Abstract
The crystal structure of the arabinose-binding and dimerization domain of the Escherichia coli gene regulatory protein AraC was determined in the presence and absence of L-arabinose. The 1.5 angstrom structure of the arabinose-bound molecule shows that the protein adopts an unusual fold, binding sugar within a β barrel and completely burying the arabinose with the amino-terminal arm of the protein. Dimer contacts in the presence of arabinose are mediated by an antiparallel coiled-coil. In the 2.8 angstrom structure of the uncomplexed protein, the amino-terminal arm is disordered, uncovering the sugarbinding pocket and allowing if to serve as an oligomerization interface. The ligand-gated oligomerization as seen in AraC provides the basis of a plausible mechanism for modulating the protein's DNA- looping properties.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 421-425 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 276 |
Issue number | 5311 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 18 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General