title: Interrelations of secondary structure stability and DNA-binding affinity in the bacteriophage SPO1-encoded type II DNA-binding protein TF1.
abstract: TF1, a homodimeric DNA-binding and -bending protein with a preference for hydroxymethyluracil-containing DNA is the Bacillus subtilis-encoded homolog of the bacterial HU proteins and of the E. coli integration host factor. A temperature-sensitive mutation at amino acid 25 of TF1 (L25-->A) and two intragenic second site revertants at amino acids 15 (E15-->G) and 32 (L32-->I) were previously identified and their effects on virus development were examined. The DNA-binding properties of these proteins and the thermal stability of their secondary structures have now been analyzed. Amino acids 15 and 32 are far removed from the putative DNA-binding domains of TF1 but changes there exert striking effects on DNA affinity that correlate with effects on structure. The double mutant protein TF1-G15I32 binds to a preferred site in hydroxymethyluracil-containing DNA 40 times more tightly, denatures at higher temperature (delta tm = 21 degrees C), and also exchanges subunits much more slowly than does the wild-type protein. The L25-->A mutation makes TF1 secondary structure and DNA-binding highly salt concentration-dependent. The E15-->G mutation partly suppresses this effect: secondary structure of TF1-A25G15 is restored at 21 degrees C by 1 M NaCl or, at low NaCl concentration, by binding to DNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0634.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andera
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Spangler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galeone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayol
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Geiduschek
mesh_terms: D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D004247:DNA