Structural mimicry in the phage phi21 N peptide-boxB RNA complex

We determined the solution structure of a 22-amino-acid peptide from the amino-terminal domain of the bacteriophage phi21 N protein in complex with its cognate 24-mer boxB RNA hairpin using heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The N peptide binds as an alpha-helix and interacts predominately with the major groove side of the 5' half of the boxB RNA stem-loop. This binding interface is defined by surface complementarity of polar and nonpolar interactions, and little sequence-specific recognition. The phi21 boxB loop (CUAACC) has hydrogen bond and backbone torsions typical of the "U-turn" motif, as well as base stacking of the last 4 nt, and a hydrogen bonded C:C pair closing the loop. The exposed face of the phi21 boxB loop, in complex with the N peptide, is strikingly similar to the GNRA tetraloop-like folds of the related lambda and P22 bacteriophage N peptide-boxB RNA complexes. The N peptide-boxB complexes of the various phage, while individually distinct, provide similar structural features for interactions with the Escherichia coli host factors to enable antitermination.     

λ噬菌体nutL序列突变对N蛋白生物功能的影响

λ噬菌体 Ｎ 蛋白不仅是抗转录终止的正调控因子,也是在翻译水平上阻遏自身基因表达的负调控蛋白．ｎｕｔ Ｒ Ｎ Ａ 位点（包括 ｂｏｘ Ａ 和 ｂｏｘ Ｂ）参与了这两种生物效应．对位于左向操纵子（ｐ Ｌ）的 ｎｕｔ Ｌ 序列进行了突变后,证明 ｎｕｔ Ｌ 缺失及 ｂｏｘ Ｂ 第 ６ 位核苷酸突变使 Ｎ 丧失了正、负调控功能,提示 ｎｕｔ Ｌ 在 Ｎ 介导的调控反应中是必需的．ｎｕｔ Ｌ 序列中 ｂｏｘ Ａ 单碱基突变使 Ｎ 丧失了正调控功能,部分保留了负调控功能．这种负调控作用导至极性效应,使 ｌａｃ Ｚ基因转录水平明显下降．