This is the endonuclease domain of Terminase large subunit TerL [1,2], a key component of the DNA packing machinery in tailed bacteriophages and related viruses. TerL comprises a N-terminal ATPase domain (Pfam:PF03354) which powers the DNA translocat ...
This is the endonuclease domain of Terminase large subunit TerL [1,2], a key component of the DNA packing machinery in tailed bacteriophages and related viruses. TerL comprises a N-terminal ATPase domain (Pfam:PF03354) which powers the DNA translocation and this C-terminal endonuclease domain that cuts concatemeric DNA first in the initiation phase in a sequence specific site and later in the completion stage of the DNA packaging process when the capsid is full [1,2]. Cryo-EM studies indicate that TerL forms a pentamer that binds to a dodecameric assembly called portal and attaches to the capsid. It has been proposed that nuclease domains form a radially arranged ring that is proximal to portal, playing a key role in pentamer assembly [2]. This nuclease domain has a RNAse H-like fold and it has been proposed to utilise a two-metal catalysis mechanism like in other RNAse H-like endonucleases such as RNase H, transposases, retroviral integrases and RuvC Holliday junction resolvases [1].
Terminase large subunit (TerL) from bacteriophages and evolutionarily related viruses, is an important component of the DNA packing machinery and comprises an ATPase domain, which powers DNA translocation and a nuclease domain that cuts concatemeric ...
Terminase large subunit (TerL) from bacteriophages and evolutionarily related viruses, is an important component of the DNA packing machinery and comprises an ATPase domain, which powers DNA translocation and a nuclease domain that cuts concatemeric DNA [1,2]. TerL forms pentamers in which the ATPase domains form a ring distal to the capsid. This is the ATPase domain which contains a C-terminal subdomain that sits above the ATPase active site, called the "Lid subdomain" with reference to analogous lid subdomains found in other ATPases [3]. It contains a hydrophobic patch (Trp and Tyr residues) that mediates critical interactions in the interface between adjacent ATPase subunits and assists the positioning of the arginine finger residue that catalyses ATP hydrolysis [2,3]. This entry also includes bacterial proteins of unknown function.
