title: Determination of conformational transition rates in the trp promoter by 1H NMR rotating-frame T1 and cross-relaxation rate measurements.
abstract: Rotating-frame relaxation measurements have been used in conjunction with spin-spin relaxation rate constants to investigate a conformational transition previously observed in the -10 region of the trp promoter d(CGTACTAGTTAACTAGTACG)2 (Lefèvre, Lane, Jardetzky 1987). The transition is localised to the sub-sequence TAAC, and is in fast exchange on the chemical shift time-scale. The rate constant for the exchange process has been determined from measurements of the rotating-frame relaxation rate constant as a function of the spin-lock field strength, and is approximately 5000 s-1 at 30 degrees C. Measurements have also been made as a function of temperature and in two different magnetic fields: the results are fully consistent with those expected for the exchange contribution in a two-site system. A similar transition has been observed in d(GTGATTGACAATTA).d(CACTAACTGTTAAT), which contains the -35 region of the trp promoter. This has been investigated in the same way, and has been found to undergo exchange at a faster rate under comparable conditions. In addition, the cross-relaxation rate constants for Ade C2H-Ade C2H pairs have been measured as a function of temperature, and these indicate that certain internuclear distances in YAAY subsequences increase with increasing temperature. These changes in distance are consistent with a flattening of propellor twist of the AT base-pairs. The occurrence of conformational transitions in YAAY subsequences depends on the flanking sequence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Structure, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Frenkiel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008280:Magnetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D014364:Tryptophan