title: A new DNA-binding motif in the Skn-1 binding domain-DNA complex.
abstract: The DNA-binding domain of Skn-1, a developmental transcription factor that specifies mesoderm in C. elegans, is shown by X-ray crystallography to have a novel fold in which a compact, monomeric, four-helix unit organizes two DNA-contact elements. At the C-terminus, a helix extends from the domain to occupy the major groove of DNA in a manner similar to bZip proteins. Skn-1, however, lacks the leucine zipper found in all bZips. Additional contacts with the DNA are made by a short basic segment at the N-terminus of the domain, reminiscent of the 'homeodomain arm'.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology, Department of Chemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403, USA.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Rupert
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Daughdrill
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bowerman
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D019281:Dimerization; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C073702:skn-1 protein, C elegans; D004247:DNA; D011494:Protein Kinases