The interaction of the recognition helix of lac repressor with lac operator.

We have constructed a system which allows systematic testing of repressor--operator interactions. The system consists of two plasmids. One of them carries a lac operon in which lac operator has been replaced by a unique restriction site into which synthetic operators can be cloned. The other plasmid carries the gene coding for the repressor, in our case a semisynthetic lacI gene of which parts can be exchanged in a cassette-like manner. A galE host allows us to select for mutants which express repressors with altered specificities. Here we report the change of specificity in the lac system by changing residues 1 and 2 of the recognition helix of lac repressor. The specificity changes are brought about cooperatively by the change of both residues. Exchanges of just one residue broaden the specificity. Our results hint that the recognition helix of lac repressor may possibly have the opposite orientation to those in Lambda cro protein or 434 CI repressor.     

Complex of lac repressor headpiece with a 14 base-pair lac operator fragment studied by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance

Two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectra are presented of the complex of lac repressor headpiece with a 14 base-pair lac operator fragment. Analysis of nuclear Overhauser enhancements observed between protein and DNA shows that the second helix of the headpiece ("the recognition helix") binds in the major groove of DNA as has been suggested, but that the orientation of this helix is approximately 180 degrees different from the proposed models.     

lac repressor mutants with double or triple exchanges in the recognition helix bind specifically to lac operator variants with multiple exchanges.

Several lac repressor mutants have been isolated which repress beta-galactosidase synthesis in Escherichia coli up to 200-fold. They do so by binding specifically to particular symmetrical lac Oc operator variants. The mutations in the lac repressor are localized in two separate parts of the recognition helix comprising (i) residues 1 and 2 which interact with base pairs 4 and 5 of lac operator and (ii) residue 6 which recognizes operator base pair 6. Mutations of residues 1 and 2 may be combined with a mutation of residue 6. The resulting mutant protein binds specifically to an operator variant with three symmetric exchanges in base pairs 4, 5 and 6.     

The roles of residues 5 and 9 of the recognition helix of Lac repressor in lac operator binding

We constructed expression libraries for Lac repressor mutants with amino acid exchanges in positions 1, 2, 5 and 9 of the recognition helix. We then analysed the interactions of residues 5 and 9 with operator variants bearing single or multiple symmetric base-pair exchanges in positions 3, 4 and 5 of the ideal fully symmetric lac operator. We isolated 37 independent Lac repressor mutants with five different amino acids in position 5 of the recognition helix that exhibit a strong preference for particular residues in position 2 and, to a lesser extent, in position 1 of the recognition helix. Our results suggest that residue 5 of the recognition helix (serine 21) contributes to the specific recognition of base-pair 4 of the lac operator. They further suggest that residue 9 of the recognition helix (asparagine 25) interacts non-specifically with a phosphate of the DNA backbone, possibly between base-pairs 2 and 3.     

Two helix DNA binding motif of CAP found in lac repressor and gal repressor.

Comparison of both the DNA and protein sequences of catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) with the sequences of lac and gal repressors shows significant homologies between a sequence that forms a two alpha-helix motif in CAP and sequences near the amino terminus of both repressors. This two-helix motif is thought to be involved in specific DNA sequence recognition by CAP. The region in lac repressor to which CAP is homologous contains many i-d mutations that are defective in DNA binding. Less significant sequence homologies between CAP and phage repressors and activators are also shown. The amino acid residues that are critical to the formation of the two-helix motif are conserved, while those residues expected to interact with DNA are variable. These observations suggest the lac and gal repressors also have a two alpha-helix structural motif which is involved in DNA binding and that this two helix motif may be generally found in many bacterial and phage repressors. We conclude that one major mechanism by which proteins can recognize specific base sequences in double stranded DNA is via the amino acid side chains of alpha-helices fitting into the major groove of B-DNA.     

