Download MendeleyThe Lin28 Cold-Shock Domain Remodels Pre-Let-7 Microrna.
Mayr, F., Schutz, A., Doge, N., Heinemann, U.(2012) Nucleic Acids Res 40: 7492
- PubMed: 22570413
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gks355
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
3ULJ, 4A4I, 4A75, 4A76, 4ALP - PubMed Abstract:
The RNA-binding protein Lin28 regulates the processing of a developmentally important group of microRNAs, the let-7 family. Lin28 blocks the biogenesis of let-7 in embryonic stem cells and thereby prevents differentiation. It was shown that both RNA-binding domains (RBDs) of this protein, the cold-shock domain (CSD) and the zinc-knuckle domain (ZKD) are indispensable for pri- or pre-let-7 binding and blocking its maturation. Here, we systematically examined the nucleic acid-binding preferences of the Lin28 RBDs and determined the crystal structure of the Lin28 CSD in the absence and presence of nucleic acids. Both RNA-binding domains bind to single-stranded nucleic acids with the ZKD mediating specific binding to a conserved GGAG motif and the CSD showing only limited sequence specificity. However, only the isolated Lin28 CSD, but not the ZKD, can bind with a reasonable affinity to pre-let-7 and thus is able to remodel the terminal loop of pre-let-7 including the Dicer cleavage site. Further mutagenesis studies reveal that the Lin28 CSD induces a conformational change in the terminal loop of pre-let-7 and thereby facilitates a subsequent specific binding of the Lin28 ZKD to the conserved GGAG motif.
Organizational Affiliation:
Crystallography, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
