Dynamics and selective remodeling of the DNA-binding domains of RPA

Replication protein A (RPA) coordinates important DNA metabolic events by stabilizing single-strand DNA (ssDNA) intermediates, activating the DNA damage response and handing off ssDNA to appropriate downstream players. Six DNA binding domains (DBDs) in RPA promote high affinity binding to ssDNA yet also allow RPA displacement by lower affinity proteins. We generated fluorescent versions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RPA and visualized the conformational dynamics of individual DBDs in the context of the full-length protein. We show that both DBD-A and DBD-D rapidly bind to and dissociate from ssDNA while RPA remains bound to ssDNA. The recombination mediator protein Rad52 selectively modulates the dynamics of DBD-D. These findings reveal how RPA interacting proteins with lower ssDNA binding affinities can access the occluded ssDNA and remodel individual DBDs to replace RPA.
One Sentence Summary: The choreography of binding and rearrangement of the individual domains of RPA during homologous recombination is revealed.