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Publication Abstract from PubMed

The interaction of the HIV-1 protein transactivator of transcription (Tat) and its cognate transactivation response element (TAR) RNA transactivates viral transcription and represents a paradigm for the widespread occurrence of conformational rearrangements in protein-RNA recognition. Although the structures of free and bound forms of TAR are well characterized, the conformations of the intermediates in the binding process are still unknown. By determining the free energy landscape of the complex using NMR residual dipolar couplings in replica-averaged metadynamics simulations, we observe two low-population intermediates. We then rationally design two mutants, one in the protein and another in the RNA, that weaken specific nonnative interactions that stabilize one of the intermediates. By using surface plasmon resonance, we show that these mutations lower the release rate of Tat, as predicted. These results identify the structure of an intermediate for RNA-protein binding and illustrate a general strategy to achieve this goal with high resolution.

Structure of a low-population binding intermediate in protein-RNA recognition.,Borkar AN, Bardaro MF Jr, Camilloni C, Aprile FA, Varani G, Vendruscolo M Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Jun 10. pii: 201521349. PMID:27286828^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.