<p>This entry represents the central domain of bacterial DnaA proteins [<cite idref="PUB00000665"/>, <cite idref="PUB00003815"/>, <cite idref="PUB00005517"/>] that play an important role in initiating and regulating chromosomal replication. DnaA is an ATP- and DNA-binding protein. It binds specifically to 9 bp nucleotide repeats known as dnaA boxes which are found in the chromosome origin of replication (oriC).</p><p>DnaA is a protein of about 50 kDa that contains two conserved regions: the first is located in the N-terminal half and corresponds to the ATP-binding domain, the second is located in the C-terminal half and could be involved in DNA-binding. The protein may also bind the RNA polymerase beta subunit, the dnaB and dnaZ proteins, and the groE gene products (chaperonins) [<cite idref="PUB00001793"/>].</p>