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Crystal structures of lambda exonuclease in complex with DNA suggest an electrostatic ratchet mechanism for processivity.

ABSTRACT: The ? exonuclease is an ATP-independent enzyme that binds to dsDNA ends and processively digests the 5'-ended strand to form 5' mononucleotides and a long 3' overhang. The crystal structure of ? exonuclease revealed a toroidal homotrimer with a central funnel-shaped channel for tracking along the DNA, and a mechanism for processivity based on topological linkage of the trimer to the DNA was proposed. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of ? exonuclease in complex with DNA at 1.88-? resolution. The structure reveals that the enzyme unwinds the DNA prior to cleavage, such that two nucleotides of the 5'-ended strand insert into the active site of one subunit of the trimer, while the 3'-ended strand passes through the central channel to emerge out the back of the trimer. Unwinding of the DNA is facilitated by several apolar residues, including Leu78, that wedge into the base pairs at the single/double-strand junction to form favorable hydrophobic interactions. The terminal 5' phosphate of the DNA binds to a positively charged pocket buried at the end of the active site, while the scissile phosphate bridges two active site Mg(2+) ions. Our data suggest a mechanism for processivity in which wedging of Leu78 and other apolar residues into the base pairs of the DNA restricts backward movement, whereas attraction of the 5' phosphate to the positively charged pocket drives forward movement of the enzyme along the DNA at each cycle of the reaction. Thus, processivity of ? exonuclease operates not only at the level of the trimer, but also at the level of the monomer.

SUBMITTER: Zhang J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3141983 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Crystal structures of lambda exonuclease in complex with DNA suggest an electrostatic ratchet mechanism for processivity.

Zhang Jinjin J McCabe Kimberly A KA Bell Charles E CE

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20110705 29

The λ exonuclease is an ATP-independent enzyme that binds to dsDNA ends and processively digests the 5'-ended strand to form 5' mononucleotides and a long 3' overhang. The crystal structure of λ exonuclease revealed a toroidal homotrimer with a central funnel-shaped channel for tracking along the DNA, and a mechanism for processivity based on topological linkage of the trimer to the DNA was proposed. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of λ exonuclease in complex with DNA at 1.88-Å re ...[more]

PMID: 21730170

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Project description:In order for protein kinases to exchange nucleotide they must open and close their catalytic cleft. These motions are associated with rotations of the N-lobe, predominantly around the 'hinge region'. We conducted an analysis of 28 crystal structures of the serine-threonine kinase, p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), including three newly determined structures in complex with staurosporine, FRAX486, and fasudil (HA-1077). We find an unusual motion between the N-lobe and C-lobe of PAK4 that manifests as a partial unwinding of helix αC. Principal component analysis of the crystal structures rationalizes these movements into three major states, and analysis of the kinase hydrophobic spines indicates concerted movements that create an accessible back pocket cavity. The conformational changes that we observe for PAK4 differ from previous descriptions of kinase motions, and although we observe these differences in crystal structures there is the possibility that the movements observed may suggest a diversity of kinase conformational changes associated with regulation.Author summaryProtein kinases are key signaling proteins, and are important drug targets, therefore understanding their regulation is important for both basic research and clinical points of view. In this study, we observe unusual conformational 'hinging' for protein kinases. Hinging, the opening and closing of the kinase sub-domains to allow nucleotide binding and release, is critical for proper kinase regulation and for targeted drug discovery. We determine new crystal structures of PAK4, an important Rho-effector kinase, and conduct analyses of these and previously determined structures. We find that PAK4 crystal structures can be classified into specific conformational groups, and that these groups are associated with previously unobserved hinging motions and an unusual conformation for the kinase hydrophobic core. Our findings therefore indicate that there may be a diversity of kinase hinging motions, and that these may indicate different mechanisms of regulation.

Dataset Information

Crystal structures of lambda exonuclease in complex with DNA suggest an electrostatic ratchet mechanism for processivity.

Publications

Crystal structures of lambda exonuclease in complex with DNA suggest an electrostatic ratchet mechanism for processivity.

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