Aravindan Ilangovan

The paper identifies the functionally asymmetric TraI homodimer structure and elucidates how strand nicking and helicase loading are coordinated during bacterial conjugation.

The paper presents the cryo-EM structure of the relaxosome from the F plasmid in two functional states, revealing conformational changes and interaction hubs involved in bacterial conjugation.

The paper identifies SirA as a repressor that inhibits DnaD-DnaA interaction, blocking helicase recruitment during Bacillus subtilis sporulation.

The paper identifies a specific ssDNA motif in Bacillus subtilis oriC that is preferentially bound by DnaD, facilitating strand-specific helicase recruitment for bidirectional replication.