A sequence-specific single-strand DNA binding protein that contacts repressor sequences in the human GM-CSF promoter.

NF-GMb is a nuclear factor that binds to the proximal promoter of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene. NF-GMb has a subunit molecular weight of 22 kDa, is constitutively expressed in embryonic fibroblasts and binds to sequences within the adjacent CK-1 and CK-2 elements (CK-1/CK-2 region), located at approximately -100 in the GM-CSF gene promoter. These elements are conserved in haemopoietic growth factor (HGF) genes. NF-GMb binding requires the presence of repeated 5'CAGG3' sequences that overlap the binding sites for positive activators. Surprisingly, NF-GMb was found to bind solely to single-strand DNA, namely the non-coding strand of the GM-CSF CK-1/CK-2 region. NF-GMb may belong to a family of single-strand DNA binding (ssdb) proteins that have 5'CAGG3' sequences within their binding sites. Functional analysis of the proximal GM-CSF promoter revealed that sequences in the -114 to -79 region of the promoter containing the NF-GMb binding sites had no intrinsic activity in fibroblasts but could, however, repress tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inducible expression directed by downstream promoter sequences (-65 to -31). Subsequent mutation analysis showed that sequences involved in repression correlated with those required for NF-GMb binding.     

Isolation of altered recA polypeptides and interaction with ATP and DNA

In this paper we describe the partial proteolytic digestion of recA proteins from Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis and the production and isolation of truncated recA polypeptides. A proteolytic fragment of the P. mirabilis recA protein bound single-strand DNA and ATP normally but has altered duplex DNA binding properties. This protein was shown to initiate but not complete DNA strand transfer from a DNA duplex to a complementary single strand. The product of the E. coli recA1 allele bound but could not hydrolyze ATP and the protein bound single-strand but not double-strand DNA. This protein did not appear to initiate the transfer of a strand from a linear duplex to a single-strand circle and inhibited the wild-type recA protein from performing strand transfer. We report that recA protein binds linear duplex DNA in a manner that enhances the rate of ligation by T4 DNA ligase. When heterologous single-strand DNA was added in addition to the duplex DNA large stable aggregates of protein and DNA were formed that could easily be sedimented from solution.     

Requirements for noncovalent binding of vaccinia topoisomerase I to duplex DNA.

Vaccinia DNA topoisomerase binds duplex DNA and forms a covalent adduct at sites containing a conserved sequence element 5'(C/T)CCTT decreases in the scissile strand. Distinctive aspects of noncovalent versus covalent interaction emerge from analysis of the binding properties of Topo(Phe-274), a mutated protein which is unable to cleave DNA, but which binds DNA noncovalently. Whereas DNA cleavage by wild type enzyme is most efficient with 'suicide' substrates containing fewer than 10 base pairs distal to the scissile bond, optimal noncovalent binding by Topo(Phe-274) requires at least 10-bp of DNA 3' of the cleavage site. Thus, the region of DNA flanking the pentamer motif serves to stabilize the noncovalent topoisomerase-DNA complex. This result is consistent with the downstream dimensions of the DNA binding site deduced from nuclease footprinting. Topo(Phe-274) binds to duplex DNA lacking the consensus pentamer with 7-10-fold lower affinity than to CCCTT-containing DNA.     

Lock and key binding of the HOX YPWM peptide to the PBX homeodomain

HOX homeodomain proteins bind short core DNA sequences to control very specific developmental processes. DNA binding affinity and sequence selectivity are increased by the formation of cooperative complexes with the PBX homeodomain protein. A conserved YPWM motif in the HOX protein is necessary for cooperative binding with PBX. We have determined the structure of a PBX homeodomain bound to a 14-mer DNA duplex. A relaxation-optimized procedure was developed to measure DNA residual dipolar couplings at natural abundance in the 20-kDa binary complex. When the PBX homeodomain binds to DNA, a fourth alpha-helix is formed in the homeodomain. This helix rigidifies the DNA recognition helix of PBX and forms a hydrophobic binding site for the HOX YPWM peptide. The HOX peptide itself shows some structure in solution and suggests that the interaction between PBX and HOX is an example of "lock and key" binding. The NMR structure explains the requirement of DNA for the PBX-HOX interaction and the increased affinity of DNA binding.     

The binding of RecA protein to duplex DNA molecules is directional and is promoted by a single stranded region.

