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Talyzina A, Han Y, Banerjee C, Fishbain S, Reyes A, Vafabakhsh R, He Y. Structural basis of TFIIIC-dependent RNA polymerase III transcription initiation. Mol Cell 2023; 83:2641-2652.e7. [PMID: 37402369 PMCID: PMC10528418 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
RNA polymerase III (Pol III) is responsible for transcribing 5S ribosomal RNA (5S rRNA), tRNAs, and other short non-coding RNAs. Its recruitment to the 5S rRNA promoter requires transcription factors TFIIIA, TFIIIC, and TFIIIB. Here, we use cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) to visualize the S. cerevisiae complex of TFIIIA and TFIIIC bound to the promoter. Gene-specific factor TFIIIA interacts with DNA and acts as an adaptor for TFIIIC-promoter interactions. We also visualize DNA binding of TFIIIB subunits, Brf1 and TBP (TATA-box binding protein), which results in the full-length 5S rRNA gene wrapping around the complex. Our smFRET study reveals that the DNA within the complex undergoes both sharp bending and partial dissociation on a slow timescale, consistent with the model predicted from our cryo-EM results. Our findings provide new insights into the transcription initiation complex assembly on the 5S rRNA promoter and allow us to directly compare Pol III and Pol II transcription adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Talyzina
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Yan Han
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Chiranjib Banerjee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Susan Fishbain
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Alexis Reyes
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Reza Vafabakhsh
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Yuan He
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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2
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Talyzina A, Han Y, Banerjee C, Fishbain S, Reyes A, Vafabakhsh R, He Y. Structural basis of TFIIIC-dependent RNA Polymerase III transcription initiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.16.540967. [PMID: 37292922 PMCID: PMC10245719 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.16.540967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
RNA Polymerase III (Pol III) is responsible for transcribing 5S ribosomal RNA (5S rRNA), tRNAs, and other short non-coding RNAs. Its recruitment to the 5S rRNA promoter requires transcription factors TFIIIA, TFIIIC, and TFIIIB. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the S. cerevisiae complex of TFIIIA and TFIIIC bound to the promoter. Brf1-TBP binding further stabilizes the DNA, resulting in the full-length 5S rRNA gene wrapping around the complex. Our smFRET study reveals that the DNA undergoes both sharp bending and partial dissociation on a slow timescale, consistent with the model predicted from our cryo-EM results. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanism of how the transcription initiation complex assembles on the 5S rRNA promoter, a crucial step in Pol III transcription regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Talyzina
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Yan Han
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Chiranjib Banerjee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Susan Fishbain
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Alexis Reyes
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Reza Vafabakhsh
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Yuan He
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Lead contact
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3
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Neuhaus D. Zinc finger structure determination by NMR: Why zinc fingers can be a handful. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 130-131:62-105. [PMID: 36113918 PMCID: PMC7614390 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Zinc fingers can be loosely defined as protein domains containing one or more tetrahedrally-co-ordinated zinc ions whose role is to stabilise the structure rather than to be involved in enzymatic chemistry; such zinc ions are often referred to as "structural zincs". Although structural zincs can occur in proteins of any size, they assume particular significance for very small protein domains, where they are often essential for maintaining a folded state. Such small structures, that sometimes have only marginal stability, can present particular difficulties in terms of sample preparation, handling and structure determination, and early on they gained a reputation for being resistant to crystallisation. As a result, NMR has played a more prominent role in structural studies of zinc finger proteins than it has for many other types of proteins. This review will present an overview of the particular issues that arise for structure determination of zinc fingers by NMR, and ways in which these may be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Neuhaus
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.
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4
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The Identification of Zinc-Finger Protein 433 as a Possible Prognostic Biomarker for Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081193. [PMID: 34439859 PMCID: PMC8392881 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common and aggressive form of all urological cancers, with poor prognosis and high mortality. At late stages, ccRCC is known to be mainly resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to identify biomarkers that can facilitate the early detection of ccRCC in patients. In this study, the levels of transcripts of ccRCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset were used to identify prognostic biomarkers in this disease. Analyzing the data obtained indicated that the KRAB-ZNF protein is significantly suppressed in clear-cell carcinomas. Furthermore, ZNF433 is differentially expressed in ccRCC in a stage- and histological-grade-specific manner. In addition, ZNF433 expression was correlated with metastasis, with greater node involvement associated with lower ZNF433 expression (p < 0.01) and with a more unsatisfactory overall survival outcome (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33–0.6; p = 8.5 × 10−8). Since ccRCC is characterized by mutations in proteins that alter epigenetic modifications and /or chromatin remodeling, we examined the expression of ZNF433 transcripts in ccRCC with wildtype and mutated forms of BAP1, KDMC5, MTOR, PBRM1, SETD2, and VHL. Analysis revealed that ZNF433 expression was significantly reduced in ccRCC with mutations in the BAP1, SETD2, and KDM5C genes (p < 0.05). In addition, the ZNF433 promoter region was highly methylated, and hypermethylation was significantly associated with mRNA suppression (p < 2.2 × 10−16). In silico analysis of potential ZNF target genes found that the largest group of target genes are involved in cellular metabolic processes, which incidentally are particularly impaired in ccRCC. It was concluded from this study that gene expression of ZNF433 is associated with cancer progression and poorer prognosis, and that ZNF433 behaves in a manner that suggests that it is a prognostic marker and a possible tumor-suppressor gene in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.
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Yoon C, Lee D, Lee SJ. Regulation of the Central Dogma through Bioinorganic Events with Metal Coordination for Specific Interactions. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chungwoon Yoon
- Department of Chemistry Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
| | - Dong‐Heon Lee
- Department of Chemistry Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Jae Lee
- Department of Chemistry Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
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6
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Maris C, Jayne S, Damberger FF, Beusch I, Dorn G, Ravindranathan S, Allain FHT. A transient α-helix in the N-terminal RNA recognition motif of polypyrimidine tract binding protein senses RNA secondary structure. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:4521-4537. [PMID: 32170319 PMCID: PMC7192611 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) is a multi-domain protein involved in alternative splicing, mRNA localization, stabilization, polyadenylation and translation initiation from internal ribosome entry sites (IRES). In this latter process, PTB promotes viral translation by interacting extensively with complex structured regions in the 5′-untranslated regions of viral RNAs at pyrimidine-rich targets located in single strand and hairpin regions. To better understand how PTB recognizes structured elements in RNA targets, we solved the solution structure of the N-terminal RNA recognition motif (RRM) in complex with an RNA hairpin embedding the loop sequence UCUUU, which is frequently found in IRESs of the picornovirus family. Surprisingly, a new three-turn α3 helix C-terminal to the RRM, folds upon binding the RNA hairpin. Although α3 does not mediate any contacts to the RNA, it acts as a sensor of RNA secondary structure, suggesting a role for RRM1 in detecting pyrimidine tracts in the context of structured RNA. Moreover, the degree of helix formation depends on the RNA loop sequence. Finally, we show that the α3 helix region, which is highly conserved in vertebrates, is crucial for PTB function in enhancing Encephalomyocarditis virus IRES activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandrine Jayne
- Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Irene Beusch
- Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Georg Dorn
- Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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7
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Singh R, Sophiarani Y. A report on DNA sequence determinants in gene expression. Bioinformation 2020; 16:422-431. [PMID: 32831525 PMCID: PMC7434957 DOI: 10.6026/97320630016422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The biased usage of nucleotides in coding sequence and its correlation with gene expression has been observed in several studies. A complex set of interactions between genes and
other components of the expression system determine the amount of proteins produced from coding sequences. It is known that the elongation rate of polypeptide chain is affected by
both codon usage bias and specific amino acid compositional constraints. Therefore, it is of interest to review local DNA-sequence elements and other positional as well as
combinatorial constraints that play significant role in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravail Singh
- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, CSIR, Canal Road, Jammu-180001
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8
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Chirgadze YN, Ivanov VV. Zn-CysHis Protein Factor Families: Role of Electrostatic Interaction of Zn-Domains in Factor Functions. Mol Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s002689332002003x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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9
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Germline mutations in the transcription factor IKZF5 cause thrombocytopenia. Blood 2020; 134:2070-2081. [PMID: 31217188 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify novel causes of hereditary thrombocytopenia, we performed a genetic association analysis of whole-genome sequencing data from 13 037 individuals enrolled in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) BioResource, including 233 cases with isolated thrombocytopenia. We found an association between rare variants in the transcription factor-encoding gene IKZF5 and thrombocytopenia. We report 5 causal missense variants in or near IKZF5 zinc fingers, of which 2 occurred de novo and 3 co-segregated in 3 pedigrees. A canonical DNA-zinc finger binding model predicts that 3 of the variants alter DNA recognition. Expression studies showed that chromatin binding was disrupted in mutant compared with wild-type IKZF5, and electron microscopy revealed a reduced quantity of α granules in normally sized platelets. Proplatelet formation was reduced in megakaryocytes from 7 cases relative to 6 controls. Comparison of RNA-sequencing data from platelets, monocytes, neutrophils, and CD4+ T cells from 3 cases and 14 healthy controls showed 1194 differentially expressed genes in platelets but only 4 differentially expressed genes in each of the other blood cell types. In conclusion, IKZF5 is a novel transcriptional regulator of megakaryopoiesis and the eighth transcription factor associated with dominant thrombocytopenia in humans.
