Binding of the PcrA helicase to various DNA substrates. The PcrA helicase (200 ng) was incubated with probes labeled at the 5′ end, and the DNA-protein complexes were resolved by electrophoresis on native 6% polyacrylamide gels. The probes used are indicated. ss top, top strand of oligonucleotide d; ss bottom, bottom strand of oligonucleotide c. P, free probe; C, PcrA-DNA complex.