The solution structure of the Mu Ner protein reveals a helix-turn-helix DNA recognition motif

Structure
T E StrzeleckaA M Gronenborn

Abstract

The Mu Ner protein is a small (74 amino acids), basic, DNA-binding protein found in phage Mu. It belongs to a class of proteins, the cro and repressor proteins, that regulate the switch from the lysogenic to the lytic state of the phage life cycle. There is no significant sequence identity between Mu Ner and the cro proteins of other phages, despite their functional similarity. In addition, there is no significant sequence identity with any other DNA-binding proteins, with the exception of Ner from the related phage D108 and the Nlp protein of Escherichia coli. As the tertiary structures of Mu Ner and these two related proteins are unknown, it is clear that a three-dimensional (3D) structure of Mu Ner is essential in order to gain insight into its mode of DNA binding. The 3D solution structure of Mu Ner has been solved by 3D and 4D heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structure consists of five alpha helices, two of which comprise a helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif. Analysis of line broadening and disappearance of crosspeaks in a 1H-15N correlation spectrum of the Mu Ner-DNA complex suggests that residues in these two helices are most likely to be in contact with the DNA. Like the functionally analogous cro proteins f...Continue Reading

References

Sep 5, 1992·Journal of Molecular Biology·L J Beamer, C O Pabo
Jan 1, 1992·Annual Review of Biochemistry·C O Pabo, R T Sauer
Oct 24, 1991·Nature·S C Harrison
May 20, 1991·Journal of Molecular Biology·A Mondragón, S C Harrison
Mar 1, 1990·Biopolymers·M NilgesA M Gronenborn
Jan 5, 1989·Journal of Molecular Biology·A MondragónS C Harrison
Jan 5, 1989·Journal of Molecular Biology·A MondragónS C Harrison
Oct 27, 1988·Nature·C WolbergerS C Harrison
Apr 6, 1987·Nature·J E AndersonS C Harrison
Jan 1, 1981·Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology·P van de PutteE van Leerdam
Jun 1, 1995·Journal of Magnetic Resonance. Series B·J KuszewskiG M Clore
Mar 7, 1995·Biochemistry·T E StrzeleckaA M Gronenborn
Nov 1, 1995·Journal of Biomolecular NMR·F DelaglioA Bax
Sep 26, 1986·Science·S L McKnight

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 1, 1997·Current Opinion in Structural Biology·M A KercherM Lewis
Apr 6, 2004·Structure·Tracey NewloveMatthew H J Cordes
Jan 1, 1996·Nature Structural Biology·R H Kretsinger

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bacteriophage: Phage Therapy

Phage therapy uses bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) to treat bacterial infections and is widely being recognized as an alternative to antibiotics. Here is the latest research.