DNA Electric Charge Oscillations Govern Protein-DNA Recognition.

The transcriptional activity of the serum response factor (SRF) protein is triggered by its binding to a 10-base-pair DNA consensus sequence designated the CArG box, which is the core sequence of the serum response element (SRE). Sequence-specific recognition of the CArG box by a core domain of 100 amino acid residues of SRF (core-SRF) was asserted to depend almost exclusively on the intrinsic SRE conformation and on the degree of protein-induced SRE bending. Nevertheless, this paradigm was invalidated by a temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy study of 20-mer oligonucleotides involved in bonding interactions with core-SRF that reproduced both wild type and mutated c-fos SREs. Indeed, the SRE moieties that are complexed with core-SRF exhibit permanent interconversion dynamics between bent and linear conformers. Thus, sequence-specific recognition of the CArG box by core-SRF cannot be explained only in terms of the three-dimensional structure of the SRE. A particular dynamic pairing process discriminates between the wild type and mutated complexes. Specific oscillations of the phosphate charge network of the SRE govern the recognition between both partners rather than an intrinsic set of conformations of the SRE.

Organization of the MADS box from human SRF revealed by tyrosine perturbation.

MADS box family transcription factors are involved in signal transduction and development control through DNA specific sequence recognition. The DNA binding domain of these proteins contains a conservative 55-60 amino acid sequence which defines the membership of this large family. Here we present a thorough study of the MADS segment of serum response factor (MADS(SRF)). Fluorescence, UV-absorption, and Raman spectroscopy studies were performed in order to disclose its behavior and basic functional properties in an aqueous environment. The secondary structure of MADS(SRF) estimated by analysis of Raman spectra and supported by CD has revealed only the C-terminal part as homologous with those of free core-SRF, while the N-terminal part has lost the stable α-helical structure found in both the free core-SRF and its specific complex with DNA. The three tyrosine residues of the MADS(SRF) were used as spectroscopic inner probes. The effect of environmental conditions, especially pH variations and addition of variously charged quenchers, on their spectra was examined. Two-component fluorescence quenching was revealed using factor analysis and corresponding Stern-Volmer constants determined. Factor analysis of absorbance and fluorescence pH titration led to determination of three dissociation constants pKa1 = 6.4 ± 0.2, pKa2 = 7.3 ± 0.2, and pKa3 = 9.6 ± 0.6. Critical comparison of all experiments identified the deprotonation of His193 hydrogen bonded to Tyr195 as a candidate for pKa1 (and that of Tyr158 as a candidate for pKa2). Within MADS(SRF), His193 is a key intermediary between the N-terminal primary DNA binding element and the hydrophobic C-terminal protein dimerization element.

Protonation effect of tyrosine in a segment of the SRF transcription factor: a combined optical spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory calculation study.

The high sensitivity to pH of a short segment (an octamer) of serum response factor (SRF), an important member of the MADS box family of transcription factors, was investigated by Raman scattering, infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopies. Molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations enabled interpretation of spectral changes in close detail. Although there was a negligible difference between spectra in acidic and neutral environments, the spectrum in basic pH was substantially different. The major changes were attributed to the deprotonation of tyrosine. The secondary structure of the SRF octamer fragment was estimated experimentally as well as predicted theoretically by MD. All techniques proved that it exists in a dynamical equilibrium among several conformations mostly close to ß turn, unordered conformations, and extended structure, in contrast to the stable secondary structure it possesses as a part of SRF. Generally, this approach represents a useful tool for the study of various short oligopeptides.

Structural and dynamic changes of the serum response element and the core domain of serum response factor induced by their association.

Transcriptional activity of serum response factor (SRF) is dependent on its binding to the CC(A/T)(6)GG box (CArG box) of serum response element (SRE). By Raman spectroscopy, we carried out a comparative analysis, in solution, of the complexes obtained from the association of core-SRF with 20-mer SREs bearing wild-type and mutated c-fos CArG boxes. In case of association with the wild type c-fos CArG box, the complex does not bring out the expected Raman signature of a stable bending of the targeted SRE but keeps a bend-linear conformer oligonucleotide interconversion. The linear conformer population is larger than that of free oligonucleotide. In the core-SRF moiety of the wild-type complex a large spectral change associated with the CO-groups from Asp and/or Glu residues shows that their ionization states and the strength of their interactions decrease as compared to those of mutated non-specific complexes. Structural constraints evidenced on the free core-SRF are released in the wild-type complex and environmental heterogeneities appear in the vicinity of Tyr residues, due to higher water molecule access. The H-bonding configuration of one Tyr OH-group, in average, changes with a net transfer from H-bond acceptor character to a combined donor and acceptor character. A charge repartition distributed on both core-SRF and targeted SRE stabilizes the specific complex, allowing the two partners to experience a variety of conformations.

