DNA-dependent ATPase activity of bacterial XPB helicases.

XPB, the largest subunit of the eukaryotic transcription factor TFIIH, is essential for both initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II and nucleotide excision repair (NER). XPB belongs to the SF2 superfamily of monomeric helicases. XPB helicase is thought to have evolved in eukaryotes; however, a gene highly homologous to human XPB can be found in a number of bacteria.

Characterization of TioF, a tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase involved in 3-hydroxyquinaldic acid formation during thiocoraline biosynthesis.

Thiocoraline is a thiodepsipeptide antitumor agent that belongs to the family of bisintercalator natural products that bind duplex DNA through their two planar intercalating moieties. In thiocoraline, the 3-hydroxyquinaldic acid (3HQA) chromophores required for intercalation are derived from L-Trp. We have expressed the Micromonospora sp.