Helix-destabilizing Proteins Research Articles

Robust growth of archaeal cells lacking a canonical single-stranded DNA-binding protein.

Canonical single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) are universally conserved helix-destabilizing proteins that play critical roles in DNA replication, recombination and repair. Many biochemical and genetic studies have demonstrated the importance of functional SSBs for all life forms. Herein, we report successful deletion of the gene encoding the only canonical SSB of the thermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Genomic sequencing of the ssb-deficient strain using illumina sequencing revealed that the canonical ssb gene is completely deleted from the genome of S. acidocaldarius. Phenotypic characterization demonstrated robust growth of the thermophilic archaeal cells lacking a canonical SSB, thereby demonstrating tolerance to the loss of a universal protein that is generally considered to be essential. Therefore, our work provides evidence that canonical SSBs are not essential for all life forms. Furthermore, on the basis of universal distribution and essentiality pattern of canonical SSBs, our findings can provide a conceptual understanding of the characteristics of early life forms before the last universal common ancestor.

Studies on T4-Head Maturation

The substrate specificity of 49+-enzyme was investigated in vitro. The enzyme showed a marked preference for rapidly sedimenting T4 DNA (greater than 1000 S) when helix-destabilizing proteins from Escherichia coli or phage T4 were added to the reaction. Regular replicative T4 DNA (200-S DNA) or denatured T4 DNA was not cleaved by the enzyme in the presence of these proteins but if they were omitted from the reaction both DNAs become good substrates for the enzyme. 200-S DNA was cleaved at its natural sites of single strandedness which occur at one-genome intervals. Gaps in T4 DNA which were constructed by treatment of a nicked DNA with exonuclease III were also cleaved by 49+-enzyme in the absence of helix-destabilizing proteins. Single-stranded T4 DNA was extensively degraded and up to 50% of the material was found to be acid-soluble in a limit digest. The degradation products were predominantly oligonucleotides of random size. No preference for a 5'-terminal nucleotide was observed in material from a limit digest with M13 DNA. Double-stranded DNA was nicked upon exposure to 49+-enzyme and double-strand breakage finally occurred by an accumulation of single-strand interruptions. No acid-soluble material was produced from native T4 DNA. The introduction of nicks in native DNA did not improve its properties as a substrate for the enzyme. Double-stranded DNA was about 100-fold less sensitive to the enzyme than single-stranded DNA.

The gene 59 protein of bacteriophage T4 modulates the intrinsic and single-stranded DNA-stimulated ATPase activities of gene 41 protein, the T4 replicative DNA helicase

The T4 gene 59 protein (gp59) serves as an accessory protein to the essential T4-encoded DNA helicase, the gene 41 protein (gp41). gp59 stimulates gp41-dependent DNA synthesis reactions by promoting the assembly of gp41 onto single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), where the enzyme is activated to perform its DNA helicase functions. To better understand the mechanism of helicase-ssDNA assembly, we have studied the effects of gp59 on the intrinsic and ssDNA-stimulated ATPase activities of gp41. Our results indicate that gp59 exerts a direct effect upon the conformation and ATPase activity of gp41, by increasing the affinity of gp41 for ATP. In addition, we find that gp59 is nearly essential for promoting the assembly of gp41 onto ssDNA molecules that are covered with saturating amounts of the T4-encoded helix-destabilizing protein, gene 32 protein (gp32). Results of protein affinity chromatography experiments suggest that gp59 contains distinct binding sites for gp41 and gp32 and may therefore act as a molecular adapter between the helicase and helix-destabilizing proteins. Together, the data indicate that specific gp59-gp41 and gp59-gp32 protein-protein interactions both play important roles in the assembly of the helicase onto single-stranded DNA.

