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Site-specific recombination

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Molecular Genetics of Recombination

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Genetics ((TCG,volume 17))

Abstract

Site-specific recombination is a reaction in which a pair of genetically defined sites undergoes reciprocal exchange (“crossing-over”) via a recombinase-mediated DNA breakage and joining process. Such reactions have a wide range of biological outcomes, from integration and excision of virus genomes into and out of host chromosomes, to acquisition of novel genes and drug resistance, and even facilitating bacterial chromosome segregation. Two distinct families of recombinases exist, designated by their active site residues. In both these families recombination is carried out by a core of four recombinase monomers acting at two synapsed DNA sites. In many cases additional recombinase monomers and/or accessory proteins act at adjacent DNA sites to facilitate synapsis and often play a critical role in determining reaction topology. Here, the mechanism of site-specific recombination reactions is examined for both site-specific recombinase families, as well as for related proteins that mediate variant reactions, such as integrons and the integrases of conjugative transposons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK

    Ian Grainge & David J. Sherratt

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  1. Ian Grainge
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  2. David J. Sherratt
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  1. Centro Andaluz de Biologia Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain

    Andrés Aguilera

  2. Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 West 168th Street, HHSC 1608, New York, NY, 10032-2704, USA

    Rodney Rothstein

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Grainge, I., Sherratt, D.J. (2007). Site-specific recombination. In: Aguilera, A., Rothstein, R. (eds) Molecular Genetics of Recombination. Topics in Current Genetics, vol 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71021-9_15

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