ANALYSIS OF CO-CRYSTAL STRUCTURES TO IDENTIFY THE STEREOCHEMICAL DETERMINANTS OF THE ORIENTATION OF TBP ON THE TATA BOX

Possible stereochemical determinants of the orientation of TBP on the TATA box are discussed using the crystal coordinates of TBP-TATA compl exes, which have been determined by other groups, The C-terminal half of the TBP beta-sheet interacts with the TATA site of the DNA, and the N-terminal half with the A-rich site, so that the two sites with dist inct curvatures produce a unique fit, Although chemical contacts take place between one side of the beta-sheet and the DNA minor groove, the interaction seems to be facilitated indirectly by the characteristics of the other side of the beta-sheet and the DNA major groove, Thus, A la71, Leu162 and Pro190 differentiate the curvature of the beta-sheet in the N- and C-halves. The methyl positions in the DNA major groove m odulate the bendability of the two DNA sites by using differences in t he rolling capacity of TA and AT compared with PyT, and in the shiftin g capacity of AT compared with TT. The deformations of the first steps (TA and PyT) in the two sites are the largest and thus are important for the overall bending of the DNA. The differences between the two DN A sites are greatest at the second steps (AT and TT) and so these are important for determining the orientation of TBP.