Interactions of the A1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein and its proteolytic derivative, UP1, with RNA and DNA: Evidence for multiple RNA binding domains and salt-dependent binding mode transitions

The 319-residue A1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein is the best studied of the group of major or core mammalian hnRNP proteins that bind pre-mRNA immediately following transcription. Circular dichroism studies suggest that binding of A1 and its proteolytic fragment, UP1 (residues 1-195), to nucleic acids results in an unstacking of the bases of poly(A). On the basis of poly[d(A-T)] and poly[r(A-U)] melting studies, both A1 and UP1 are helix-destabilizing proteins. Titrations of A1 and UP1 with poly(A), poly(U), and poly[d(T)] suggest that these two proteins do not bind with significant base specificity. A previous study indicated that A1, which contains a glycine-rich COOH terminus (residues 196-319) not present in UP1, binds cooperatively to polynucleotides while UP1 does not [Cobianchi et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 1063-1071]. Here we confirm this latter finding and demonstrate that the cooperativity parameter for A1 binding, which has a value of about 35 for binding to both single-stranded RNA and DNA, is insensitive to the NaCl concentration at least up to 0.4 M. In contrast to the cooperativity parameter, the occluded site size for A1 binding to RNA is salt dependent and increases from about 14 to 28 upon increasing the NaCl concentration from 25 to 250 mM. This variation in site size is best explained by assuming that A1 can interact with nucleic acids via at least two different binding modes. Both A1 and UP1 have higher affinity for single-stranded as opposed to double-stranded nucleic acids and bind preferentially to single-stranded RNA as compared to DNA. Comparative studies on the binding of A1 versus UP1 to poly[r(epsilon A)] demonstrate that in addition to cooperative protein/protein interactions, the glycine-rich COOH-terminal domain of A1 is also directly involved in protein/nucleic acid interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Single‐stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) from prokaryotic transmissible plasmids

The DNA and protein sequences of single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) encoded by the plP71a, plP231a, and R64 conjugative plasmids have been determined and compared to Escherichia coli SSB and the SSB encoded by F-plasmid. Although the amino acid sequences of all of these proteins are highly conserved within the NH2-terminal two-thirds of the protein, they diverge in the COOH-terminal third region. A number of amino acid residues which have previously been implicated as being either directly or indirectly involved in DNA binding are conserved in all of these SSBs. These residues include Trp-40, Trp-54, Trp-88, His-55, and Phe-60. On the basis of these sequence comparisons and DNA binding studies, a role for Tyr-70 in DNA binding is suggested for the first time. Although the COOH-terminal third of these proteins diverges more than their NH2-terminal regions, the COOH-terminal five amino acid residues of all five of these proteins are identical. In addition, all of these proteins share the characteristic property of having a protease resistant, NH2-terminal core and an acidic COOH-terminal region. Despite the high degree of sequence homology among the plasmid SSB proteins, the F-plasmid SSB appears unique in that it was the only SSB tested that neither bound well to poly(dA) nor was able to stimulate DNA polymerase III holoenzyme elongation rates. Poly [d(A-T)] melting studies suggest that at least three of the plasmid encoded SSBs are better helix-destabilizing proteins than is the E. coli SSB protein.

Reversibility of strand invasion promoted by recA protein and its inhibition by Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein or phage T4 gene 32 protein.

When recA protein promotes homologous pairing and strand exchange involving circular single strands and linear duplex DNA, the protein first polymerizes on the single-stranded DNA to form a nucleoprotein filament which then binds naked duplex DNA to form nucleoprotein networks, the existence of which is independent of homology, but requires the continued presence of recA protein (Tsang, S. S., Chow, S. A., and Radding, C. M. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 3226-3232). Further experiments revealed that within a few minutes after the beginning of homologous pairing and strand exchange, these networks began to be replaced by a distinct set of networks with inverse properties: their formation depended upon homology, but they survived removal of recA protein by a variety of treatments. Formation of this second kind of network required that homology be present specifically at the end of the linear duplex molecule from which strand exchange begins. Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein or phage T4 gene 32 protein largely suppressed the formation of this second population of networks by inactivating the newly formed heteroduplex DNA, which, however, could be reactivated when recA protein was dissociated by incubation at 0 degrees C. We interpret these observations as evidence of reinitiation of strand invasion when recA protein acts in the absence of auxiliary helix-destabilizing proteins. These observations indicate that the nature of the nucleoprotein products of strand exchange determines whether pairing and strand exchange are reversible or not, and they further suggest a new explanation for the way in which E. coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein and gene 32 protein accelerate the apparent forward rate of strand exchange promoted by recA protein, namely by suppressing initiation of the reverse reaction.

