Structure of the coiled-coil dimerization motif of Sir4 and its interaction with Sir3

Structure. 2003 Jun;11(6):637-49. doi: 10.1016/s0969-2126(03)00093-5.

Abstract

The yeast silent information regulators Sir2, Sir3, and Sir4 physically interact with one another to establish a transcriptionally silent state by forming repressive chromatin structures. The Sir4 protein contains binding sites for both Sir2 and Sir3, and these protein-protein interactions are required for gene silencing. Here, we report the X-ray structure of the coiled-coil dimerization motif within the C-terminus of Sir4 and show that it forms a stable 1:1 complex with a dimeric fragment of Sir3 (residues 464-978). We have identified a cluster of residues on the surface of the Sir4 coiled coil required for specific interactions with Sir3. The histone deacetylase Sir2 can also bind to this complex, forming a ternary complex with the truncated Sir3 and Sir4 proteins. The dual interactions of Sir4 with Sir3 and Sir2 suggest a physical basis for recruiting Sir3 to chromatin by virtue of its interactions with Sir4 and with deacetylated histones in chromatin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dimerization
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / chemistry*
  • Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Sirtuin 2
  • Sirtuins / metabolism

Substances

  • SIR3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • SIR4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • SIR2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Sirtuin 2
  • Sirtuins
  • Histone Deacetylases

Associated data

  • PDB/1NYH