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Structural Insight Into hnRNP A2/B1 Homodimerization and DNA Recognition.
Yue Liu1, Abudureyimu Abula2, Haonan Xiao1
1The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Viruses and Infectious Diseases, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Institute of Artificial Intelligence Biomedicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1) acts as a DNA sensor. This study reveals how U-shaped DNA binding induces hnRNP A2/B1 homodimerization, crucial for antiviral responses.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1) functions as a nuclear DNA sensor.
- hnRNP A2/B1 homodimerization is essential for its cytoplasmic translocation and subsequent activation of the interferon response during viral infections.
- The precise mechanism by which DNA binding induces hnRNP A2/B1 homodimerization remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism of DNA-induced hnRNP A2/B1 homodimerization.
- To determine the structural basis for hnRNP A2/B1's interaction with pathogen-derived DNA.
- To understand the role of hnRNP A2/B1 in antiviral immunity.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of hnRNP A2/B1's RNA recognition motif (RRM) in complex with ssDNA.
- Biochemical assays to study protein-DNA interactions and dimerization.
- Mutagenesis studies to investigate the functional significance of specific protein regions.
Main Results:
- The crystal structure reveals the RNA recognition motif (RRM) of hnRNP A2/B1 bound to a U-shaped single-stranded DNA (ssDNA).
- This complex formation mediates the creation of a novel hnRNP A2/B1 protein dimer.
- Biochemical and mutagenesis data confirm that hnRNP A2/B1 homodimers form in solution upon binding to U-shaped ssDNA or dsDNA with a bulge.
Conclusions:
- DNA binding, particularly to U-shaped structures, induces hnRNP A2/B1 homodimerization.
- This mechanism provides insight into hnRNP A2/B1's function as a nuclear DNA sensor in antiviral immunity.
- The findings suggest a potential functional state of hnRNP A2/B1 relevant to both innate immunity and other cellular processes involving DNA recognition.
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