5mC interactions in PDB entry 5KE8 auto-curated with SNAP

Last updated on 2019-09-30 by Xiang-Jun Lu <xiangjun@x3dna.org>. The block schematics were created with DSSR and rendered using PyMOL.

Summary information and primary citation [schematics · contacts · top · homepage · tutorial]

PDB-id

5KE8

Class

transcription-DNA

Method

X-ray (2.45 Å)

Summary

Mouse klf4 e446p znf1-3 and mpg-mpg sequence DNA complex structure
List of 2 5mC-amino acid contacts:

B.5CM5: stacking-with-A.ARG443 is-WC-paired is-in-duplex [+]:GcG/cGC

C.5CM5: other-contacts is-WC-paired is-in-duplex [-]:cGT/AcG

direct SNAP output · DNAproDB 2.0

Reference

Hashimoto, H., Wang, D., Steves, A.N., Jin, P., Blumenthal, R.M., Zhang, X., Cheng, X.: (2016) "Distinctive Klf4 mutants determine preference for DNA methylation status." Nucleic Acids Res., 44, 10177-10185.

Abstract

Reprogramming of mammalian genome methylation is critically important but poorly understood. Klf4, a transcription factor directing reprogramming, contains a DNA binding domain with three consecutive C2H2 zinc fingers. Klf4 recognizes CpG or TpG within a specific sequence. Mouse Klf4 DNA binding domain has roughly equal affinity for methylated CpG or TpG, and slightly lower affinity for unmodified CpG. The structural basis for this key preference is unclear, though the side chain of Glu446 is known to contact the methyl group of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) or thymine (5-methyluracil). We examined the role of Glu446 by mutagenesis. Substituting Glu446 with aspartate (E446D) resulted in preference for unmodified cytosine, due to decreased affinity for 5mC. In contrast, substituting Glu446 with proline (E446P) increased affinity for 5mC by two orders of magnitude. Structural analysis revealed hydrophobic interaction between the proline's aliphatic cyclic structure and the 5-methyl group of the pyrimidine (5mC or T). As in wild-type Klf4 (E446), the proline at position 446 does not interact directly with either the 5mC N4 nitrogen or the thymine O4 oxygen. In contrast, the unmethylated cytosine's exocyclic N4 amino group (NH₂) and its ring carbon C5 atom hydrogen bond directly with the aspartate carboxylate of the E446D variant. Both of these interactions would provide a preference for cytosine over thymine, and the latter one could explain the E446D preference for unmethylated cytosine. Finally, we evaluated the ability of these Klf4 mutants to regulate transcription of methylated and unmethylated promoters in a luciferase reporter assay.

Base-block schematics in six views [summary · contacts · top · homepage · tutorial]

The 5-methylcytosine group (PDB ligand '5CM') is shown in space-filling model, with the methyl-carbon atom in black.
Watson-Crick base pairs are represented as long rectangular blocks with the minor-groove edge in black. Color code: A-T red, C-G yellow, G-C green, T-A blue.
Protein is shown as cartoon in purple. DNA backbones are shown ribbon, colored code by chain identifier.
The block schematics were created with 3DNA-DSSR, and images were rendered using PyMOL.
Download the PyMOL session file corresponding to the top-left image in the following panel.

List of 2 5mC-amino acid contacts [summary · schematics · top · homepage · tutorial]

The contacts include paired nucleotides (mostly a G in G-C pairing), and amino-acids within a 4.5-A distance cutoff to the base atoms of 5mC.
The structure is oriented in the 'standard' base reference frame of 5mC, allowing for easy comparison and direct superimposition between entries.
The black sphere (•) denotes the 5-methyl carbon atom in 5mC.

	No. 1 B.5CM5: download PDB file for the 5mC entry stacking-with-A.ARG443 is-WC-paired is-in-duplex [+]:GcG/cGC
	No. 2 C.5CM5: download PDB file for the 5mC entry other-contacts is-WC-paired is-in-duplex [-]:cGT/AcG