Single-strand binding protein
A single-strand binding protein is able to bind to single stranded DNA during the process of DNA semi-conservative replication. It prevents the two DNA strands that are being used as templates reannealing to one another. [1]
Single-strand binding (SSB) proteins work together with DNA helicase to unwind the helix and expose the template bases. SSB proteins assist helicase by stabilising the unwound, single-strand conformation. They also prevent short hairpin helices from forming by straightening out single-stranded DNA on the lagging strand. [2]
REFERENCES