Download MendeleySolution structure of a multifunctional DNA- and protein-binding motif of human Werner syndrome protein.
Hu, J.-S., Feng, H., Zeng, W., Lin, G.-X., Xi, X.G.(2005) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102: 18379-18384
- PubMed: 16339893
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0509380102
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
2AXL - PubMed Abstract:
Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disease that results in premature aging. Mutations in the WS gene (WRN) result in a loss of expression of the WRN protein and predispose WS patients to accelerated aging. As a helicase and a nuclease, WRN is unique among the five human RecQ helicase family members and is capable of multiple functions involved in DNA replication, repair, recombination, and telomere maintenance. A 144-residue fragment of WRN was previously determined to be a multifunctional DNA- and protein-binding domain (DPBD) that interacts with structure-specific DNA and a variety of DNA-processing proteins. In addition, DPBD functions as a nucleolar targeting sequence of WRN. The solution structure of the DPBD, the first of a WRN fragment, has been solved by NMR. DPBD consists of a winged helix-like motif and an unstructured C-terminal region of approximately 20 aa. The putative DNA-binding surface of DPBD has been identified by using known structural and biochemical data. Based on the structural data and on the biochemical data, we suggest a surface on the DPBD for interacting with other proteins. In this structural model, a single winged helix domain binds to both DNA and other proteins. Furthermore, we propose that DPBD functions as a regulatory domain to regulate the enzymatic activity of WRN and to direct cellular localization of WRN through protein-protein interaction.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. jhu1@umail.umd.edu
