title: Crystal structure of the replication terminator protein from B. subtilis at 2.6 A.
abstract: The crystal structure of the replication terminator protein (RTP) of B. subtilis has been determined at 2.6 A resolution. As previously suggested by both biochemical and biophysical studies, the molecule exists as a symmetric dimer and is in the alpha + beta protein-folding class. The protein has several uncommon features, including an antiparallel coiled-coil, which serves as the dimerization domain, and both an alpha-helix and a beta-ribbon suitably positioned to interact with the major and minor grooves of B-DNA. A site has been identified on the surface of RTP that is biochemically and positionally suitable for interaction with the replication-specific helicase. Other features of the structure are consistent with the polar contrahelicase mechanism of the protein. A model of the interaction between RTP and its cognate DNA is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bussiere
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bastia
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013728:Terminator Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C063112:rtP protein, Bacillus subtilis; D004265:DNA Helicases