title: Crystal structure of the N-terminal RecA-like domain of a DEAD-box RNA helicase, the Dugesia japonica vasa-like gene B protein.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.forename: Takaho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirouzu
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yabuki
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kigawa
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Norito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kashikawa
authors.forename: Kiyokazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agata
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; C117549:vas-related protein, Dugesia japonica; D011938:Rec A Recombinases; D020365:RNA Helicases