Structure and function of the regulatory C-terminal HRDC domain from Deinococcus radiodurans RecQ

Nucleic Acids Res. 2008 May;36(9):3139-49. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkn143. Epub 2008 Apr 13.

Abstract

RecQ helicases are critical for maintaining genome integrity in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans by participating in a complex network of DNA metabolic pathways. Their diverse cellular functions require specialization and coordination of multiple protein domains that integrate catalytic functions with DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions. The RecQ helicase from Deinococcus radiodurans (DrRecQ) is unusual among RecQ family members in that it has evolved to utilize three 'Helicase and RNaseD C-terminal' (HRDC) domains to regulate its activity. In this report, we describe the high-resolution structure of the C-terminal-most HRDC domain of DrRecQ. The structure reveals unusual electrostatic surface features that distinguish it from other HRDC domains. Mutation of individual residues in these regions affects the DNA binding affinity of DrRecQ and its ability to unwind a partial duplex DNA substrate. Taken together, the results suggest the unusual electrostatic surface features of the DrRecQ HRDC domain may be important for inter-domain interactions that regulate structure-specific DNA binding and help direct DrRecQ to specific recombination/repair sites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Amino Acids, Acidic / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Deinococcus / enzymology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphates / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RecQ Helicases / chemistry*
  • RecQ Helicases / genetics
  • RecQ Helicases / metabolism
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Acidic
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Phosphates
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • DNA
  • RecQ Helicases