biostudies-literatureMuller AUSwiss National Science Foundation4653https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6789036biostudies-literatureUnknown10(1)In mycobacteria, transcriptional activator PafBC is responsible for upregulating the majority of genes induced by DNA damage. Understanding the mechanism of PafBC activation is impeded by a lack of structural information on this transcription factor that contains a widespread, but poorly understood WYL domain frequently encountered in bacterial transcription factors. Here, we determine the crystal structure of Arthrobacter aurescens PafBC. The protein consists of two modules, each harboring an N-terminal helix-turn-helix DNA-binding domain followed by a central WYL and a C-terminal extension (WCX) domain. The WYL domains exhibit Sm-folds, while the WCX domains adopt ferredoxin-like folds, both characteristic for RNA-binding proteins. Our results suggest a mechanism of regulation in which WNature communicationsStructure and functional implications of WYL domain-containing bacterial DNA damage response regulator PafBC.PMC678903616331431003A-163314Muller AUBan NWeber-Ban ELeibundgut MfalseStructure and functional implications of WYL domain-containing bacterial DNA damage response regulator PafBC.In mycobacteria, transcriptional activator PafBC is responsible for upregulating the majority of genes induced by DNA damage. Understanding the mechanism of PafBC activation is impeded by a lack of structural information on this transcription factor that contains a widespread, but poorly understood WYL domain frequently encountered in bacterial transcription factors. Here, we determine the crystal structure of Arthrobacter aurescens PafBC. The protein consists of two modules, each harboring an N-terminal helix-turn-helix DNA-binding domain followed by a central WYL and a C-terminal extension (WCX) domain. The WYL domains exhibit Sm-folds, while the WCX domains adopt ferredoxin-like folds, both characteristic for RNA-binding proteins. Our results suggest a mechanism of regulation in which W2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Oct2026-04-15T21:22:07.867Z2019-10-19T07:22:10ZS-EPMC67890363160493610.1038/s41467-019-12567-x