Structure of catabolite gene activator protein at 2.9 A resolution suggests binding to left-handed B-DNA - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 1981 Apr 30;290(5809):744-9.

doi: 10.1038/290744a0.

Structure of catabolite gene activator protein at 2.9 A resolution suggests binding to left-handed B-DNA

D B McKay et al. Nature. 1981.

Abstract

The 2.9 A resolution crystal structure of Escherichia coli catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) complexed with cyclic AMP reveals two distinct structural domains separated by a cleft. The smaller carboxy-terminal domain is presumed to bind DNA while the amino-terminal domain is seen to bind cyclic AMP. Model building studies suggest that CAP binds to left-handed B-type DNA, contracting its major groove via two alpha-helices. It is possible that the CAP conversion of right- to left-handed DNA in a closed supercoil, is what activates transcription by RNA polymerase.

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