title: Structure and function of an archaeal topoisomerase VI subunit with homology to the meiotic recombination factor Spo11.
abstract: In all organisms, type II DNA topoisomerases are essential for untangling chromosomal DNA. We have determined the structure of the DNA-binding core of the Methanococcus jannaschii DNA topoisomerase VI A subunit at 2.0 A resolution. The overall structure of this subunit is unique, demonstrating that archaeal type II enzymes are distinct from other type II topoisomerases. However, the core structure contains a pair of domains that are also found in type IA and classic type II topoisomerases. Together, these regions may form the basis of a DNA cleavage mechanism shared among these enzymes. The core A subunit is a dimer that contains a deep groove that spans both protomers. The dimer architecture suggests that DNA is bound in the groove, across the A subunit interface, and that the two monomers separate during DNA transport. The A subunit of topoisomerase VI is homologous to the meiotic recombination factor, Spo11, and this structure can serve as a template for probing Spo11 function in eukaryotes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, 229 Stanley Hall-#3206, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: DeAngelis
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000737:chemistry*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D019281:Dimerization; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D004926:Escherichia coli; D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry*; D008540:Meiosis; D017017:Methanococcus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D004247:DNA; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D004950:Esterases; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11; C105141:DNA topoisomerase VI