Interaction between adenovirus DNA-binding protein and single-stranded polynucleotides studied by circular dichroism and ultraviolet absorption.

The adenovirus DNA-binding protein (AdDBP) is a multifunctional protein required for viral DNA replication and control of transcription. We have studied the binding of AdDBP to single-stranded M13 DNA and to the homopolynucleotides poly(rA), poly(dA), and poly(dT) by means of circular dichroism (CD) and optical density (OD) measurements. The binding to all these polynucleotides was strong and nearly stoichiometric. Titration experiments showed that the size of the binding site is 9-11 nucleotides long for M13 DNA, poly(dA), and poly(rA). A higher value (15.0 +/- 0.8) was found for poly(dT). Pronounced changes in the circular dichroism and optical density spectra were observed upon binding of AdDBP. In general, both the positive peak around 260-270 nm and the negative peak around 240-250 nm in the CD spectra decreased in intensity, and a shift of the crossover point to longer wavelengths was found. The OD spectra observed upon binding of AdDBP are remarkably similar to those obtained with prokaryotic helix-destabilizing proteins like bacteriophage T4 gene 32 protein and fd gene 5 protein. The data can best be interpreted by assuming that the AdDBP-polynucleotide complex has a regular, rigid, and extended configuration that satifies two criteria: (1) a considerable tilt of the bases in combination with (2) a small rotation per base and/or a shift of the bases closer to the helix axis.

Photoaffinity labeling of T4 bacteriophage 32 protein.

With a view toward the determination of nucleic acid binding domains and sites on nucleic acid helix-destabilizing (single strand-specific) proteins (HDPs), we have studied the interactions of the copolymer polynucleotide photoaffinity label, poly(adenylic, 8-azidoadenylic acid), (poly(A,8-N3A] with the T4 bacteriophage HDP, 32 protein. Poly(A,8-N3A) quenched the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of 32 protein in a manner similar to that observed with other polynucleotides, and the effect could be reversed by addition of sufficient NaCl. The binding affinity and site size of this noncovalent interaction of poly(A,8-N3A) with 32 protein are similar to the values obtained for poly(A) and this protein. When [3H]poly(A,8-N3A)/32 protein mixtures were irradiated at 254 nm, fluorescence quenching was not reversed by NaCl, suggesting that the label was covalently bound to the protein. Mixtures of photolabel and protein subjected to short periods of irradiation (generally 1 min, 2000 erg mm-2) formed high molecular weight complexes, which when electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels were radioactive and stained with Coomassie Blue R. Under the same conditions, [3H]poly(A) failed to label 32 protein. The radioactivity of [3H]poly(A,8-N3A)-labeled complexes subjected to micrococcal nuclease after irradiation was seen to migrate just behind the free 32 protein monomer on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, indicating that portions of the photolabel not in direct contact with protein were accessible to this enzyme. By several criteria, we conclude that 32 protein was photolabeled specifically at its single-stranded nucleic acid binding site. Single-stranded nucleic acids with affinities for protein greater than that of poly(A,8-N3A) effectively inhibited photolabeling. The [NaCl] dependence of photolabeling monitored on SDS gels paralleled the NaCl reversal of (noncovalent) poly(A,8-N3A)-32 protein binding. Photolabeling reached a plateau after 1-2 min. The formation of high molecular weight complexes with increasing [poly(A,8-N3A)] paralleled the disappearance of free protein on SDS gels, and reached a saturation level of about 75% labeling. Several chromatographic procedures appear to be useful for the separation of the photolabeled complexes from free protein and photolabel. Limited trypsin hydrolysis of photolabeled 32 protein indicated that all the label was within the central ("III") portion of the protein. This approach should have general applicability to the identification of nucleic acid binding sites on helix-destabilizing proteins.

