Structural insight into DNA binding and oligomerization of the multifunctional Cox protein of bacteriophage P2.

ABSTRACT: The Cox protein from bacteriophage P2 is a small multifunctional DNA-binding protein. It is involved in site-specific recombination leading to P2 prophage excision and functions as a transcriptional repressor of the P2 Pc promoter. Furthermore, it transcriptionally activates the unrelated, defective prophage P4 that depends on phage P2 late gene products for lytic growth. In this article, we have investigated the structural determinants to understand how P2 Cox performs these different functions. We have solved the structure of P2 Cox to 2.4 Å resolution. Interestingly, P2 Cox crystallized in a continuous oligomeric spiral with its DNA-binding helix and wing positioned outwards. The extended C-terminal part of P2 Cox is largely responsible for the oligomerization in the structure. The spac

SUBMITTER: Berntsson RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3936717 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature