ArticleJournal of bacteriology2022
Natural Transformation Protein ComFA Exhibits Single-Stranded DNA Translocase Activity.
Article in Journal of bacteriology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Structure and biochemistry reveal substrate-modulated ComEC nuclease activity during DNA processing.Nucleic acids research · 2026Article
- A tripartite protein complex promotes DNA transport during natural transformation in Firmicutes.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025Article
- Genomic Characterisation of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CRL2085 Unveiling Probiotic Traits for Application in Cattle Feed.Environmental microbiology reports · 2025Article
- Molecular interplay between ComEC domains allows for selective degradation of the non-translocating strand during natural transformation.Nucleic acids research · 2025Article
- Naturally competent bacteria and their genetic parasites-a battle for control over horizontal gene transfer?FEMS microbiology reviews · 2025Review
- Molecular mechanisms and applications of natural transformation in bacteria.Frontiers in microbiology · 2025Review
- Biochemical Properties of Naturally Occurring Human Bloom Helicase Variants.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2023Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Natural transformation is one of the major mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer in bacterial populations and has been demonstrated in numerous species of bacteria. Despite the prevalence of natural transformation, much of the molecular mechanism remains unexplored. One major outstanding question is how the cell powers DNA import, which is rapid and highly processive. ComFA is one of a few proteins required for natural transformation in Gram-positive bacteria. Its structural resemblance to the DEAD box helicase family has led to a long-held hypothesis that ComFA acts as a motor to help drive DNA import into the cytosol. Here, we explored the helicase and translocase activity of ComFA to address this hypothesis. We followed the DNA-dependent ATPase activity of ComFA and, combined with mathematical modeling, demonstrated that ComFA likely translocates on single-stranded DNA from 5' to 3'. However, this translocase activity does not lead to DNA unwinding under the conditions we tested. Further, we analyzed the ATPase cycle of ComFA and found that ATP hydrolysis stimulates the release of DNA, providing a potential mechanism for translocation. These findings help define the molecular contribution of ComFA to natural transformation and support the conclusion that ComFA plays a key role in powering DNA uptake.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.