Mechanism of the concerted action of recA protein and helix-destabilizing proteins in homologous recombination.

Secondary structure in single-stranded DNA impedes the presynaptic association of recA protein and consequently blocks the formation of joint molecules as evidenced by effects of temperature, nucleotide sequence, and ionic conditions. Escherichia coli single-strand-binding protein eliminates sequence-specific "cold spots" by removing folds even from sites of strong secondary structure. Thus, destabilization of secondary structure in single-stranded DNA is critical for the action of recA protein, whereas specific interactions directly between helix-destabilizing proteins and recA protein are unimportant.

RNA-Helix-Destabilizing Proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a discussion on ribonucleic acid (RNA)-helix-destabilizing proteins. The chapter outlines some aspects of RNA metabolism where the need for helix-destabilizing proteins appears to be evident. The chapter focuses on ribosomal protein S1 from E. coli and protein HD40 from the brine shrimp Artemia salina , a major component of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) particles. In both cases, the in vitro unwinding activity of these proteins can be correlated with their respective functions. The chapter describes the nucleic acid binding and helix-destabilizing properties of protein S1 and HD40. While comparative investigations of analogous proteins from other eukaryotes are needed, HD40 may prove to be a good model for in vitro studies on the structure and function of hnRNP; its physical properties appear to be representative of the glycine-rich core proteins, and it can be purified in relatively large amounts. In contrast to helix-destabilizing proteins participating in dynamic processes that appear to exercise a transient effect on the conformation of the nucleic acid, HD40 is a component of an isolatable nucleoprotein in which the single-stranded RNA is maintained in an unfolded state owing to its interaction with the protein. The chapter recommends the need for in vitro investigations involving purified individual hnRNP proteins and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) precursors along with the development of specific methods for the isolation of native hnRNP.

Sequences of the ssb gene and protein.

We have determined the sequences of the ssb gene and protein of Escherichia coli. The coding region of ssb is 534 base pairs and is preceeded and followed by dyad symmetries of 39 base pairs and 27 base pairs, respectively. The promoter for ssb is close to that for uvrA and these two genes are transcribed in opposite directions: ssb clockwise and uvrA counterclockwise on the standard E. coli genetic map. The DNA helix-destabilizing protein encoded by the ssb gene (single-strand binding protein) contains 177 amino acids and has a calculated molecular weight of 18,873. Although there is no extensive sequence homology among the three helix-destabilizing proteins whose sequences are now known, both the E. coli and bacteriophage T4 DNA helix-destabilizing proteins do contain an acidic, alpha-helical region at their carboxy termini that may be functionally homologous. The remainder of the E. coli helix-destabilizing protein can be divided into two apparent domains on the basis of its amino acid sequence. The amino-terminal region (residues 1-105) contains 79% of the charged residues (27 out of 34 total) in the protein and is predicted to have a high degree of secondary structure (alpha helix and beta pleated sheet). In contrast, the region including residues 106-165 contains only two charged amino acids and is devoid of alpha helix or beta pleated sheet.

A helix-destabilizing protein substrate devoid of heterocyclic bases

Summary A polynucleotide analog devoid of heterocyclic bases, poly(ribosylurea phosphate), was prepared by KMnO4 oxidation of poly(C). This analog binds effectively to seveal nucleic acid helix-destabilizing proteins, including gene 32 protein from T4 bacteriophage, UP1 from calf thymus, a protein from rat liver, and RNase A, which is a DNA helix-destabilizing protein. Binding was demonstrated by the ability of poly(ribosylurea phosphate) to inhibit protein-induced depression of polyd(A-T) Tm, as well as, in the case of the T4 and rat liver proteins, the quenching of intrinsic protein tryptophan fluorescence upon interaction with this polynucleotide analog. This substrate may prove useful in assessing the role that protein-ribose phosphate backbone interactions play in the binding specificity of helix-destabilizing proteins.

