A bacteriophage mimic of the bacterial nucleoid-associated protein Fis (2020)
Journal Article
Sharples, G. J., Heddle, J. G., Kozak, M., Taube, M., Hughes, T. R., Pålsson, L.-O., …Chakraborti, S. (2020). A bacteriophage mimic of the bacterial nucleoid-associated protein Fis. Biochemical Journal, 477(7), 1345-1362. https://doi.org/10.1042/bcj20200146

We report the identification and characterization of a bacteriophage λ-encoded protein, NinH. Sequence homology suggests similarity between NinH and Fis, a bacterial nucleoid-associated protein involved in numerous DNA topology manipulations, includi... Read More about A bacteriophage mimic of the bacterial nucleoid-associated protein Fis.

The C-terminus of the phage lambda Orf recombinase is involved in DNA binding. (2011)
Journal Article
Curtis, F., Reed, P., Wilson, L., Bowers, L., Yeo, P., Sanderson, J., …Sharples, G. (2011). The C-terminus of the phage lambda Orf recombinase is involved in DNA binding. Journal of Molecular Recognition, 24(2), 330-340. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.1079

Novel antibiotics: C-2 symmetrical macrocycles inhibiting Holliday junction DNA binding by E. coli RuvC. (2006)
Journal Article
Pan, P., Curtis, F., Carroll, C., Medina, I., Rodrigeuz, R., Liotta, L., …McAlpine, S. (2006). Novel antibiotics: C-2 symmetrical macrocycles inhibiting Holliday junction DNA binding by E. coli RuvC. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 14(14), 4731-4739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2006.03.028

Holliday junctions (HJs) are formed as transient DNA intermediates during site-specific and homologous recombination. Both of these genetic exchange pathways are critical for normal DNA metabolism and repair. Trapping HJs leads to bacterial cell deat... Read More about Novel antibiotics: C-2 symmetrical macrocycles inhibiting Holliday junction DNA binding by E. coli RuvC..

The RuvAB branch migration translocase and RecU Holliday junction resolvase are required for double-stranded DNA break repair in Bacillus subtilis. (2005)
Journal Article
Sanchez, H., Kidane, D., Reed, P., Curtis, F., Cozar, M., Graumann, P., …Alonso, J. (2005). The RuvAB branch migration translocase and RecU Holliday junction resolvase are required for double-stranded DNA break repair in Bacillus subtilis. Genetics, 171, 873-883

In models of Escherichia coli recombination and DNA repair, the RuvABC complex directs the branch migration and resolution of Holliday junction DNA. To probe the validity of the E. coli paradigm, we examined the impact of mutations in DeltaruvAB and... Read More about The RuvAB branch migration translocase and RecU Holliday junction resolvase are required for double-stranded DNA break repair in Bacillus subtilis..

Functional similarities between phage lambda Orf and Escherichia coli RecFOR in initiation of genetic exchange (2005)
Journal Article
Maxwell, K., Reed, P., Zhang, R., Beasley, S., Walmsley, A., Curtis, F., …Sharples, G. (2005). Functional similarities between phage lambda Orf and Escherichia coli RecFOR in initiation of genetic exchange. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(32), 11260-11265. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0503399102

Genetic recombination in bacteriophage lambda relies on DNA end processing by Exo to expose 3'-tailed strands for annealing and exchange by beta protein. Phage lambda encodes an additional recombinase, Orf, which participates in the early stages of r... Read More about Functional similarities between phage lambda Orf and Escherichia coli RecFOR in initiation of genetic exchange.

Evolution of a phage RuvC endonuclease for resolution of both Holliday and branched DNA junctions (2005)
Journal Article
Curtis, F., Reed, P., & Sharples, G. (2005). Evolution of a phage RuvC endonuclease for resolution of both Holliday and branched DNA junctions. Molecular Microbiology, 55(5), 1332-1345. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04476.x

Resolution of Holliday junction recombination intermediates in most Gram-negative bacteria is accomplished by the RuvC endonuclease acting in concert with the RuvAB branch migration machinery. Gram-positive species, however, lack RuvC, with the excep... Read More about Evolution of a phage RuvC endonuclease for resolution of both Holliday and branched DNA junctions.

Novel antibiotics: second generation macrocyclic peptides designed to trap Holliday junctions. (2004)
Journal Article
Liotta, L., Medina, I., Robinson, J., Carroll, C., Pan, P., Corral, R., …McAlpine, S. (2004). Novel antibiotics: second generation macrocyclic peptides designed to trap Holliday junctions. Tetrahedron Letters, 45, 8447-8450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2004.09.084

Described are the syntheses of 15 macrocyclic peptides designed to trap Holliday junctions(HJs) in bacteria during site-specific and homologous recombination. This leads to inhibiting bacterial growth. These second generation macrocycles were based o... Read More about Novel antibiotics: second generation macrocyclic peptides designed to trap Holliday junctions..

Holliday Junction Binding and Resolution by the Rap Structure-specific Endonuclease of Phage lambda (2004)
Journal Article
Sharples, G., Curtis, F., McGlynn, P., & Bolt, E. (2004). Holliday Junction Binding and Resolution by the Rap Structure-specific Endonuclease of Phage lambda. Journal of Molecular Biology, 340(4), 739-751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2004.05.030

Rap endonuclease targets recombinant joint molecules arising from phage lambda Red-mediated genetic exchange. Previous studies revealed that Rap nicks DNA at the branch point of synthetic Holliday junctions and other DNA structures with a branched co... Read More about Holliday Junction Binding and Resolution by the Rap Structure-specific Endonuclease of Phage lambda.