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10
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Padjasek M, Kocyła A, Kluska K, Kerber O, Tran JB, Krężel A. Structural zinc binding sites shaped for greater works: Structure-function relations in classical zinc finger, hook and clasp domains. J Inorg Biochem 2020; 204:110955. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.110955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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11
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A Krüppel-like factor 1 ( KLF1) Mutation Associated with Severe Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia Alters Its DNA-Binding Specificity. Mol Cell Biol 2020; 40:MCB.00444-19. [PMID: 31818881 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00444-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1/EKLF) is a transcription factor that globally activates genes involved in erythroid cell development. Various mutations are identified in the human KLF1 gene. The E325K mutation causes congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) type IV, characterized by severe anemia and non-erythroid-cell-related symptoms. The CDA mutation is in the second zinc finger of KLF1 at a position functionally involved in its interactions with DNA. The molecular parameters of how CDA-KLF1 exerts its biological effects have not been addressed. Here, using an in vitro selection strategy, we determined the preferred DNA-binding site for CDA-KLF1. Binding to the deduced consensus sequence is supported by in vitro gel shifts and by in vivo functional reporter gene studies. Two significant changes compared to wild-type (WT) binding are observed: G is selected as the middle nucleotide, and the 3' portion of the consensus sequence is more degenerate. As a consequence, CDA-KLF1 did not bind the WT consensus sequence. However, activation of ectopic sites is promoted. Continuous activation of WT target genes occurs if they fortuitously contain the novel CDA site nearby. Our findings provide a molecular understanding of how a single mutation in the KLF1 zinc finger exerts effects on erythroid physiology in CDA type IV.
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12
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Kluska K, Adamczyk J, Krężel A. Metal binding properties of zinc fingers with a naturally altered metal binding site. Metallomics 2019; 10:248-263. [PMID: 29230465 DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00256d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Zinc fingers (ZFs) are among the most abundant motifs found in proteins, and are commonly known for their structural role. Classical ZFs (CCHH) are part of the transcription factors that participate in DNA binding. Although biochemical studies of classical ZFs have a long history, there is limited knowledge about the sequential and structural diversity of ZFs. We have found that classical ZFs, with metal binding sites consisting of amino acids other than conserved Cys or His residues, are frequently encoded in the human genome, and we refer to these peptides as ZFs with a naturally altered metal binding site. The biological role of the altered ZFs remains undiscovered. In this study, we characterized nine natural XCHH, CXHH, CCXH and CCHX ZFs in terms of their Zn(ii) and Co(ii) binding properties, such as complex stoichiometry, spectroscopic properties and metal-to-peptide affinity. We revealed that XCHH and CXHH ZFs form ML complexes that are 4-5 orders of magnitude weaker in comparison to CCHH ZFs. Nevertheless, spectroscopic studies demonstrate that, depending on the altered position, they may adopt an open coordination geometry with one or two water molecules bound to a central metal ion, which has not been demonstrated in natural ZFs before. Stability data show that both CCXH and CCHX peptides have high Zn(ii) affinity (with a Kd of 10-9 to 10-11 M), suggesting their potential biological function. This study is a comprehensive overview of the relationship between the sequence, structure, and stability of ZFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kluska
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
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13
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Hydration differences between the major and minor grooves of DNA revealed from heat capacity measurements. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2018; 48:131-138. [PMID: 30552448 PMCID: PMC6411667 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-018-1340-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The nature of water on the surface of a macromolecule is reflected in the temperature dependence of the heat effect, i.e., the heat capacity change, ΔCp, that accompanies its removal on forming a complex. The relationship between ΔCp and the nature of the surface dehydrated cannot be modeled for DNA by the use of small molecules, as previously done for proteins, since the contiguous surfaces of the grooves cannot be treated as the sum of small component molecules such as nucleotides. An alternative approach is used here in which ΔCp is measured for the formation of several protein/DNA complexes and the calculated contribution from protein dehydration subtracted to yield the heat capacity change attributable to dehydration of the DNA. The polar and apolar surface areas of the DNA dehydrated on complex formation were calculated from the known structures of the complexes, allowing heat capacity coefficients to be derived representing dehydration of unit surface area of polar and apolar surface in both grooves. Dehydration of apolar surfaces in both grooves is essentially identical and accompanied by a reduction in ΔCp by about 3 J K−1 mol−1 (Å2)−1, a value of somewhat greater magnitude than observed for proteins {ΔCp = − 1.79 J K−1 mol−1 (Å2)−1}. In contrast, dehydration of polar surfaces is very different in the two grooves: in the minor groove ΔCp increases by 2.7 J K−1 mol−1 (Å2)−1, but in the major groove, although ΔCp is also positive, it is low in value: + 0.4 J K−1 mol−1 (Å2)−1. Physical explanations for the magnitudes of ΔCp are discussed.
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14
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Kluska K, Adamczyk J, Krężel A. Metal binding properties, stability and reactivity of zinc fingers. Coord Chem Rev 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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15
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Farías-Rico JA, Goetz SK, Marino J, von Heijne G. Mutational analysis of protein folding inside the ribosome exit tunnel. FEBS Lett 2016; 591:155-163. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José Arcadio Farías-Rico
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Center for Biomembrane Research; Stockholm University; Sweden
| | - Sara Kathrin Goetz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Center for Biomembrane Research; Stockholm University; Sweden
| | - Jacopo Marino
- Gene Center and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich; CiPS-M; University of Munich; Germany
| | - Gunnar von Heijne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Center for Biomembrane Research; Stockholm University; Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory; Stockholm University; Solna Sweden
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16
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Wai DCC, Shihab M, Low JKK, Mackay JP. The zinc fingers of YY1 bind single-stranded RNA with low sequence specificity. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:9153-9165. [PMID: 27369384 PMCID: PMC5100589 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical zinc fingers (ZFs) are traditionally considered to act as sequence-specific DNA-binding domains. More recently, classical ZFs have been recognised as potential RNA-binding modules, raising the intriguing possibility that classical-ZF transcription factors are involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation via direct RNA binding. To date, however, only one classical ZF-RNA complex, that involving TFIIIA, has been structurally characterised. Yin Yang-1 (YY1) is a multi-functional transcription factor involved in many regulatory processes, and binds DNA via four classical ZFs. Recent evidence suggests that YY1 also interacts with RNA, but the molecular nature of the interaction remains unknown. In the present work, we directly assess the ability of YY1 to bind RNA using in vitro assays. Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) was used to identify preferred RNA sequences bound by the YY1 ZFs from a randomised library over multiple rounds of selection. However, a strong motif was not consistently recovered, suggesting that the RNA sequence selectivity of these domains is modest. YY1 ZF residues involved in binding to single-stranded RNA were identified by NMR spectroscopy and found to be largely distinct from the set of residues involved in DNA binding, suggesting that interactions between YY1 and ssRNA constitute a separate mode of nucleic acid binding. Our data are consistent with recent reports that YY1 can bind to RNA in a low-specificity, yet physiologically relevant manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy C C Wai
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Manar Shihab
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jason K K Low
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Joel P Mackay
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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17
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Hossain MA, Barrow JJ, Shen Y, Haq MI, Bungert J. Artificial zinc finger DNA binding domains: versatile tools for genome engineering and modulation of gene expression. J Cell Biochem 2016; 116:2435-44. [PMID: 25989233 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing and alteration of gene expression by synthetic DNA binding activities gained a lot of momentum over the last decade. This is due to the development of new DNA binding molecules with enhanced binding specificity. The most commonly used DNA binding modules are zinc fingers (ZFs), TALE-domains, and the RNA component of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These binding modules are fused or linked to either nucleases that cut the DNA and induce DNA repair processes, or to protein domains that activate or repress transcription of genes close to the targeted site in the genome. This review focuses on the structure, design, and applications of ZF DNA binding domains (ZFDBDs). ZFDBDs are relatively small and have been shown to penetrate the cell membrane without additional tags suggesting that they could be delivered to cells without a DNA or RNA intermediate. Advanced algorithms that are based on extensive knowledge of the mode of ZF/DNA interactions are used to design the amino acid composition of ZFDBDs so that they bind to unique sites in the genome. Off-target binding has been a concern for all synthetic DNA binding molecules. Thus, increasing the specificity and affinity of ZFDBDs will have a significant impact on their use in analytical or therapeutic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir A Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Cancer Center, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610
| | - Joeva J Barrow
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Cancer Center, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610
| | - Yong Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Cancer Center, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610
| | - Md Imdadul Haq
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Cancer Center, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610
| | - Jörg Bungert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Cancer Center, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610
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18
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Rizkallah R, Batsomboon P, Dudley GB, Hurt MM. Identification of the oncogenic kinase TOPK/PBK as a master mitotic regulator of C2H2 zinc finger proteins. Oncotarget 2015; 6:1446-61. [PMID: 25575812 PMCID: PMC4359306 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
TOPK/PBK is an oncogenic kinase upregulated in most human cancers and its high expression correlates with poor prognosis. TOPK is known to be activated by Cdk1 and needed for mitotic cell division; however, its mitotic functions are not yet fully understood. In this study, we show that TOPK plays a global mitotic role by simultaneously regulating hundreds of DNA binding proteins. C2H2 zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) constitute the largest family of human proteins. All C2H2 ZFPs contain a highly conserved linker sequence joining their multi-zinc finger domains. We have previously shown that phosphorylation of this conserved motif serves as a global mechanism for the coordinate dissociation of C2H2 ZFPs from condensing chromatin, during mitosis. Here, using a panel of kinase inhibitors, we identified K252a as a potent inhibitor of mitotic ZFP linker phosphorylation. We generated a biotinylated form of K252a and used it to purify candidate kinases. From these candidates we identified TOPK/PBK, in vitro and in vivo, as the master ZFP linker kinase. Furthermore, we show precise temporal correlation between TOPK activating phosphorylation by Cdk1 and linker phosphorylation in mitosis. The identification of this fundamental role of TOPK underscores its significance as a promising novel target of cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed Rizkallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, United States of America
| | - Paratchata Batsomboon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, United States of America
| | - Gregory B Dudley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, United States of America
| | - Myra M Hurt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, United States of America
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19
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Malgieri G, Palmieri M, Russo L, Fattorusso R, Pedone PV, Isernia C. The prokaryotic zinc-finger: structure, function and comparison with the eukaryotic counterpart. FEBS J 2015; 282:4480-96. [PMID: 26365095 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Classical zinc finger (ZF) domains were thought to be confined to the eukaryotic kingdom until the transcriptional regulator Ros protein was identified in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The Ros Cys2 His2 ZF binds DNA in a peculiar mode and folds in a domain significantly larger than its eukaryotic counterpart consisting of 58 amino acids (the 9-66 region) arranged in a βββαα topology, and stabilized by a conserved, extensive, 15-residue hydrophobic core. The prokaryotic ZF domain, then, shows some intriguing new features that make it interestingly different from its eukaryotic counterpart. This review will focus on the prokaryotic ZFs, summarizing and discussing differences and analogies with the eukaryotic domains and providing important insights into their structure/function relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, II University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | - Maddalena Palmieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, II University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, II University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, II University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.,Interuniversity Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo V Pedone
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, II University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.,Interuniversity Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, II University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.,Interuniversity Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
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20
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Tochio N, Umehara T, Nakabayashi K, Yoneyama M, Tsuda K, Shirouzu M, Koshiba S, Watanabe S, Kigawa T, Sasazuki T, Shirasawa S, Yokoyama S. Solution structures of the DNA-binding domains of immune-related zinc-finger protein ZFAT. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 16:55-65. [PMID: 25801860 PMCID: PMC4427657 DOI: 10.1007/s10969-015-9196-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
ZFAT is a transcriptional regulator, containing eighteen C2H2-type zinc-fingers and one AT-hook, involved in autoimmune thyroid disease, apoptosis, and immune-related cell survival. We determined the solution structures of the thirteen individual ZFAT zinc-fingers (ZF) and the tandemly arrayed zinc-fingers in the regions from ZF2 to ZF5, by NMR spectroscopy. ZFAT has eight uncommon bulged-out helix-containing zinc-fingers, and six of their structures (ZF4, ZF5, ZF6, ZF10, ZF11, and ZF13) were determined. The distribution patterns of the putative DNA-binding surface residues are different among the ZFAT zinc-fingers, suggesting the distinct DNA sequence preferences of the N-terminal and C-terminal zinc-fingers. Since ZFAT has three to five consecutive tandem zinc-fingers, which may cooperatively function as a unit, we also determined two tandemly arrayed zinc-finger structures, between ZF2 to ZF4 and ZF3 to ZF5. Our NMR spectroscopic analysis detected the interaction between ZF4 and ZF5, which are connected by an uncommon linker sequence, KKIK. The ZF4–ZF5 linker restrained the relative structural space between the two zinc-fingers in solution, unlike the other linker regions with determined structures, suggesting the involvement of the ZF4–ZF5 interfinger linker in the regulation of ZFAT function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Tochio
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Research Center for the Mathematics on Chromatin Live Dynamics, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8530 Japan
| | - Takashi Umehara
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakabayashi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535 Japan
| | - Misao Yoneyama
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Kengo Tsuda
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Mikako Shirouzu
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Seizo Koshiba
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573 Japan
| | - Satoru Watanabe
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Takanori Kigawa
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori, Yokohama, 226-8502 Japan.,RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Takehiko Sasazuki
- Institute for Advanced Studies, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Senji Shirasawa
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan.,Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Yokoyama
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.,RIKEN Structural Biology Laboratory, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
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21
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Malik MQ, Bertke MM, Huber PW. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-mediated repression of the Xenopus Oocyte 5 S rRNA genes. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:35468-81. [PMID: 25368327 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.609123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The 5 S rRNA gene-specific transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) interacts with the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase PIAS2b and with one of its targets, the transcriptional corepressor, XCtBP. PIAS2b is restricted to the cytoplasm of Xenopus oocytes but relocates to the nucleus immediately after fertilization. Following the midblastula transition, PIAS2b and XCtBP are present on oocyte-type, but not somatic-type, 5 S rRNA genes up through the neurula stage, as is a limiting amount of TFIIIA. Histone H3 methylation, coincident with the binding of XCtBP, also occurs exclusively on the oocyte-type genes. Immunohistochemical staining of embryos confirms the occupancy of a subset of the oocyte-type genes by TFIIIA that become positioned at the nuclear periphery shortly after the midblastula transition. Inhibition of SUMOylation activity relieves repression of oocyte-type 5 S rRNA genes and is correlated with a decrease in methylation of H3K9 and H3K27 and disruption of subnuclear localization. These results reveal a novel function for TFIIIA as a negative regulator that recruits histone modification activity through the CtBP repressor complex exclusively to the oocyte-type 5 S rRNA genes, leading to their terminal repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Q Malik
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Michelle M Bertke
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Paul W Huber
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
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22
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Mutations in ZBTB20 cause Primrose syndrome. Nat Genet 2014; 46:815-7. [DOI: 10.1038/ng.3035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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23
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Burge RG, Martinez-Yamout MA, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. Structural characterization of interactions between the double-stranded RNA-binding zinc finger protein JAZ and nucleic acids. Biochemistry 2014; 53:1495-510. [PMID: 24521053 PMCID: PMC3985865 DOI: 10.1021/bi401675h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The interactions of the human double-stranded
RNA-binding zinc
finger protein JAZ with RNA or DNA were investigated using electrophoretic
mobility-shift assays, isothermal calorimetry, and nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy. Consistent with previous reports, JAZ has
very low affinity for duplex DNA or single-stranded RNA, but it binds
preferentially to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with no detectable sequence
specificity. The affinity of JAZ for dsRNA is unaffected by local
structural features such as loops, overhangs, and bulges, provided
a sufficient length of reasonably well-structured A-form RNA (about
18 bp for a single zinc finger) is present. Full-length JAZ contains
four Cys2His2 zinc fingers (ZF1–4) and
has the highest apparent affinity for dsRNA; two-finger constructs
ZF12 and ZF23 have lower affinity, and ZF34 binds even more weakly.
The fourth zinc finger, ZF4, has no measurable RNA-binding affinity.
Single zinc finger constructs ZF1, ZF2, and ZF3 show evidence for
multiple-site binding on the minimal RNA. Fitting of quantitative
NMR titration and isothermal calorimetry data to a two-site binding
model gave Kd1 ∼ 10 μM and Kd2 ∼ 100 μM. Models of JAZ–RNA
complexes were generated using the high-ambiguity-driven biomolecular
docking (HADDOCK) program. Single zinc fingers bind to the RNA backbone
without sequence specificity, forming complexes with contacts between
the RNA minor groove and residues in the N-terminal β strands
and between the major groove and residues in the helix–kink–helix
motif. We propose that the non-sequence-specific interaction between
the zinc fingers of JAZ with dsRNA is dependent only on the overall
shape of the A-form RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell G Burge
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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24
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Polozov RV, Sivozhelezov VS, Chirgadze YN, Ivanov VV. Recognition rules for binding of Zn-Cys2His2 transcription factors to operator DNA. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2014; 33:253-66. [PMID: 24460547 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2013.879074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The molecules of Zn-finger transcription factors consist of several similar small protein units. We analyzed the crystal structures 46 basic units of 22 complexes of Zn-Cys2His2 family with the fragments of operator DNA. We showed that the recognition of DNA occurs via five protein contacts. The canonical binding positions of the recognizing α-helix were -1, 3, 6, and 7, which make contacts with the tetra-nucleotide sequence ZXYZ of the coding DNA strand; here the canonical binding triplet is underlined. The non-coding DNA strand forms only one contact at α-helix position 2. We have discovered that there is a single highly conservative contact His7α with the phosphate group of nucleotide Z, which precedes each triplet XYZ of the coding DNA chain. This particular contact is invariant for the all Zn-Cys2His2 family with high frequency of occurrence 83%, which we considered as an invariant recognition rule. We have also selected a previously unreported Zn-Cys2His2-Arg subfamily of 21 Zn-finger units bound with DNA triplets, which make two invariant contacts with residues Arg6α and His7α with the coding DNA chain. These contacts show frequency of occurrence 100 and 90%, and are invariant recognition rule. Three other variable protein-DNA contacts are formed mainly with the bases and specify the recognition patterns of individual factor units. The revealed recognition rules are inherent for the Zn-Cys2His2 family and Zn-Cys2His2-Arg subfamily of different taxonomic groups and can distinguish members of these families from any other family of transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- R V Polozov
- a Institute of Theoretical Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences , Pushchino 142290 , Moscow Region , Russia
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25
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Tan C, Li W, Wang W. Localized frustration and binding-induced conformational change in recognition of 5S RNA by TFIIIA zinc finger. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:15917-25. [PMID: 24266699 DOI: 10.1021/jp4052165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Protein TFIIIA is composed of nine tandemly arranged Cys2His2 zinc fingers. It can bind either to the 5S RNA gene as a transcription factor or to the 5S RNA transcript as a chaperone. Although structural and biochemical data provided valuable information on the recognition between the TFIIIIA and the 5S DNA/RNA, the involved conformational motions and energetic factors contributing to the binding affinity and specificity remain unclear. In this work, we conducted MD simulations and MM/GBSA calculations to investigate the binding-induced conformational changes in the recognition of the 5S RNA by the central three zinc fingers of TFIIIA and the energetic factors that influence the binding affinity and specificity at an atomistic level. Our results revealed drastic interdomain conformational changes between these three zinc fingers, involving the exposure/burial of several crucial DNA/RNA binding residues, which can be related to the competition between DNA and RNA for the binding of TFIIIA. We also showed that the specific recognition between finger 4/finger 6 and the 5S RNA introduces frustrations to the nonspecific interactions between finger 5 and the 5S RNA, which may be important to achieve optimal binding affinity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Tan
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure and Department of Physics, Nanjing University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
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26
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Lupo A, Cesaro E, Montano G, Zurlo D, Izzo P, Costanzo P. KRAB-Zinc Finger Proteins: A Repressor Family Displaying Multiple Biological Functions. Curr Genomics 2013; 14:268-78. [PMID: 24294107 PMCID: PMC3731817 DOI: 10.2174/13892029113149990002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc finger proteins containing the Kruppel associated box (KRAB-ZFPs) constitute the largest individual family of transcriptional repressors encoded by the genomes of higher organisms. KRAB domain, positioned at the NH2 terminus of the KRAB-ZFPs, interacts with a scaffold protein, KAP-1, which is able to recruit various transcriptional factors causing repression of genes to which KRAB ZFPs bind. The relevance of such repression is reflected in the large number of the KRAB zinc finger protein genes in the human genome. However, in spite of their numerical abundance little is currently known about the gene targets and the physiological functions of KRAB- ZFPs. However, emerging evidence links the transcriptional repression mediated by the KRAB-ZFPs to cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and cancer. Moreover, the fact that KRAB containing proteins are vertebrate-specific suggests that they have evolved recently, and that their key roles lie in some aspects of vertebrate development. In this review, we will briefly discuss some regulatory functions of the KRAB-ZFPs in different physiological and pathological states, thus contributing to better understand their biological roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Lupo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy; ; Dipartimento di Scienze per la Biologia, la Geologia e l'Ambiente, Facoltà di Scienze, Università del Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy
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27
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Stewart-Ornstein J, Nelson C, DeRisi J, Weissman JS, El-Samad H. Msn2 coordinates a stoichiometric gene expression program. Curr Biol 2013; 23:2336-45. [PMID: 24210615 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Revised: 08/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many cellular processes operate in an "analog" regime in which the magnitude of the response is precisely tailored to the intensity of the stimulus. In order to maintain the coherence of such responses, the cell must provide for proportional expression of multiple target genes across a wide dynamic range of induction states. Our understanding of the strategies used to achieve graded gene regulation is limited. RESULTS In this work, we document a relationship between stress-responsive gene expression and the transcription factor Msn2 that is graded over a large range of Msn2 concentrations. We use computational modeling and in vivo and in vitro analyses to dissect the roots of this relationship. Our studies reveal a simple and general strategy based on noncooperative low-affinity interactions between Msn2 and its cognate binding sites as well as competition over a large number of Msn2 binding sites in the genome relative to the number of Msn2 molecules. CONCLUSIONS In addition to enabling precise tuning of gene expression to the state of the environment, this strategy ensures colinear activation of target genes, allowing for stoichiometric expression of large groups of genes without extensive promoter tuning. Furthermore, such a strategy enables precise modulation of the activity of any given promoter by addition of binding sites without altering the qualitative relationship between different genes in a regulon. This feature renders a given regulon highly "evolvable."
