Positively charged residues in DNA-binding domains of structural proteins follow sequence-specific positions of DNA phosphate groups. 2009

A G Cherstvy
Institut für Festkörperforschung, Theorie-II, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany. a.cherstvy@googlemail.com

We study electrostatic charge complementarity along interfaces of DNA-protein complexes. We use the Protein Data Bank atomic coordinates of DNA-protein complexes for some DNA-binding proteins to study the distribution of positively charged protein residues in the close contact with DNA. We show that large structural proteins reveal a peculiar nonuniform distribution of Arg, Lys, and His amino acids in the frame of negatively charged DNA phosphate strands. We study the nucleosome core particles, DNA complexes with prokaryotic DNA-bending histone analogues, but also the basic binding motifs of small DNA-binding proteins. For large DNA-protein complexes, where extensive DNA wrapping around protein cores occurs, we show that positive amino acids on the proteins track sequence-specific positions of individual DNA phosphates. This specificity of electrostatic interactions can contribute to DNA recognition by DNA-binding proteins, which is governed for many DNA-protein complexes primarily by the hydrogen bond formation between protein residues and DNA bases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008958 Models, Molecular Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures. Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D008968 Molecular Conformation The characteristic three-dimensional shape of a molecule. Molecular Configuration,3D Molecular Structure,Configuration, Molecular,Molecular Structure, Three Dimensional,Three Dimensional Molecular Structure,3D Molecular Structures,Configurations, Molecular,Conformation, Molecular,Conformations, Molecular,Molecular Configurations,Molecular Conformations,Molecular Structure, 3D,Molecular Structures, 3D,Structure, 3D Molecular,Structures, 3D Molecular
D010710 Phosphates Inorganic salts of phosphoric acid. Inorganic Phosphate,Phosphates, Inorganic,Inorganic Phosphates,Orthophosphate,Phosphate,Phosphate, Inorganic
D011506 Proteins Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein. Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D002412 Cations Positively charged atoms, radicals or groups of atoms which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis. Cation
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D013379 Substrate Specificity A characteristic feature of enzyme activity in relation to the kind of substrate on which the enzyme or catalytic molecule reacts. Specificities, Substrate,Specificity, Substrate,Substrate Specificities
D055672 Static Electricity The accumulation of an electric charge on a object Electrostatic,Electrostatics,Static Charge,Charge, Static,Charges, Static,Electricity, Static,Static Charges

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