Structural highlights
Function
[GCN4_YEAST] Is a transcription factor that is responsible for the activation of more than 30 genes required for amino acid or for purine biosynthesis in response to amino acid or purine starvation. Binds and recognize the DNA sequence: 5'-TGA[CG]TCA-3'.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Subunit oligomerization in many proteins is mediated by short coiled-coil motifs. These motifs share a characteristic seven-amino-acid repeat containing hydrophobic residues at the first (a) and fourth (d) positions. Despite this common pattern, different sequences form two-, three- and four-stranded helical ropes. We have investigated the basis for oligomer choice by characterizing variants of the GCN4 leucine-zipper dimerization domain that adopt trimeric or tetrameric structures in response to mutations at the a and d positions. We now report the high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of an isoleucine-containing mutant that folds into a parallel three-stranded, alpha-helical coiled coil. In contrast to the dimer and tetramer structures, the interior packing of the trimer can accommodate beta-branched residues in the most preferred rotamer at both hydrophobic positions. Compatibility of the shape of the core amino acids with the distinct packing spaces in the two-, three- and four-stranded conformations appears to determine the oligomerization state of the GCN4 leucine-zipper variants.
Crystal structure of an isoleucine-zipper trimer.,Harbury PB, Kim PS, Alber T Nature. 1994 Sep 1;371(6492):80-3. PMID:8072533[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Harbury PB, Kim PS, Alber T. Crystal structure of an isoleucine-zipper trimer. Nature. 1994 Sep 1;371(6492):80-3. PMID:8072533 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/371080a0
