Substitutions of Thr30 provide mechanistic insight into tryptophan-mediated activation of TRAP binding to RNA

Thermodynamics of tryptophan-mediated activation of the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein.

The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) functions in many bacilli to control the expression of the tryptophan biosynthesis genes. Transcription of the trp operon is controlled by TRAP through an attenuation mechanism, in which competition between two alternative secondary-structural elements in the 5' leader sequence of the nascent mRNA is influenced by tryptophan-dependent binding of TR...

Structural insights into the effects of charge-reversal substitutions at the surface of horseradish peroxidase

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), has gained significant interests in biotechnology, especially in biosensor field and diagnostic test kits. Hence, its solvent-exposed lysine residues 174, 232, and 241 have been frequently modified with the aim of improving its stability and catalytic efficiency. In this computational study, we investigated the effects of Lys-to-Glu substitutions on HRP structure t...

Gene regulation by substoichiometric heterocomplex formation of undecameric TRAP and trimeric anti-TRAP.

The control of tryptophan production in Bacillus is a paradigmatic example of gene regulation involving the interplay of multiple protein and nucleic acid components. Central to this combinatorial mechanism are the homo-oligomeric proteins TRAP (trp RNA-binding attenuation protein) and anti-TRAP (AT). TRAP forms undecameric rings, and AT assembles into triskelion-shaped trimers. Upon activation...

Thermodynamics of Tryptophan-Mediated Activation of the trp RNA-Binding Attenuation Protein (TRAP)

Using hetero-11-mers composed of wild type and mutant subunits to study tryptophan binding to TRAP and its role in activating RNA binding.

Expression of genes involved in tryptophan metabolism in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by the TRAP protein in response to changes in l-tryptophan levels. TRAP binding to several RNA targets that contain between 9 and 11 (G/U)AG repeats regulates transcription and/or translation of these genes. TRAP consists of 11 identical subunits and is activated to bind RNA by binding up to 11 molecules of ...