RecA protein from E. coli binds more strongly to single stranded DNA than to duplex molecules. Using duplex DNA that contains single stranded gaps, we have studied the protection by RecA protein at various concentrations, of restriction sites as a function of their distance from the single stranded region. We show that the binding of RecA protein, initiated in the single stranded region, extends progressively along the adjoining duplex in the 5' to 3' direction with respect to the single stranded region. The strand exchange reaction is known to proceed in the same direction.     

Mechanism of DNA binding and localized strand separation by Pur alpha and comparison with Pur family member, Pur beta

Pur alpha is a single-stranded (ss) DNA- and RNA-binding protein with three conserved signature repeats that have a specific affinity for guanosine-rich motifs. Pur alpha unwinds a double-stranded oligonucleotide containing purine-rich repeats by maintaining contact with the purine-rich strand and displacing the pyrimidine-rich strand. Mutational analysis indicates that arginine and aromatic residues in the repeat region of Pur alpha are essential for both ss- and duplex DNA binding. Pur alpha binds either linearized or supercoiled plasmid DNA, generating a series of regularly spaced bands in agarose gels. This series is likely due to localized unwinding by quanta of Pur alpha since removal of Pur alpha in the gel eliminates the series and since Pur alpha binding increases the sensitivity of plasmids to reaction with potassium permanganate, a reaction specific for unwound regions. Pur alpha binding to linear duplex DNA creates binding sites for the phage T4 gp32 protein, an ss-DNA binding protein that does not itself bind linearized DNA. In contrast, Pur beta lacking the Pur alpha C-terminal region binds supercoiled DNA but not linearized DNA. Similarly, a C-terminal deletion of Pur alpha can bind supercoiled pMYC7 plasmid, but cannot bind the same linear duplex DNA segment. Therefore, access to linear DNA initially requires C-terminal sequences of Pur alpha.     

DNA unwinding protein from meiotic cells of Lilium.

An ATP-dependent DNA unwinding protein is present at a high level of activity in meiotic cells of lilies. The protein also acts as a DNA-dependent ATPase, the single strand form being the preferred cofactor. It binds in the absence of ATP to single-strand DNA and to ends or nicks in duplex DNA. A 3'-OH terminus is required for binding at duplex ends; such binding is highly stable. Unwinding occurs in the presence of ATP, and it is limited to about 50 base pairs per end or 400-500 base pairs per nick. The ATP hydrolyzed during unwinding is distinguishable from ATP hydrolysis in the presence of single-strand DNA.     

Substrate and DNA binding to a 50-residue peptide fragment of DNA polymerase I. Comparison with the enzyme

The fluorescent nucleotide 2',3'-trinitrophenyl-ATP (TNP-ATP) binds at the triphosphate substrate binding site of the large (Klenow) fragment of DNA polymerase I (Pol I) as detected by direct binding studies measuring the increase in fluorescence of this ligand (n = 1.0, KD = 0.07 microM). The enzyme-TNP-ATP complex binds Mg2+ and Mn2+ tightly (KD = 0.05 microM) as measured by an increase in fluorescence on titrating with these metals. The substrate dGTP competitively displaces TNP-ATP from the enzyme (KD = 5.7 microM) de-enhancing the fluorescence. The polymerase reaction is half-maximally inhibited by 0.8 microM TNP-ATP in the presence of dATP (10 microM) as substrate. A region of the amino acid sequence of Pol I (peptide I) consisting of residues 728-777 has been synthesized and found to contain significant secondary structure by CD both in water and 50% methanol/water. In water at 3 degrees C, peptide I binds the substrate analog TNP-ATP (KD = 0.03 microM) with a stoichiometry of 0.2. In 50% methanol at 3 degrees C, peptide I binds TNP-ATP with a higher stoichiometry than in water, consistent with a 1:1 complex, but biphasically (16% of the peptide, KD = 0.09 microM; 84% of the peptide, KD = 5.0 microM), and competitively binds the Pol I substrates dATP, TTP, and dGTP (KD = 230-570 microM). Evidence from size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography suggests that these two forms of the peptide are monomer and dimer, respectively. Significantly, the peptide I-TNP-ATP complex binds duplex DNA, tightly (KD = 0.1-0.5 microM) and stoichiometrically, and single stranded DNA more weakly. The peptide I-duplex DNA complex binds both TNP-ATP (KD = 0.5-1.5 microM) and Pol I substrates (KD = 350-2100 microM) stoichiometrically. In a control experiment, a second peptide, peptide II, based on residues 840-888 of the Pol I sequence, retains secondary structure, as detected by CD, but displays no binding of TNP-ATP. The ability of peptide I, which represents only 8% of the large fragment of Pol I, to bind both substrates and duplex DNA indicates that residues 728-777 constitute a major portion of the substrate binding site of this enzyme.     

