Molecular matchmakers

Abstract

Molecular matchmakers are a class of proteins that use the energy released from the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate to cause a conformational change in one or both components of a DNA binding protein pair to promote formation of a metastable DNA-protein complex. After matchmaking the matchmaker dissociates from the complex, permitting the matched protein to engage in other protein-protein interactions to bring about the effector function. Matchmaking is most commonly used under circumstances that require targeted, high-avidity DNA binding without relying solely on sequence specificity. Molecular matchmaking is an extensively used mechanism in repair, replication, and transcription and most likely in recombination and transposition reactions, too.