Single-stranded DNA-binding Proteins

The emergence of DNA as the predominant hereditary material of life has necessitated the evolution of proteins whose sole function is the maintenance and care of these vital molecules. In a typical cell, there is a wide array of proteins with specialized functions in DNA metabolism that allow the cell to maintain and replicate its genome. In order to copy or make repairs to DNA, the double helix must be unwound to reveal the two complementary strands. The need to manipulate DNA in its singlestranded form has given rise to a specialized group of proteins.This article examines the family of proteinswhose primary role is to recognize and bind to single-stranded DNA(ssDNA).By comparing a variety of ssDNA-binding proteins from different species and different metabolic processes, we can discern their common characteristics, as well as the distinctions that make them essential to the cell.