title: Structure of the conserved domain of ANAC, a member of the NAC family of transcription factors.
abstract: The structure of the DNA-binding NAC domain of Arabidopsis ANAC (abscisic-acid-responsive NAC) has been determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.9A resolution (Protein Data Bank codes 1UT4 and 1UT7). This is the first structure determined for a member of the NAC family of plant-specific transcriptional regulators. NAC proteins are characterized by their conserved N-terminal NAC domains that can bind both DNA and other proteins. NAC proteins are involved in developmental processes, including formation of the shoot apical meristem, floral organs and lateral shoots, as well as in plant hormonal control and defence. The NAC domain does not possess a classical helix-turn-helix motif; instead it reveals a new transcription factor fold consisting of a twisted beta-sheet surrounded by a few helical elements. The functional dimer formed by the NAC domain was identified in the structure, which will serve as a structural template for understanding NAC protein function at the molecular level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Centre for Crystallographic Studies, University of Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Heidi A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Addie Nina
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Sine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Leggio
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017796:Caulimovirus / Q000235:genetics; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C474015:ANAC protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D014157:Transcription Factors