CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF A YEAST TBP TATA-BOX COMPLEX

The 2.5 angstrom crystal structure of a TATA-box complex with yeast TB P shows that the eight base pairs of the TATA box bind to the concave surface of TBP by bending towards the major groove with unprecedented severity. This produces a wide open, underwound, shallow minor groove which forms a primarily hydrophobic interface with the entire under-su rface of the TBP saddle. The severe bend and a positive writhe radical ly alter the trajectory of the flanking B-form DNA.