title: Nucleic acid binding properties of the simian immunodeficiency virus nucleocapsid protein NCp8.
abstract: The nucleocapsid protein of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) NCp8 has two copies of conserved sequences (termed zinc fingers, ZF) of 14 amino acids with 4 invariant residues (CCHC) that coordinate Zn(II). Each of its two ZFs has a Trp residue. A significant quenching of NCp8 Trp fluorescence was seen in nucleic acid complexes, suggesting stacking of the indole ring with nucleobases and the simultaneous involvement of both ZFs in the binding process. Both ZFs contribute to the nucleic acid binding free energy of NCp8, albeit in a not additive manner. NCp8 exhibited a base preference analogous to that of NCp7: G approximately I > T > U > C > A. Alternating base sequences that bind HIV-1 NCp7 in a sequence-specific manner were also bound selectively by NCp8. Specific sequence recognition required at least five bases and the presence of bound Zn(II). The two ZFs account for the net displacement of 3 out of 4 sodium ions upon binding (2 by the first and one by the second finger), and for most (85%) of the hydrophobic stabilization in complex formation. Based on the sequence and functional similarity of SIV NCp8 and HIV-1 NCp7, and using available structural information for free and oligonucleotide bound NCp7, we propose a structural model for NCp8-oligonucleotide complexes.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Vaccine Program, SAIC Frederick, NCI, Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Urbaneja
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Casas-Finet
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000737:chemistry; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014764:Viral Proteins; D016335:Zinc Fingers; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015683:Gene Products, gag; C071884:NCP7 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C407345:nucleocapsid protein 8, SIV; C027903:oligo (dT)