The DNA-binding domain of c-Myb consists of three imperfect tandem repeats (R1, R2 and R3). The three repeats have similar overall architectures, each containing a helix-turn-helix variation motif. The three conserved tryptophans in each repeat participate in forming a hydrophobic core ...
The DNA-binding domain of c-Myb consists of three imperfect tandem repeats (R1, R2 and R3). The three repeats have similar overall architectures, each containing a helix-turn-helix variation motif. The three conserved tryptophans in each repeat participate in forming a hydrophobic core. Comparison of the three repeat structures indicated that cavities are found in the hydrophobic core of R2, which is thermally unstable. On complexation with DNA, the orientations of R2 and R3 are fixed by tight binding and their conformations are slightly changed. No significant changes occur in the chemical shifts of R1 consistent with its loose interaction with DNA.
Related Citations: 
Solution Structure of a Specific DNA Complex of the Myb DNA-Binding Domain with Cooperative Recognition Helices Ogata, K., Morikawa, S., Nakamura, H., Sekikawa, A., Inoue, T., Kanai, H., Sarai, A., Ishii, S., Nishimura, Y. (1994) Cell 79: 639
Solution Structure of a DNA-Binding Unit of Myb: A Helix-Turn-Helix-Related Motif with Conserved Tryptophans Forming a Hydrophobic Core Ogata, K., Hojo, H., Aimoto, S., Nakai, T., Nakamura, H., Sarai, A., Ishii, S., Nishimura, Y. (1992) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 89: 6428
Organizational Affiliation: 
Graduate School of Integrated Science, Yokohama City University, Japan.