I'm curious about the role and responsibilities of the CRE. I want to understand what functions and tasks they typically handle, and how their work impacts the overall organization or project they're involved in.
6 answers
Sebastiano
Tue Oct 22 2024
The Cre recombinase, also known as Cre, is a complex protein consisting of 343 amino acids. This intricate structure is made up of four distinct subunits, each contributing to its overall functionality.
Silvia
Mon Oct 21 2024
The unique characteristic of Cre lies in its ability to recognize and interact with specific sequences of DNA. Specifically, it targets and binds to pairs of 34-base pair DNA segments, which are colloquially referred to as 'loxP sites'.
Giulia
Mon Oct 21 2024
Alternatively, if the loxP sites are oriented in a specific way, Cre can invert the looped segment. This means that the sequence of nucleotides within the looped segment is reversed, potentially altering the expression of genes or other regulatory elements.
CryptoEagle
Mon Oct 21 2024
Once Cre has located and bound to these loxP sites, it initiates a series of molecular interactions. Initially, it creates a looped structure within the DNA, effectively connecting the two loxP sites in a circular fashion.
Andrea
Mon Oct 21 2024
The fate of this looped segment of DNA is determined by the orientation of the loxP sites relative to each other. Depending on this orientation, Cre can either excise or invert the looped segment.