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Crystal structure of trp represser/operator complex at atomic resolution

Nature volume 335, pages 321–329 (1988)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 27 October 1988

Abstract

The crystal structure of the trp repressor/operator complex shows an extensive contact surface, including 24 direct and 6 solvent-mediated hydrogen bonds to the phosphate groups of the DNA. There are no direct hydrogen bonds or non-polar contacts to the bases that can explain the repressor's specificity for the operator sequence. Rather, the sequence seems to be recognized indirectly through its effects on the geometry of the phosphate backbone, which in turn permits the formation of a stable interface. Water-mediated polar contacts to the bases also appear to contribute part of the specificity.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. R. W. Schevitz

    Present address: Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46285, USA

  2. C. L. Lawson

    Present address: Department of Physical Chemistry, N. Rijksuniversitat, Groningen, The Netherlands

  3. A. Joachimiak

    Present address: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland

Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, 920 East 58 Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA

    Z. Otwinowski & B. F. Luisi

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 920 East 58 Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA

    R. Q. Marmorstein

  3. Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46285, USA

    C. L. Lawson & A. Joachimiak

  4. Department of Physical Chemistry, N. Rijksuniversitat, Groningen, The Netherlands

    R. W. Schevitz & A. Joachimiak

  5. Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland

    R. W. Schevitz & C. L. Lawson

  6. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Shanghai, Republic of China

    R.-G. Zhang

Authors
  1. Z. Otwinowski
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  2. R. W. Schevitz
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  3. R.-G. Zhang
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  4. C. L. Lawson
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  5. A. Joachimiak
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  6. R. Q. Marmorstein
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  7. B. F. Luisi
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  8. P. B. Sigler
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Otwinowski, Z., Schevitz, R., Zhang, RG. et al. Crystal structure of trp represser/operator complex at atomic resolution. Nature 335, 321–329 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/335321a0

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