Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Single-strand binding proteins (SSBs) are proteins that bind to single-stranded DNA during replication. They stabilize the unwound DNA and prevent it from reannealing or forming secondary structures.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
SSBs play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of single-stranded DNA during replication.
They prevent single-stranded DNA from forming secondary structures such as hairpins.
SSBs protect single-stranded DNA from nucleases, enzymes that degrade DNA.
In prokaryotes, SSBs are essential for the function of other replication proteins like DNA polymerase.
The binding of SSBs is cooperative, meaning that the binding of one SSB protein facilitates the binding of additional SSB proteins.
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Related terms
Helicase: An enzyme that unwinds the double-stranded DNA helix ahead of the replication fork.
DNA Polymerase: An enzyme responsible for synthesizing new strands of DNA complementary to the template strand.
Primase: An enzyme that synthesizes a short RNA primer to provide a starting point for DNA synthesis.