title: Solution structure of the Set2-Rpb1 interacting domain of human Set2 and its interaction with the hyperphosphorylated C-terminal domain of Rpb1.
abstract: The phosphorylation state of the C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II changes as polymerase transcribes a gene, and the distinct forms of the phospho-CTD (PCTD) recruit different nuclear factors to elongating polymerase. The Set2 histone methyltransferase from yeast was recently shown to bind the PCTD of elongating RNA polymerase II by means of a novel domain termed the Set2-Rpb1 interacting (SRI) domain. Here, we report the solution structure of the SRI domain in human Set2 (hSRI domain), which adopts a left-turned three-helix bundle distinctly different from other structurally characterized PCTD-interacting domains. NMR titration experiments mapped the binding surface of the hSRI domain to helices 1 and 2, and Biacore binding studies showed that the domain binds preferably to [Ser-2 + Ser-5]-phosphorylated CTD peptides containing two or more heptad repeats. Point-mutagenesis studies identified five residues critical for PCTD binding. In view of the differential effects of these point mutations on binding to different CTD phosphopeptides, we propose a model for the hSRI domain interaction with the PCTD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hemali P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Phatnani
authors.forename: Ziqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: Arno L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Greenleaf
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D006801:Humans; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D008780:Methyltransferases; D012319:RNA Polymerase II