Spectroscopic characterization of a DNA-binding domain, Z alpha, from the editing enzyme, dsRNA adenosine deaminase: evidence for left-handed Z-DNA in the Z alpha-DNA complex

Biochemistry. 1998 Sep 22;37(38):13313-21. doi: 10.1021/bi9813126.

Abstract

Double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase (ADAR1) is an ubiquitous enzyme in metazoa that edits pre-mRNA changing adenosine to inosine in regions of double-stranded RNA. Zalpha, an N-terminal domain of human ADAR1 encompassing 76 amino acid residues, shows apparent specificity for the left-handed Z-DNA conformation adopted by alternating (dGdC) polymers modified by bromination or methylation, as well as for (dGdC)13 inserts present in supercoiled plasmids. Here, a combination of circular dichroism, fluorescence, and gel-retardation studies is utilized to characterize recombinant Zalpha peptide and to examine its interaction with DNA. Results from laser-Raman spectroscopy experiments provide direct evidence for the existence of Z-DNA in peptide-DNA complexes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Deaminase / chemistry*
  • Adenosine Deaminase / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chickens
  • Circular Dichroism
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Deoxycytidine / chemistry
  • Deoxyguanosine / chemistry
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Polydeoxyribonucleotides / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Denaturation
  • RNA Editing*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Peptides
  • Polydeoxyribonucleotides
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Deoxycytidine
  • poly(dC-dG)
  • DNA
  • ADARB1 protein, human
  • Adenosine Deaminase
  • Deoxyguanosine