title: Evidence for a non-alpha-helical DNA-binding motif in the Rel homology region.
abstract: The Rel family of transcription factors serve as terminal messengers in a variety of developmental and receptor-mediated signaling pathways. These proteins are related by a domain of approximately 280 amino acids, the Rel homology region, which mediates dimerization and sequence-specific binding to DNA. Here we report the use of photocrosslinking and site-directed mutagenesis to identify specific contact partners in a Rel protein-DNA interface. Within the Rel homology region of NF-kappa B p50 (also known as KBF1), two amino acid residues were identified by photocrosslinking to adjacent bases in a beta-interferon regulatory element. Secondary structure analysis suggests that the DNA-binding motif of the Rel homology region comprises a beta-turn-beta structure, in contrast to the alpha-helical motifs so commonly observed in transcription factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sodeoka
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Verdine
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010777:Photochemistry; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA