Folding thermodynamics of c-Myb DNA-binding domain in correlation with its α-helical contents

Structural dynamics of a DNA-binding protein analyzed using diffracted X-ray tracking

Diffracted X-ray tracking (DXT) is one of methods for the real-time evaluation of protein structural dynamics by detecting the movement of a gold-nanocrystal attached to a target protein. However, one of the technical concerns is the size of the gold-nanocrystals, which are larger than the protein. In our previous results of mean square angular displacement curves in DXT analysis, dynamical movements of the DNA-binding protein, c-Myb R2R3, were observed in only one population in either DNA-unbound or -bound state, and was found to decrease upon DNA binding. In this study, c-Myb R2R3 dynamical movements were re-evaluated with a low density of the protein immobilized on the DXT substrate, to decrease the possibility that the gold-nanocrystals attached to more than one R2R3 molecule. We observed two dynamical moving populations in the DNA-bound state, which could be classified due to electrostatic attraction and repulsion between the DNA-protein complexes, and determined the apparent angular diffusion constant, which was similar to the value calculated in our previous study. We showed more real movement of the protein could be observed by lowering the immobilization density of the protein.

DNA-binding function of c-Myb R2R3 around thermal denaturation temperature

The minimum DNA-binding domain of the transcrip­tional factor c-Myb R2R3 remarkably fluctuates in the solution. In the present study, we evaluated the protein fluctuation of R2R3 C130I mutant, R2R3*, on its DNA-binding and folding thermodynamics. DNA-binding analysis using isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that the heat capacity change determined from the correlation between temperature and binding enthalpy change is highly negative above 35°C, indicating that the fluctuation increases with increasing temperature and elevates the conformational change on DNA binding. The results were in accordance with those of differential scanning calorimetry, which revealed that the heat capacity corresponding to thermal denatu­ration gradually increased above 35°C, followed by the broad transition peak. In contrast, the transition peak of R2R3* in the DNA-bound state was sharper and larger than that in the DNA-unbound state. The fluctuating form could transform into lesser fluctuating form upon DNA binding, resulting in a larger enthalpy change for denaturation of R2R3* in the DNA-bound state. It should also be noted that R2R3* could specifi­cally bind to DNA around thermal denaturation temperature. This would be due to proteins with numerous fluctuations. Moreover, we discuss specific and non-specific DNA binding accompanied by the conformational change between well-ordered and disordered forms of R2R3* observed around the denaturation temperature.