Linear Chromosome-generating System of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58: PROTELOMERASE GENERATES AND PROTECTS HAIRPIN ENDS

Background: Protelomerase is an enzyme that generates closed hairpin ends in bacterial linear chromosomes.Results: Atu2523 encodes the agrobacterial protelomerase that generates its telomeres.Conclusion: Agrobacterial protelomerase is the most compact enzyme of its kind that can uniquely both form and bind hairpin telomeres.Significance: The studies of the reaction mechanism is crucial in understanding why and how and the prevalence of the existence of linear chromosome in bacteria.