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Stewart-Ornstein
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143,USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; The California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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28
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Esperón P, Scazzocchio C, Paulino M. In vitroandin silicoanalysis of theAspergillus nidulansDNA–CreA repressor interactions. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2013; 32:2033-41. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2013.843474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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29
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Wang H, Zeng F, Liu Q, Liu H, Liu Z, Niu L, Teng M, Li X. The structure of the ARE-binding domains of Hu antigen R (HuR) undergoes conformational changes during RNA binding. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D: BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 2013; 69:373-80. [PMID: 23519412 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444912047828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Human RNA-binding protein (HuR), a ubiquitously expressed member of the Hu protein family, plays an important role in mRNA degradation and has been implicated as a key post-transcriptional regulator. HuR contains three RNA-recognition motif (RRM) domains. The two N-terminal tandem RRM domains can selectively bind AU-rich elements (AREs), while the third RRM domain (RRM3) contributes to interactions with the poly-A tail of target mRNA and other ligands. Here, the X-ray structure of two methylated tandem RRM domains (RRM1/2) of HuR in their RNA-free form was solved at 2.9 Å resolution. The crystal structure of RRM1/2 complexed with target mRNA was also solved at 2.0 Å resolution; comparisons of the two structures show that HuR RRM1/2 undergoes conformational changes upon RNA binding. Fluorescence polarization assays (FPA) were used to study the protein-RNA interactions. Both the structure and the FPA analysis indicated that RRM1 is the primary ARE-binding domain in HuR and that the conformational changes induce subsequent contacts of the RNA substrate with the inter-domain linker and RRM2 which greatly improve the RNA-binding affinity of HuR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
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30
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Ren CM, Liang Y, Wei F, Zhang YN, Zhong SQ, Gu H, Dong XS, Huang YY, Ke H, Son XM, Tang D, Chen Z. Balanced translocation t(3;18)(p13;q22.3) and points mutation in the ZNF407 gene detected in patients with both moderate non-syndromic intellectual disability and autism. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2012. [PMID: 23195952 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) is a common disease. While the etiology remains incompletely understood, genetic defects are a major contributor, which include mutations in genes encoding zinc finger proteins. These proteins modulate gene expression via binding to DNA. Consistent with this knowledge, we report here the identification of mutations in the ZNF407 gene in ID/autistic patients. In our study of an ID patient with autism, a reciprocal translocation 46,XY,t(3;18)(p13;q22.3) was detected. By using FISH and long-range PCR approaches, we have precisely mapped the breakpoints associated with this translocation in a gene-free region in chromosome 3 and in the third intron of the ZNF407 gene in chromosome18. The latter reduces ZNF407 expression. Consistent with this observation, in our subsequent investigation of 105 ID/autism patients with similar clinical presentations, two missense mutations Y460C and P1195A were identified. These mutations cause non-conservative amino acid substitutions in the linker regions between individual finger structures. In line with the linker regions being critical for the integrity of zinc finger motifs, both mutations may result in loss of ZNF407 function. Taken together, we demonstrate that mutations in the ZNF407 gene contribute to the pathogenesis of a group of ID patients with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong-mian Ren
- Department of Medical Genetics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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31
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Chen Y, Bates DL, Dey R, Chen PH, Machado ACD, Laird-Offringa IA, Rohs R, Chen L. DNA binding by GATA transcription factor suggests mechanisms of DNA looping and long-range gene regulation. Cell Rep 2012; 2:1197-206. [PMID: 23142663 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2012] [Revised: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
GATA transcription factors regulate transcription during development and differentiation by recognizing distinct GATA sites with a tandem of two conserved zinc fingers, and by mediating long-range DNA looping. However, the molecular basis of these processes is not well understood. Here, we determined three crystal structures of the full DNA-binding domain (DBD) of human GATA3 protein, which contains both zinc fingers, in complex with different DNA sites. In one structure, both zinc fingers wrap around a palindromic GATA site, cooperatively enhancing the binding affinity and kinetic stability. Strikingly, in the other two structures, the two fingers of GATA DBD bind GATA sites on different DNA molecules, thereby bridging two separate DNA fragments. This was confirmed in solution by an in-gel fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis. These findings not only provide insights into the structure and function of GATA proteins but also shed light on the molecular basis of long-range gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongheng Chen
- Molecular and Computational Biology Program, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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32
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Vannini A. A structural perspective on RNA polymerase I and RNA polymerase III transcription machineries. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2012; 1829:258-64. [PMID: 23031840 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2012.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA polymerase I and III are responsible for the bulk of nuclear transcription in actively growing cells and their activity impacts the cellular biosynthetic capacity. As a consequence, RNA polymerase I and III deregulation has been directly linked to cancer development. The complexity of RNA polymerase I and III transcription apparatuses has hampered their structural characterization. However, in the last decade tremendous progresses have been made, providing insights into the molecular and functional architecture of these multi-subunit transcriptional machineries. Here we summarize the available structural data on RNA polymerase I and III, including specific transcription factors and global regulators. Despite the overall scarcity of detailed structural data, the recent advances in the structural biology of RNA polymerase I and III represent the first step towards a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying RNA polymerase I and III transcription. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Transcription by Odd Pols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Vannini
- Division of Structural Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK.
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33
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Role of Linkers between Zinc Fingers in Spacing Recognition by Plant TFIIIA-Type Zinc-Finger Proteins. JOURNAL OF AMINO ACIDS 2011; 2012:848037. [PMID: 22312478 PMCID: PMC3268024 DOI: 10.1155/2012/848037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Revised: 08/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The EPF family of plant TFIIIA-type zinc-finger (ZF) proteins (ZPTs) is characterized by long linkers separating ZF motifs. We previously reported that two-fingered ZPTs bind to two tandem core sites that are separated by several base pairs, each ZF making contact with one core site. Here we report further characterization of DNA-binding activities of ZPTs using four family members, ZPT2-14, ZPT2-7, ZPT2-8, and ZPT2-2, having inter-ZF linkers of different lengths and sequences, to investigate the correlation of the length and/or sequence of the linker with preference for the spacing between core sites in target DNAs. Selected and amplified binding site (SAAB)-imprinting assays and gel mobility shift assays prompted three conclusions. (1) The four ZPTs have common specificity for core binding sites-two AGT(G)/(C)ACTs separated by several nucleotides. (2) The four ZPTs prefer a spacing of 10 bases between the core sites, but each ZPT has its own preference for suboptimal spacing. (3) At a particular spacing, two zinc fingers may bind to the core sites on both strands. The results provide new information about how the diversity in linker length/sequence affects DNA-sequence recognition in this protein family.
