Structural basis for the DNA-binding activity of the bacterial beta-propeller protein YncE
Kagawa, W., Sagawa, T., Niki, H., Kurumizaka, H.(2011) Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 67: 1045-1053
- PubMed: 22120742 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1107/S0907444911045033
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
3VGZ, 3VH0 - PubMed Abstract: 
β-Propellers are widely utilized in nature as recognition modules. The well conserved β-propeller fold exhibits a high degree of functional diversity, which is probably accomplished through variations in the surface properties of the proteins. Little is known about the interactions between β-propeller proteins and nucleic acids. In the present study, it has been found that the bacterial β-propeller protein YncE binds to DNA. Crystal structures of YncE in the free form and complexed with DNA revealed that the surface region of YncE corresponding to the `canonical' substrate-binding site forms essential contacts with DNA. A single DNA base within a single-stranded DNA region is trapped in the hydrophobic pocket located within the central channel of the β-propeller protein. These data provide physical evidence for the DNA-binding ability of the previously uncharacterized YncE and also suggest that the `canonical' substrate-binding site may be commonly adapted to facilitate nucleic acid binding in a subset of β-propeller proteins.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Laboratory of Structural Biology, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan.