title: Vaccinia topoisomerase binds circumferentially to DNA.
abstract: Vaccinia DNA topoisomerase, a member of the eukaryotic type I enzyme family, binds duplex DNA and forms a covalent adduct at sites containing a conserved sequence element 5'-CCCTT decreases in the scissile strand. The protein-DNA interface entails essential contacts with four phosphate moieties within the CCCTT motif, including the scissile phosphate, and three phosphates within the GGGAA sequence on the noncleaved strand. Critical protein-phosphate contacts are arrayed across the minor groove of the DNA helix. Base-specific contacts with the pentamer element are within the major groove and are situated on the opposite face of the helix. Thus, vaccinia topoisomerase binds circumferentially to its target site in duplex DNA. This binding mode suggests that the eukaryotic enzyme adopts a toroidal shape in the DNA-bound state. Conformational isomerization of the bound protein provides a plausible mechanism for DNA relaxation.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10021.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shuman
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003852:Deoxyribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D003852:Deoxyribonucleoproteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011743:Pyrimidines; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I