title: Solution structure of a mutant of transcription factor 1: implications for enhanced DNA binding.
abstract: An NMR solution structure of a mutant of the homodimer protein transcription factor 1, TF1-G15/I32 (22 kDa), has been solved to atomic resolution, with 23 final structures that converge to an r.m. s.d. of 0.78 A. The overall shape of TF1-G15/I32 remains similar to that of the wild-type protein and other type II DNA-binding proteins. Each monomer has two N-terminal alpha-helices separated by a short loop, followed by a three-stranded beta-sheet, whose extension between the second and third beta-strands forms an antiparallel beta-ribbon arm, leading to a C-terminal third alpha-helix that is severely kinked in the middle. Close examination of the structure of TF1-G15/I32 reveals why it is more stable and binds DNA more tightly than does its wild-type counterpart. The dimeric core, consisting of the N-terminal helices and the beta-sheets, is more tightly packed, and this might be responsible for its increased thermal stability. The DNA-binding domain, composed of the top face of the beta-sheet, the beta-ribbon arms and the C-terminal helices, is little changed from wild-type TF1. Rather, the enhancement in DNA affinity must be due almost exclusively to the creation of an additional DNA-binding site at the side of the dimer by changes affecting helices 1 and 2: helix 2 of TF1-G15/I32 is one residue longer than helix 2 of the wild-type protein, bends inward, and is both translationally and rotationally displaced relative to helix 1. This rearrangement creates a longer, narrower fissure between the V-shaped N-terminal helices and exposes additional positively charged surface at each side of the dimer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Geiduschek
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kearns
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012996:Solutions; D055672:Static Electricity; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012996:Solutions; C059361:TF1 DNA-binding protein, Bacteriophage SPO1; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004247:DNA