Orientation of the putative recognition helix in the DNA-binding domain of Hin recombinase complexed with the hix site

On the basis of sequence similarity with other known DNA-binding proteins, the DNA-binding domain of Hin recombinase, residues 139-190, is thought to bind DNA by a helix-turn-helix motif. Two models can be considered that differ in the orientation of the recognition helix in the major groove of DNA. One is based on the orientation of the recognition helix found in the 434 repressor (1-69) and lambda repressor-DNA cocrystals, and the other is based on the NMR studies of lac repressor headpiece. Cleavage by EDTA.Fe attached to a lysine side chain (Ser183----Lys183) near the COOH terminus of Hin(139-184) reveals that the putative recognition helix is oriented toward the center of the inverted repeats in a manner similar to that seen in the 434 and lambda repressor-DNA cocrystals.     

Plasticity in protein-DNA recognition: lac repressor interacts with its natural operator 01 through alternative conformations of its DNA-binding domain

The lac repressor-operator system is a model system for understanding protein-DNA interactions and allosteric mechanisms in gene regulation. Despite the wealth of biochemical data provided by extensive mutations of both repressor and operator, the specific recognition mechanism of the natural lac operators by lac repressor has remained elusive. Here we present the first high-resolution structure of a dimer of the DNA-binding domain of lac repressor bound to its natural operator 01. The global positioning of the dimer on the operator is dramatically asymmetric, which results in a different pattern of specific contacts between the two sites. Specific recognition is accomplished by a combination of elongation and twist by 48 degrees of the right lac subunit relative to the left one, significant rearrangement of many side chains as well as sequence-dependent deformability of the DNA. The set of recognition mechanisms involved in the lac repressor-operator system is unique among other protein-DNA complexes and presents a nice example of the adaptability that both proteins and DNA exhibit in the context of their mutual interaction.     

Cooperative alpha-helix unfolding in a protein-DNA complex from hydrogen-deuterium exchange

We present experimental evidence for a cooperative unfolding transition of an alpha-helix in the lac repressor headpiece bound to a symmetric variant of the lac operator, as inferred from hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) exchange experiments monitored by NMR spectroscopy. In the EX1 limit, observed exchange rates become pH-independent and exclusively sensitive to local structure fluctuations that expose the amide proton HN to exchange. Close to this regime, we measured decay rates of individual backbone HN signals in D2O, and of their mutual HN-HN NOE by time-resolved two-dimensional (2D) NMR experiments. The data revealed correlated exchange at the center of the lac headpiece recognition helix, Val20-Val23, and suggested that the correlation breaks down at Val24, at the C terminus of the helix. A lower degree of correlation was observed for the exchange of Val9 and Ala10 at the center of helix 1, while no correlation was observed for Val38 and Glu39 at the center of helix 3. We conclude that HN exchange in the recognition helix and, to some extent, in helix 1 is a cooperative event involving the unfolding of these helices, whereas the HN exchange in helix 3 is dominated by random local structure fluctuations.     

Construction, isolation and implications of repressor-galactosidase - beta-galactosidase hybrid molecules.

Escherichia coli heterogenotes, which produce hybrid molecules between the chimaeric protein repressor-galactosidase and the enzyme beta-galactosidase, were constructed. Repressor-galactosidase in which fully active lac repressor is covalently linked to active beta-galactosidase, is an aggregate with a core structure of four beta-galactosidase parts and two peripheral lac repressor dimers. The lac repressor dimers, which are separated by tetrameric beta-galactosidase, retain all the biological activities of tetrameric lac repressor. Substitution of repressor-galactosidase subunits with beta-galactosidase subunits leads to hybrid molecules with y beta-galactosidase subunits aggregated with (4-y) repressor-galactosidase subunits (where y = 1, 2 or 3). A 2:2 hybrid, i.e. a tetrameric beta-galactosidase core with one lac repressor dimer grafted to it, binds at least 100 times less strongly to 32P-labelled lambdaplac DNA than pure lac repressor or repressor-galactosidase. The data suggest a model in which lac repressor binds with two subunits to lac operator and with the other two subunits elsewhere on the DNA, possibly on sequences like the lac operator.     

