Title
Structural and biochemical insights into the DNA-binding mode of MjSpt4p:Spt5 complex at the exit tunnel of RNAPII
Author
Gongrui Guo, Yongxiang Gao, Zhongliang Zhu, Debiao Zhao, Zhihong Liu, Huihao Zhou, Liwen Niu, Maikun Teng
Year
2015
Journal
Journal of Structural Biology
Abstract
Spt5 (NusG in bacteria) is the only RNA polymerase-associated factor known to be conserved in all three domains of life. In archaea and eukaryotes, Spt5 associates with Spt4, an elongation factor that is absent in bacteria, to form a functional heterodimeric complex. Previous studies suggest that the Spt4:Spt5 complex interacts directly with DNA at the double-stranded DNA exit tunnel of RNA polymerase to regulate gene transcription. In this study, the DNA-binding ability of Spt4:Spt5 from the archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii was confirmed via nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift perturbation and fluorescence polarization assays. Crystallographic analysis of the full-length MjSpt4:Spt5 revealed two distinct conformations of the C-terminal KOW domain of Spt5. A similar alkaline region was found on the Spt4:Spt5 surface in both crystal forms, and identified as double-stranded DNA binding patch through mutagenesis-fluorescence polarization assays. Based on these structural and biochemical data, the Spt4:Spt5-DNA binding model was built for the first time.
Instrument
J-810
Keywords
Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Biochemistry