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Clore GM. Exploring translocation of proteins on DNA by NMR. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2011; 51:209-219. [PMID: 21847629 PMCID: PMC3207612 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-011-9555-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2011] [Accepted: 08/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
While an extensive body of knowledge has accumulated on the structures of transcription factors, DNA and their complexes from both NMR and crystallography, much less is known at a molecular level regarding the mechanisms whereby transcription factors locate their specific DNA target site within an overwhelming sea of non-specific DNA sites. Indirect kinetic data suggested that three processes are involved in the search procedure: jumping by dissociation of the protein from the DNA followed by re-association at another site, direct transfer from one DNA molecule or segment to another, and one-dimensional sliding. In this brief perspective I summarize recent NMR developments from our laboratory that have permitted direct characterization of the species and molecular mechanisms involved in the target search process, including the detection of highly transient sparsely-populated states. The main tool in these studies involves the application of paramagnetic relaxation enhancement, supplemented by z-exchange spectroscopy, lineshape analysis and residual dipolar couplings. These studies led to the first direct demonstration of rotation-coupled sliding of a protein along the DNA and the direct transfer of a protein from one DNA molecule to another without dissociating into free solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Marius Clore
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 02892-0520, USA.
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Rizkallah R, Alexander KE, Hurt MM. Global mitotic phosphorylation of C2H2 zinc finger protein linker peptides. Cell Cycle 2011; 10:3327-36. [PMID: 21941085 DOI: 10.4161/cc.10.19.17619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cessation of transcriptional activity is a hallmark of cell division. Many biochemical pathways have been shown and proposed over the past few decades to explain the silence of this phase. In particular, many individual transcription factors have been shown to be inactivated by phosphorylation. In this report, we show the simultaneous phosphorylation and mitotic redistribution of a whole class of modified transcription factors. C(2)H(2) zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) represent the largest group of gene expression regulators in the human genome. Despite their diversity, C(2)H(2) ZFPs display striking conservation of small linker peptides joining their adjacent zinc finger modules. These linkers are critical for DNA binding activity. It has been proposed that conserved phosphorylation of these linker peptides could be a common mechanism for the inactivation of the DNA binding activity of C(2)H(2) ZFPs, during mitosis. Using a novel antibody, raised against the phosphorylated form of the most conserved linker peptide sequence, we are able to visualize the massive and simultaneous mitotic phosphorylation of hundreds of these proteins. We show that this wave of phosphorylation is tightly synchronized, starting in mid-prophase right after DNA condensation and before the breakdown of the nuclear envelope. This global phosphorylation is completely reversed in telophase. In addition, the exclusion of the phospho-linker signal from condensed DNA clearly demonstrates a common mechanism for the mitotic inactivation of C(2)H(2) ZFPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed Rizkallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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Nunez N, Clifton MMK, Funnell APW, Artuz C, Hallal S, Quinlan KGR, Font J, Vandevenne M, Setiyaputra S, Pearson RCM, Mackay JP, Crossley M. The multi-zinc finger protein ZNF217 contacts DNA through a two-finger domain. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:38190-38201. [PMID: 21908891 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.301234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Classical C2H2 zinc finger proteins are among the most abundant transcription factors found in eukaryotes, and the mechanisms through which they recognize their target genes have been extensively investigated. In general, a tandem array of three fingers separated by characteristic TGERP links is required for sequence-specific DNA recognition. Nevertheless, a significant number of zinc finger proteins do not contain a hallmark three-finger array of this type, raising the question of whether and how they contact DNA. We have examined the multi-finger protein ZNF217, which contains eight classical zinc fingers. ZNF217 is implicated as an oncogene and in repressing the E-cadherin gene. We show that two of its zinc fingers, 6 and 7, can mediate contacts with DNA. We examine its putative recognition site in the E-cadherin promoter and demonstrate that this is a suboptimal site. NMR analysis and mutagenesis is used to define the DNA binding surface of ZNF217, and we examine the specificity of the DNA binding activity using fluorescence anisotropy titrations. Finally, sequence analysis reveals that a variety of multi-finger proteins also contain two-finger units, and our data support the idea that these may constitute a distinct subclass of DNA recognition motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Nunez
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Molly M K Clifton
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Alister P W Funnell
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Crisbel Artuz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Samantha Hallal
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Kate G R Quinlan
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Josep Font
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Marylène Vandevenne
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Surya Setiyaputra
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Richard C M Pearson
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Joel P Mackay
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Merlin Crossley
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
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37
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Dyson HJ. Roles of intrinsic disorder in protein-nucleic acid interactions. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2011; 8:97-104. [PMID: 21874205 DOI: 10.1039/c1mb05258f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between proteins and nucleic acids typify the role of disordered segments, linkers, tails and other entities in the function of complexes that must form with high affinity and specificity but which must be capable of dissociating when no longer needed. While much of the emphasis in the literature has been on the interactions of disordered proteins with other proteins, disorder is also frequently observed in nucleic acids (particularly RNA) and in the proteins that interact with them. The interactions of disordered proteins with DNA most often manifest as molding of the protein onto the B-form DNA structure, although some well-known instances involve remodeling of the DNA structure that seems to require that the interacting proteins be disordered to various extents in the free state. By contrast, induced fit in RNA-protein interactions has been recognized for many years-the existence and prevalence of this phenomenon provides the clearest possible evidence that RNA and its interactions with proteins must be considered as highly dynamic, and the dynamic nature of RNA and its multiplicity of folded and unfolded states is an integral part of its nature and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Jane Dyson
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA.
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38
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Abstract
Proteins provide much of the scaffolding for life, as well as undertaking a variety of essential catalytic reactions. These characteristic functions have led us to presuppose that proteins are in general functional only when well structured and correctly folded. As we begin to explore the repertoire of possible protein sequences inherent in the human and other genomes, two stark facts that belie this supposition become clear: firstly, the number of apparent open reading frames in the human genome is significantly smaller than appears to be necessary to code for all of the diverse proteins in higher organisms, and secondly that a significant proportion of the protein sequences that would be coded by the genome would not be expected to form stable three-dimensional (3D) structures. Clearly the genome must include coding for a multitude of alternative forms of proteins, some of which may be partly or fully disordered or incompletely structured in their functional states. At the same time as this likelihood was recognized, experimental studies also began to uncover examples of important protein molecules and domains that were incompletely structured or completely disordered in solution, yet remained perfectly functional. In the ensuing years, we have seen an explosion of experimental and genome-annotation studies that have mapped the extent of the intrinsic disorder phenomenon and explored the possible biological rationales for its widespread occurrence. Answers to the question 'why would a particular domain need to be unstructured?' are as varied as the systems where such domains are found. This review provides a survey of recent new directions in this field, and includes an evaluation of the role not only of intrinsically disordered proteins but also of partially structured and highly dynamic members of the disorder-order continuum.
