Messer W, Bellekes U, Lother H
EMBO J. 1985 May;4(5):1327-32. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1985.tb03780.x.
Methylation of GATC sites by the dam methylase is required for efficient initiation of DNA replication at the replication origin, oriC, of Escherichia coli. This is demonstrated by the inability of minichromosomes to be maintained in dam mutant strains. The requirement for methylated GATC sites is less stringent in vitro than in vivo. The time required for complete methylation of the origin region apparently determines the minimal spacing of replication forks on the chromosome.
大肠杆菌复制起点oriC处的DNA复制高效起始需要dam甲基化酶对GATC位点进行甲基化。这一点通过在dam突变株中无法维持微型染色体得以证明。与体内情况相比,体外对甲基化GATC位点的要求没那么严格。起始区域完全甲基化所需的时间显然决定了染色体上复制叉的最小间距。