, the Holliday junction resolving activity detected in P.furiosus cell extract thus far is only derived from Hjc.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81 6 6872 8216; Fax:+81 6 6872 8219; Email: ishino{at}beri.co.jp
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