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Shazman S, Elber G, Mandel-Gutfreund Y. From face to interface recognition: a differential geometric approach to distinguish DNA from RNA binding surfaces. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:7390-9. [PMID: 21693557 PMCID: PMC3177183 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein nucleic acid interactions play a critical role in all steps of the gene expression pathway. Nucleic acid (NA) binding proteins interact with their partners, DNA or RNA, via distinct regions on their surface that are characterized by an ensemble of chemical, physical and geometrical properties. In this study, we introduce a novel methodology based on differential geometry, commonly used in face recognition, to characterize and predict NA binding surfaces on proteins. Applying the method on experimentally solved three-dimensional structures of proteins we successfully classify double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) from single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) binding proteins, with 83% accuracy. We show that the method is insensitive to conformational changes that occur upon binding and can be applicable for de novo protein-function prediction. Remarkably, when concentrating on the zinc finger motif, we distinguish successfully between RNA and DNA binding interfaces possessing the same binding motif even within the same protein, as demonstrated for the RNA polymerase transcription-factor, TFIIIA. In conclusion, we present a novel methodology to characterize protein surfaces, which can accurately tell apart dsDNA from an ssRNA binding interfaces. The strength of our method in recognizing fine-tuned differences on NA binding interfaces make it applicable for many other molecular recognition problems, with potential implications for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shula Shazman
- Department of Computer Science, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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40
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Abstract
Krüppel-type or C2H2 zinc fingers represent a dominant DNA-binding motif in eukaryotic transcription factor (TF) proteins. In Krüppel-type (KZNF) TFs, KZNF motifs are arranged in arrays of three to as many as 40 tandem units, which cooperate to define the unique DNA recognition properties of the protein. Each finger contains four amino acids located at specific positions, which are brought into direct contact with adjacent nucleotides in the DNA sequence as the KZNF array winds around the major groove of the alpha helix. This arrangement creates an intimate and potentially predictable relationship between the amino acid sequence of KZNF arrays and the nucleotide sequence of target binding sites. The large number of possible combinations and arrangements of modular KZNF motifs, and the increasing lengths of KZNF arrays in vertebrate species, has created huge repertoires of functionally unique TF proteins. The properties of this versatile DNA-binding motif have been exploited independently many times over the course of evolution, through attachment to effector motifs that confer activating, repressing or other activities to the proteins. Once created, some of these novel inventions have expanded in specific evolutionary clades, creating large families of TFs that are lineage- or species-unique. This chapter reviews the properties and their remarkable evolutionary history of eukaryotic KZNF TF proteins, with special focus on large families that dominate the TF landscapes in different metazoan species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Stubbs
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA,
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41
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Jung HH, Jung HJ, Milescu M, Lee CW, Lee S, Lee JY, Eu YJ, Kim HH, Swartz KJ, Kim JI. Structure and orientation of a voltage-sensor toxin in lipid membranes. Biophys J 2010; 99:638-46. [PMID: 20643084 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.04.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphipathic protein toxins from tarantula venom inhibit voltage-activated potassium (Kv) channels by binding to a critical helix-turn-helix motif termed the voltage sensor paddle. Although these toxins partition into membranes to bind the paddle motif, their structure and orientation within the membrane are unknown. We investigated the interaction of a tarantula toxin named SGTx with membranes using both fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy. Depth-dependent fluorescence-quenching experiments with brominated lipids suggest that Trp30 in SGTx is positioned approximately 9 A from the center of the bilayer. NMR spectra reveal that the inhibitor cystine knot structure of the toxin does not radically change upon membrane partitioning. Transferred cross-saturation NMR experiments indicate that the toxin's hydrophobic protrusion contacts the hydrophobic core of the membrane, whereas most surrounding polar residues remain at interfacial regions of the bilayer. The inferred orientation of the toxin reveals a twofold symmetry in the arrangement of basic and hydrophobic residues, a feature that is conserved among tarantula toxins. These results have important implications for regions of the toxin involved in recognizing membranes and voltage-sensor paddles, and for the mechanisms by which tarantula toxins alter the activity of different types of ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Ho Jung
- Department of Life Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea
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42
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Chou CC, Lou YC, Tang TK, Chen C. Structure and DNA binding characteristics of the three-Cys(2)His(2) domain of mouse testis zinc finger protein. Proteins 2010; 78:2202-12. [PMID: 20544958 DOI: 10.1002/prot.22732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The C-terminal three-Cys(2)His(2) zinc-finger domain (TZD) of mouse testis zinc-finger protein binds to the 5'-TGTACAGTGT-3' at the Aie1 (aurora-C) promoter with high specificity. Interestingly, the primary sequence of TZD is unique, possessing two distinct linkers, TGEKP and GAAP, and distinct residues at presumed DNA binding sites at each finger, especially finger 3. A K(d) value of approximately 10(-8) M was obtained from surface plasmon resonance analysis for the TZD-DNA complex. NMR structure of the free TZD showed that each zinc finger forms a typical beta beta alpha fold. On binding to DNA, chemical shift perturbations and the R(2) transverse relaxation rate in finger 3 are significantly smaller than those in fingers 1 and 2, which indicates that the DNA binding affinity in finger 3 is weaker. Furthermore, the shift perturbations between TZD in complex with the cognate DNA and its serial mutants revealed that both ADE7 and CYT8, underlined in 5'-ATATGTACAGTGTTAT-3', are critical in specific binding, and the DNA binding in finger 3 is sequence independent. Remarkably, the shift perturbations in finger 3 on the linker mutation of TZD (GAAP mutated to TGEKP) were barely detected, which further indicates that finger 3 does not play a critical role in DNA sequence-specific recognition. The complex model showed that residues important for DNA binding are mainly located on positions -1, 2, 3, and 6 of alpha-helices in fingers 1 and 2. The DNA sequence and nonsequence-specific bindings occurring simultaneously in TZD provide valuable information for better understanding of protein-DNA recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Chi Chou
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan, Republic of China
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43
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Electrophoretic mobility shift assay of zinc finger proteins: competition for Zn(2+) bound to Sp1 in protocols including EDTA. J Inorg Biochem 2010; 105:569-76. [PMID: 21396899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2010.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2010] [Revised: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 08/19/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) offers a principal method to detect specific DNA-protein interactions. As commonly conducted, the reaction and electrophoresis running buffers contain large concentrations of EDTA. EDTA has large affinity for Zn(2+) and readily competes with zinc finger peptides for Zn(2+) resulting in protein unfolding. Nevertheless, EMSA is routinely used to detect zinc finger protein-DNA adducts. This paper examines the chemistry that permits the detection of zinc finger-DNA complexes in the presence of EDTA, using Zn(3)-Sp1 and a cognate DNA binding site, GC1. Twice as much adduct was detected when the reaction was conducted in the absence than in the presence of EDTA. The observation of Zn-Sp1-GC1 was shown to depend on three properties: the inertness of Zn-Sp1-GC1 to reaction with EDTA and the comparatively similar rates of reaction of EDTA and GC1 with Zn(3)-Sp1 under the conditions of the assay that permit some Zn(3)-Sp1-GC1 to form. Inquiring about the mechanism of stabilization of Zn(3)-Sp1 by GC1, EDTA readily reacted with Zn(3)-Sp1 bound to a non-specific DNA, (polydI-dC). Two structurally similar but oppositely charged chelators, nitrilotriacetate (NTA) and tris-(2-ethylaminoethyl) amine (TREN), that react with free Zn(3)-Sp1 failed to compete for zinc bound in the Zn(3)-Sp1-GC-1 adduct. On the basis of these, other results indicated that the stability of Zn(3)-Sp1-GC-1 has a thermodynamic, not a kinetic origin. It is concluded that the observation of zinc finger proteins in the EMSA rests on a fortuitous set of chemical properties that may vary depending on the structures involved.
