Single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) binds to single-stranded regions of DNA. This binding serves a variety of functions - it prevents the strands from hardening too early during replication, it protects the single-stranded DNA from being broken down by nucleases during repair, and it removes the secondary structure of the strands so that other enzymes are able to access them and act effectively upon the strands[1].
Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is utilized primarily during the course of major aspects of DNA metabolism such as replication, recombination and repair [2]. In addition to stabilizing ssDNA, SSB proteins also bind to and control the function of many other proteins that are involved in all three of these major DNA metabolic processes. During DNA replication, SSB molecules bind to the newly separated individual DNA strands, keeping the strands separated by holding them in place so that each strand can serve as a template for new DNA synthesis[3].
