Conformational Selection of Dimethylarginine Recognition by the Survival Motor Neuron Tudor Domain

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2018 Jan 8;57(2):486-490. doi: 10.1002/anie.201708233. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

Abstract

Tudor domains bind to dimethylarginine (DMA) residues, which are post-translational modifications that play a central role in gene regulation in eukaryotic cells. NMR spectroscopy and quantum calculations are combined to demonstrate that DMA recognition by Tudor domains involves conformational selection. The binding mechanism is confirmed by a mutation in the aromatic cage that perturbs the native recognition mode of the ligand. General mechanistic principles are delineated from the combined results, indicating that Tudor domains utilize cation-π interactions to achieve ligand recognition.

Keywords: QM/MM; arginine rotation; cation-π interactions; dynamic NMR; quantum chemistry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Arginine / chemistry
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Quantum Theory
  • Thermodynamics
  • Tudor Domain*

Substances

  • dimethylarginine
  • Arginine