Molecular dynamics studies on the DNA-binding process of ERG
File(s)Matthias Paper.pdf (4.95 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Beuerle, MG
Dufton, NP
Randi, AM
Gould, IR
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The ETS family of transcription factors regulate gene targets by binding to a core GGAA DNA-sequence. The ETS factor ERG is required for homeostasis and lineage-specific functions in endothelial cells, some subset of haemopoietic cells and chondrocytes; its ectopic expression is linked to oncogenesis in multiple tissues. To date details of the DNA-binding process of ERG including DNA-sequence recognition outside the core GGAA-sequence are largely unknown. We combined available structural and experimental data to perform molecular dynamics simulations to study the DNA-binding process of ERG. In particular we were able to reproduce the ERG DNA-complex with a DNA-binding simulation starting in an unbound configuration with a final root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) of 2.1 Å to the core ETS domain DNA-complex crystal structure. This allowed us to elucidate the relevance of amino acids involved in the formation of the ERG DNA-complex and to identify Arg385 as a novel key residue in the DNA-binding process. Moreover we were able to show that water-mediated hydrogen bonds are present between ERG and DNA in our simulations and that those interactions have the potential to achieve sequence recognition outside the GGAA core DNA-sequence. The methodology employed in this study shows the promising capabilities of modern molecular dynamics simulations in the field of protein DNA-interactions.
Date Issued
2016-12-01
Date Acceptance
2016-09-26
Citation
Molecular BioSystems, 2016, 12, pp.3600-3610
ISSN
1742-206X
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
3600
End Page
3610
Journal / Book Title
Molecular BioSystems
Volume
12
Copyright Statement
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.
Sponsor
Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (DBERR)
Grant Number
no ref
Subjects
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
0601 Biochemistry And Cell Biology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-09-26