The DNA transporter ComEC has metal‐dependent nuclease activity that is important for natural transformation

What is it about?

In the process of natural transformation bacteria import extracellular DNA molecules for integration into their genome. One DNA strand is transported into the cytoplasm via the membrane protein ComEC while the other strand is degraded. Here we show that part of the ComEC protein has a DNA digesting activity that is important for natural transformation. This part of the ComEC protein is, thus, likely to be the enzyme that degrades the non-transported DNA strand.

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