C-->G base mutations in the CArG box of c-fos serum response element alter its bending flexibility. Consequences for core-SRF recognition.

By binding to the CArG box sequence, the serum response factor (SRF) activates several muscle-specific genes, as well as genes that respond to mitogens. The core domain of the SRF (core-SRF) binds as a dimer to the CArG box C-5C-4A-3T-2A-1T+1T+2A+3G+4G+5 of the c-fos serum response element (SREfos). However, previous studies using 20-mer DNAs have shown that the binding stoichiometry of core-SRF is significantly altered by mutations C-5-->G (SREGfos) and C-5C-4-->GG (SREGGfos) of the CArG box [A Huet, A Parlakian, M-C Arnaud, J-M Glandières, P Valat, S Fermandjian, D Paulin, B Alpert & C Zentz (2005) FEBS J272, 3105-3119]. To understand these effects, we carried out a comparative analysis of the three 20-mer DNAs SREfos, SREGfos and SREGGfos in aqueous solution. Their CD spectra were of the B-DNA type with small differences generated by variations in the mutual arrangement of the base pairs. Analysis by singular value decomposition of a set of Raman spectra recorded as a function of temperature, revealed a premelting transition associated with a conformational shift in the DNA double helices from a bent to a linear form. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy shows that the fluorescein reporter linked to the oligonucleotide 5'-ends experiences twisting motions of the double helices related to the interconversion between bent and linear conformers. The three SREs present various bent populations submitted, however, to particular internal dynamics, decisive for the mutual adjustment of binding partners and therefore specific complex formation.

Mechanism of binding of serum response factor to serum response element.

Serum response factor (SRF) is a MADS transcription factor that binds to the CArG box sequence of the serum response element (SRE). Through its binding to CArG sequences, SRF activates several muscle-specific genes as well as genes that respond to mitogens. The thermodynamic parameters of the interaction of core-SRF (the 124-245 fragment of serum response factor) with specific oligonucleotides from c-fos and desmin promoters, were determined by spectroscopy. The rotational correlation time of core-SRF labeled with bis-ANS showed that the protein is monomeric at low concentration (10(-7) m). The titration curves for the fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescein-labeled oligonucleotide revealed that under equilibrium conditions, the core-SRF monomers were bound sequentially to SRE at very low concentration (10(-9) m). Curve-fitting data showed also major differences between the wild-type sequence and the oligonucleotide sequences mutated within the CArG box. The fluorescence of the core-SRF tyrosines was quenched by the SRE oligonucleotide. This quenching indicated that under stoichiometric conditions, core-SRF was bound as a dimer to the wild-type oligonucleotide, and as a monomer or a tetramer to the mutant oligonucleotides. Far-UV CD spectra indicated that the flexibility of core-SRF changed profoundly upon its binding to its specific target SRE. Lastly, the rotational correlation time of fluorescein-labeled SRE revealed that formation of the specific complex was accompanied by a change in the SRE internal dynamics. These results indicated that the flexibility of the two partners is crucial for the DNA-protein interaction.

Protein matrix elasticity determined by fluorescence anisotropy of its tryptophan residues.

Rotational motions of Trp residues embedded within human hemoglobin matrix have been measured by using their steady-state fluorescence anisotropy. The mean square angular displacement theta2 of Trp residues, depending on the temperature, can be expressed by W = 1/2Ctheta2 where W is the thermal energy acting on the Trp residues and C the resilient torque constant of the protein matrix. To study the external medium influencing the protein dynamics, comparative experiments were made with protein in aqueous buffer and in the presence of 32% glycerol. The data show that between 5 degrees C and 25 degrees C, external medium acts on the protein matrix elasticity.