A Disorder-to-Order Transition Mediates RNA Binding of the Caenorhabditis elegans Protein MEX-5.

ABSTRACT: CCCH-type tandem zinc finger (TZF) domains are found in many RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that regulate the essential processes of post-transcriptional gene expression and splicing through direct protein-RNA interactions. In Caenorhabditis elegans, RBPs control the translation, stability, or localization of maternal messenger RNAs required for patterning decisions before zygotic gene activation. MEX-5 (Muscle EXcess) is a C. elegans protein that leads a cascade of RBP localization events that is essential for axis polarization and germline differentiation after fertilization. Here, we report that at room temperature, the CCCH-type TZF domain of MEX-5 contains an unstructured zinc finger that folds upon binding of its RNA target. We have characterized the structure and dynamics of the TZF do

SUBMITTER: Tavella D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7175634 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature