Structural highlights
Function
FBF2_CAEEL Involved in the control of stem cells and sex determination in the C.elegans hermaphrodite germline. May also play a role in the hermaphrodite germline proliferation and oogenesis. Binds specifically to the regulatory region of fem-3 3'-UTR and mediates the sperm/oocyte switch. Negatively regulates gld-3 expression possibly by directly binding to two sites within the gld-3 isoform B 3'-UTR.[1] [2]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
In the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, fem-3 Binding Factor (FBF) partners with LST-1 to maintain stem cells. A crystal structure of an FBF-2/LST-1/RNA complex revealed that FBF-2 recognizes a short RNA motif different from the characteristic 9-nt FBF binding element, and compact motif recognition coincided with curvature changes in the FBF-2 scaffold. Previously, we engineered FBF-2 to favor recognition of shorter RNA motifs without curvature change (Bhat et al., 2019). In vitro selection of RNAs bound by FBF-2 suggested sequence specificity in the central region of the compact element. This bias, reflected in the crystal structure, was validated in RNA-binding assays. FBF-2 has the intrinsic ability to bind to this shorter motif. LST-1 weakens FBF-2 binding affinity for short and long motifs, which may increase target selectivity. Our findings highlight the role of FBF scaffold flexibility in RNA recognition and suggest a new mechanism by which protein partners refine target site selection.
A crystal structure of a collaborative RNA regulatory complex reveals mechanisms to refine target specificity.,Qiu C, Bhat VD, Rajeev S, Zhang C, Lasley AE, Wine RN, Campbell ZT, Hall TMT Elife. 2019 Aug 9;8. pii: 48968. doi: 10.7554/eLife.48968. PMID:31397673[3]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Zhang B, Gallegos M, Puoti A, Durkin E, Fields S, Kimble J, Wickens MP. A conserved RNA-binding protein that regulates sexual fates in the C. elegans hermaphrodite germ line. Nature. 1997 Dec 4;390(6659):477-84. PMID:9393998 doi:10.1038/37297
- ↑ Eckmann CR, Crittenden SL, Suh N, Kimble J. GLD-3 and control of the mitosis/meiosis decision in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 2004 Sep;168(1):147-60. PMID:15454534 doi:10.1534/genetics.104.029264
- ↑ Qiu C, Bhat VD, Rajeev S, Zhang C, Lasley AE, Wine RN, Campbell ZT, Hall TMT. A crystal structure of a collaborative RNA regulatory complex reveals mechanisms to refine target specificity. Elife. 2019 Aug 9;8. pii: 48968. doi: 10.7554/eLife.48968. PMID:31397673 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.48968