Circular dichroism studies of the binding of o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fucoside and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside to lac repressor.

The binding of o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fucoside and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside to Escherichia coli lac repressor was investigated by circular dichroism in the wavelength range 300--400 nm corresponding to the o-nitrophenyl chromophores. The CD signal of both ligands drastically changed when they bound to lac repressor due to the asymmetric interaction of the o-nitrophenyl ring with chemical groups of protein. The CD spectra of bound ligands indicate close similarity between the environment of o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fucoside and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside on lac repressor. The CD signal is used to calculate the binding parameters (K and n) to lac repressor. It is demonstrated that the limited proteolytic digestion of lac repressor which gives a 'core protein' does not affect the environment of both ligands on the protein.     

Repressor of phage 16-3 with altered binding specificity indicates spatial differences in repressor-operator complexes

The C repressor protein of phage 16-3, which is required for establishing and maintaining lysogeny, recognizes structurally different operators which differ by 2 bp in the length of the spacer between the conserved palindromic sequences. A "rotationally flexible protein homodimers" model has been proposed in order to explain the conformational adaptivity of the 16-3 repressor. In this paper, we report on the isolation of a repressor mutant with altered binding specificity which was used to identify a residue-base pair contact and to monitor the spatial relationship of the recognition helix of C repressor to the contacting major groove of DNA within the two kinds of repressor-operator complexes. Our results indicate spatial differences at the interface which may reflect different docking arrangements in recognition of the structurally different operators by the 16-3 repressor.     

Detection of protein-DNA interaction and regulation using gold nanoparticles

The interaction between protein and DNA is usually regulated by a third species, an effector, which can be either a protein or a small molecule. Convenient methods capable of detecting protein-DNA interaction and its regulation are highly desirable research tools. In the current study, we developed a method to directly “visualize” the interaction between a protein-DNA pair and its effector through the coupling with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). As a proof-of-concept experiment, we constructed a model system based on the interaction between the lac repressor (protein) and operator (DNA) and its interplay with the lac operon inducer isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG, which inhibits the interaction between the lac repressor and operator). We coated AuNPs with the lac operator sequences and mixed them with the lac repressor. Because the lac repressor homotetramer contains two DNA binding modules, it bridged the particles and caused them to aggregate. We demonstrated that the assembly of DNA-modified AuNPs correlated with the presence of the corresponding protein and effector in a concentration-dependent manner. This AuNP-based platform has the potential to be generalized in the creation of reporter and detection systems for other interacting protein-DNA pairs and their effectors.     

lac repressor forms loops with linear DNA carrying two suitably spaced lac operators.

Tetrameric lac repressor may bind to two lac operators on one DNA fragment and induce the intervening DNA to form a loop. Electron microscopy, non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and DNase I protection experiments were used to demonstrate such DNA loops, where the distance between the centres of symmetry of the two lac operators varies between 63 and 535 bp. Formation of a DNA loop is favoured by correct phasing of the two lac operators and a low concentration of both components of the reaction. When a large excess of lac repressor over DNA is used, a 'tandem' structure is observed, in which both lac operators are occupied independently by two repressor tetramers. When the concentrations of both lac repressor and lac operator are high, a 'sandwich' structure is observed, in which two DNA molecules are connected by two lac repressor tetramers in trans.     

Conformational changes of the ferric uptake regulation protein upon metal activation and DNA binding; first evidence of structural homologies with the diphtheria toxin repressor.