Proteolytic removal of the COOH terminus of the T4 gene 32 helix-destabilizing protein alters the T4 in vitro replication complex.

The proteolytic removal of about 60 amino acids from the COOH terminus of the bacteriophage T4 helix-destabilizing protein (gene 32 protein) produces 32*I, a 27,000-dalton fragment which still binds tightly and cooperatively to single-stranded DNA. The substitution of 32*I protein for intact 32 protein in the seven-protein T4 replication complex results in dramatic changes in some of the reactions catalyzed by this in vitro DNA replication system, while leaving others largely unperturbed. 1. Like intact 32 protein, the 32*I protein promotes DNA synthesis by the DNA polymerase when the T4 polymerase accessory proteins (gene 44/62 and 45 proteins) are also present. The host helix-destabilizing protein (Escherichia coli ssb protein) cannot replace the 32I protein for this synthesis. 2. Unlike intact 32 protein, 32*I protein strongly inhibits DNA synthesis catalyzed by the T4 DNA polymerase alone on a primed single-stranded DNA template. 3. Unlike intact 32 protein, the 32*I protein strongly inhibits RNA primer synthesis catalyzed by the T4 gene 41 and 61 proteins and also reduces the efficiency of RNA primer utilization. As a result, de novo DNA chain starts are blocked completely in the complete T4 replication system, and no lagging strand DNA synthesis occurs. 4. The 32*I protein does not bind to either the T4 DNA polymerase or to the T4 gene 61 protein in the absence of DNA; these associations (detected with intact 32 protein) would therefore appear to be essential for the normal control of 32 protein activity, and to account at least in part for observations 2 and 3, above. We propose that the COOH-terminal domain of intact 32 protein functions to guide its interactions with the T4 DNA polymerase and the T4 gene 61 RNA-priming protein. When this domain is removed, as in 32*I protein, the helix destabilization induced by the protein is controlled inadequately, so that polymerizing enzymes tend to be displaced from the growing 3'-OH end of a polynucleotide chain and are thereby inhibited. Eukaryotic helix-destabilizing proteins may also have similar functional domains essential for the control of their activities.

Physical chemical studies of the structure and function of DNA binding (helix-destabilizing) proteins.

Binding of proteins to DNA is fundamental to the mechanisms of replication, recombination and gene expression. The specific molecular features of DNA recognized by complementary features of the three-dimensional structure of the DNA binding proteins are under intensive investigation. Two large classes of DNA binding proteins have emerged. One class includes enzymes such as the RNA polymerases and restriction endonucleases and the nonenzymatic repressor proteins which recognize unique sequences present in only one or a few copies per genome. A second group is made up of non-sequence-specific DNA binding proteins which bind to DNA at high density and modulate subsequent enzymatic transformations of the DNA. Among the latter group are those proteins originally termed "unwinding proteins", which have in common a higher affinity for single-stranded than for double-stranded DNA and thus promote the melting of double-stranded DNA. They are better termed helix-destabilizing proteins to distinguish them from the enzymes which "unwind" the helix by making and breaking phosphodiester bonds. Because the helix-destabilizing proteins form complexes with all single-stranded DNA regardless of base sequence, the molecular details of complex formation have been much more accessible to direct physicochemical measurements. Structural conclusions derived with techniques which include chemical modification, ultraviolet spectroscopy, circular dichroism, NMR, and X-ray diffraction will be reviewed. The following proteins will be discussed in detail; the gene 32 protein of bacteriophage T4, the gene 5 protein from bacteriophage fd, and the helix-destabilizing protein from E. coli. The largest amount of specific structural information is available for the gene 5 protein and specific models for this protein and its complexes with DNA based on NMR and X-ray diffraction data are presented. A number of other helix-destabilizing proteins from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have been described and a survey of these will be given. Some of the basic molecular features of DNA-protein interactions emerging from studies of the helix-destabilizing proteins are likely to be shared by the more highly specific binding proteins like the RNA polymerases and repressors. Properties of some of these more complex systems which suggest this will be discussed.