NMR assignment of the conserved bacterial DNA replication protein DnaA domain IV.

Chromosomal replication is a ubiquitous and essential cellular process. In bacteria, the master replication initiator DnaA plays a key role in promoting an open complex at the origin (oriC) and recruiting helicase in a tightly regulated process. The C-terminal domain IV specifically recognises consensus sequences of double-stranded DNA in oriC, termed DnaA-boxes, thereby facilitating the initial engagement of DnaA to oriC.