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- Title
Evolutionary fine-tuning of residual helix structure in disordered proteins manifests in complex structure and lifetime.
- Authors
Elkjær, Steffie; Due, Amanda D.; Christensen, Lise F.; Theisen, Frederik F.; Staby, Lasse; Kragelund, Birthe B.; Skriver, Karen
- Abstract
Transcription depends on complex networks, where folded hub proteins interact with intrinsically disordered transcription factors undergoing coupled folding and binding. For this, local residual structure, a prototypical feature of intrinsic disorder, is key. Here, we dissect the unexplored functional potential of residual structure by comparing structure, kinetics, and thermodynamics within the model system constituted of the DREB2A transcription factor interacting with the αα-hub RCD1-RST. To maintain biological relevance, we developed an orthogonal evolutionary approach for the design of variants with varying amounts of structure. Biophysical analysis revealed a correlation between the amount of residual helical structure and binding affinity, manifested in altered complex lifetime due to changed dissociation rate constants. It also showed a correlation between helical structure in free and bound DREB2A variants. Overall, this study demonstrated how evolution can balance and fine-tune residual structure to regulate complexes in coupled folding and binding, potentially affecting transcription factor competition. Evolution-guided mutagenesis and biophysical analysis reveal that residual helical structure in the binding region of an intrinsically disordered protein regulates the lifetime of its complex by affecting its dissociation.
- Subjects
PROTEIN structure; HELICAL structure; TRANSCRIPTION factors; PROTEIN folding; THERMODYNAMICS; MUTAGENESIS
- Publication
Communications Biology, 2023, Vol 6, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2399-3642
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s42003-023-04445-6