alpha-Helix-double helix interaction shown in the structure of a protamine-transfer RNA complex and a nucleoprotamine model

Electron microscopy of the poly-L-lysine alpha-helix

Dark field electron micrographs of polylysine molecules in the alpha-helical form were analyzed by digital Fourier techniques to determine the extent to which the helix was still represented in the images. A total of 50 molecular images were selected following defined criteria, 13 from spreads of molecules from aqueous solution and 37 from methanol solution. As controls, similar shapes were chosen from the random structure seen in the carbon specimen support without polylysine. Computer analysis of the 50 molecular images indicated the presence of a helical structure with a pitch of 0.54 +/- 0.01 nm and a pitch angle of 25.6 degrees +/- 1.5 degrees (standard error) in over 70% of the images. Moreover, 63% of the total alpha-helix measured by circular dichroism for the molecules in solution was still represented in the micrographs. The controls had no helical characteristics.

Structure of the cro repressor from bacteriophage lambda and its interaction with DNA

The three-dimensional structure of the 66-amino acid cro repressor protein of bacteriophage lambda suggests how it binds to its operator DNA. We propose that a dimer of cro protein is bound to the B-form of DNA with the 2-fold axis of the dimer coincident with the 2-fold axis of DNA. A pair of 2-fold-related alpha-helices of the repressor, lying within successive major grooves of the DNA, seem to be a major determinant in recognition and binding. In addition, the C-terminal residues of the protein, some of which are disordered in the absence of DNA, appear to contribute to the binding.

Nitroaniline diamine.poly(dA-dT) complexes: 1H and 19F NMR parameters for full intercalation of aromatic rings into DNA

High-resolution proton, fluorine, and phosphorus NMR studies have been undertaken on complexes of methyl- and trifluoromethyl-substituted nitroaniline diamines with the synthetic DNA poly(dA-dT) in 10 mM buffer solution. We demonstrate full intercalation of the nitroaniline group of these reporter molecules between base pairs, based on large upfield proton shifts (1.3-1.7 ppm) at all four aromatic proton markers on complex formation. The temperature and pH dependences of the thymidine H-3 Watson-Crick proton chemical shift and line width require the formation of intact and stable base pairs in this intercalative complex in solution. The 19F chemical shift of the trifluoromethyl-labeled nitroaniline diamine shifts downfield by approximately 2 ppm on formation of the synthetic DNA complex and most likely reflects the nonpolar environment of the aromatic ring when sandwiched between base pairs. A sequence specificity in the binding of the nitroaniline dication to poly(dA-dT) is implied by the observation of two partially resolved 31P resonances with the phosphodiester at the intercalation site shifting downfield by approximately 0.4 ppm on complex formation.

Preparation and conformational study of clupeine fragments

Fragments of clupeines, YI, YII, and Z of divergent chain length and different amino acid composition were prepared by digestion with thermolysin and a mixture of carboxypeptidases A and B, and their conformational preferences examined as a function of pH, added salts, presence of a helix-supporting solvent, and temperature. All these highly basic oligopeptides adopt an essentially unordered conformation in aqueous solution. 2-Chloroethanol supports in various amounts the onset of the right-handed alpha-helical form in the carboxy-peptidase fragments.

Secondary structure prediction of fish protamines

The secondary structures of thirteen fish protamines have been predicted by the statistical method of Chou and Fasman as well as by two modifications of it. The occurrence of phosphorylatable residues in predicted beta-turns is discussed. The results are compared with available spectroscopic observations.

Molecular structure of chromatin during sperm differentiation of the dogfish Scyliorhinus caniculus (L.)

The molecular structure of chromatin during dogfish spermiogenesis was examined by electron microscopy after the dispersion of nuclei at low ionic strength. In early and late stages of differentiation (round and elongating spermatids), chromatin is globular, although basic nuclear proteins are different from those present in somatic nuclei. Three protein fractions are complexed with DNA in sperm nuclei. These fractions appear at the end of differentiation (elongated spermatids), subsequently undergoing a modification of their solubilization properties; only one protein fraction remains acid-soluble. Dispersed chromatin from sperm nuclei again shows a beads-on-a-string configuration both in the presence of the three specific sperm proteins and when the acid soluble fraction is extracted. Variations of the mean diameter of chromatin subunits during spermiogenesis appear rather limited compared to extensive modifications of chromatin superstructures.

The 5-S RNA binding protein from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) ribosomes. Evolution of the eukaryotic 5-S RNA binding protein

The ribonucleoprotein complex between 5-S RNA and its binding protein (5-S RNA . protein complex) of yeast ribosomes was released from 60-S subunits with 25 mM EDTA and the protein component was purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. This protein, designated YL3 (Mr = 36000 on dodecylsulfate gels), was relatively insoluble in neutral solutions (pH 4--9) and migrated as one of four acidic 60-S subunit proteins when analyzed by the Kaltschmidt and Wittman two-dimensional gel system. Amino acid analyses indicated lower amounts of lysine and arginine than most ribosomal proteins. Sequence homology was observed in the N terminus of YL3, and two prokaryotic 5-S RNA binding proteins, EL18 from Escherichia coli and HL13 from Halobacterium cutirubrum: Ala1-Phe2-Gln3-Lys4-Asp5-Ala6-Lys7-Ser8-Ser9-Ala10-Tyr11-Ser12-Ser13-Arg14-Phe15-Gln16-Tyr17-Pro18-Phe19-Arg20-Arg21-Arg22-Arg23-Glu24-Gly25-Lys26-Thr27-Asp28-Tyr29-Tyr35; of particular interest was homology in the cluster of basic residues (18--23). Since the protein contained one methionine residue it could be split into two fragments, CN1 (Mr = 24700) and CN2 (Mr = 11300) by CNBr treatment; the larger fragment originated from the N terminus. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of CN2 shared a limited sequence homology with an internal portion of a second 5-S RNA binding protein from E. coli, EL5, and, based also on the molecular weights of the proteins and studies on the protein binding sites in 5-S RNAs, a model for the evolution of the eukaryotic 5-S RNA binding protein is suggested in which a fusion of the prokaryotic sequences may have occurred. Unlike the native 5-S RNA . protein complex, a variety of RNAs interacted with the smaller CN2 fragment to form homogeneous ribonucleoprotein complexes; the results suggest that the CN1 fragment may confer specificity on the natural 5-S RNA-protein interaction.