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Published on: April 26, 2013
NMR structure of DREAM: Implications for Ca(2+)-dependent DNA binding and protein dimerization
Jacqueline D Lusin1, Murugendra Vanarotti, Congmin Li
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Biochemistry
|January 19, 2008
Summary
Calcium-bound DREAM protein forms a dimer, revealing its structure and potential DNA-binding mechanism. This dimerization may explain how calcium regulates gene transcription involved in pain control.
Area of Science:
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- DREAM (calsenilin/KChIP3) is an EF-hand calcium-binding protein.
- It regulates Ca2+-induced transcription of prodynorphin and c-fos genes.
- DREAM binds to specific DNA sequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the atomic-resolution structure of Ca2+-bound DREAM in solution.
- To elucidate the structural basis for DREAM's interaction with calcium and DNA.
- To understand the mechanism of Ca2+-regulated gene transcription.
Main Methods:
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
- Pulsed-field gradient NMR diffusion experiments.
- 15N NMR relaxation analysis.
Main Results:
- Ca2+-bound DREAM forms a stable dimer in solution.
- The C-terminal structure reveals four EF-hand motifs with Ca2+ at the third and fourth sites.
- A conserved hydrophobic groove and positively charged residues are identified, suggesting DNA and intermolecular interactions.
Conclusions:
- DREAM dimerization, induced by Ca2+, may block DNA binding.
- This mechanism explains how Ca2+ abolishes DREAM binding to DNA.
- This regulation is crucial for activating transcription of genes involved in pain control.
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