Partial purification and characterization of a recombinase from human cells

We describe the partial purification and characterization of a human recombinase activity from RPMI 1788 B lymphoblasts. Stoichiometric amounts of recombinase carry out a strand transfer reaction between linear duplex DNA and homologous circular single-strand DNA. The product of strand transfer by the recombinase is a joint molecule composed of a single-strand circle joined to one end of the linear duplex molecule by a region of DNA heteroduplex at least 150 bp long. Formation of DNA heteroduplexes is accompanied by strand displacement. Strand invasion initiates at the ends of the linear duplex. Finally, strand displacement by human recombinase exhibits polarity and proceeds in a 3' to 5' direction. This is the first demonstration of a strand transfer activity from a high eukaryote. We discuss similarities between our recombinase and the RecA and rec1 recombination proteins from E. coli and Ustilago maydis, respectively.     

Binding of triple helix forming oligonucleotides to sites in gene promoters

A class of triplex-forming oligodeoxyribonucleotides (TFOs) is described that can bind to naturally occurring sites in duplex DNA at physiological pH in the presence of magnesium. The data are consistent with a structure in which the TFO binds in the major groove of double-stranded DNA to form a three-stranded complex that is superficially similar to previously described triplexes. The distinguishing features of this class of triplex are that TFO binding apparently involves the formation of hydrogen-bonded G.GC and T.AT triplets and the TFO is bound antiparallel with respect to the more purine-rich strand of the underlying duplex. Triplex formation is described for targets in the promoter regions of three different genes: the human c-myc and epidermal growth factor receptor genes and the mouse insulin receptor gene. All three sites are relatively GC rich and have a high percentage of purine residues on one strand. DNase I footprinting shows that individual TFOs bind selectively to their target sites at pH 7.4-7.8 in the presence of millimolar concentrations of magnesium. Electrophoretic analysis of triplex formation indicates that specific TFOs bind to their target sites with apparent dissociation constants in the 10(-7)-10(-9) M range. Strand orientation of the bound TFOs was confirmed by attaching eosin or an iron-chelating group to one end of the TFO and monitoring the pattern of damage to the bound duplex DNA. Possible hydrogen-bonding patterns and triplex structures are discussed.     

Redesign of a WW domain peptide for selective recognition of single-stranded DNA

A β-sheet miniprotein based on the FBP11 WW1 domain sequence has been redesigned for the molecular recognition of ssDNA. A previous report showed that a β-hairpin peptide dimer, (WKWK)(2), binds ssDNA with low micromolar affinity but with little selectivity over duplex DNA. This report extends those studies to a three-stranded β-sheet miniprotein designed to mimic the OB-fold. The new peptide binds ssDNA with low micromolar affinity and shows about 10-fold selectivity for ssDNA over duplex DNA. The redesigned peptide no longer binds its native ligand, the polyproline helix, confirming that the peptide has been redesigned for the function of binding ssDNA. Structural studies provide evidence that this peptide consists of a well-structured β-hairpin made of strands 2 and 3 with a less structured first strand that provides affinity for ssDNA but does not improve the stability of the full peptide. These studies provide insight into protein-DNA interactions as well as a novel example of protein redesign.     

Minisatellite binding protein Msbp-1 is a sequence-specific single-stranded DNA-binding protein.

Msbp-1 is a minisatellite-specific DNA-binding protein. Using synthetic binding substrates, we now show that Msbp-1 binds not to double-stranded DNA, but exclusively to single-stranded DNA. Binding is specific to the guanine-rich strand of the minisatellite duplex, interactions with the cytosine-rich strand being undetectable by southwestern analysis. Furthermore, the binding site required for successful DNA-protein interactions appears to be two or more minisatellite repeat units. We have also isolated, by whole-genome PCR and cloning, one Msbp-1 binding site from the human genome. Again, the binding strand of this molecule contains a repetitive G-rich structure equivalent to that of a small minisatellite. These observations are discussed with respect to other single-stranded DNA-binding proteins known to play a role in recombination processes.