E. coli RecA protein is a very important enzyme for homologous recombination and recombinational repair. Its synthesis is induced by SOS response caused by DNA damage. RecA protein has multiple functions such as single stranded DNA dependent ATPase activity, DNA annealing activity, formation of D-loop and Holliday structure in homologous recombination reaction, and coprotease activities that promote self-cleavages of LexA repressor, lambda phage repressor and UmuD protein. RecA protein binds to single and double stranded DNA for nucleofilament formation. It carries out a central role in homologous recombination.
