Crystal structure of the N-terminal RecA-like domain of a DEAD-box RNA helicase, the Dugesia japonica vasa-like gene B protein.
The Dugesia japonica vasa-like gene B (DjVLGB) protein is a DEAD-box RNA helicase of a planarian, which is well known for its strong regenerative capacity. DjVLGB shares sequence similarity to the Drosophila germ-line-specific DEAD-box RNA helicase Vasa, and even higher similarity to its paralogue, mouse PL10. In this study, we solved the crystal structure of the DjVLGB N-terminal RecA-like domain. The overall fold and the structures of the putative ATPase active site of the DjVLGB N-terminal RecA-like domain are similar to those of the previously reported DEAD-box RNA helicase structures. In contrast, the surface structure of the side opposite to the putative ATPase active site is different from those of the other DEAD-box RNA helicases; the characteristic hydrophobic pockets are formed with aromatic and proline residues. These pocket-forming residues are conserved in the PL10-subfamily proteins, but less conserved in the Vasa orthologues and not conserved in the DEAD-box RNA helicases. Therefore, the structural features that we found are characteristic of the PL10-subfamily proteins and might contribute to their biological roles in germ-line development.
Kurimoto
Kazuki
K
RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
Muto
Yutaka
Y
Obayashi
Naomi
N
Terada
Takaho
T
Shirouzu
Mikako
M
Yabuki
Takashi
T
Aoki
Masaaki
M
Seki
Eiko
E
Matsuda
Takayoshi
T
Kigawa
Takanori
T
Okumura
Hiromi
H
Tanaka
Akiko
A
Shibata
Norito
N
Kashikawa
Maki
M
Agata
Kiyokazu
K
Yokoyama
Shigeyuki
S
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010802:Phylogeny; D010932:Planarians / Q000201:enzymology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification
D015801:Helminth Proteins; C117549:vas-related protein, Dugesia japonica; D011938:Rec A Recombinases; D020365:RNA Helicases