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44
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Weiss TC, Zhai GG, Bhatia SS, Romaniuk PJ. An RNA aptamer with high affinity and broad specificity for zinc finger proteins. Biochemistry 2010; 49:2732-40. [PMID: 20175561 DOI: 10.1021/bi9016654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A class of RNA aptamers that demonstrates a high affinity for a large variety of C(2)H(2) zinc finger proteins was isolated from a library of random RNA sequences by the zinc finger protein TFIIIA. These aptamers have one or more copies of the consensus sequence GGGUGGG, which is part of a putative hairpin loop in the proposed structure of the most abundant aptamer, RNA1. Binding of zinc finger proteins to RNA1 relies upon zinc-dependent folding of the protein, the affinity of an individual protein for RNA1 being determined by the number of tandem zinc finger motifs. The properties of RNA1 were compared to the properties of two other aptamers from the same selection experiment: RNA21, which binds to some but not all zinc finger proteins tested, and RNA22, which binds only to the 5S rRNA binding zinc finger proteins TFIIIA and p43. The binding of three different zinc finger proteins to RNA1 was compared, and the results indicate that the RNA1-protein interaction occurs by several distinct mechanisms. Mutagenesis of RNA1 confirmed that the GGGUGGG consensus sequence presented in a hairpin conformation is required for high-affinity binding of zinc finger proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristen C Weiss
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, Canada
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45
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Lee S, Doddapaneni K, Hogue A, McGhee L, Meyers S, Wu Z. Solution Structure of Gfi-1 Zinc Domain Bound to Consensus DNA. J Mol Biol 2010; 397:1055-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2009] [Revised: 02/02/2010] [Accepted: 02/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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46
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Temiz AN, Benos PV, Camacho CJ. Electrostatic hot spot on DNA-binding domains mediates phosphate desolvation and the pre-organization of specificity determinant side chains. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:2134-44. [PMID: 20047959 PMCID: PMC2853105 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp1132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A major obstacle towards elucidating the molecular basis of transcriptional regulation is the lack of a detailed understanding of the interplay between non-specific and specific protein–DNA interactions. Based on molecular dynamics simulations of C2H2 zinc fingers (ZFs) and engrailed homeodomain transcription factors (TFs), we show that each of the studied DNA-binding domains has a set of highly constrained side chains in preset configurations ready to form hydrogen bonds with the DNA backbone. Interestingly, those domains that bury their recognition helix into the major groove are found to have an electrostatic hot spot for Cl− ions located on the same binding cavity as the most buried DNA phosphate. The spot is characterized by three protein hydrogen bond donors, often including two basic side chains. If bound, Cl− ions, likely mimicking phosphates, steer side chains that end up forming specific contacts with bases into bound-like conformations. These findings are consistent with a multi-step DNA-binding mechanism in which a pre-organized set of TF side chains assist in the desolvation of phosphates into well defined sites, prompting the re-organization of specificity determining side chains into conformations suitable for the recognition of their cognate sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpay N Temiz
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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47
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Abstract
Structure-based DNA-binding prediction is a powerful tool to infer protein-binding sites and design new specificities. It can limit experiments in scope and help focus them toward candidates with higher chances of success. The zinc finger domain is an excellent scaffold for design due to its small and robust fold and relatively simple interaction pattern. It presents some degree of modularity, and modeling can be used to guide experiments and help increase zinc finger module libraries. In this chapter we present a fast and simple but still powerful method for predicting and designing DNA-binding specificities applied to C(2)H(2) zinc finger proteins, based on FoldX, a semiautomatic protein design tool. Given a template structure, this method generates candidate mutants for a given target DNA sequence selected by energetic criteria.
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48
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Rizkallah R, Hurt MM. Regulation of the transcription factor YY1 in mitosis through phosphorylation of its DNA-binding domain. Mol Biol Cell 2009; 20:4766-76. [PMID: 19793915 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e09-04-0264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) is a ubiquitously expressed zinc finger transcription factor. It regulates a vast array of genes playing critical roles in development, differentiation, and cell cycle. Very little is known about the mechanisms that regulate the functions of YY1. It has long been proposed that YY1 is a phosphoprotein; however, a direct link between phosphorylation and the function of YY1 has never been proven. Investigation of the localization of YY1 during mitosis shows that it is distributed to the cytoplasm during prophase and remains excluded from DNA until early telophase. Immunostaining studies show that YY1 is distributed equally between daughter cells and rapidly associates with decondensing chromosomes in telophase, suggesting a role for YY1 in early marking of active and repressed genes. The exclusion of YY1 from DNA in prometaphase HeLa cells correlated with an increase in the phosphorylation of YY1 and loss of DNA-binding activity that can be reversed by dephosphorylation. We have mapped three phosphorylation sites on YY1 during mitosis and show that phosphorylation of two of these sites can abolish the DNA-binding activity of YY1. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism for the inactivation of YY1 through phosphorylation of its DNA-binding domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed Rizkallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4300, USA
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49
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Estrada DF, Boudreaux DM, Zhong D, St Jeor SC, De Guzman RN. The Hantavirus Glycoprotein G1 Tail Contains Dual CCHC-type Classical Zinc Fingers. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:8654-60. [PMID: 19179334 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m808081200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hantaviruses are distributed worldwide and can cause a hemorrhagic fever or a cardiopulmonary syndrome in humans. Mature virions consist of RNA genome, nucleocapsid protein, RNA polymerase, and two transmembrane glycoproteins, G1 and G2. The ectodomain of G1 is surface-exposed; however, it has a 142-residue C-terminal cytoplasmic tail that plays important roles in viral assembly and host-pathogen interaction. Here we show by NMR, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and mutagenesis that a highly conserved cysteine/histidine-rich region in the G1 tail of hantaviruses forms two CCHC-type classical zinc fingers. Unlike classical zinc fingers, however, the two G1 zinc fingers are intimately joined together, forming a compact domain with a unique fold. We discuss the implication of the hantaviral G1 zinc fingers in viral assembly and host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Fernando Estrada
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
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50
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Emerson RO, Thomas JH. Adaptive evolution in zinc finger transcription factors. PLoS Genet 2009; 5:e1000325. [PMID: 19119423 PMCID: PMC2604467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2008] [Accepted: 12/02/2008] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of human genes are conserved among mammals, but some gene families have undergone extensive expansion in particular lineages. Here, we present an evolutionary analysis of one such gene family, the poly–zinc-finger (poly-ZF) genes. The human genome encodes approximately 700 members of the poly-ZF family of putative transcriptional repressors, many of which have associated KRAB, SCAN, or BTB domains. Analysis of the gene family across the tree of life indicates that the gene family arose from a small ancestral group of eukaryotic zinc-finger transcription factors through many repeated gene duplications accompanied by functional divergence. The ancestral gene family has probably expanded independently in several lineages, including mammals and some fishes. Investigation of adaptive evolution among recent paralogs using dN/dS analysis indicates that a major component of the selective pressure acting on these genes has been positive selection to change their DNA-binding specificity. These results suggest that the poly-ZF genes are a major source of new transcriptional repression activity in humans and other primates. Gene families, arising by the repeated duplication and diversification of existing genes, are a pervasive feature of the genomes of higher organisms. In this study, we analyze the evolutionary history of one of the largest gene families in humans, the poly–zinc-finger genes. Each poly–zinc-finger gene is thought to act by regulating the expression levels of one or more other genes, but the ultimate function and purpose of most poly–zinc-finger genes is unknown. We have found that the poly–zinc-finger gene family has been growing rapidly in many lineages including the human lineage, and that evolution has favored the creation of new poly–zinc-finger genes that have different DNA targets than the genes from which they were derived. These results suggest that the emergence of new and different poly–zinc-finger genes has probably been important in the evolution of humans and many other animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan O. Emerson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - James H. Thomas
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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