Publications by authors named "Richard N A Martin"

Article Synopsis
  • Bacterial restriction-modification systems consist of DNA methylation and restriction activities that protect bacteria from foreign DNA invasion, regulated to prevent self-damage.
  • The study focuses on the controller protein C.Esp1396I, analyzing how specific mutations in DNA-binding residues affect its DNA-binding affinity and structural characteristics.
  • Results indicate that mutations affecting direct base-binding residues significantly alter binding affinity compared to those affecting the DNA backbone, while also showing that overall protein structure remains stable despite mutations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The controller protein of the type II restriction-modification (RM) system Esp1396I binds to three distinct DNA operator sequences upstream of the methyltransferase and endonuclease genes in order to regulate their expression. Previous biophysical and crystallographic studies have shown molecular details of how the controller protein binds to the operator sites with very different affinities. Here, two protein-DNA co-crystal structures containing portions of unbound DNA from native operator sites are reported.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Nature uses a diversity of glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzymes to convert polysaccharides to sugars. As lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction for biofuel production remains costly, natural GH diversity offers a starting point for developing industrial enzymes, and fungal GH family 7 (GH7) cellobiohydrolases, in particular, provide significant hydrolytic potential in industrial mixtures. Recently, GH7 enzymes have been found in other kingdoms of life besides fungi, including in animals and protists.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF