Question

During bacterial conjugation, two cells of the same or similar species make close contact and transfer genetic information. In the donor cell, an endonuclease nicks the DNA so that a single strand can enter the recipient cell. Explain why the stable incorporation of the transferred DNA requires RecBCD activity in the recipient cell.

Short answer

DNA is unwound by the helicase and nuclease RecBCD, which also makes single-stranded nicks. Additionally, it begins the recombination repair procedure.

Step-by-step solution

DNA

The biomolecule that contains the information for the formation of proteins through transcription and then the translation is known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). It can produce its copies by replication.

The stable incorporation of the transferred DNA requires RecBCD activity in the recipient cell

Conjugation is the process that involves the incorporation of the single-stranded DNA into the recipient DNA of the host through homologous recombination. RecBCD is a helicase and a nuclease that unwinds DNA and creates single-stranded nicks that will allow the introduction of single-stranded DNA strands. It also starts the recombinational repair process.