Cited by 35Bacterial Genetics and BiotechnologyEnzyme Structure and FunctionProtein Structure and Dynamics

Recognition of AT-Rich DNA Binding Sites by the MogR Repressor

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Shen, Aimee, Higgins, Darren E., Panne, Daniel·2009·Structure

Abstract

The MogR transcriptional repressor of the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes recognizes AT-rich binding sites in promoters of flagellar genes to downregulate flagellar gene expression during infection. We describe here the 1.8 A resolution crystal structure of MogR bound to the recognition sequence 5' ATTTTTTAAAAAAAT 3' present within the flaA promoter region. Our structure shows that MogR binds as a dimer. Each half-site is recognized in the major groove by a helix-turn-helix motif and in the minor groove by a loop from the symmetry-related molecule, resulting in a "crossover" binding mode. This oversampling through minor groove interactions is important for specificity. The MogR binding site has structural features of A-tract DNA and is bent by approximately 52 degrees away from the dimer. The structure explains how MogR achieves binding specificity in the AT-rich genome of L. monocytogenes and explains the evolutionary conservation of A-tract sequence elements within promoter regions of MogR-regulated flagellar genes.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.str.2009.02.018

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  • MogR binds dsDNA as a dimer with the central AAAA tetranucleotide contacting both protomers.

    “MogR binds to dsDNA as a dimer with the central AAAA tetranucleotide contacting both protomers.”

    From Structural studies of SALL family protein zinc finger cluster domains in complex with DNA reveal preferential binding to an AATA tetranucleotide motif (2022) · cites this paper as [24]

    The Results section, “Structure of MogR bound to its DNA target site,” describes two MogR molecules bound to a DNA duplex, with both molecules contributing contacts to each half-site. But it identifies the central A:T base pair as a spacer that does not directly contribute to sequence specificity; the AAAA tract is at a flank of the reported binding motif, not its center. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • MogR protomer B makes base-specific interactions with A6′, A5′, T4, T3 and T4 via Asn118B, Ser114B, Gln117B, Val94B, and Tyr121B.

    “Asn118B of protomer B forms one hydrogen bond with A6′; Ser114B and Gln117B form water-mediated hydrogen bonds with A5′ and T4, respectively; Val94B and Tyr121B make hydrophobic interactions with T3 and T4 (24).”

    From Structural studies of SALL family protein zinc finger cluster domains in complex with DNA reveal preferential binding to an AATA tetranucleotide motif (2022) · cites this paper as [24]

    The Results section on major-groove contacts reports base contacts by Asn118, Ser114, Gln117, and Tyr121, and the structure section says the two MogR domains have identical protein–DNA interactions. But the copy lists different nucleotide positions, does not identify a Val94–T3 contact, and mentions water-mediated contacts without assigning the claimed pairs. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Arg140 of MogR protomer A inserts into the narrow minor groove of the AAAA tetranucleotide by forming two hydrogen bonds with the T6-A6′ base pair.

    “Arg140 of protomer A (Arg140A) inserts into the narrow minor groove of AAAA tetranucleotide by forming two hydrogen bonds with the T6-A6′ base pair.”

    From Structural studies of SALL family protein zinc finger cluster domains in complex with DNA reveal preferential binding to an AATA tetranucleotide motif (2022) · cites this paper as [24]

    The Results section on loop L3 reports two hydrogen bonds from Arg140 to adenine 11 and its paired thymine 11′. The Discussion section on A-tracts says Arg140 inserts where the minor groove is very narrow. Our copy does not identify those contacts as being with the T6–A6′ base pair, so the claim’s specific base-pair assignment is not supported. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • MogR specifically recognizes AT-rich DNAs.

    “It has been reported that transcriptional repressor MogR specifically recognizes AT-rich DNAs (24), which prompts us to compare it with the SALL4ZFC4 complex.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Pape T Schneider TR 2004 HKL2MAP: a graphical user interface for phasing with SHELX programs Journal of Applied Crystallography 37 843 844
  2. Stefl R Wu H Ravindranathan S Sklenar V Feigon J 2004 DNA A-tract bending in three dimensions: solving the dA4T4 vs. dT4A4 conundrum Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101 1177 1182 14739342 PMC337026

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Authors
Shen, A., Higgins, D. E., & Panne, D.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • European Molecular Biology Laboratory (FR)
Corresponding author
  • Higgins, Darren E.
  • Panne, Daniel
Venue
Structure
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-05
Volume
17
Issue
5
Pages
769-777
ISSN
0969-2126 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2170567325
Cited by
35
References
38
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Structure (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI-53669, R01AI053669)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Enzyme Structure and Function
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Structure and Dynamics
Keywords
transcriptional repressor, AT-rich DNA binding, Listeria monocytogenes, flagellar gene expression, DNA bending, helix-turn-helix motif, minor groove recognition, protein-DNA complex crystal structure, DNA binding specificity, intracellular pathogens
MeSH terms
Bacterial Proteins, Base Sequence, Binding Sites, DNA, DNA, Bacterial, Flagellin, Listeria monocytogenes, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Nucleic Acid Conformation, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Protein Conformation, Repressor Proteins, Helix-Turn-Helix Motifs, AT Rich Sequence

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