Structural highlights
Function
[ARAC_ECOLI] This protein controls the expression of at least six genes that are involved in the transport and catabolism of L-arabinose. It regulates initiation of transcription of the araBAD operon and it also controls its own synthesis. The L-arabinose operon displays both positive and negative regulation through AraC.
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The crystal structure of the arabinose-binding and dimerization domain of the Escherchia coli gene regulatory protein AraC was determined in the presence and absence of L-arabinose. The 1.5 angstrom structure of the arabinose-bound molecule shows that the protein adopts an unusual fold, binding sugar within a beta barrel and completely burying the arabinose with the amino-terminal arm of the protein. Dimer contacts in the presence of arabinose are mediated by an antiparallel coiled-coil. In the 2.8 angstrom structure of the uncomplexed protein, the amino-terminal arm is disordered, uncovering the sugar-binding pocket and allowing it to serve as an oligomerization interface. The ligand-gated oligomerization as seen in AraC provides the basis of a plausible mechanism for modulating the protein's DNA-looping properties.
Structural basis for ligand-regulated oligomerization of AraC.,Soisson SM, MacDougall-Shackleton B, Schleif R, Wolberger C Science. 1997 Apr 18;276(5311):421-5. PMID:9103202[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Soisson SM, MacDougall-Shackleton B, Schleif R, Wolberger C. Structural basis for ligand-regulated oligomerization of AraC. Science. 1997 Apr 18;276(5311):421-5. PMID:9103202
