Molecular analysis of recombinase-mediated cassette exchange reactions catalyzed by integrase of coliphage HK022.

The integrase (Int) protein of coliphage HK022 can catalyze in Escherichia coli as well as in in vitro integrative and excisive recombinase-mediated cassette exchange reactions between plasmids as substrates. Atomic force microscopy images have revealed that in the protein-DNA complexes that are formed, the plasmid substrates are connected via one and not two pairs of attachment sites. This observation, together with the elucidation of intermediate co-integrates between the two circular plasmids, suggest that a sequential mechanism of the RMCE reaction is possible.