Talk:Z-DNA

Abstracts

• Placido D, Brown BA 2nd, Lowenhaupt K, Rich A, Athanasiadis A (2007). "A left-handed RNA double helix bound by the Zalpha domain of the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1". Structure, 15(4):395-404; PMID:17437712.

The A form RNA double helix can be transformed to a left-handed helix, called Z-RNA. Currently, little is known about the detailed structural features of Z-RNA or its involvement in cellular processes. The discovery that certain interferon-response proteins have domains that can stabilize Z-RNA as well as Z-DNA opens the way for the study of Z-RNA. Here, we present the 2.25 A crystal structure of the Zalpha domain of the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1 (double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase) complexed to a dUr(CG)(3) duplex RNA. The Z-RNA helix is associated with a unique solvent pattern that distinguishes it from the otherwise similar conformation of Z-DNA. Based on the structure, we propose a model suggesting how differences in solvation lead to two types of Z-RNA structures. The interaction of Zalpha with Z-RNA demonstrates how the interferon-induced isoform of ADAR1 could be targeted toward selected dsRNAs containing purine-pyrimidine repeats, possibly of viral origin.

• Wong B, Chen S, Kwon JA, Rich A (2007). "Characterization of Z-DNA as a nucleosome-boundary element in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 104(7):2229-34; PMID:17284586.

In this article, the effect of a d(CG) DNA dinucleotide repeat sequence on RNA polymerase II transcription is examined in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our previous report shows that a d(CG)n dinucleotide repeat sequence located proximally upstream of the TATA box enhances transcription from a minimal CYC1 promoter in a manner that depends on its surrounding negative supercoiling. Here, we demonstrate that the d(CG)9 repeat sequence stimulates gene activity by forming a Z-DNA secondary structure. Furthermore, the extent of transcriptional enhancement by Z-DNA is promoter-specific and determined by its separation distance relative to the TATA box. The stimulatory effect exerted by promoter proximal Z-DNA is not affected by helical phasing relative to the TATA box, suggesting that Z-DNA effects transcription without interacting with the general transcription machinery by looping-out the intervening DNA. A nucleosome-scanning assay reveals that the d(CG)9 repeat sequence in the Z conformation blocks nucleosome formation, and it is found in the linker DNA with two flanking nucleosomes. This result suggests that Z-DNA formation proximally upstream of a promoter is sufficient to demarcate the boundaries of its neighboring nucleosomes, which produces transcriptionally favorable locations for the TATA box near the nucleosomal DNA-entry site and at dyad positions on the nucleosome. These findings suggest that Z-DNA formation in chromatin is a part of the "genomic code" for nucleosome positioning in vivo.

• Kim YG, Park HJ, Kim KK, Lowenhaupt K, Rich A (2006). "A peptide with alternating lysines can act as a highly specific Z-DNA binding domain". Nucleic Acids Res, 34(17):4937-42; PMID:16982643.

Many nucleic acid binding proteins use short peptide sequences to provide specificity in recognizing their targets, which may be either a specific sequence or a conformation. Peptides containing alternating lysine have been shown to bind to poly(dG-d5meC) in the Z conformation, and stabilize the higher energy form [H. Takeuchi, N. Hanamura, H. Hayasaka and I. Harada (1991) FEBS Lett., 279, 253-255 and H. Takeuchi, N. Hanamura and I. Harada (1994) J. Mol. Biol., 236, 610-617.]. Here we report the construction of a Z-DNA specific binding protein, with the peptide KGKGKGK as a functional domain and a leucine zipper as a dimerization domain. The resultant protein, KGZIP, induces the Z conformation in poly(dG-d5meC) and binds to Z-DNA stabilized by bromination with high affinity and specificity. The binding of KGZIP is sufficient to convert poly(dG-d5meC) from the B to the Z form, as shown by circular dichroism. The sequence KGKGKGK is found in many proteins, although no functional role has been established. KGZIP also has potential for engineering other Z-DNA specific proteins for future studies of Z-DNA in vitro and in vivo.

Related Links

• Experimental identification of homodimerizing B-ZIP families in Homo sapiens. [J Struct Biol. 2006] PMID:16725346
• Dual DNA recognition codes of a short peptide derived from the basic leucine zipper protein EmBP1. [Bioorg Med Chem. 2005] PMID:15809146
• B-Z transition of poly(dG-m5dC) induced by binding of Lys-containing peptides. [FEBS Lett. 1991] PMID:1900472
• Stability of the dimerization domain effects the cooperative DNA binding of short peptides. [Biochemistry. 1999] PMID:10194313
• Double-stranded DNA templates can induce alpha-helical conformation in peptides containing lysine and alanine: functional implications for leucine zipper and helix-loop-helix transcription factors. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994] PMID:8197144
• Structural and functional requirements for the chromatin transition at the PHO5 promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae upon PHO5 activation. [J Mol Biol. 1993] PMID:8515443
• Heat shock factor gains access to the yeast HSC82 promoter independently of other sequence-specific factors and antagonizes nucleosomal repression of basal and induced transcription. [Mol Cell Biol. 1996] PMID:8943356
• Constitutive repression and nuclear factor I-dependent hormone activation of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. [Mol Cell Biol. 1995] PMID:8524266
• Roles of transcription factor Mot3 and chromatin in repression of the hypoxic gene ANB1 in yeast. [Mol Cell Biol. 2000] PMID:10982825
• Cooperative activity of BRG1 and Z-DNA formation in chromatin remodeling. [Mol Cell Biol. 2006] PMID:16537901
• Crystal structure of the Zalpha domain of the human editing enzyme ADAR1 bound to left-handed Z-DNA. [Science. 1999] PMID:10364558
• The zalpha domain of the editing enzyme dsRNA adenosine deaminase binds left-handed Z-RNA as well as Z-DNA. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2000] PMID:11087828
• Proteolytic dissection of Zab, the Z-DNA-binding domain of human ADAR1. [J Biol Chem. 1999] PMID:9915827
• Crystallization of the Zalpha domain of the human editing enzyme ADAR1 complexed with a DNA-RNA chimeric oligonucleotide in the left-handed Z-conformation. [Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2002] PMID:11752786
• The crystal structure of the Zbeta domain of the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1 reveals distinct conserved surfaces among Z-domains. [J Mol Biol. 2005] PMID:16023667