Structural basis of mRNA cap recognition by proteins

F A Quiocho; G Hu; P D Gershon

doi:10.1016/s0959-440x(99)00053-6

Structural basis of mRNA cap recognition by proteins

Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2000 Feb;10(1):78-86. doi: 10.1016/s0959-440x(99)00053-6.

Authors

F A Quiocho¹, G Hu, P D Gershon

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biochemistry and the Structural and Computational Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 10679461
DOI: 10.1016/s0959-440x(99)00053-6

Abstract

Crystal structures have recently become available for two proteins (VP39 and eIF4E) complexed with their cognate ligand - the mRNA cap. Despite their total structural dissimilarity, both proteins bind N7-methylguanine between two parallel aromatic sidechains. The resulting stacked arrangement governs their high specificity for the alkylated form of the nucleobase.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Alkylation
Binding Sites
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E
Guanine / analogs & derivatives
Guanine / metabolism
Humans
Models, Molecular
Molecular Structure
Nucleic Acid Conformation*
Peptide Initiation Factors / chemistry
Peptide Initiation Factors / metabolism*
Protein Binding
Protein Conformation*
RNA Caps / metabolism*
RNA, Messenger / chemistry*
Viral Proteins / chemistry
Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E
Peptide Initiation Factors
RNA Caps
RNA, Messenger
VP39 protein, Vaccinia virus
Viral Proteins
Guanine
7-methylguanine