@article{mbs:/content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.000563, author = "Xie, Xianxing and Yang, Ruifu", title = "Multi-copy single-stranded DNA in Escherichia coli", journal= "Microbiology", year = "2017", volume = "163", number = "12", pages = "1735-1739", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.000563", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.000563", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2080", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "retron", keywords = "multi-copy single-stranded DNA", keywords = "Escherichia coli", abstract = "Multi-copy single-stranded DNA (msDNA) is composed of covalently bound single-stranded DNA and RNA, and synthesized by retron-encoded reverse transcriptase. msDNA-synthesizing systems are thought to be a recent acquisition by Escherichia coli because, to date, only seven types of msDNA, which differ markedly in their primary nucleotide sequences, have been found in a small subset of E. coli strains. The wide use of E. coli in molecular research means that it is important to understand more about these stable, covalently bound, single-stranded DNA or RNA compounds. The present review provides insights into the molecular biosynthesis, distribution and function of E. coli msDNA to raise awareness about these special molecules.", }