Binding of elongation factor Spt6 to Iws1 provides an effective means for coupling eukaryotic mRNA synthesis, chromatin remodelling and mRNA export. We show that an N-terminal region of Spt6 (Spt6N) is responsible for interaction with Iws1. The crystallographic structures of Encephalitozoon cuniculi Iws1 and the Iws1/Spt6N complex reveal two conserved binding subdomains in Iws1. The first subdomain (one HEAT repeat; HEAT subdomain) is a putative phosphoprotein-binding site most likely involved in an Spt6-independent function of Iws1. The second subdomain (two ARM repeats; ARM subdomain) specifically recognizes a bipartite N-terminal region of Spt6. Mutations that alter this region of Spt6 cause severe phenotypes in vivo. Importantly, the ARM subdomain of Iws1 is conserved in several transcription factors, including TFIIS, Elongin A and Med26. We show that the homologous region in yeast TFIIS enables this factor to interact with SAGA and the Mediator subunits Spt8 and Med13, suggesting the molecular basis for TFIIS recruitment at promoters. Taken together, our results provide new structural information about the Iws1/Spt6 complex and reveal a novel interaction domain used for the formation of transcription networks.
Pubmed ID: 21057455 RIS Download
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Crystallographic software which solves structures using algorithms and automated rapid search calculations to perform molecular replacement and experimental phasing methods.
View all literature mentionsA molecular refinement program with two main modes: REVIEW, which checks and updates the input model to establish that the geometric restraints can be properly set up, and REFINE mode, which is the standard mode and documented in keywords. In REVIEW users can: check model coordinates and write an extended output set of coordinates, find disulphide bonds and other covalent links, cis-peptides, output the sequence and REMARK records. In REFINEMENT mode users can carry out rigid body, tls, restrained or unrestrained refinement against Xray data, or idealisation of a macromolecular structure. Also in REFINEMENT mode, Refmac produces an MTZ output file containing weighted coefficients for SigmaA weighted mFo-DFcalc and 2mFo-DFcalc maps. The program is supported by CCP4.
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