Asymmetric DNA bending induced by the yeast multifunctional factor TUF

TUF is a yeast regulatory factor that binds to conserved DNA sequence elements involved in gene activation or silencing as well as in telomere function. Using gel electrophoresis analyses, we show here that TUF induces DNA bending at a site located upstream of the recognition sequence (rpg box). Several point mutations in the rpg box reduced TUF binding strength without affecting the extent of bending. Selective proteolysis of TUF.DNA complexes further suggested the existence of two separate protein domains involved in DNA bending and specific DNA recognition. DNA bending may be an important feature of multifunctional factors that could help them to recruit other proteins for the formation of multiprotein complexes.