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- Title
The role of DNA shape in protein-DNA recognition.
- Authors
Rohs, Remo; West, Sean M; Sosinsky, Alona; Liu, Peng; Mann, Richard S; Honig, Barry
- Abstract
The recognition of specific DNA sequences by proteins is thought to depend on two types of mechanism: one that involves the formation of hydrogen bonds with specific bases, primarily in the major groove, and one involving sequence-dependent deformations of the DNA helix. By comprehensively analysing the three-dimensional structures of protein-DNA complexes, here we show that the binding of arginine residues to narrow minor grooves is a widely used mode for protein-DNA recognition. This readout mechanism exploits the phenomenon that narrow minor grooves strongly enhance the negative electrostatic potential of the DNA. The nucleosome core particle offers a prominent example of this effect. Minor-groove narrowing is often associated with the presence of A-tracts, AT-rich sequences that exclude the flexible TpA step. These findings indicate that the ability to detect local variations in DNA shape and electrostatic potential is a general mechanism that enables proteins to use information in the minor groove, which otherwise offers few opportunities for the formation of base-specific hydrogen bonds, to achieve DNA-binding specificity.
- Publication
Nature, 2009, Vol 461, Issue 7268, p1248
- ISSN
1476-4687
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1038/nature08473