Fur (ferric uptake regulation protein) is a bacterial global regulator that uses iron as a cofactor to bind to specific DNA sequences. It has been suggested that metal binding induces a conformational change in the protein, which is subsequently able to recognize DNA. This mechanism of activation has been investigated here using selective chemical modification monitored by mass spectrometry. The reactivity of each lysine residue of the Fur protein was studied, first in the apo form of the protein, then after metal activation and finally after DNA binding. Of particular interest is Lys76, which was shown to be highly protected from modification in the presence of target DNA. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiments were performed to map with higher resolution the conformational changes induced by metal binding. On the basis of these results, together with a secondary structure prediction, the presence in Fur of a non-classical helix-turn-helix motif is proposed. Experimental results show that activation upon metal binding induces conformational modification of this specific motif. The recognition helix, interacting directly with the major groove of the DNA, would include the domain [Y55-F61]. This helix would be followed by a small "wing" formed between two beta strands, containing Lys76, which might interact directly with DNA. These results suggest that Fur and DtxR (diphtheria toxin repressor), another bacterial repressor, share not only the function of being iron concentration regulators, and the structure of their DNA-binding domain.     

Effects of dominant-negative lac repressor mutations on operator specificity and protein stability

The specific binding of dominant-negative (I-d) lactose (lac) repressors to wild-type (wt) as well as mutant (Oc) lac operators has been examined to explore the sequence-specific interaction of the lac repressor with its target. Mutant lacI genes encoding substitutions in the N-terminal 60 amino acids (aa) were cloned in a derivative of plasmid pBR322. Twelve of these lacI-d missense mutations were transferred from F'lac episomes using general genetic recombination and molecular cloning, and nine lacI missense mutations were recloned from M13-lacI phages [Mott et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 12 (1984) 4139-4152]. The mutant repressors were examined for polypeptide size and stability, for binding the inducer isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG), as well as binding to wt operator. The mutant repressors' affinities for wt operator ranged from undetectable to about 1% that of wt repressor, and the mutant repressors varied in transdominance against repressor expressed from a chromosomal lacIq gene. Six of the I-d repressors were partially degraded in vivo. All repressors bound IPTG with approximately the affinity of wt repressor. Repressors having significant affinity for wt operator or with substitutions in the presumed operator recognition helix (aa 17-25) were examined in vivo for their affinities for a series of single site Oc operators. Whereas the Gly-18-, Ser-18- and Leu-18-substituted repressors showed altered specificity for position 7 of the operator [Ebright, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83 (1986) 303-307], the His-18 repressor did not affect specificity. This result may be related to the greater side-chain length of histidine compared to the other amino acid substitutions.     

Protein-induced unwinding of DNA: measurement by gel electrophoresis of complexes with DNA minicircles. Application to restriction endonuclease EcoRI, catabolite gene activator protein and lac repressor.

An electrophoretic procedure for the measurement of the helix unwinding induced by a sequence-specific protein is described. The method, which was applied here to EcoR I, CAP and lac repressor, involved the migration of the complexes with positively and negatively supercoiled DNA minicircles carrying a single protein binding site. Mobility shifts of complexes relative to naked DNAs appeared to be a result of i) the unwinding; of ii) an increase in the molecular frictional coefficient, which led to a retardation; of iii) bending, in the particular case of CAP, which induced an acceleration; and of iv) looping, in the case of lac repressor, which also resulted in an acceleration. Under conditions where the migration of the naked topoisomers was V-like (topoisomer mobility showed the same linear increase with both negative and positive supercoilings; Zivanovic et al. (1986) J. Mol. Biol., 192, 645-660), the protein unwinding contribution to mobility was assumed to be identical to that experimentally observed in the case of a thermal unwinding: all negatively supercoiled topoisomers were retarded and all positively supercoiled topoisomers were accelerated to the same extent. In contrast, the mobility contribution of the frictional term, as well as those of bending and looping, appeared to vary strongly with the magnitude of the supercoiling, but only weakly with its polarity. As a consequence, these latter contributions may approximately cancel when one is measuring the difference between the shifts observed for two comigrating, negatively and positively supercoiled, topoisomers, allowing the unwinding to be calculated. While estimates obtained for EcoR I, 23 +/- 3 degrees, and CAP, about 29 degrees, were in good agreement with previous measurements using topoisomerase I, the value found for lac repressor, 13 to 16 degrees, was significantly smaller.