A NEW DNA-BINDING MOTIF IN THE SKN-1 BINDING DOMAIN DNA COMPLEX

Citation
Pb. Rupert et al., A NEW DNA-BINDING MOTIF IN THE SKN-1 BINDING DOMAIN DNA COMPLEX, Nature structural biology, 5(6), 1998, pp. 484-491
Citations number
50
Categorie Soggetti
Biophysics,Biology,"Cell Biology
Journal title
ISSN journal
10728368
Volume
5
Issue
6
Year of publication
1998
Pages
484 - 491
Database
ISI
SICI code
1072-8368(1998)5:6<484:ANDMIT>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
The DNA-binding domain of Skn-1, a developmental transcription factor that specifies mesoderm in C. elegans, is shown by X-ray crystallograp hy to have a novel fold in which a compact, monomeric, four-helix unit organizes two DNA-contact elements. At the C-terminus, a helix extend s from the domain to occupy the major groove of DNA in a manner simila r to bZip proteins. Skn-1, however, lacks the leucine zipper found in all bZips. Additional contacts with the DNA are made by a short basic segment at the N-terminus of the domain, reminiscent of the 'homeodoma in arm'.