Structural basis of mRNA cap recognition by proteins.
Crystal structures have recently become available for two proteins (VP39 and eIF4E) complexed with their cognate ligand - the mRNA cap. Despite their total structural dissimilarity, both proteins bind N7-methylguanine between two parallel aromatic sidechains. The resulting stacked arrangement governs their high specificity for the alkylated form of the nucleobase.
Quiocho
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FA
Department of Biochemistry and the Structural and Computational Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. faq@bcm.tmc.edu
Hu
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Gershon
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PD
D000478:Alkylation; D001665:Binding Sites; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012315:RNA Caps / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D012315:RNA Caps; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C088682:VP39 protein, Vaccinia virus; D014764:Viral Proteins; D006147:Guanine; C008450:7-methylguanine