Download MendeleyThe FadR.DNA complex. Transcriptional control of fatty acid metabolism in Escherichia coli.
Xu, Y., Heath, R.J., Li, Z., Rock, C.O., White, S.W.(2001) J Biol Chem 276: 17373-17379
- PubMed: 11279025
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M100195200
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
1HW1, 1HW2 - PubMed Abstract:
In Escherichia coli, the expression of fatty acid metabolic genes is controlled by the transcription factor, FadR. The affinity of FadR for DNA is controlled by long chain acyl-CoA molecules, which bind to the protein and modulate gene expression. The crystal structure of FadR reveals a two domain dimeric molecule where the N-terminal domains bind DNA, and the C-terminal domains bind acyl-CoA. The DNA binding domain has a winged-helix motif, and the C-terminal domain resembles the sensor domain of the Tet repressor. The FadR.DNA complex reveals how the protein interacts with DNA and specifically recognizes a palindromic sequence. Structural and functional similarities to the Tet repressor and the BmrR transcription factors suggest how the binding of the acyl-CoA effector molecule to the C-terminal domain may affect the DNA binding affinity of the N-terminal domain. We suggest that the binding of acyl-CoA disrupts a buried network of charged and polar residues in the C-terminal domain, and the resulting conformational change is transmitted to the N-terminal domain via a domain-spanning alpha-helix.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA.
