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Specific purine N7-nitrogens are critical for high affinity binding by the trp repressor

Nature Structural Biology volume 1, pages 18–22 (1994)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 March 1994

Abstract

We have analysed the interaction of the trp represser with the trpEDCBA operator using a series of modified trp operator sequences incorporating two isosteric purine analogues that lack N7–nitrogens. Our results suggest that as well as the direct contact between Arg69 and G−9, three additional purine N7–nitrogens, implicated in specific, water–mediated contacts to the represser, are critical for formation of the high–affinity represser–operator complex. We conclude that the crystal structure obtained by Otwinowski et al. reflects high–affinity sequence–specific binding of the trp represser to the trp operator, and that in some cases proteins can use water molecules to extend amino acid side chains in order to derive favorable binding energy in complex formation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02167, USA

    Stephen A. Smith, Sharanabasava B. Rajur & Larry W. McLaughlin

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  1. Stephen A. Smith
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  2. Sharanabasava B. Rajur
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  3. Larry W. McLaughlin
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Smith, S., Rajur, S. & McLaughlin, L. Specific purine N7-nitrogens are critical for high affinity binding by the trp repressor. Nat Struct Mol Biol 1, 18–22 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsb0194-18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsb0194-18

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