The Escherichia coli cAMP receptor protein (CRP) utilizes the
helix-turn-helix motif for DNA binding. The CRP’s recognition
helix, termed F-helix, includes a stretch of six amino
acids (Arg180, Glu181, Thr182, Val183, Gly184, and Arg185)
for direct DNA contacts. Arg180, Glu181 and Arg185 are
known as important residues for DNA binding and specificity,
but little has been studied for the other residues. Here
we show that Gly184 is another F-helix residue critical for
the transcriptional activation function of CRP. First, glycine
was repeatedly selected at CRP position 184 for its unique
ability to provide wild type-level transcriptional activation
activity. To dissect the glycine requirement, wild type CRP
and mutants G184A, G184F, G184S, and G184Y were purified
and their in vitro DNA-binding activity was measured.
G184A and G184F displayed reduced DNA binding, which
may explain their low transcriptional activation activity. However,
G184S and G184Y displayed apparently normal DNA
affinity. Therefore, an additional factor is needed to account
for the diminished transcriptional activation function in
G184S and G184Y, and the best explanation is perturbations
in their interaction with RNA polymerase. The fact that glycine
is the smallest amino acid could not fully warrant its suitability,
as shown in this study. We hypothesize that Gly184
fulfills the dual functions of DNA binding and RNA polymerase
interaction by conferring conformational flexibility
to the F-helix.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
cAMP-independent DNA binding of the CRP family protein DdrI from
Deinococcus radiodurans
Yudong Wang, Jing Hu, Xufan Gao, Yuchen Cao, Shumai Ye, Cheng Chen, Liangyan Wang, Hong Xu, Miao Guo, Dong Zhang, Ruhong Zhou, Yuejin Hua, Ye Zhao, Paul Babitzke mBio.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Unexpected Requirement of Small Amino Acids at Position 183 for DNA Binding in the Escherichia coli cAMP Receptor Protein Marcus Carranza, Amanda Rea, Daisy Pacheco, Christian Montiel, Jin Park, Hwan Youn Journal of Microbiology.2024; 62(10): 871. CrossRef
cAMP Activation of the cAMP Receptor Protein, a Model Bacterial Transcription Factor Hwan Youn, Marcus Carranza Journal of Microbiology.2023; 61(3): 277. CrossRef