Structural highlights
Evolutionary Conservation Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf. Publication Abstract from PubMedFlap endonucleases (FENs) have essential roles in DNA processing. They catalyze exonucleolytic and structure-specific endonucleolytic DNA cleavage reactions. Divalent metal ions are essential cofactors in both reactions. The crystal structure of FEN shows that the protein has two conserved metal-binding sites. Mutations in site I caused complete loss of catalytic activity. Mutation of crucial aspartates in site II abolished exonuclease action, but caused enzymes to retain structure-specific (flap endonuclease) activity. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that site I has a 30-fold higher affinity for cofactor than site II. Structure-specific endonuclease activity requires binding of a single metal ion in the high-affinity site, whereas exonuclease activity requires that both the high- and low-affinity sites be occupied by divalent cofactor. The data suggest that a novel two-metal mechanism operates in the FEN-catalyzed exonucleolytic reaction. These results raise the possibility that local concentrations of free cofactor could influence the endo- or exonucleolytic pathway in vivo. Roles of divalent metal ions in flap endonuclease-substrate interactions.,Feng M, Patel D, Dervan JJ, Ceska T, Suck D, Haq I, Sayers JR Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2004 May;11(5):450-6. Epub 2004 Apr 11. PMID:15077103[1] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. See AlsoReferences
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